October Meeting Introduces Local Celebrities

Our October meeting was held at Meredith Mason's home, at 2403 Hatley Drive. 

The program was titled "Who's Who of Rollingwood" and featured four Rollingwood residents who are engaged in diverse enterprises that range from child protective services to being Sergeant-at-Arms at the Texas House of representatives.

Andrea Sparks an attorney by training, serves on the Board of the Austin Children's Shelter. and with CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Austin. CASA lobbies for children's Bill of Rights to ensure that kids in foster care have a voice in court.

She outlined the lives of kids in foster care and showed a brief video to illustrate the struggles that these kids endure as they are moved around and placed in different homes. She emphasized the need for volunteers especially bi-lingual and male volunteers to serve as mentors to the kids.

Rod Welsh works as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Texas House of Representatives.  The ceremonial role of Sergeant-at-Arms , he said, can be traced back to the House of Commons in England and as far back as the Roman empire. His role is to ensure that the rules of the House are followed and this involves anything and everything from ensuring that a quorum of members is present and controlling access to the chambers to security of all attendees, to ordering the annual Christmas tree to be set up in the chambers. He related many special experiences unique to his role that had historical significance. Leah is working with him to organize a special tour of the Capitol for club members.

Ellen Ambrose is currently on the board of Partnerships for Children after having served as its chair for two years. The organization helps children in residential facilities, in foster care and even those temporarily living with kith and kin while their parents are under investigation and unable to care for them. She helps with the Rainbow Room that provides material goods for children and young adults and helps with Holiday Wishes for these kids. A Mentor program has been started that helps kids prepare for the challenges of the real world when they have to leave foster care at age 19. 

Laila Scott  continues to serve on the Dell Children's Trust board after having been its chair for two years and a founding member with her family's RGK Foundation. The trust has grown to nearly 180 members who meet throughout the year and also annually to fund requests from staff , nurses and doctors for specific needs of the children that are treated at the center. Needs she explained, can be as simple as pillows for preemies to helping to arrange for a cancer patient to go to a prom.

There were several questions. Members left with more empathy and a deeper understanding for the un-met needs of children in the greater Austin area.

Additional information about these organizations can be obtained from the resources below:

Dells Children Fund
Chair - Karen Knight
Link to website http://www.childrensaustin.org/cmcf/get-involved/annual-giving-programs/childrens-trust

Partnerships for Children
www.PartnershipsforChildren.org

Kori Gough - Executive Director
512.698.2627
Kori@PartnershipsforChildren.org

Andrea Sparks
TexasCASA,
www.texascasa.org
asparks@texascasa.org