28 CLUBS AND CLASSES
editorial@robson.com — December 2011
Happy Potters nearly sell out at Craft Fair
Pictured with some of the pottery are ChiChi Modrycki, Mary Joe Manchester, Debbie Kearns, Linda Becker and President Phyllis Olson.
Martha Callaway It was nearly a sell out at the Craft Fair
of the Happy Potter’s beautiful bowls and platters. These pieces were made with the yearly October sale in mind. Some of
the
proceeds from this sale will be used to help buy equipment for the club. After the work comes the play, and the
Happy Potters have just celebrated this season with a potluck dinner at the home of club vice president Jan Marx. Many of the festive dishes that the members had made were used for the party. The Potters will be back at work after the holidays. If you are interested in becoming a potter, drop by the Arts and Craft building on some Monday and check it all out.
Patriots PAWS service dogs attend Support Our Troops meeting
Left to right: Debbie Bringhurst (with Willie), Jenny Clevenger, Doug Clevinger and Tracy McCormack (with Spot).
Bonnie Glod On Saturday, November 19, Support Our
Troops, Inc. held its monthly meeting with special guests from Patriot PAWS Service Dogs: Tracy McCormack, with “Spot,” and Debbie Bringhurst, with “Willie.” After the business meeting, a short informational DVD was shown. Then Spot and Willie responded to some of the 40 hand signals and voice commands they have learned including picking up a quarter, a credit card, water bottle and retrieving a phone from a tabletop. The dogs are taught
to push the
button to open an automatic door, assist with laundry, retrieve a drink bottle from a refrigerator, pull a person in a wheelchair, call for help, and perform many other helpful maneuvers to assist in making life a little easier and safer for their disabled veteran owners. The dogs are not only trained to do chores, but also to think. Tracy and Debbie are both enthusiastic and patient women
ROBSON RANCH PIONEER PRESS
with a defi nite affi nity for this work. Willie has lived with Debbie and her family for three months so that he can be socialized, have his training reinforced, and experience a variety of people, places, and events while maintaining his professional mindset. It takes 12 to 18 months to properly train
each dog at a cost of $20,000-$30,000 each. Not only do they have to be housed, but vetted and each person receiving a service dog must come to Rockwall for two or three weeks of training with whichever dog they are matched. The training success rate is over 65% for Patriot PAWS versus 22% for some other organizations, and that speaks well of all of those involved in the process from start to fi nish. Patriot PAWS Service Dogs is a 501(C)
(3) non-profi t organization founded by Lori Stevens in February 2006. She saw the need and quickly arranged for prisoners at
— PAWS cont. on page 30
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