Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Down syndrome group organizers are honored
Have you heard?
JoAnne Poindexter
'Have you heard?'
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John and Susan Cloeter, who organized the Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke in 1990, have been selected as the outstanding Roanoke Valley advocates for children and families.
The Cloeters received the Family Champion Award on Wednesday during a National Family Week forum sponsored by Family Service of Roanoke Valley.
Family Service is a member organization of the Alliance for Children and Families, a national nonprofit membership organization that includes 40 other Roanoke-area groups.
The award recognizes those who have tirelessly advocated for policies and services that promote the well-being of children and families and who are parenting a special-needs child or youth in Southwest Virginia.
When their fifth child, Chase, was born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition, the Cloeters found few local resources available to help them gain a better understanding of their son's special needs. They also discovered that no organization in the Roanoke Valley fully met the needs of children with the condition.
So, nine months after Chase was born, his parents, meeting in their kitchen with a small peer group, formulated the concept of the association.
The group envisioned an organization that would offer support and provide education and advocacy for families of individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
The association, which does not charge membership fees, is supported primarily by the annual Mac and Bob's Charity Golf Tournament at Hanging Rock Golf Club. The 17 annual tournaments have generated more than $200,000 to help families with Down syndrome children in Southwest Virginia.
One or both of the Cloeters have served on the association's board of directors since its inception and have held the offices of co-president and treasurer.
John Cloeter is treasurer and has volunteered in that capacity for many years. Susan Cloeter has also served on the board of directors of Roanoke's public mental health agency, Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.
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Army Sgt. Jennifer Swierk and Spc. Timothy Conrad, both of Roanoke, recently competed on teams in the 13th annual military police competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
They competed in a 15-mile march as part of the Army's 96-hour, 12-event Warfighter Challenge, which is designed to test the abilities of the best soldiers from the military police corps.
Swierk, daughter of Gail Swierk, is assigned to the 329th Military Police Company in Heidelberg, Germany. She has been in service three years and is a member of the Honor Guard that participates in ceremonies.
Conrad, son of Mikki Wray, is stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., where he is with the 385th Military Police Battalion. He's been in the Army two years.
