dragon tales - february 2018 · dragon’tales–february2018’ ’ ’ 1of’8’ ’ dragon...

Dragon Tales – February 2018 1 of 8

DRAGON TALES

Monthly Newsletter of the Dragon Dream Team

FEBRUARY 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE: Wed., Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7,14… Team Workouts at PLX Fit Club (Wednesday evenings) Tues., Feb. 6 Board / Committee Chair Meeting – Upper Deck Sat., Feb. 17 Polar Bear Jump – Portage Lakes State Park Beach * Sat., Feb. 24 Winter Retreat – Akron General Wellness Center, Green Tues., March 6 Board Meeting – Upper Deck * further details provided in this newsletter

DRAGON DELIGHTS: Interesting news to share about a member, or about yourself.

Dorothy Farkas is paddling with the Sarasota team, SIS (Survivors in Sync), for the winter. She will also be attending their paddling clinic in February with Anthony (a coach from Canada) and racing in Hollywood FL on January 27 in a “baby boat” race. The team also shares a workout room with the world champion rowers since Nathan Benderson Park is a host for World Rowing Competitions.

It even got cold in Florida! Can you tell which paddler is from Ohio?

Jen May, after a five-‐month work hiatus, has finally landed a job with The Timken Company as a Senior Purchasing Agent, Supply Assurance. She’ll be responsible for high volume raw material going into the manufacturing plants. Jen states: “Although it’s hard starting over after spending most of my career working at Diebold Nixdorf, I’m excited about the challenges and growth that lie ahead. I look forward to starting my first season with all of you!” Congratulations!


DRAGON DELIGHTS: (continued) Toby Bothel and husband Bob have been enjoying a wonderful vacation in Tamarindo, Costa Rica where Toby's daughter, son-‐in-‐law, and grandson live. Toby's son Rob from Maryland was also able to join them.

Toby’s family at the Surf Shack

FEBRUARY/MARCH BIRTHDAYS: Members: If we have omitted your birthday, please let us know. FEBRUARY MARCH 2 – Judy Gibson 10 – Linda Griffith

5 -‐ Erica Whitmer 23 – Peggy Woodruff 10 -‐ Karen Vandervaart 27 – Katie Byard 13 -‐ Carol Carlton 28 – Juanita Chapman

14 -‐ Susan Colville-‐Hall

17 -‐ Dawn Wagner 25 -‐ Judi Cole

PRAYERS: If a DDT member is in need of prayers and/or support, please contact Deb Merrow, Sunshine Chair.

News from the Sunshine Committee: Hope everyone is resting after the whirlwind holidays. We are praying for Judi Cole, Mary Hlavac, Pat Donnelly's family, and Pam Spencer's family. Thank you for all the prayers that God hears from all of us for each other. Support is a wonderful thing. ~ submitted by Deb M DRAGON MESSAGES: Treasurer’$ Note$: Annual Dues: Just a reminder that annual dues are payable by January 31. I will be present at the beginning of exercise at PLX Fit Club on Wednesday, Jan. 31 to collect dues for those who have waited until the last minute. Dues can also be mailed to me. After that date, a $25 late fee will be assessed. Italy: Members can continue to send out Italy letters. There is also an electronic version that includes a link to the DDT video that the Portage Lakes Career Center students produced last summer. ~ submitted by Dawn


