Keep up with current Wood Lane news on our blog 
Marketing Plan Approved
The 2011 - 2012 Marketing Plan for Wood Lane was approved at the August Board meeting. We will be launching a new campaign with the theme "Wood Lane Works" this fall. The plan outlines our strategies for increased awareness throughout Wood County. CLICK HERE to read the plan. For more information or to help us share our message, call us or e-mail us at contact@woodlane.us.
Student Wows Judge With 4-H Project
Wood Lane School student Lauren Heskett and Eastwood High School student Shelby Vaughn are members of the Soaring Eagles 4-H club in Pemberville. Shelby and Lauren were partners in all of the club activities. This included attending meetings, weekly cooking get togethers and just spending time with each other. They also attended 4-H camp.
Judging for fair projects has been taking place and Lauren's project was judged on July 19. Her entry was a creamy parfait. Lauren, her mom Jill, and Shelby demonstrated how each person contributed to make Lauren's recipe. Lauren used her switch to record/play messages that explained the steps in making the recipe. She had a device that the mixer was plugged into to turn the mixer on/off. Her mom held the mixer in the bowl and Shelby had a spatula to keep the process moving along! All of the efforts paid off (drum roll please). Lauren received a "Superior" rating on her cooking project! Lauren and Shelby were able to share the proud moment together.
According to club advisor (and WLS nurse) Kim Vaughn, the Ability Center of Greater Toledo provides funds to help with awareness training and support for 4-H clubs. The Center's goal is to increase participation from kids of all abilities. And from Lauren and Shelby's standpoint, they did!
Gump Finishes 5th in the 400 Meter Run at World Games
Today, finals were held in the women’s and men’s 400 meter run at the Special Olympics World Games. Wood County athlete Amanda Gump placed 5 th in her division with a personal best time of 1:16.49 – improving on her previous best time of 1:20.81. She had the fastest time of all of the 400 meter Team USA female runners.
Jeffrey Brewer, another athlete from Ohio running with the Team USA won a gold medal in his division of the 400 meter run with a time of 61.59 bettering his previous time of 62.71.
We are hoping to get photos and we will post when we do!
Thanks for your support of Amanda and all of the athletes at World Games!
Updates from Athens Greece
Wood County athlete Amanda Gump is at the 2011 World Games in Greece.
Opening ceremonies is on June 25 and will be webcast live at ESPN3/ Here’s the link: http://espn.go.com/espn3/index/_/sport/olympics/
Wood County athlete Amanda Gump arrived with Team USA and its 420 athletes and co in Greece on Monday for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. She is one of two athletes from Ohio that was chosen to compete as a result of her performance at last summer’s National Games held in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jeff Brewer of Columbus was also chosen to represent TEAM USA.
Both will compete in athletics (track) events at the Games. The World Games run from June 25 - July 4 in Athens, with 7,500 Special Olympics Athletes from 185 nations competing in 22 Olympic-type sports.
We are working on ways to share information about the Games and the experiences that go along with being part of the LARGEST sporting event this year in the world. The Greece planning committee will share their sites and cultures over the span of the Games. We are excited about the opportunity to share Amanda and other athlete’s experiences.
We will post photos and information about her experience as well as the entire Games as it becomes available. You can view on our home page or on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wood-Lane-Wood-County-Board-of-Developmental-Disabilities/165928113457623 We will also post photos in our gallery.
Advocacy Meeting is Full House
The NW Ohio Regional Advocacy Forum was held on May 2 with 98 people who represented 6 counties. Individuals with developmental disabilities, families, providers, and County Boards of DD's were in attendance. The "Hot Topic" is the state budget. Information will be posted soon on 2 or 3 areas YOU can help share with our elected state officials! Thanks to everyone who attended!
State Senator Mark Wagoner addresses the audience.
OACBDD Policy Analyst Dustin McKee share's the Association's "Call to Action" message
On-line auction for surplus items from May 2 - 12
Wood Lane will use an on-line auction site May 2-12 to sell surplus items. The agency is contracting with Lightgov, which is designed to give prospective buyers more time to view and bid on items. LightGov was founded in 2000 to provide “creative, effective and cost-saving online solutions for state and local government, their agencies, and other not-for-profit entities.” Users must register and create a username and password at www.woodcountyohioauctions.com. Registration is free. For more information, contact Kathleen Murray at 419 352-5115 or kmurray@woodlane.us.