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Mt. Bethel Recreational Ministries has just completed 2 sessions of our ever popular Sports Camp. Sports Camp is a non-stop, 5 day, all day camp with activities that include a private tour of Turner Stadium, Mountasia and lunch at the Varsity, Bowling, Pump-It-Up, swimming, a cookout and hike at Red Top Mountain and lots of fun games at the CAC. And there was no shortage of ice cream, snacks and popsicles. Each camper was given a video of the weeks activities. It was a great time.
We’ve added more than 200 pictures from sports camp to our gallery — check ‘em out!
Susanna
In mid May, House Bill 1044 was signed by Governor Purdue to allow Congregational Respite Programs, like Mt. Bethel’s, to exist separately from Adult Day Cares that will require licensing by the state.
Representative Len Walker, also an Associate Minister at St. Luke UMC, spearheaded HB1044 once the realization of the 5 year journey with Georgia’s DHR decided not to exempt Congregational Programs from licensing.
Dawn Reed, Director of Mt. Bethel’s Older Adult Center, worked with Rep. Walker and other Directors of similar Congregational Respite programs to write HB1044 and create the awareness of just how different a Congregational Respite Program can be from even a social model Adult Day Care. The main aspect of HB1044 deals with the services that a program like Mt. Bethel provides. “Respite Care Services Program” means a program for aging adults who can function in a group setting and who can feed and toilet themselves with or without the assistance of a personal aide accompanying them and which:
- Is operated by a nonprofit organization;
- Provides no more than 25 hours of services per week;
- Is managed by a director who has completed an adult day care services training and orientation program approved by the Department;
- Is staffed primarily by volunteers; and
- Has as its sole purpose to provide primary caregivers of aging adults with relief from normal care giving duties and responsibilities.
Social and medical model Adult Day Cares, that will now be licensed in the state of Georgia, offer medication assistance, assistance with ADL’s and have a staff ration of 1:8. Mt. Bethel’s program which works with trained volunteers & staff, has a ratio of 1:5.
Dawn
Mt. Bethel Recreational Ministry is busy this summer offering lots of camps. Last week we offered a Soccer Camp presented by the Atlanta Silverback organization. 120 campers braved the heat and hit the fields to improve their fundamental skills of dribbling, passing, and shooting while having lots of fun. In addition to the Soccer Camp, a Baseball Camp presented by Sports-A-Rama was held on the fields in the afternoon. There was running, hitting, catching, throwing and laughing. We hope everyone had a great time and polished their skills.
We will also offer two sessions of Sports Camp where we will to go Bowling, putt putt golf, Red Top Mountain for hiking and a cookout, Turner Field for a tour just to name a few things. Other camps presented are four Hoops Camps (1,2,3,4) and Volleyball Camp.
Pam
On a cold, blustery night, more than 1200 “brave” souls from Mt Bethel “braved” the icicles and frigid temperatures of the nose bleed section in Turner Field to watch the Braves bunch their hits in a timely manner to beat the Oakland A’s 3-2 on Friday night, May 16th. This annual event organized by the Recreation Ministry once again kicked off with the parade of Mt Bethel athletes and parents around the warning track and some crowd pleasing t-ball play on the outfield grass. All of this was viewed with great interest by more than 30,000 fans in the stands on the Big Screen behind center field.
Chipper raised his .418 batting average with a 2 for 3 night and Brian McCann continues to demonstrate that he, not Frenchy, should have been on the cover of Time magazine in 2006 with 3 timely hits. This is definitely not the Braves of 2007 as the bullpen held the lead for the win. Also the game clearly proved that Tom Glavine will get into the Hall of Fame because of his pitching skills, not his bunting efforts.
Almost as much fun was watching all the fans in shorts and t-shirts suddenly realize around the 3d inning that summer has not arrived in Atlanta. They flocked to the stores to buy “bargain” Braves sweat shirts or sneaked down to the lower levels seeking defilade and protection against the arctic blast that kept our drinks cold for the evening. Atlanta was confirmed that night as the prostate capital of south; I have never seen so many men make so many bathroom trips in the course of a 3 hour game. I’m sure that the fact that the wash rooms were heated was strictly a coincidence.
Those hardy souls who stuck it out were rewarded with an incredible fireworks show sponsored by Publix. Of course those who rode the bus were forced into staying for the show because the director of Men’s Ministry didn’t answer his cell phone (yes you can queue 48 voice mail messages) from whiners who wanted to leave after the 4th inning. His very credible defense was that he couldn’t hear the phone ring over the howling of the wind.
A tip of the hat to Pam “White Shoes” Skelton and the Rec Staff for again organizing this wonderful event.
Blessings
Mike
Ok, so some of the staff drive well and some of the staff pack boxes well…
This morning 18 members of the Mt. Bethel staff went on a field trip and a good time was had by all. We had a fantastic time packing boxes at Mary and Ed Ettel’s home for the Any Soldier Ministry. The Any Soldier Packing parties are like nothing you have ever experienced. We all arrived in the Mt. Bethel bus (just like kids going on a field trip) it was very exciting - thanks to Mike Boyce for driving. Once we all piled out of the bus and into the Ettel’s home we were given our marching orders and then a wonderful breakfast. After we had sustenance (I don’t think any of us are about to blow away) we were off to fill the boxes - wow. This is a well oiled machine.
If you have not had the opportunity to help with a packing party you should definitely make this a priority. This is a local/foreign mission that we can all help out with. You can donate school supplies, lotion, soccer balls, candy and on & on & on… It was a great experience and we accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, and we got a yummy breakfast too - it doesn’t get much better than this.
You can see most of us in the picture.
Genia Crane, Heather Wood, Debi Wyatt, Sherri Juliani, Janis Caverlee, Ruth Curl, Sharon Wyland, Karen Jones, Kim McGarr, Susan Preece, Judy Green, Jamie Allen, Carey Akin, Krista Young, Mike Boyce, and me (Kibbie). Not pictured are Ali Grasty, Dan Boswell and Johnna Bain - they must have been inside still eating. Also, we had Sally and Bill Wenhold, Dik and Carleen Wesson and 2 guys from Chattahoochee Tech. Also, a big thanks to Tami Drukenmiller who stayed behind and held down the fort (and answered the phones).
Thanks again to the Ettel’s for having the vision of this ministry and also having the fortitude to make it happen.
Kibbie
