Transition of Ramp Up Co-Chairs

Bill Pogge (right) reviews ramp
plans with Ray Nowaczyk

Ramp Up Marathon County has always intentionally involved a diversity of individuals in its leadership team, including two co-chairs, one representing an organization who provides referrals and the other who is a "private citizen" volunteer.

This summer saw a Ramp Up Marathon County leadership transition.

Bill Pogge, a volunteer who had served as co-chair with Erin Wells (Aging and Disability Resource Center Community Resources Manager) for the Ramp Up leadership team stepped down to focus on work with Faith in Action’s Senior Home Safety Program and other personal interests.

Bill was an instrumental part of conceptualizing and actualizing Ramp Up. He wrote much of the by-laws, headed the work with funders and fiscal partners, and helped on site at the project builds. We sincerely thank Bill for all of his hard work and wish him all the best.

Mike Sydow

Mike Sydow has stepped into Bill’s former position, with Wells continuing as co-chair.

After 26 years as Marathon County Register of Deeds, Mike retired in January of 2017. When Ray Nowaczyk, a longtime friend of Mike’s and member of the Ramp Up leadership team, learned that the co-chair position would be vacant by mid-summer, he suggested that Mike check it out.

“I was more than wanting to be involved for quite a while,” Mike recalled. “I didn’t expect to be co-chair right away, but it’s OK.”

An interest in building runs in Mike’s family. His dad was always remodeling something or other, one brother is a builder and another is a building inspector.

But Mike has a special understanding of the need for ramps. He has been using a wheelchair since 1975 when he suffered a broken neck during a water skiing accident.

According to Mike, “It’s important for anyone with a disability to be able to get in and out of their home for work, medical appointments and social activities.”

And that’s just what the work that Ramp Up Marathon County does by funding and building ramps and specialized stairs for lower income Marathon County residents.

For more information about Ramp Up Marathon County, go to www.RampUpMC.org. 

Note from an Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin Employee

The whole purpose of our organization is to fund and build ramps for those in need who otherwise couldn't afford to have one built. It's always nice to hear that what we're doing makes a difference. One of the wonderful staff at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin recently sent us this note.

Just thought I’d share. . .  I met with one of your ramp recipients yesterday and asked how the ramp is working for him.  

His response was, “Great!  At first I didn’t think I would like it but now it’s working out really well.”  

He then proceeded to let me know that he has three squirrels he feeds who enjoy running up and down it and stare at him if he doesn’t give them their peanuts.  

Could you pass this along to the Ramp Up committee??  I’m sure they like to hear that they are making a difference even when it seems so obvious.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know. We all appreciate it.

If you know of a lower income adult in Marathon County in need of a wheelchair ramp or specialized stairs so they can get safely in and out of their home, please have them call a Resource Specialist at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin (1-888-486-9545) or Nancy at Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Inc. (1-800-382-8484 ext. 211). Either organization will help with the application to determine eligibility. 

Thank You On Behalf of Ramp Recipient

Building a ramp for someone in need means a lot not just to them, but to their family and friends as well. Here is a note we recently received from the daughter of one of our ramp recipients... 

Hello Gentlemen.

Just wanted to tell you how appreciative our family is of the wheelchair ramp you built for our mom. She is so happy to be home and able to easily leave her house for appointments or just to look at her garden or sit at the picnic table with family. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. 

         Carolyn L.

We are happy to help! If you know of a lower income adult in Marathon County who is not in a longterm care program and needs a ramp to safety enter and exit their home, please get in touch with a Resource Specialist from the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin to see if they qualify. 

Ramp Completed Built on June 12, 2017

This family had been using a temporary ramp, but needed something sturdier to use on a permanent basis. The new ramp is wider, has railings, and is a more gradual slope.

Specialized Steps Completed in Early June, 2017

June 6 and 7 we removed an old, unsound porch and steps and replaced it with a new landing and modified stairs. Later, when a ramp is needed, we can use the new landing/porch as a platform and add a ramp.

Ramp Up Thanks Wausau Tile!

