ORIGINAL BILL'S REOPENS * NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS * HINT OF FALL * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 11 * August 20, 2010
ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS;
SEE YOU AT BILL'S
ONCE AGAIN, school is about to start. There is a familiar rhythm to this -- the
part of each year which marks the shift from summer to fall. The weather still
feels like summer, but the start of school is one more reminder that autumn
lies just around the corner.
I love being in Bill's Coffeeshop as school starts. Many readers know I was the
manager of the coffeeshop for several years. Each day at this time of year
new faces appear in the coffeeshop. Most are new students at the
University of Iowa. Many of the new people are going into the social
work program. Some are working on a BA (undergrad).; others are
working on an MSW (grad); a few are working on a PhD (ultragrad?)
North Hall fills up with energy and enthusiasm as all of these new
people.
Of course, there are returning students, too -- familiar faces coming
back for another year along their journey to college degrees.
They stop int o tell stories from their summers. Some have stayed
right here in Iowa City; others have traveled the world over the
past three months.
These days I'm spending most of my time at Uptown Bill's,
730 S. Dubuque, instead of the original coffeeshop.
But on Friday, Aug. 20 I plan to sneak over to Wild Bill's for the
first day. I'll be there for a good part of the morning. Maybe I'll
see you there.
HERE AND THERE,
HINT OF FALL
Have you heard the crickets in the evenings? They are getting louder
each week now. Here and there, they are already louder than the
cicadas. It's a sure sign that summer is aging and fall is close ahead.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE
LEGACY OF BILL SACKTER
WHAT DOES the life and legacy of Bill Sackter mean to us now? Are
there lessons to be learned? Yes, say visitors to the coffeeshops
and readers of this Newsletter. Here are some of their collected
thoughts. We encourage you to add your comments. Write to
us by clicking reply. Or send your comments to tomgilsenan@gmail.com
+ Bill's life brings up many policy implications.
The first is the need for disabled adults to live out in the community
as independently as possible. The coffeesop brings up the need for
jobs for people with disabilities. Another implication of the
coffeeshop is the need for people, disabled or not, to have a place to
come together. The coffeeshop is a great example of a place that can
be used for socializing and accessing community services.
+ Bill was fortunate to have someone who cared for his well-being.
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop provides this for whomever walks through the
door. Everyone is greeted with a warm welcome smile. Everyone is
accepted and treated equally. Wild Bill's is a place where we can
start to change social policy.
+ Bill Sackter helped revolutionize our knowledge and experiences.
His life brought attention to the capabilities and struggles of a
disability. Wild Bill's continues to be a venue for people -- with
disabilities and without -- to interact and learn from each other.
+ Bill's life shows that people with disabilities are capable of
living integrated lives within the community. Communities should work
together to ensure people with disabilities have access to public
transportation, housing and jobs.
+Bill Sackter overcame many obstacles.
He did that by successfully starting a business and offering
individuals with disabilities a place to go.
+ Bill's life influenced social work and social policy.
He helped dissolve stereotypes. His courage, drive and compassion
opened up the minds of hundreds of people.
+ Bill helped dispel myths about disabilities.
His life reminds us to dispel the myths of "ableism" and to integrate
and create community.
+ Bill's life improved the lives of many.
It opened more doors and allowed people to be more accepting.
+ The public perception of persons with disabilities changed
drastically because of Bill.
OPEN HOUSE ON LABOR
DAY AT UPTOWN BILL'S
YOU'RE invited to an Open House on Labor Day at the new Uptown Bill's.
The coffeeshop has just moved to 730 S. Dubuque.
The new location is on top of PATV and includes a bookstore
and performance venue. The Open House will be held Monday, Sept. 6,
8 am to 3 pm. Also at Uptown Bill's that day: The annual Ralston Creek
Fair and Flea Market. Hope to see you.
100 PAGES OF POETRY
COMING EVERY DAY
Have you been following the Iowa City Poetry Marathon? It started in July and continues until Halloween. The goal is
to write 100 pages of poetry every day. David Morice, a longtime friend of Uptown Bill's, is coordinating this event.
For more information, visit this website: www.iowacitypoetrymarathon.com
WILD BILL'S WILL
REOPEN AUG. 20
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop reopens Friday, Aug. 20 at 8 am. The coffeeshop has been closed for its summer vacation.