DRAGON MESSAGES: (continued) Messages from Team Operations: Italy: There are no more options to join the extension trip to Rome and Sorrento at this time. Buffalo registration: We are registering 1 boat at this time for the 9th Annual Hope Chest Dragon Boat festival on June 16, 2018. We will have a sign-‐up at the membership retreat on Feb.24th to see if there is enough interest for a second boat. Please be prepared to make a decision and commitment for this race. If members sign up and then pull out (other than for extenuating circumstances i.e. illness etc.) they will be have to pay for their share of the boat fee. Winter Membership Retreat: We will be doing a 2017 end of season survey for members to fill out at the retreat. Your feedback is greatly appreciated! ~ submitted by Juanita and Barb F Message from Marketing/Public Relations: 15th Annual Polar Bear Jump – Saturday, February 17th : We are gearing up to support the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump on Saturday, February 17th at Portage Lakes State Park. The folks who work on the Polar Bear Jump support our Festival in the summer by providing the dock support, so...this is our chance to reciprocate. As we did last year, we have committed to help with controlling access to the warming tent on the day of the event. We need about 10-‐12 people to lend a hand. If you can help, from noon-‐4 (or any time in between), please get in touch with me at [email protected] or 301-‐448-‐2803. If you are interested in jumping, here is the link to the website to sign up: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/EventHome.aspx?eventid=232868&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.yahoo.com%2f#&panel1-2 ~ submitted by Toby Message from the Gala Committee: Our first Gala meeting was held Monday, January 22nd at the Rectory. We decided to incorporate an Italian theme into our event this year. Details to follow with all the particulars. Donation/ sponsor forms will be available the week of January 29th. Baskets will be kept at $80 minimum again, and gems at $30. We are going to try tip boards this year instead of a 50/50 drawing. The boards will give more people the opportunity to win. Also, each team member will be asked to donate a bottle of wine with a value of at least $20 for the Live Auction. Drop off dates will be on Monday and Thursday mornings, 9-‐11am, beginning February 5th. Tuesday evening drop-‐offs will be available beginning at the end of February, 6-‐8pm. Times and days can be extended as needed. Please bring whole baskets either purchased and/or donated. You are welcome to name your own basket. We will wrap your basket for you at the Rectory. Also, you may bring it to the retreat on Feb. 24th if this does not fit your schedule. Please feel free to contact Pat D or me if you need help with baskets or have any other questions. We can use everyone's support; your time and effort make the Gala a great success. ~ submitted by Patti


DRAGON MESSAGES: (continued) Message from the Festival Committee: I hope everyone is enjoying the winter break and if we are not seeing you at PLX, hopefully you are working out at home to be the best you can be this year! Due to Italy and other events, we are doing things a little differently this year to reduce tasks of team members. I am looking for individuals to help out with individual tasks such as awards, lunches, opening ceremonies, etc. If you were a part of a committee or performed a task last year, please refresh my memory as to what it is you did or would like to do. If you were unable to help, please contact me and I will find something with which you can help. I will need 2-‐3 people to head up the BCS ceremonies and lunch entertainment. (I think the band last year was good, but open to other suggestions). Please feel free to reach out or speak to me after PLX workouts. This year we are going to need all hands on deck so no one person has too large a workload. Paddles Up! Sara ~ taken from Coach Sara’s email to the team, 1/14/18 Message from the Outreach Committee: This month I want to introduce the Breast Cancer Navigator from Summa Barberton Hospital, Kari Kovach, RN BSN CBCN. Kari is very supportive of the Dragon Dream Team as well as Boatloads of Hope. In the past she has attended our gala and participated in the Dragon Boat Festival as a paddler in the Summa Health boat. Last year she had a patient who wanted to have her own Dragon Boat Team compete in the festival. Kari was very involved to help her patient raise the money for the entrance fee. Here is Kari in her own words: My first oncology nursing position was at Medina General Hospital where I was trained to give chemotherapy. I continued my training down in Columbus, OH where I worked at Grant Hospital and for the group now known as the Zangmeister Cancer Center in Columbus where I was a chemotherapy and triage nurse for their practice. I’ve been the Breast Care Navigator for Summa Barberton Hospital since October 2005. In this role I worked with Drs. Sprance, Hazra, and Ahmad to develop the Breast Care Program at Barberton Hospital. I helped our hospital become accredited with the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) in 2010 and we have been re-‐accredited in 2013 and 2016. In my position I work with and help “navigate” breast care patients from imaging and biopsy through diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and survivorship. I love being a Breast Cancer Navigator. I love working directly with the patients and their families as they go through their journey. I also volunteer at Stewart’s Caring Place with the Breast Cancer Support Group and I love learning from the clients as they go to and through treatment. ~ submitted by Judy A


GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS: Each month we will highlight different DDT members; this month we introduce the 2018 Committee Chairs:

