The AUsome Social Group
Teen/Adult Recreation/Social Group
Sponsored by the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin; http://www.autismsouthcentral.org/
Contact: Nancy Alar, 3802 Gala Way, Cottage Grove, WI 53527
(608) 222-4378 or [email protected]
What:
When:
Where:
Cost:
Learn about Lion Dancing - a Unique & Beautiful form of Martial Arts
Saturday, July 12, 2014, 4-6 pm; Snack afterwards at McDonald’s on E.
Wash in Madison East Shopping Center – see map below
Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association, 3361 East Washington Ave, Madison,
53704 (Near the Fair Oaks Ave Intersection-Directions)
Free!
Lion Dancing is a cross between martial arts and entertaining dance. It is taught in Madison by the Zhong Yi
Kung Fu Association. Check out their web site at http://zhongyimartialarts.org/. This association also teaches
standard Kung Fu martial arts, but they are one of the few places that teach Lion Dancing. You may have seen
dragon versions of Lion Dancers on TV shows. These are the long dragons with the big head that dance through
the streets in Chinese parades with many people inside of them. Lions are 2-person versions of the longer dragon
costumes. Usually lion dancers are accompanied by drumming music. Because the drumming is loud, they won’t
be doing the drumming in the demonstration they are doing for us.
The Lion Dancer costumes, especially the heads, are very elaborate and expensive. The Zhong Yi Kung Fu
Association also has one of the multi-person dragon costumes that are not used as often. Their lion dancing troupe
is available for hire for weddings and any other function where someone would want unique entertainment. Here
is a link to a YouTube video showing Lion Dancers in red costumes and their “trainer” performing at a wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7B8ojOX7CE. This is a very interesting form of entertainment that is part
of Chinese culture. We will also learn about the connection between this form of martial arts/dance and eastern
thinking – such as how the training is done and why there is something that looks like a shrine in the studio.
As always I would appreciate an RSVP if you plan on coming so I can tell the folks at the Zhong Yi Kung Fu
Association how many to expect, but an RSVP is not required.
Hope you can join us for this educational and entertaining activity.
Important Items and Sensory Issues:
 The room is small and may be noisy
 Bring money for a snack at McDonalds
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The AUsome Social Group
Teen/Adult Recreation/Social Group
Sponsored by the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin; http://www.autismsouthcentral.org/
Contact: Nancy Alar, 3802 Gala Way, Cottage Grove, WI 53527
(608) 222-4378 or [email protected]
What:
When:
Where:
Cost:
Private Swimming Party at Monona Pool – Eat after at Rossi’s Pizza –
pre-registration required – see below
August 9, 2014 (Saturday evening), 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.
Monona Pool at 1011 Nichols Road in Monona. Pizza afterwards at
Rossi's Pizza, 4503 Monona Drive. Note that this is a different pizza
place than last year. It is across the street from Monona Grove High
School. See map below.
Because this is a combined Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin
and AUsome Group summer swim, there is no cost for
families/individuals that are members of the Autism Society. Cost is $10
per family if not members – pay at the pool (you can also join the Autism
Society at the pool for $30). Also bring money for pizza at Rossi's
Swimming in the Monona Pool in August has become an Autism Society/AUsome tradition. The Monona Pool
changed their rental policy last year to evening swims rather than morning swimming. Since it is usually hotter in
the afternoon anyway, this will probably work out well. We just have to hope we don’t have thunderstorms.
The cost of swimming is free for members of the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin (the ASC). So this
might be a good time to join the ASC if you aren’t a member already. Being an ASC member also automatically
gives you yearly membership in the Autism Society of Wisconsin. See the ASC web site at
http://www.autismsouthcentral.org/ for more details on membership cost ($30 for a family), how to join and details
about the August swim. You will also be able to join (and save $10 on swimming) at the pool as you check in.
Pre-registration is required because we need a count for the number of lifeguards. Because the ASC
Executive Director position is currently vacant, I (Nancy Alar) am coordinating the Swimming activity
registration this year. Please email me ([email protected]) with Monona Swimming in the subject
line and include how many people are coming and how many plan to swim. Or call me at 608-222-4378 to
let me know this information. If I am not home, please leave me a message with your name, number
attending (both swimming and not swimming) and your phone number so I can check back if I need to.
Please speak slowly and clearly since my answering machine is not the best.
As before, we have been able to reserve the entire Monona pool. They have a large shallow end, diving boards and
a great water slide. The pool is very large and you can bring your pool toys. There are changing rooms with
showers to get dressed and into your suits.
The Monona Pool is located Behind the Monona Community Center at 1011 Nichols Road (which becomes Pflaum
Road at Monona Drive - see map below). Go West on Nichols road about 8 blocks from Monona Drive, past the
Monona Library/City Hall sign, and down the hill. The pool is on the right. There is a big parking lot next to the
pool entrance. Don't forget your suit and towel! Bring shampoo, a comb and an extra towel if you want to
wash the chlorine out of your hair. Bring pool toys if you have them.
