Peacefully to Pasture

Today was a sad day for all of us at the National Ability Center. After three years of working with many of the big and tall riders in the NAC's therapeutic and adaptive riding lessons, Bally passed away.

Measuring more than 16 hands tall, Bally towered over most participants and staff. His body was barely big enough to contain his big heart. Even to his last day, Bally had the respect of both his riders and fellow horses. As he took what would be one of his last walks across the ranch this morning, the other horses in the pastures walked to their fences seemingly knowing that something was wrong with the big Belgian Draft. Bally passed away only a few hours later.

Special thanks to Dr. Sam Hendrix and Dr. John Sieverts for their care of Bally over the last few days. Thank you to David & Sue Steinman, the Alysa Casey Family and Stella Tavilla for helping bring Bally to the NAC.

Sincerely,
Dale D. Schoon,
CEO National Ability Center

A Note from the Equestrian Program Staff:

Bally was a gentle giant who tried his best at dressage and barrel racing. We'll all miss him. - Equestrian Program Resource Manager, Jan Drake

Bally was a friend and mentor to many riders. His kind heart and willing nature will be greatly missed. Thank you to all those who helped make his stay here possible. The big guy changed many lives. - Equestrian Program Manager, Rae Sorensen

United We Serve

This morning President Barack Obama announced a new initiative called United We Serve. Mr. Obama encourages Americans of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get out this summer and serve! At the National Ability Center, we could not survive without our army of volunteers. We are thankful for them everyday. For those of you who don't volunteer already, let this be your call-to-action. Come serve with us! We need you, and you will feel good for having helped out in your community. If you are interested in coming up to help in any of our many summer programs (cycling, horseback riding, swimming, water skiing, archery and more), call Jennifer Carpenter at 435.649.3991. She will get you pointed in the right direction. If you are ready to start today, our monthly volunteer orientation will be held tonight at the NAC at 5:30pm. We hope to see you there.

Better Wasatch Front Transportation?

-Courtesy of Katie Rowley and the Utah Parent Center

Wasatch Front Mobility Management Project

Public Asked to Share Ideas to Improve Transportation Services for Wasatch Front Older Adults, Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Low-Income

Wasatch Front Mobility Management Project

The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) are collaboratively conducting the Wasatch Front Mobility Management Project. Project planners invite organizations and residents to provide input on how transportation services for older adults, persons with disabilities and persons with low income can be improved through better coordination.

The objective of the Wasatch Front Mobility Management Project is to develop service and business plans for efforts that improve the coordination of transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons with low income. The project area includes the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) service area and areas within the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) planning boundaries.

Each Open House is scheduled to last two hours. Planners will share results of recent findings, and will seek the assistance of Open House participants to confirm the study findings, to identify any instances of unmet needs, service gaps or service redundancies that are not among the findings, and to offer thoughts on preliminary coordination strategies.

Input from the Open Houses will be used to develop transportation coordination strategies to address unmet mobility needs among older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons with low income. A second round of open houses will be held again in November to gain feedback and to help prioritize alternative transportation coordination strategies. The details for the second round have not yet been finalized.

In addition to open houses, the project team will also hold a series of focus group meetings for older adults, persons with disabilities and persons with low income. The focus group meetings will consist of small group discussions of 8 – 12 participants from each of the three groups. Individual focus group meetings will be held in three different locations within the project area. Participation in focus group meetings is by invitation only. To participate in a focus group meeting, visit the project website. From there you will be asked to respond to a brief questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire will be used to identify individuals that reflect a representative sampling of older adults, people with disabilities and people with low incomes. Focus group participants will receive a $25 stipend.

Members of the media should contact Barbara Thomas at Wasatch Front Regional Council (801) 363-4230 x 124 or visit the website at http://www.wfrc.org/cms/wasatchmobility/.

For general information about the Wasatch Front Mobility Management Project, the Public Open Houses, and focus group meetings, members of the public should visit the website at http://www.wfrc.org/cms/wasatchmobility/, or call the toll-free project hotline at 1-877-281-5199.

For special accommodations, please call the project hotline at 1-877-281-5199 at least 48 hours in advance of scheduled meeting times.

Dates, Times, and Locations for Public Open Houses:

Box Elder/Weber/Davis County Area Open House:

Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Weber County Library
2464 Jefferson Ave.
Ogden, UT

Salt Lake/Tooele County Area Open House:

Wednesday, June 17, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Salt Lake City Main Library
210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT

Utah County Area Open House:

Thursday, June 18, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Utah County Health and Justice Building
151 South University Avenue
Provo, UT

Equestrian 20th Anniversary on PCTV

More than 200 people joined us this weekend to celebrate two decades of horseback riding at the National Ability Center. Thanks to everyone who came and participated. Richard Lee Cody's music was fantastic. Dancing lasted well into the night. Thanks to Bandits for providing the food. Thanks, as well, to Sage Creek Equestrian and Whisperide for all their help in putting the event on. If you couldn't come, check out what was seen through the video camera lens of Park City Television.