Judy Akins, Outreach Committee Chair, has lived most of her life in Portage Lakes. She attended the University of Akron where she earned a BSN and an MSN. For most of her career she was an administrator in home health care. She is now happily retired and spends her time with her three children and four grandchildren as well as serves as a volunteer at the Akron Zoo. If she is not busy with those things you will find her on a golf course or in a boat! Carolyn Bernstorf, Newsletter Chair, is a mechanical engineer who retired from Bridgestone in 2015. Her retirement has allowed her to further pursue her major hobbies, which are gardening and cooking (including canning and freezing). She likes to keep in shape by going on brisk long walks, working out on the rowing machine and exercising with kettlebells. She recently became a Master Gardener through the Ohio State University Extension, having completed ‘intensive horticultural training’ and volunteering in various community programs. Trish Chapman, Equipment Chair, currently lives in Springfield Twp. with her husband John and son John Patrick. In her spare time she is crocheting afghans, hats and scarves. She has also joined a quilting group that donates crib quilts to children's hospital (The Linus Project). This team has made such positive changes to her life. She thanks the team for the opportunity to become a committee chair, and is looking forward to her new responsibilities caring for the team's equipment. Susan Colville-‐Hall, New Members Chair, grew up in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio State University (3 times). She became a Dragon Dream Team member in August 2013 when she retired after a long career in teaching (18 years in secondary, 27 at the university level). It took a long time to “earn her dragon wings” but she was happy to learn how to paddle a dragon boat, in part due to Space Coast Training Camp. She loves to travel and bike with her husband, Steve Hall. Movies, theater and good books are also her passion. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Akron, is District Trainer for Rotary District 6630 and serves on the board of Global Ties-‐Akron. Pat Donnelly, Fundraising/Gala co-‐Chair, is originally from Massachusetts. She has been married to Jerry for almost 27 years. She has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren, a great-‐grandson, Crosby, 19 months old and a great-‐granddaughter, Grace, 17 months old. She feels very blessed. Pat retired as a teacher of special needs children and is now involved with a number of volunteer organizations. She enjoys walking and hiking, taking French lessons and cooking gourmet dinners. Dorothy Farkas, Garden co-‐Chair, has been a member of the DDT since 2016. She not only immediately fell in love with dragon boating, but also has gotten to know so many new people who have become such good friends. Dorothy was born in Barberton in the Portage Lakes area and recalls family visits to Pav's for ice cream in the late 50's. She attended Lockwood Grade School, the building that now houses PLX Fit Club. Growing up in a family of 8 siblings, she learned from an early age how to be a team player! Dorothy worked for her husband's Infectious Disease medical practice as billing manager for over 30 years. Her husband passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012. Dorothy recently downsized from their home in Bath, where their children grew up and which they built in 1992. She now lives in Green, closer to her children and just minutes away from Craftsmen Park. (continued next page) …


GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS: (continued from previous page) Dorothy Farkas (continued): … Dorothy has 2 children, Valerie (a stay at home mom) and Joey (a professor of Genetics and other Sciences) and 2 grandchildren, Elijah and Evie, both of whom bring much joy and laughter to their Grandma/Mamaw. Hobbies and passions include sewing, gardening, nature, healthy living and family. Dorothy spends winters in Siesta Key-‐Sarasota FL, where she paddles with the local team, Survivors in Sync. Sandie Fugitt, Social co-‐Chair, grew up in Uniontown, Ohio and still lives there. She retired from Bridgestone in 2012 after 45 years service. Sandie has been married to John for over 46 years. She has two grown children and six adorable grandchildren. She was always a girly-‐girl and never in her wildest dreams expected to be paddling a dragon boat or exercising as a senior citizen. While she does love being on the water, she was planning on a beach and a good book. Judy Gibson, Garden co-‐Chair, grew up in Alliance, Ohio. She is married to Rob and resides in Atwater, Ohio with their 2 children, Parker and Megan, dog Cosmo and chickens. Judy has been an RN, BSN for 21 years and has worked in various positions: hospice, educator, family practice, urgent care and currently dermatology. Her hobbies include biking, reading, gardening, painting, kayaking, yoga and raising pigs. Judy has been volunteering at Center of Hope for 2 years. She is looking forward to making new friends. Thanks for the invite, Juanita! Chris Lutz, Social co-‐Chair, grew up in Akron and has been married to Joe for almost 40 years. She retired from the Summit County Prosecutor's office after 30 years of service. They have three children and six grandchildren. They love spending time with their grandchildren, three of whom live in Iwakuni, Japan. They have visited them twice. Their daughter Erin's husband, Greg, is a pilot in the Marines and has recently been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Their son, Brian, and his wife, Mandy, live in Hudson with their three boys who are active playing football, Lacrosse, tennis, and running CYO cross-‐country, and track. They also love visiting their youngest daughter, Joey, who is a private chef in New York. Chris joined the Dragon Dream Team in August of the team’s first year. In the past, she has served as fundraising chair, social co-‐chair, team-‐ops co-‐chair, and ambassador at our festivals. Chris enjoys reading, knitting, cooking, and working out at the Natatorium, but most of all, she loves dragon boating! Tara Reynolds, Social Media co-‐Chair (website), lives in Wadsworth with her husband Jeff, their cats, Snicket and Ophelia, and rat terrier, Bebe. They have one daughter who lives in Nashville, TN. Tara worked in the advertising industry as a graphic designer for 23 years before switching careers to work in eldercare. When not providing private care or working toward her Certified Dementia Practitioner certificate, Tara enjoys portrait photography, reading, cooking, knitting and long walks with Bebe. Lee Runkle, Social Media co-‐Chair (Facebook), grew up in Cuyahoga Falls. She retired in December 2014 from Summit County Adult Probation and is loving it! Lee is an original member of the Dragon Dream Team. In the past she have served as a Gala co-‐chair, team liaison for our festival and the website coordinator. She is an avid paranormal investigator and ghost hunter. Lee also volunteers at Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield as a tour guide. She also likes hiking, gardening, baking, traveling and walking her dog Oliver!