For more about the coffeeshop, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook.
AUG. 22 MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR JOHN COOLIDGE
A celebration of the life and spirit of John Coolidge is planned Sunday, Aug. 22 at Uptown
Bill's. 1:30 pm. John, who died last month, was the longtime maintenance guy at
Uptown Bill's.
NEW TIME FOR OPEN MIC
AT UPTOWN BILL'S
Open Mic at Uptown Bill's now starts at 7 pm. Sign-ups start at 6:30 pm.
For more information, call Uptown at 339-0401.
JUST FOR FUN: YOU KNOW YOU'VE
HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN...
..You don't tan, you roast.
..Juan Valdez sends you a birthday card.
..You lick the coffeepot clean.
..You wear the finish off your coffee table.
..You short out motion detectors.
..You're named employee of the month at Terrapin and you don't even work
there.
..You chew on other people's fingernails.
..Someone asks you how you are and you reply: "Good to the last drop."
This "Too much coffee" segment runs occasionally in the Bill's Newsletter.
Have a contribution? Send it to: thomas-gilsenan@uiowa.edu.
LOOKING BACK IN
BILL'S NEWSLETTER
Six years ago (2004): Building community
We start building community by taking the experience of Bill's Coffeeshop to
other places.
Seven years ago (2003) Happy Birthday, Jane
Jane Addams, social work's founding mother, was born Sept. 6, 1860.
Eight years ago (2002) Song of fall
Here and there are already signs of the changing seasons
_______________________
Bill's Coffeeshop Newslettter is a virtual extension of Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's. Now in its 11th year, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and the new director of Uptown Bill's. An archive of back issues can be found at the Coffee and Community weblog: coffeeandcommunity.blogspot.com<http://coffeeandcommunity.blogspot.com>. For other information, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook.
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Located in North Hall, it has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years.
Uptown Bill's is an outgrowth of the original coffeeshop and includes several businesses owned or managed by individuals with disabilities. The coffeeshop, bookstore and performance venue are now located at 730 S. Dubuque in Iowa City. For more information, check the Facebook page for Uptown Bill's Small Mall or call (319) 339-0401
ONCE AGAIN, school is about to start. There is a familiar rhythm to this -- the
part of each year which marks the shift from summer to fall. The weather still
feels like summer, but the start of school is one more reminder that autumn
lies just around the corner.
I love being in Bill's Coffeeshop as school starts. Many readers know I was the
manager of the coffeeshop for several years. Each day at this time of year
new faces appear in the coffeeshop. Most are new students at the
University of Iowa. Many of the new people are going into the social
work program. Some are working on a BA (undergrad).; others are
working on an MSW (grad); a few are working on a PhD (ultragrad?)
North Hall fills up with energy and enthusiasm as all of these new
people.
Of course, there are returning students, too -- familiar faces coming
back for another year along their journey to college degrees.
They stop int o tell stories from their summers. Some have stayed
right here in Iowa City; others have traveled the world over the
past three months.
These days I'm spending most of my time at Uptown Bill's,
730 S. Dubuque, instead of the original coffeeshop.
But on Friday, Aug. 20 I plan to sneak over to Wild Bill's for the
first day. I'll be there for a good part of the morning. Maybe I'll
see you there.
HERE AND THERE,
HINT OF FALL
Have you heard the crickets in the evenings? They are getting louder
each week now. Here and there, they are already louder than the
cicadas. It's a sure sign that summer is aging and fall is close ahead.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE
LEGACY OF BILL SACKTER
WHAT DOES the life and legacy of Bill Sackter mean to us now? Are
there lessons to be learned? Yes, say visitors to the coffeeshops
and readers of this Newsletter. Here are some of their collected
thoughts. We encourage you to add your comments. Write to
us by clicking reply. Or send your comments to tomgilsenan@gmail.com
+ Bill's life brings up many policy implications.
The first is the need for disabled adults to live out in the community
as independently as possible. The coffeesop brings up the need for
jobs for people with disabilities. Another implication of the
coffeeshop is the need for people, disabled or not, to have a place to
come together. The coffeeshop is a great example of a place that can
be used for socializing and accessing community services.
