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Jane McFarland’s Speech |
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RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN’S CENTER 11 Sandy Point Road Stratham, NH 03885 (603) 778-8193 www.richiemcfarland.org |
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In years past as we have gathered for our annual meetings, we have been privileged to hear from a parent who has a child currently enrolled in the Children’s Center. These have always been very moving accounts of the everyday challenges and triumphs in the lives of these families. As I put pen to paper and gathered my thoughts for this 35th Anniversary celebration, I quickly realized that there are hundreds of people who have made the success we have achieved possible and need to be thanked. Time of course will not permit thanks to everyone by name, but all of you here this evening and those who came before you are indelibly woven into the history of the Children’s Center.
In this year’s annual report you will find a glimpse into the brief life of my beloved little Richie. I plan to write a small book about him and his Dad and his little dog, Fleur, who was a gift to him from his Uncle Peter. This book will of course include many recollections of happy times at the Children’s Center that bears his name and that he loved so very much. I hope to have the book finished by at least our 40th anniversary and I am sure that more than one person here this evening will hold me to this promise. Kathryn and Beverly, you are #1 and #2 on the list.
For those of us who were involved in starting the Center 35 years ago, the question was not “Why me, why my child?” the question was “What can we do to help our children?”
In my mind’s eye, I can still see that mid-summer day in 1971 when Sue Kaplan and I met with Harry Thayer who had the keys to Bixler House on Center Street in Exeter. It was in the basement of this small church building that the Rockingham Children’s Center was born.
This 35-year journey has been one of FAITH, COURAGE AND HOPE.
FAITH in ourselves and those who we have turned to for their support in our mission.
FAITH in the goodness of our mission.
The FAITH of my family, here this evening who believed in and supported our cause from the very beginning has meant a great deal to me personally.
The lives of countless children have been enhanced because of your generosity. To my sister Joan Fuller and her husband Peter and their family; to my sister Gayle Mellin and her husband Doug; and to the Fuller Foundation—I thank you all for your steadfast support. I also thank my sister Sally and my brother Biff for their support.
A very special thanks to my niece Mindy Bocko for your incredible photography found in this year’s annual report. You came to Bixler House on your own initiative and captured many irreplaceable moments so close to my heart and the hearts of other parents as we began our journey in the Fall of 1971.
COURAGE: Ernest Hemingway described it as “grace under pressure” and I think it is this courage that is at the heart of our mission at the Richie McFarland Children’s Center.
Grace under pressure is seen in the 17 all-volunteer Board of Directors as they seek to meet the challenges that each new year brings.
Grace under pressure is seen in each and every family that turns to RMCC for help. Help for a small child between the age of birth and three years, facing what may seem to be insurmountable challenges in their very young lives.
Grace under pressure is seen in the staff at RMCC as they go far beyond their job descriptions, delivering their expertise in crucial therapies with compassion and focus. They make miracles happen!
If you ever stop by the Center as I do from time to time—just to say hello—or for some specific purpose, you immediately know that you are in a very warm and caring environment. I might be talking to Peggy or Kathryn or Steve or Rosemarie and a staff member will pass by with a cheerful smile and “Hi Jane.” I always return the smile and “hi” but have not been as diligent as I should be in connecting every name to every face. To the staff, please know that I promise to work on this in the coming months.
Two shining examples of grace under pressure are Amy Dillenbeck and Jimmy Kaplan who were with Richie in the class of 1971. Since those early days they have continued on with their productive lives, focusing on what they can do instead of what they cannot do. As recently as this past Tuesday, June 20th, Jimmy received the “Employee of the Year” award from Great Bay Services in Newington. Jimmy works in the kitchen at the Exeter Hospital and the Hospital won the award for “Employer of the Year.”
Amy Dillenbeck is currently working as a telephone receptionist at Langdon Place in Exeter. She formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors and was elected to be on numerous committees at the Children’s Center. You just can’t think of Amy without recalling her upbeat attitude and generous smile for everyone.
Jimmy’s mother, Sue Kaplan and Amy’s mother, Sue Goodspeed were also founders of the Children’s Center. Sue Goodspeed has been battling cancer for the past several years and our thoughts and prayers are with her this evening. Please join me in thanking Amy and Jimmy for showing us all what true courage is all about.
And now to Wayne Barrows who was one of the very few “normal” children integrated with our special needs students in 1971. Knowing Wayne and his great self-deprecating sense of humor, if he were here this evening he would probably jump up and say, “I have a lot of pressures and there is nothing gracious about it!” His mother, Maureen Barrows, was one of the very early volunteers at the Center. She and her husband Cal and their late son David (whose memory we honor this evening), along with Wayne were involved with many activities at the Children’s Center. Their wizardry with pulling together many successful fundraising events has contributed enormously to the financial strength of the Children’s Center. It is amazing how things sometimes come full circle. Wayne and his wife Kristin’s first born child, Anna, is now receiving special needs services from the Center.
HOPE: Having witnessed the graduation of our first class in 1971, our hopes and dreams were met beyond our wildest expectations. If there had been a time capsule that could have shown us the progress of the Center from 1971 with our small band of nine children through the years until this day in 2006 with a staff of 21 serving over 300 families each year—the only reaction that comes to mind is truly amazing!
To the Board of Directors, the staff, volunteers and those who have entrusted us with their financial support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering commitment and for all that you are doing to make those of us who were founders of the Richie McFarland Children’s Center so very proud.
In the years ahead the star of HOPE, as exemplified in our new logo, will keep on shining brightly because of you!
Thank you. |
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RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN’S CENTERANNUAL MEETINGCELEBRATING 35 YEARSJUNE 26, 2006Speech by Jane McFarland |
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Dick & Richie McFarland |