"A Taste of August" fundraiser a success

Over 120 people attended "A Taste of August," The Spectrum Network's fundraiser on Saturday, August 22. Guests enjoyed an elegant five-course dinner, silent and live auctions, and live music in Larry and Diane Grimstad's barn. View event photos.

The Spectrum Network held the event as part of its thirty-fifth anniversary celebration and raised funds toward the services it provides to persons with disabilities and other challenges. The event's primary sponsor was Acument Global Technologies (Camcar), a Decorah manufacturer of mechanical fasteners that employs teams of Spectrum clients in its quality control unit.

            The Spectrum Network's executive director, Toni Smith, said the barn's rustic setting was a perfect fit for the evening's theme of celebrating abundance. "August is a beautiful month when we feel fortunate and generous all at the same time. It is the time of abundance...This access to abundance and 'the good life' extends to everyone, including those with obstacles like disability."

The evening was also made possible by the generous donations of time, materials and services from dozens of organizations and individuals in the community. Smith said these contributions included "everything from financial contributions to beverages, from auction items to the grand piano, and from cheesecakes to tables and chairs." The Grimstads donated their barn for the occasion. The auction, which raised almost $5,000, featured "experiences" like a garden and landscaping consultation by Lindsay Lee of Willowglen Nursery, which sold for $1,200.

The evening's program included a dramatic reading by The Spectrum Network's board president Cathryn Baldner, from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver's account of her family's one-year experiment in eating local foods.

Guests also received the first printed copies of From My Perspective: Essays about Disability, published by The Spectrum Network on August 21. Edited by Rachel Faldet and Kris Schanilec, the collection includes writings about living with or supporting someone with a disability, presented from various points of view. It is available for purchase from The Spectrum Network at 563-382-8401.