North Coast Community Homes Annual Meeting
December 7, 2010 - Windows On The River

Brian G. Skotko, M.D., M.P.P. was the keynote speaker at the 2010 Annual Meeting of North Coast Community Homes. His topic was "Celebrating Exceptionalities". He shared several stories of people with disabilities to illustrate the exceptional gifts that people with disabilities share with the community, including the gift of belief, the gift determination, the gift of selflessness, the gift of respect and the gift of life.

The gift of determination was illustrated with a story about John, a man with down Syndrome. John loved the television series Baywatch and decided that he wanted to visit the actors that he had come to know so well by watching their TV series. He saved his allowance money for this trip and he researched the best airline flights and hotel arrangements. His parents, seeing his determination, agreed to visit California, but cautioned John that it would probably not be possible to actually visit the Baywatch set. When they were in Los Angeles, they visited the seaside and John excitedly pointed out that this was the exact spot where the series was filmed, for he recognized the scenery. In talking to a man from the production company who happened to be on the pier, they were told to come back the next day. When they arrived the next day, they were greeted and taken into the production area where they were given special seats to watch the filming. All the actors came to introduce themselves to John and his family - dreams can come true.

At this annual meeting, two special awards were presented. The Community Service award was presented to Dick Russ, WKYC-TV Managing Editor and News Anchor and Trustee of North Coast Community Homes. This award recognizes an individual, organization or institution that has contributed to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental retardation, mental illness and other disabilities. The Above & Beyond Award was presented to Karen and David Pehmoeller for their selfless gift of their family home to North Coast Community Homes. This property is now the home for three women with disabilities.

We thank Dr. Terrence M. Ryan, Superintendent of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities for his introductory presentation and Ronald D. Holman, II, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of North Coast Community Homes for his remarks on the state of the agency.