+ Bill was fortunate to have someone who cared for his well-being.
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop provides this for whomever walks through the
door. Everyone is greeted with a warm welcome smile. Everyone is
accepted and treated equally. Wild Bill's is a place where we can
start to change social policy.
+ Bill Sackter helped revolutionize our knowledge and experiences.
His life brought attention to the capabilities and struggles of a
disability. Wild Bill's continues to be a venue for people -- with
disabilities and without -- to interact and learn from each other.
+ Bill's life shows that people with disabilities are capable of
living integrated lives within the community. Communities should work
together to ensure people with disabilities have access to public
transportation, housing and jobs.
+Bill Sackter overcame many obstacles.
He did that by successfully starting a business and offering
individuals with disabilities a place to go.
+ Bill's life influenced social work and social policy.
He helped dissolve stereotypes. His courage, drive and compassion
opened up the minds of hundreds of people.
+ Bill helped dispel myths about disabilities.
His life reminds us to dispel the myths of "ableism" and to integrate
and create community.
+ Bill's life improved the lives of many.
It opened more doors and allowed people to be more accepting.
+ The public perception of persons with disabilities changed
drastically because of Bill.
OPEN HOUSE ON LABOR
DAY AT UPTOWN BILL'S
YOU'RE invited to an Open House on Labor Day at the new Uptown Bill's.
The coffeeshop has just moved to 730 S. Dubuque.
The new location is on top of PATV and includes a bookstore
and performance venue. The Open House will be held Monday, Sept. 6,
8 am to 3 pm. Also at Uptown Bill's that day: The annual Ralston Creek
Fair and Flea Market. Hope to see you.
100 PAGES OF POETRY
COMING EVERY DAY
Have you been following the Iowa City Poetry Marathon? It started in July and continues until Halloween. The goal is
to write 100 pages of poetry every day. David Morice, a longtime friend of Uptown Bill's, is coordinating this event.
For more information, visit this website: www.iowacitypoetrymarathon.com
WILD BILL'S WILL
REOPEN AUG. 20
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop reopens Friday, Aug. 20 at 8 am. The coffeeshop has been closed for its summer vacation.
For more about the coffeeshop, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook.
AUG. 22 MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR JOHN COOLIDGE
A celebration of the life and spirit of John Coolidge is planned Sunday, Aug. 22 at Uptown
Bill's. 1:30 pm. John, who died last month, was the longtime maintenance guy at
Uptown Bill's.
NEW TIME FOR OPEN MIC
AT UPTOWN BILL'S
Open Mic at Uptown Bill's now starts at 7 pm. Sign-ups start at 6:30 pm.
For more information, call Uptown at 339-0401.
JUST FOR FUN: YOU KNOW YOU'VE
HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN...
..You don't tan, you roast.
..Juan Valdez sends you a birthday card.
..You lick the coffeepot clean.
..You wear the finish off your coffee table.
..You short out motion detectors.
..You're named employee of the month at Terrapin and you don't even work
there.
..You chew on other people's fingernails.
..Someone asks you how you are and you reply: "Good to the last drop."
This "Too much coffee" segment runs occasionally in the Bill's Newsletter.
Have a contribution? Send it to: thomas-gilsenan@uiowa.edu.
LOOKING BACK IN
BILL'S NEWSLETTER
Six years ago (2004): Building community
We start building community by taking the experience of Bill's Coffeeshop to
other places.
Seven years ago (2003) Happy Birthday, Jane
Jane Addams, social work's founding mother, was born Sept. 6, 1860.
Eight years ago (2002) Song of fall
Here and there are already signs of the changing seasons
_______________________
Bill's Coffeeshop Newslettter is a virtual extension of Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's. Now in its 11th year, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and the new director of Uptown Bill's. An archive of back issues can be found at the Coffee and Community weblog: coffeeandcommunity.blogspot.com<http://coffeeandcommunity.blogspot.com>. For other information, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook.
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Located in North Hall, it has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years.
Uptown Bill's is an outgrowth of the original coffeeshop and includes several businesses owned or managed by individuals with disabilities. The coffeeshop, bookstore and performance venue are now located at 730 S. Dubuque in Iowa City. For more information, check the Facebook page for Uptown Bill's Small Mall or call (319) 339-0401
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