Geist Businesses Join Curves Members in Giving

One woman cares for her 98-year-old grandmother with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as her four children.

Another is juggling the needs of six children while managing her own diabetes.

A third is a single mom of two with emotional scars from past relationships, yet she dreams of starting her own business as a massage therapist.

The struggles of these women have etched away at their physical fitness and self-esteem over the years, yet they have not marred the esteem their children feel for them.

Each of these women was nominated by one of their children to receive an annual membership to Curves. Pam Brandley, who owns the Geist and Pendleton Pike Curves facilities, sought out donations from Curves members and local businesses so that five Lawrence Township women could receive the gift of fitness.

Brandley, who is also a math teacher at Lawrence Central High School, invited students at the township’s middle and high schools to nominate their mothers by writing a letter explaining why their moms deserved to win a membership. She and the Curves staff then chose the five who they felt would really benefit most from their customized fitness and nutrition program.

One winner is a former nutritionist herself but hasn’t had time to do what she knows she should, according to the letter submitted by her daughter.

“All of her energy goes into other people, and at the end of the day, I want her to be able to unwind and be happy with her health,” she wrote.

That’s exactly what Brandley is hoping to see once these women start working out on a regular schedule. She also wants the women to feel they’re part of a community that cares. The Curves philosophy addresses the total woman, not just her body shape.

Curves offers a 30-40 minute workout, with no men, no mirrors and no “skinny things in spandex,” Brandley said. It’s a much smaller, intimate atmosphere than you find at most gyms, so people who work out at the same time tend to get to know one another quickly.

“We end up meeting people’s emotional needs as much as their physical needs,” Brandley said.

As a veteran teacher of 33 years, Brandley knows that not everyone in Lawrence Township is as fortunate as the average Geist resident. The donations allow her and her staff to reach out to women in the community who otherwise couldn’t afford to pay for a membership.

During her summer break from teaching, she pounded the pavement, personally asking owners of more than 50 Geist and Pendleton Pike businesses to help out. Donations were given by atGeist.com, Geist Family Medicine, Jeff Brown, CPA; Lakeshore Chiropractic, Dockside Dental and Textures Hair Salon, as well as from individual Curves members.

Brandley hopes that more area businesses will be willing to sponsor memberships in the future.

As one young man wrote in his nomination letter: “I believe this program can help women build confidence and self-esteem; as well as give that ‘not give up’ attitude, just like my mom.”

Although the five women selected this year have some barriers to finding time for fitness, Brandley hopes each of them will benefit (as she has) from a regular exercise routine and personalized nutrition plan. Making time isn’t easy, but it pays off with the increased energy and self-confidence physical fitness brings.

“We will be providing them with that community network,” Brandley said.

Deaf Culture Alive and Well in Geist Area

A couple of years ago, I was faced with taking a foreign language to satisfy the last twelve hours I needed to finally graduate college. As a grown person, I was really uncomfortable with the realization that I would have to learn Spanish, German or French.  One of my English professors suggested ASL (American Sign Language).  I was told I had lost hearing in my right ear and by no means would I at this point in my life be deaf; however, I found the tip something I was quite interested in.  I had never encountered a deaf person until my first ASL class in the fall of 2003. 
So, I walked in and there was Professor Mark Wood, just waiting until the class arrived.  There was an interpreter in the room going over the syllabus with us, so I calmed myself down and decided this would be ok - until the announcement came that this would be the interpreter’s last meeting with us. What?  I was scared to death. How would I communicate nonetheless pass this class I was dreading?
Well, I am blessed to have been introduced into ASL and the deaf culture by such a good experience both by Mark, who was deaf at birth, and by Ray Olsen, my second Professor, who became deaf after a severe fever when he was a young boy.  Like many people, I had stereotypes of the deaf person, not because I had ever met any but because I was ignorant. Here in my life came two different deaf people with backgrounds like no one I had ever met.
Over the past year, I have met several deaf folks in this Geist community.  Now mind you, my signing is absolutely terrible and my reading of sign language even worse!  But my two daughters are involved in soccer, Girl Scouts and various activities through school, and in these activities are many children who are hearing but have deaf families. So you know what? I taught my kids how to sign “good game,” “hi” and their names in sign language.
I don’t know if these multi-faceted families realize it or not, but their kids have such an awesome opportunity to be emerged in both cultures. They keep the deaf culture alive within the family and yet they bring something else in the ability to react within the hearing. The kids are absolutely brilliant and make me think of such a tremendous future in that they are multi-cultural and will be such an asset in this world.  I would love for my children to be able to sign fluently.
I think awareness of the phenomena in the area is key.  I am absolutely not an expert, but wanted to raise awareness and address simple questions such as what the proper etiquette is, what you do if you want to say hi, how you act, etc.?  First off, I have not had a negative experience whatsoever. I have introduced myself in sign language to many folks and they know right off of the bat that I am a beginner signer - but would you believe they are eager to sign and even patient enough to work with me even when I get D and F confused? The facial expressions and intimacy that exists between people when signing is so different from the hearing world.   Hearing people are interrupted often by cell phones ringing and the blackberry emailing us and such. We have lost that sincere person to person communication.  I admire that about sign language and the deaf culture overall.
I have a couple of people in mind, but I would like to make the motion to nominate a deaf person for the “meet your neighbor” column of atgeist.com.  There are some super individuals living in the area that would make great candidates!
If you do know sign language, it is considered polite that if you know sign language to let them know so they do not think that they are having an absolutely private conversation.  You can interrupt their signing by tapping on the shoulder, waving your hand or stomping the ground.  I went to a football game at the deaf school and was absorbed in the way the teenagers were acting – they are the same as hearing teenagers; talking or signing a mile a minute and laughing and carrying on.  I thought it would be sad or not fun to be deaf – one of my stereotypes, but I found out that deaf people are happy too!  You can say hi if you want to - just give them a wave and a smile (Facial expressions say far more than you can imagine.).
Even some of the local school systems are hiring ASL interpreters and instructors because ASL is fast becoming one of the top languages in the nation.  Hamilton Southeastern Schools is seeking a part-time ASL instructor. I believe that ASL is considered third after Spanish as the most commonly used language in our nation.
The Fishers Library is offering the signing of stories on the first Friday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  You can visit their website at www.hepl.lib.in.us.  The Fishers Parks and Recreation is offering a sign language for babies’ class as well. For more information on this class visit www.fishers.in.us.
It is important that we recognize and realize how different groups within this Geist area contribute to the community that we are.  I am truly blessed to have had this experience and hope to help bridge a friendship between hearing and deaf within our community.