Have you ever painted with an Alpaca? Conversed with a Llama? Bottle-fed a Patagonian Mara? As part of Rainbows’ annual celebration of staff who have been with the organization for 10 or more years (The 10:15+ Club), we visited Lazy Moon Ranch and painted with alpacas, talked to Larry the Llama and met a Patagonian Mara!
This year 52 staff with 10 or more years at Rainbows were honored for their service to families with special needs and their families. The 10:15+ Club event is dedicated to honoring Rainbows’ long-term staff with a day of good food, good fellowship, and good fun. It’s also a day filled with surprises. Staff get on a chartered bus at Kids’ Point at 10:15 a.m. on October 15 with no idea where they’re off to! This year’s event started with a ceremony recognizing each member of the Club, especially honoring milestones of 10 (2014), 15 (2009), 20 (2004) and 25 (1999) years of service. Do you remember the #1 song from those years? How about the #1 television show? And how much was a gallon of gas back then? See below for answers to these questions.
Celebrating 10 years of serving Rainbows’ children:
- Katherine Bally, Sumner County Infant/Toddler Services
- Tammy Gream, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services
- Lindsay Kral, Vice President of Programs and Services
- Kristin McCleerey, Community Based Education and Training Services
- Cynthia Silmon, Mental Health Services
- Andrew Walston, Vice President of Finance
- Kelly Welch, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services
- Amy Williams, Community Based Education and Training Service
Kathy Van Zelfden, Mental Health and Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services was honored for her 15 years of service.
Jill Morrow, Butler County Infant/Toddler Services and Veronicia Mills, Family Support Services celebrated 20 years of serving Rainbows’ children.
Maria Magno, Early Care and Education Services and Tiffany Owens, Butler County Infant/Toddler Services were honored for 25 years of providing services to children with special needs and their families.
Congratulations and Thank You to all the 2024 milestone honorees!
The ceremony was followed by a delicious lunch at Rio Grill & Cantina, and then everyone was back on the bus and headed to Lazy Moon Ranch. After enjoying the company of many furry friends, the day ended with s’mores over a campfire, hugs and laughter, and a bus ride back to Kids’ Point.
Thank You to Board Members Steve Cox and Julie Gentile, Treasurer Gail Johnson, and Adam Pogue, Secretary for joining the party at Rio.
And a BIG thank you to the Rainbows Board of Directors for sponsoring this annual day of staff recognition.
- 2014: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams; “Game of Thrones”; and gas was $3.44/gallon
- 2009: “Boom Boom Pow” by The Black Eyed Peas; “American Idol”: and gas was $2.40/gallon.
- 2004: “Yeah!” by Usher featuring Lil John and Ludacris; “CSI: Criminal Scene Investigation”; and gas was $1.89/gallon.
- 1999: “Believe” by Cher; “The Sopranos”; and gas was only $1.18/gallon.
