Annual banquet draws a crowd

Over 170 people attended The Spectrum Network's annual banquet and thirty-fifth anniversary celebration on November 10. The event, which was held at the Hotel Winneshiek, included a dinner, silent auction, and program. See photos of the evening.

Board President Cathryn Baldner reflected on the organization's thirty-five years of helping people with disabilities and other obstacles. Baldner said The Spectrum Network's story began even before the organization itself was founded. "It began in the hearts of those who looked past a person's disabilities and recognized the human spirit that resides in all of us to be seen as worthy and of value." Executive Director Toni Smith also spoke about the organization's history and recognized the many individuals who have taken part in its mission over the years.

The guest speaker was Tom Walz, who teaches in the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Walz spoke about Bill Sackter, an Iowan who, after living over four decades in an institution, became a national celebrity and a leader in a movement to normalize perceptions about disability.

The Spectrum Network has recently sponsored screenings of a documentary about Bill Sackter. Information on future screenings of "A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story" will be posted on the events page.