GETTING TO KNOW OUR MEMBERS: (continued from previous page) Patti Russo, Fundraising/Gala co-‐Chair, lives at Meyer's Lake in Canton with Jim. She has 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Patti’s hobbies consist of cooking, biking, swimming, and traveling. She also volunteers in many organizations. Patti loves the dragon experience, most of all the fantastic ladies!! PADDLING NEWS: The Dragon Dream Team is participating in the following races during 2018. All are welcome and encouraged to come and cheer the team on to victory! Sat., June 16 Hope Chest Festival – Buffalo NY Fri. – Sun. July 6-‐8 IBCPC Festival -‐ Florence Italy

Sat., July 28 Dragons on the Lake Festival – Portage Lakes State Park OH Sat., Aug. 25 Dragon Boat Wheeling Festival -‐ Wheeling WV COACHES’ CORNER: Commitment to Exercise I’m encouraged by the number of Dragon Dream Team members attending the weekly workouts at PLX Fit Club on Wednesday evenings (6:30 pm). After all, the first step in becoming a better athlete is realizing that you need to work out on a regular basis. The human body will adapt to the demands you place on it. But, remember, it takes time for the body to make that change, so don’t get discouraged. Exercising at least 3 times per week is usually recommended to achieve any notable progress. Some athletes attempt to work out 6 or more times per week with daily programs emphasizing different aspects of fitness: strength, core and cardio. Commitment to an exercise program is the key, and requires planning on your part. Any effort toward achieving a goal starts with the first step. The attendance at PLX may represent that first step, and I’m hopeful that it’s an indication that we have committed athletes. Keep up the good work toward your exercise goals! ~ submitted by Coach Allen

DDT members on the TRX suspension straps Christine B works out on the erg January 17, 2018 January 17, 2018

When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them. It may take seconds to say, but for them, it could last a lifetime.


A little reminder about winter training from Paddlechica:

~ Paddlechica.com Have information and photos to share? Send to Carolyn Bernstorf ([email protected]) by the 20th of the month and it will be included in the following month’s Dragon Tales , issued by the end of each month. The Dragon Dream Team is Ohio’s first group of breast cancer survivors participating in the team sport of dragon boating. Inspired by the courage of the dragon and the power of the paddle, our mission is to support and care for each other, increase self-‐esteem, physical and emotional wellness through paddling. The Dragon Dream Team demonstrates that life after breast cancer can be full, active and beyond all expectations. Our “Boatloads of Hope” community outreach program offers encouragement and support to breast cancer survivors and their families during the treatment phase of their cancer journey by the delivery of pashminas in area hospitals and cancer facilities, along with a powerful message of hope. The Dragon Dream Team is a 501(c)(3) organization.

dragon tales - february 2018 · dragon’tales–february2018’ ’ ’ 1of’8’ ’ dragon...

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