Picnic provides encouraging setting for the ARC, families
Everyone was a winner during the bingo games at the annual Rich-Mar Rotary Club picnic Wednesday evening.
But the victory and prizes are not what Michael Nebel, a member of the ARC of Butler County, looks forward to each year. It's the chance to spend time with members of his family, along with other members of the ARC.
“He looks forward to it because he gets to invite his brothers and sisters,” said Nebel's sister, Lois Cranmer, who is also an ARC board member. “It's a very nice picnic.”
The Rotary Club of Rich-Mar has hosted a picnic for members of the ARC of Butler County for several decades, and it has also become a favorite for Rotarians as well.Members of the club grill hotdogs and their signature dish, corn on the cob, for the picnic at Memorial Park, which normally draws nearly 200 attendees, according to longtime Rotary member Tom McMeekin.The Rotary Shelter at the park was filled with members of the ARC, along with their family members and caregivers, all enjoying the hotdogs and corn.John Link executive director of the ARC, said the event is a chance for ARC members to get out and see others.“They don't get to do this all the time,” he said. “A lot of the time, they are just with their caregivers. Socialization is so important.”The socialization aspect of the event is equally important for the families of ARC members, Link said. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic shut down many other opportunities for ARC members to gather, so the picnic was a good return.“Especially now, it's nice to have an event for them to get out,” Link said.According to McMeekin, the encouraging atmosphere created at the event is part of what sold him on joining the club.“Thirty years ago, it sealed the deal for me,” he said. “They get to experience a lot of friendship, and it gives them a break from their normal routine.”Once everyone had their fill of food and drink, the Rotary club began leading bingo, in which the cards never reset, giving everyone the chance to yell “bingo” eventually. The Rotary club also gave out prizes such as stuffed animals, journals and pens and pencils.Dan Goss, president of the Rotary club, said the annual bingo game is one of the most exciting parts of the event for many members of the ARC.“The look of joy on people's faces there is priceless,” Goss said.