If you forget to pre-register and we don’t have enough lifeguards, it will be first come, first admitted. However,
parents or others who come but don’t swim can be in the pool area and don’t count toward the lifeguard
requirement. There’s a large selection of lounge chairs if you just want to come and “hang out” (you don’t even
have to change into a swimsuit). We will also have lemonade and snacks available near the pool. We can get in
the changing room at 6:15. We have to be out of the pool at 8:30. After getting out of our suits, we’ll head over
to the Rossi’s pizza on Monona Drive for something to eat. We used to always go to Rocky’s Pizza, but I changed
it to Rossi’s this year because it is closer and they have a larger food selection plus a video game room.
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If the swimming gets rained out (horrors!!): Watch your email for info on this since the pool folks make
cancellation decisions at the last minute. But the lifeguards don’t let a little thing like cool and cloudy weather
stop them. If you don't have email or the weather is “iffy”, meet me in the pool parking lot at 6:00 and we'll make
a final decision with those who show up. If the lifeguards cancel, I will probably suggest going to Rossi’s Pizza
Vintage Video game place early to hang out since the Monona Library (our previous fall back place for bad
weather) isn’t open in the evening.
Important Information:
1. Visit http://www.autismsouthcentral.org/ for other services and activities sponsored by the Autism
Society of South Central Wisconsin (ASC). Be sure to sign up for their email group to get the
“News you can Use” messages. Send an email to [email protected] to communicate
with the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin and request addition to the email contact list.
There are autism related activities happening almost every month now. The 3rd Tuesday of every
other month (Jan, March, May, July, Sept., Nov.) at 7pm is a parent support group meeting at the
Midvale Community Lutheran Church at 4329 Tokay Blvd (the corner of Midvale Blvd. and Tokay
Blvd. on Madison’s west side. There are also meetings every other month starting in January at 6:30
pm on Wednesday evening of the AUsome Adult support group at the Goodman Community Center
at 149 Waubesa Street on Madison’s East side. See the web site at
http://autismsouthcentral.org/ausome-adult/ for more information.
We are also always in need of volunteers for our many activities sponsored by the ASC. Please
contact [email protected] to get on our volunteer list if you are available to help out
with any of our activities.
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What Happened at AUsome’s Last Outings?
One Walk/Big Strides for Autism Awareness Run/Walk; Sunday, May 4, 2014
The weather was just perfect – almost the same as last year. Perfect temps in the 60’s with no rain and just a few
clouds. And we had a very big turnout, including at least 6 dogs. We brought our hairless Chinese Crested dog,
Taipei, dressed in one of his dog outfits because it was a bit chilly standing around in the morning. Last year we
had 2 dogs to bring, but, sadly, our oldest dog (Shanghai) died just a couple weeks before this event.
There were a number of display tables set up by vendors with autism related products. The Autism Society had Tshirts to pick up and autism items to purchase. And there were ducks, geese and a number of spring flowers in
bloom. So there was plenty to look at as we waited for the walk/run to start. There were a number of AUsome
members at the walk including Richard and Jack. I got to chat with a lot of old friends.
The walk started off with a (really big) group photo and then some warm up exercises with John Ashworth, The
Fitness Nomad. John had everyone touching their toes and reaching for the sky. Then the runners took off first.
Finally the walking crowd took off in a leisurely way over the picturesque stone bridge on their way past the zoo.
It only took them about 45 minutes to get back. It was a lovely way to get some exercise.
Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin Summer Celebration “Tail Gate Party”
and Mallard’s Baseball Game; Saturday, June 28, 2014; 4:30 – 9:30 PM
I am not sure exactly how many AUsome members attended our ASC Mallard’s game activity, but we did sell out
all our 50 Tail Gate Party tickets. I think about half of them went to AUsome members and their families. We did
have lots of good luck that day. The weather forecast included a 30% possibility of rain and the sky looked
threatening before the game. We even felt a few rouge rain drops in the 4th inning, but in the end, the weather
turned out to be perfect (once the sun went down and it cooled off just a bit). The only weather problem we had
was the wind that caused us grief as we handed out game tickets and sold raffle tickets before the game. At one
point it blew a whole folder of materials away from me and plastered the stuff all over the chain link fence behind
me. At least the wind was so strong it kept the things all pinned to the fence until I could peel it off and gather it
up again.
The food was good and plentiful. We all got wristbands so we could get as much as we wanted before the game.
