Naples Equestrian Challenge kindly "spotlighted" me as December's Volunteer. I am very honored and share the form I turned in for the Spotlight Bulletin Board in the hospitality shed.
VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
Stacie Wiesenbaugh
Moved
to Naples from: Los
Angeles, CA Year moved
to Naples: 2004
Why
did you move to Naples?:
Our
first child, Riley, experience a massive brain hemorrhage in utero. His traumatic
birth caused us to make many changes to our lifestyle which included moving to
be closer to family. We decided upon
SWFL where my mother spends the majority of her time.
Present
and/or past occupation, company name, job title & responsibilities:
After
the birth of my son, nearly 10 years ago, I gave up my paid occupation to
devote time to him and ultimately educating and promoting causes of special
needs. I LOVE NEC but also devote my time (when not caring for Riley) as an
Arbonne Independent Consultant, the boys schools, and a personal blog on the
journey of special needs parents.
Between caring for Riley and that, my "time clock" is full.
College/University
& Degree(s) held including subject area:
Gettysburg
College, English Lit. B.A.
Brooks
Institute of Photography, Media, B.A.
Special
Needs Kids, I have my S.N.K. degree (graduated on 8.28.2002 (birth of son)) and
still pursuing.
Family
(name of spouse, # children/grandchildren/pets):
Spouse:
John Buck (when I claim him) John sits on the Program Committee and is the face
behind the camera at NEC events.
Children:
Riley (9) & Ronan (7 this month)
Hobbies/sports:
Scuba
Diving & Photography
I
became a Naples Equestrian Challenge volunteer (month/year):
I
think that if you have a child with Special Needs, you need to be there for
him/her. When Riley turned 3 fall of
2005, we joined NEC. I wanted to be
there for him and give my time to a cause that I truly believe in.
Volunteer
areas:
I
became a volunteer at NEC because it was the agreement parents and caregivers
made as part of the rider contract. My
other Volunteer activity is volunteering my husband for things! NEC is a "family oriented
thing." I am one of Riley's regular
side-walkers, but not necessarily his favorite.
This year I took on another volunteer area as fundraiser. Chico's, offered an opportunity for a
shopping day in The Company Store, a sample sale warehouse, and the proceeds
were returned to NEC. The event took
place in September and I hope to make it a yearly event with even greater
attendance in the future.
Some
of my most memorable NEC moments are…
Growing
with NEC. I started when the arena had
no roof (those were some hot days, but fun for the kids). Watching the Volunteers grow (we have photos
of young boys and girls who have stayed with the program so long they turned
into kids with braces into amazing adults).
I
will always remember our first visit to NEC.
At that time, Riley was challenged by motion and car rides were
particularly miserable. He had cried on
the drive and I was regretting taking him out at all. It was a hot quiet summer day and the place
appeared deserted. I pulled Riley from
his car seat and as I brought him into the sun a strong breeze struck us
carrying the scent of hay and horses.
Riley's mood immediately turned joyous.
He liked it all and we had barely taken a step. It smelled right to him. It felt right. I knew we would be staying.
As
the years have gone by, NEC has remained a constant in our life. As a special needs family, we don't go
anywhere unnecessarily. As a child and
family with multiple disabilities sets us apart. Naples Equestrian Challenge is one place
where we are always welcome and understood.
It is also unique in that this is the one therapy we do not need to
justify and can simply be something Riley can participate in and enjoy.
MY
other comment:
Being
Volunteer of the Month is not expected. Particularly
because there are SO many people "behind" this organization who are
not out in the arena with the horses/kids who are so deserving... Being a part of NEC is not about being at
NEC when the kids ride. It is about the
families sharing education/being there for each other; the staff who do this
not for the money, but the love of what they do; the people who because of
physical or other challenges cannot side walk, but give their time in countless
other ways. The amazing sponsors who
literally built a roof over my son's head when he walks and hung fans to cool
him. There are so many facets to NEC
that we can all partake in. I am Blessed
to be a part of such an organization.
Other
organizations & positions held:
Currently,
I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant for health and wellness products, a
blogger and I also volunteer with Freedom Waters Foundation, Rayma C. Page
Elementary (Riley's school) and Bonita Springs Preparatory and Fitness Academy
(Riley's School).
Some
of my previous volunteer positions:
Wildlife Waystation,
Level II volunteer
Volunteer, The Junior
League of Los Angeles, Marketing Committee
Coastal Clean-Up Day
Beach Captain for Will Rogers Beach & Steering Committee City of Santa Monica
California
Coastal Commission recognition 1993
1994, 1995, 1997
tripled
turn-out to 500 in my first year as captain, collected 1139 pounds of trash,
only 10 pounds shy of the winning site for most trash
Some
of my previous employment positions:
US Census Bureau, 2010
Census, Ennumerator
Library Foundation of
Los Angeles,
Lead for the
City of Los Angeles Campaign, Liaison for The Council, Library Associates
Membership
Freeman Hospitals Foundation -
Donor Service Management for Hospitals & PCRI (Prostate Cancer Research
Institute), Financial tracking, Grant, Events
The Nature Conservancy
Earth Share of California,
Campaign Manager
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