Commissioners proclaim April as Autism Awareness Month - April 2nd is Autism Awareness Day World wide.

Ros Neeland spoke at the County Commission Meeting April 2, 2024 about Autism and Pilot’s Workshop: Autism: Make a Difference Across the Lifespan on October 5, 2024 at BCC. Dr Kerry Magro, Ed.D, CAS is the main speaker along with Jenniffer Schreiner, LCP, BCBA, LBA and Tami Allen. A panel of parents with children with autism and a teenager with autism will also present.

**Alyson Burkhart (Sunflower Diversified) Star (Facility dog at Sunflower), Pilot members: Betty Schneider, Barbara Watson, Daniel Watson, Ros Neeland, Rhonda Knudson and Ruth Friedrich.**

**Ros Neeland, Alyson Burkhart, Connie Cale, Vicki Richardson, and Ruth Friedrich wait for Ros to speak to the commissioners about Autism Awareness and our Autis**m **workshop at BCC on October 5, 2024.**

Great Bend Pilots present a check for $200 to the Great Bend Public Library in support of their summer reading program on April 2, 2024.

Pilot members present for the check presentation are front: Ruthann Friedrich, Joyce Beadles-Fry, Barbara Watson, Marty Schloemer, Sharon Mauler. back: Rhonda Knudson, Mary Doherty and Daniel Watson. The check was presented toKen Marston (Youth Services) and Maribeth Shafer (Library Director).

Kansas Children’s Service League Christmas for their Families

Pilot Club members who assisted with the Kansas Children’s Service League Christmas Party on December 12, 2023 are: Chris Rippel, Amy Mayhew, Betty Schneider, Vicki Richardson, Marcia Johnson, Rhonda Knudson and Mary Ann June. In front is Santa (Chet Cale) and Connie Cale. VIcki and Connie work for Kansas Children’s Service as well as being Pilots. The families were taken by bus to see the Christmas lights, had supper, met Santa and received a gift.

BABIES & Little Tykes Day Out

The event was sponsored by Kansas Children’s Service League on November 8, 2023 at the Great Bend City Auditorium from 10am to 2pm. The free event was for families with children ages 0-3 in Barton, Rush, Pawnee and Stafford Counties. There were multiple booths with community resources, learning activities, the Imagination Playground, helmets from the Pilot Club, alpacas from Heartland Farm, games and many prizes.

Betty Schneider demonstrates how the strap from the helmet should fit under the chin. The little girl is wearing a helmet fitted for her at the event. Some of the booths are pictured in the background.

19 helmets were fitted for children attending the event. Pilots fitting the helmets were (front) Betty Schneider and Mary Ann June, (back) Barbara Watson and Daniel Watson. Rhonda Knudson and Vicki Richardson (organizer) were also in attendance.

**Ros Neeland (Pilot member) assisted young children who played on the Imagination Playground.**

Pilots assisted the Healthy Families with supper at their graduation class.

Great Bend Pilots who assisted for the supper for the Healthy families graduation are: Celia Wells, Betty Schneider, Marcia Johnson, Rox Neeland, Malissa Zimmer, Sandra VanBebber, Connie Cale and Vicki Richardson. Connie & Vicki both work at Healthy Families.

**Graduating students at the Healthy Families supper.**

Great Bend Pilots donate hygiene products to the GBHS closet for use by students.

Great Bend Pilot Club collected & donated items to the Great Bend Hygiene Closet. Left to right: Marty Aldrich, KathyDdavis, Vicki Richardson, Joyce Beadles-Fry, Rhonda Knudson, Jari Marietta & Betty Schneider.

Pilot members took one hour shifts to help collect items for sruff the bus.