It's Christmas time 2012 and time to say Hello!

My wife Dee and I have had a very busy year. We traveled to see my mom and dad in Kenmare the end of June. It was great to spend some time with them. We also did some camping for a few days in North Dakota by the Peace Gardens for the 4th of July. During that time we enjoyed having a boat ride on Lake Metigoshe with a professor from Minot State that is using my book in her class in the special education department. It was good to see her and her family and the weather was nice and cooler than it was at home in Wisconsin. It was a hot summer.

In July of this year Break Through Inc. received a grant from the South Dakota Developmental Disability Council to do a full month tour in October. This was the second time we received a grant. In April, Break Through Inc. was given a small grant from that council to do a short tour for me to speak on the subject of disabilities and bullying. I spoke to about 1700 students in about 10 schools. At that time, our first stop was in Rapid City for Easter Sunday and we had two days to ourselves with gorgeous 70 degree sunny weather. On Easter Monday we drove around the Custer Wildlife area to look at the buffalo and deer. We were the only car on the road!

In October it was a month long tour. We did about 26 different schools and organizations around South Dakota and spoke to about 4300 students/teachers. My main message was about "bullying" other people. The students made commitments not to be involved with bullying.

During our October tour we had the opportunity to visit Joy Ranch outside of Watertown, SD. It is a faith-based outdoor camp and retreat center. It is totally accessible camp and it is built as an old prairie town of the 1800's. The camp sits on a hill overlooking a small lake out in the prairies. We are looking forward to possibly working with them in the future. This is their website-- www.JoyRanchSD.org

Once again I was involved with Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp as a resource staff and it was a very successful summer. The camp bought my new booklet on bullying entitled "Last One Picked, So What! We can turn it around. I was able to give out copies to the high school Tim Teams. I had a great discussion
with them about bullying.

Dee and I once again went to the "Widening the Welcome" conference in Columbus, Ohio in November.
It is sponsored by the United Church of Christ Disability and Mental Health Ministries. It was a great conference and I did a workshop for them on hospitality, mental health and disabilities within the congregation and community. There were a lot of great workshops and speakers.

This January, Dee and I will be traveling again to Rapid City, SD to look at a long term contract for Break Through Inc with Black Hills Works. Black Hills Works is an organization that works with persons with disabilities trying to give them some work opportunities and also to help them find work and independent living within their communities. We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to our conversations with them to help Break Through fulfill their mission within the Rapid City area.

This opportunity in Rapid City is only a part of our mission and Break Through will continue to advocate in other areas throughout the country. So today we are asking you to be a part of that by helping with your financial commitments. As you know, Break Through Inc. has it's Ten/Ten team of supporters who can donate either on a monthly basis of $10. or more per month or as a one time gift. You can donate online via our website at www.bendanderson.com or send check to Break Through Inc. PO Box 284, Amery, WI 54001

Dee and I will be going to the Lake Wapogasset Christmas Dinner Theater in December. Dee was not able to sing in the choir this year due to the fact we were traveling during choir practice times. Dee has been involved with the Dinner Theater since 2005.

Dee and I hope you have a great Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

LOOKING BACK AT FORTY YEARS AGO

40 years ago tonight I graduated from Minot Senior High on May 24th 1972. How can 40 years go by so quickly? I have been so blessed to be able to do what I have done in the past 40 years. 40 years ago I was stuck in Special Education class and being told that I should become a dishwasher or work in a sheltered workshop.

It was in 1974 that I had the opportunity to meet a person named Wayne Nelson from Grand Forks, ND. Wayne gave me a chance to work as a public speaker on the subject of disabilities. Who would have ever thought that day in Grand Forks would end up as leading to my lifetime career.

In 1978 I began a non-profit organization called Break Through Inc.
"Our mission is one of rehabilitation education and advocacy for and about people with disabilities to encourage and enlighten the public about people with disabilities in that they are people first and have rights and needs and that they also have gifts and talents to bring to the community."

Break Through is still going strong. A lot has happened between then and now. I graduated in 1992 from UW-Stout in Menomonie Wisconsin with a degree in Vocational Rehabilitation. I wrote a book in 2007. Now I am "all over the map" giving presentations on the subject of disability.

As I sit at my desk writing this, looking back in time, I know it was a bumpy ride but it was a ride that was well worth it.

My wife Dee and I were married in March of 2006 at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp in Anderson Hall. Today Dee and I travel throughout the country where I speak to groups on the subject of disabilities hoping that they will get a new perspective in life.

We have also been speaking at K-12 schools about disabilities and "bullying". Last April ( 2012) we spoke to over 1600 people in South Dakota. One of the highlights of that tour was a young boy who came to realize that what he was doing ( bullying at school) was wrong. What a revelation for both of us as he received the message that I had and he was able to understand that he needed to change. He and I gave "high fives" to each other as he promised to try to do better.

During our tour in South Dakota we introduced a new booklet on disabilities and bullying entitled "Last One Picked, So What!" We can turn it around. Yes, that night of May 24th 1972 at Minot High I was too busy receiving my diploma to think what was before me. As I look back all I can say is that I have been blessed.

South Dakota Tour

Today we just finished up our preparations for the South Dakota Tour where I will begin to speak in the Black Hills at the South Dakota Early Childhood Conference in Spearfish. I am also doing some inservice training in the Blackhills and also speaking to some parent groups and churches. We will be driving from before Easter until the 23rd of April on this tour.

We will then be driving east and working with five different school districts in South Dakota. We are thankful that the South Dakota Council on Developemental Disabilities is co-sponsoring this tour. I will be speaking also giving out books to the schools. I just finished writing a small booklet on "bullying" that will be provided to the schools. It is entitled "Last One Picked, So What!" We can turn it around and should provide good discussion within the classrooms.

You can find this new booklet for sale online on my website at www.bendanderson.com If you are interested in having me speak at your school or for your group contact me at my email address- by@bendanderson.com