Ramp Up Marathon County volunteer Dick Keding recently worked with Wausau Tile to coordinate a donation of fifty 12x12 pavers. These pavers will come in handy to provide transition at the end of some ramps and possibly as footers under the posts. Thank you Wausau Tile! Thank you Dick Keding!

Wausau Tile

 

Ramp Up Thanks the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin!

Ramp Up Marathon County received a Community Enhancement Grant of $4,900.00 from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. This one-time grant was used to purchase and equip a trailer and purchase some needed construction tools.

By receiving this grant and purchasing a trailer and tools, we are able to broaden our volunteer base because they will no longer be required to provide their own tools. The trailer also provides a secure, efficient, weather-safe means to store and transport our tools and general building materials.

A local church will let us park the trailer in their parking lot during the building season. A volunteer will provide off-season covered and secure storage on property outside of the Wausau metro area.

Community Founation of North Central Wisconsin

Ramp Up Marathon County Volunter Profile: John Brauer

John Brauer initially heard about Ramp Up Marathon County from his friend John Ohnstad. "It sounded like an activity I would like," he said. "After my retirement I had more time for volunteer activities."

John has been a volunteer for two years now and participates in the construction of the ramps. He enjoys working with a good group of people and learns things every time he works on a ramp up project.

"I believe these ramps allow people to remain living in their homes and still have some mobility," John Stated. "I would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering with this group to give it a try-it is a good group!"

If you're interested in volunteer with Ramp Up Marathon County - to design ramps, help build ramps, assist with fundraising, or help get the word out to the community - please contact Erin Wells, Ramp Up Co-chair, at 715-261-6070 or toll-free 888-486-8545.

Ramp Up Marathon County Volunteer Profile - Jon Goertz

Jon Goertz (yellow cap) with a Ramp Up
construction team on a project build.

Jon Goertz first heard about Ramp Up Marathon County through friends at his church who were already Ramp Up volunteers. Ramp Up Marathon County works to help lower-income Marathon County residents who have mobility issues remain in their own homes by donating time to design, plan and build wheelchair ramps and low-rise long-tread steps, as well as raise the money to cover the cost of materials. There is no cost to the recipient.

As a graphic designer by trade Jon had done design work for the Great Lakes Americans ADA Center and became aware of the many challenges that people with disabilities face. He thought that Ramp Up would be a good fit for him and welcomed the opportunity to help make difference in a hands-on way.

Jon started with the group in the middle of last summer (2016). “I’m a newbie,” he said. “I basically do anything I’m asked to do. A shovel fits in my hands as well as a hammer, drill or tape measure. Everybody is more than willing to teach new volunteers the technical and code requirements and how and why things have to be constructed as they are.”

When asked why he chose to volunteer with Ramp Up, Jon responded that what appealed to him most was the ability to help  make our community a better place to live, and to have fun with the great fellow volunteers in the process. Plus his parents were both big volunteers so it may well be in his blood.

“Groups like this reflect the community they are from and in a small way make Marathon County a better place to live, start a business and raise a family,” Jon said. "And it gives project recipients freedom to be more self-sufficient and dignity. Two things that are hard to put a price on.”

Jon also recommends volunteering with Ramp Up to other people in the community. “You won’t regret it. An engineering degree isn’t necessary. There are parts of the projects to fit just about any skill level. And it feels great to be able to help fellow community residents regain the simple freedom that we all take for granted.”

If you’re considering donating to this completely volunteer-run group, Jon points out that none of these type of programs are possible without the strong commitment from funders.

“This community has been blessed with very generous foundations and benefactors. It reflects well on our community and makes Marathon County a great place to live. One of the first things I noticed with Ramp Up was the emphasis on efficient use of resources. Your funding will definitely be put to efficient and accountable use.”

For more information about how to volunteer or donate, please contact either of the Ramp Up Marathon County Co-chairs: Erin Wells at 715-261-6070 or toll-free 888-486-8545 or Bill Pogge at 715-675-5470. To learn more about Ramp Up Marathon County go to www.RampUpmc.org.

To find out if you are eligible for a Ramp Up Marathon County project, please contact a Resource Specialist at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin, 715-261-6070, or Nancy Keller at Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Inc., 800-382-8484 extension 211.

Ramp Up Marathon County is a program of Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Inc.