Good Deeds Word Of The Day: Transition

› By Katie McPherson › Photography by Ralph Demilio

Just like you can’t put a good book down, Healthy Living can’t leave a good story alone. Since we last visited the Dream Chasers and X-Treme Speakers at Marion Correctional Institution in March, they’ve been busy mentoring new men and spreading their initiative across the state.

Toastmasters International is an organization that seeks to improve members’ public speaking skills, honing their communication and leadership abilities in tandem. Gavel Clubs provide the same experience to members who aren’t eligible to join Toastmasters clubs, which is why Leonard Rera wrote to Dr. Manal Fakhoury of Toasting Ocala to start one inside Marion Correctional Institution. The rest is well-spoken history.

Following the success of the first two Gavel Clubs at Marion Correctional Institution, five more have spawned this year: Soul Speakers at the main unit of MCI, Freedom Speakers at Re-Entry Center of Ocala, Beautiful Minds at Florida Women’s Reception Center, Free to Speak in Polk County and a Gavel Club for Special Olympics athletes. Seven clubs? That’s approximately 245 Gaveliers getting a chance at personal and professional development. For Leonard, being the man who wrote the letter to spark it all is humbling.

“I never imagined it doing that. I thought one club, a few guys, maybe one volunteer, but it turned into seven clubs—it’s mindblowing. This shows that even though I’m incarcerated I can still have an impact,” he says with a smile. Today he serves as VP of Membership, recruiting new members when others go home.

Dr. Fakhoury is a Distinguished Toastmaster and now Gavel Club Chair for the district. Besides overseeing new club creation, she recently helped submit a successful proposal for Toastmasters International to amend their rules, ensuring inmates in Gavel Clubs retain any awards and progress upon their release when they join Toastmasters clubs.

“We wanted to confirm for anyone who is a Gavelier that their awards are recognized. Once they hit their first award, they earn a credential and we introduce you as a Confident Communicator up to a Distinguished Toastmaster. For example, Andre is at a bronze level, and when he goes out and joins a club, his awards aren’t lost. Now we have it in writing that they don’t have to start over,” Fakhoury explains.

During their October open house, four members gave speeches, the band played and three members performed an original poetic segment titled “Conscious Awakening” about an inmate’s struggle with his positive and negative inner voices. Each meeting features a word of the day to enrich Gaveliers’ vocabulary, and transition happened to be it. It’s the perfect fit for a club aiming to help members become better versions of themselves.

Despite soaring growth and major steps for Gaveliers everywhere, these volunteers and members still have hopes large and small for their clubs.

Dream Chasers President Nathaniel Mandelbaum says one goal will always be consistent: improving their members’ confidence and communication.

“We have a lot of talent and experience in the prison system, but inmates are often discounted immediately because of the way they speak. It’s part of the culture. This is a small way to combat that. If a guy walks out of here and he can express himself a little better, then we’ve done something,” he explains.

In his speech during open house, Mandelbaum pointed out that communication is at the heart of good relationships.

Dream Chasers has helped him solidify his.

“A year into this program, my relationship with my family is better than it has ever been, not because I see them every day but because when I get them on the phone I know how to communicate.”

For VP of Public Relations Andre Staton, it’s important to express their experiences to the next generation of children without leadership.

“We want to bring kids to the Gavel Clubs we’ve started so they can see and hear the stories. They think this lifestyle is glamourous. Who are the future men in blue? Our children, if we don’t do something about it. I didn’t have access to doctors, real estate agents, PR company owners,” he says, pointing to volunteers around the room, “who could show me how they got where they are. All they need is someone to show them they are able.”

One side effect of Gavel Clubs is that they become incubators for more ideas. One upcoming goal is a proposal to create a personal development dorm for inmates who want to surround themselves with others and share that common vision.

While all of the volunteers genuinely enjoy their involvement, the members still feel some pretty immense gratitude.

“Dr. Fakhoury and Toasting Ocala came here not knowing what to expect. They’d never been in a prison before, and it changed their minds about what the inmates are like,” says Mandelbaum. “She’s doing amazing work here. We all owe her a huge debt.”

“I call her my Gavel mom,” Andre adds. “To see seven new clubs is just confirmation you can chase your dreams—even from prison.”

Find out more › If you’re interested in learning more about Toastmasters or Gavel Clubs or would like to attend a meeting, email Dr. Manal Fakhoury › manal.llc@gmail.com or info@myfli.com

A Notable Achievement

Oak Hill Hospital is proud to announce that Catherine Edmisten, RN, MBA, FACHE, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders. Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 9,100 health care executives hold this distinction.

“The health care management field plays a vital role in providing high-quality care to the people in our communities, which makes having a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization critically important,” says Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of the American College of Healthcare Executives. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and earning the distinction of board certification from ACHE, health care leaders demonstrate a commitment to excellence in serving their patients and the community.”

Welcome To The Neighborhood!

Residents of Marion, Lake and Sumter Counties have additional access to emergent care as Ocala Health opens its new Summerfield ER, a freestanding ER located on Hwy 441 adjacent to the Del Webb Spruce Creek Community. The nearly $10 million project employs approximately 40 full-time health care professionals. Expected to serve more than 15,000 patients in its first year, the 10,500-square-foot facility features 11 exam rooms, a laboratory and imaging services, including CT scan, ultrasound and X-ray.

“The new Summerfield ER facility allows us to provide critical health care services in a more convenient setting for our patients,” says Chad P. Christianson, CEO, Ocala Health. “We continually monitor development in Marion County, and our hospitals are seeing an increased number of patients from the Summerfield area. This new facility provides emergent care more closely to where our patients and their families live.”

Ride On!

The Florida Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (FTBOA) presented $1,000 to Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) to benefit physically, mentally and emotionally challenged children. The funds will be used to sponsor rides for clients who are unable to pay the full amount for therapeutic riding lessons. MTRA relies heavily on the generosity of the community and its businesses through donations, grants and other funding. They have maintained the equine-assisted therapy program in Ocala for over 30 years.

“We have many riders who benefit greatly from therapeutic riding but are unable to pay the entire cost of a session,” says Leslie Gettys, MTRA executive director. “Donations such as this one from FTBOA ensure those riders continue to receive the wonderful benefits of our programs.”

A Helping Hand

Bank of America representative Erica Watts presented a check for $2,500 to Helping Hands to support their efforts in helping people impacted by homelessness, abuse and poverty. Helping Hands provides shelter and related assistance for people in need, mostly women and children. They also assist with food, clothing, medical, dental, transportation, jobs, job skills training, education grants and counseling.

“We greatly appreciate the generosity of Bank of America and their bank’s leadership team,” says Brad Dinkins, chairman for Helping Hands. “Their support is a big lift to our efforts in helping hurting people in our community.”

Toxic Tampons

Ingredient

When shopping, read feminine product boxes for what they do say to avoid toxins. Opt for organic cotton tampons to avoid pesticide residue and BPA-free applicators to eliminate that cancercausing compound. Stark white tampons have been bleached in chlorine, creating traces of dioxin, which is known to disrupt hormones. And always go fragrance-free—it’s an easy way to avoid an extra batch of chemicals.