We also had a table assigned to the Autism Society under the special tail gate tent where we could sit together to
eat. For the game we had comfortable assigned seats so we could sit together. The seats were on the 3rd base line
so the sun was not in our eyes. Al Kutil got to represent the ASC and throw out one of the ceremonial first
pitches. Way to go, Al!! Sam Rogers has especially good luck when he caught one of the Mallard’s T-shirts that
was thrown into the crowd. A lot of foul balls came close to us, but we didn’t catch any of them (but we didn’t get
hit on the head by any of them either). The announcer always said “wiener” when there was a foul ball. If you
caught a foul ball, you could turn it in at the concession stand for a free hot dog. One of the concession stands was
selling donut burgers. This was a cheeseburger served on a grilled donut instead of a bun. None of us had the guts
(stomach) to try one. It sounded like a heart attack on a plate to me.
The Mallards were not lucky. They lost to the Lakeshore Chinooks 3 to 1. It didn’t look good when the very first
pitch of the game resulted in the Chinooks hitting a home run. The Mallards didn’t make any bad mistakes; they
just couldn’t get very many good hits.
There was the usual foolishness for entertainment between innings. Like goofy baseball team members acting like
bowling pins, middle aged guys doing dance routines with streamers and little kids running the bases. There were
also the usual visits with the mascots Maynard Mallard and Minnie Mallard. I got so caught up in all the action I
forgot to take pictures. I hope I can get some from the others who took them. A good time was had by all.
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AUsome Social Group Philosophy and Ground Rules
Group Sponsor:
The AUsome Social Group is sponsored by the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin. It is highly
recommended that you join the Autism Society. It is possible that chapter membership may be required in the
future as the AUsome group becomes larger and requires more resources. To get more information about the
Autism Society Chapter (including a resource list), call (608) 213-8519, email [email protected] or
send a note to Autism Society, 2935 Fish Hatchery Rd #101, Madison, WI 53711
See the Autism Society website at http://www.autismsouthcentral.org/ for membership information and a link to
the AUsome Social Group web pages on the left side (there is also an AUsome adult support group for those on the
spectrum). If you join the Autism Society of South Central WI, this automatically gives you the chapter newsletter
plus membership in the state (ASW) Autism Society so you will get their mailings as well. (However, if you join
just the national Autistic Society, you will not get state and local mailings).
Group Purpose:
The AUsome group was organized to provide stimulating, fun, social opportunities for people ages 12 and over
who are challenged by sensory/communication issues related to Autism/Asperger’s/PDD/Tourette’s. However,
anyone is welcome to join the activities. I try to set up activities that allow for social interaction between group
members and between parents and siblings of the group. I also strive to provide new and interesting experiences
that will broaden the world view of participants and expose them to educational and potential job environments.
The AUsome Newsletter:
The AUsome Group has a separate newsletter that is sent out every other month, containing details for the next 2
outings and a summary of what happened the past 2 months. The AUsome newsletter will be sent out at least a
week in advance of the next outing (I hope). Some things may be planned with short notice if something
interesting comes up. If you have an e-mail address and are OK with receiving the newsletter that way, let me
(Nancy Alar) know. It saves time and postage if notification can just be sent electronically. I will maintain a
mailing list of participants, and will verify this list annually – usually in January in conjunction with a call about
tickets to the juggling show. Our AUsome newsletter is also available on the web at
http://autismsouthcentral.org/category/ausome-social-group-newsletters/
General Activity Plans:
The general plan is to have an activity about once a month that will last from 2 to 4 hours. The target day will be
the first Saturday of the month. However, this is subject to schedule conflicts and availability of interesting
activities. Activities that we have done include bowling, miniature golf, gymnastics, movies, a talent show, art
gallery visit, fossil hunt, Little Amerricka (a local amusement park), swimming, horseback riding, Go Cart driving,
farm market, airplane rides, pottery making and a limousine ride. Each January we attend the 47 th annual Madfest
Juggling show. In August we have a private pool party at the Monona Pool. Every November we have “video
game night”. If you are especially interested in a particular activity or have other suggestions, please let me know.
Some activities will coincide with general activities planned by the Autism Society such as the annual August
swimming party.
Sensory Issues:
Every effort will be made to accommodate sensory issues by limiting cigarette smoke, strong odors, unusual
lighting, large crowds and high noise levels where possible. If an activity might involve some of the sensory
problems mentioned above, they will be described in the AUsome newsletter. It will not be possible to
accommodate everyone’s needs all the time so individuals must decide their tolerance levels for each activity.
Please let me know if you have any special requests in this area. Also, please be sensitive to requests from group
members who have special sensory needs (such as problems with others chewing gum.).
Logistics:
Some individuals may need to arrange for a support person to accompany them. Please use your best judgment in
this area. Transportation will be the responsibility of each individual. However, effort will be made to provide
help with transportation by designating central meeting points, etc. Please call me, Nancy Alar, (608) 222-4378
or e-mail me at [email protected] or [email protected] if you have transportation
problems, and I’ll try to help work out a way for you to get there.
Since these activities are loosely organized social outings, each person participates at their own risk.
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