As we begin 2016 SIRE welcomes back SIRE Board members Sabrina Shumsky as President, Cheryl Nelson as Vice-President, Darren Williams, DVM as Vice-President, Gloria Hogue as Secretary, Pat Roddy as Treasurer, Frank Brooks, Cody Hogue, and Rocky LeAnn Pilgrim.

A warm welcome is due to our new 2016 Board members!

Robert Claude

Robert (Bob) Claude is a former Associate General Counsel to CenterPoint Energy, Inc. He recently retired from CenterPoint after a thirty-year career advising the company on corporate governance, transactions and energy regulatory matters.  His wife’s family has been active in the thoroughbred horse racing industry for many years.   Mr. Claude’s past service to the legal profession and community includes the following:

  • Past President and current Executive Committee member of the Texas Utility Lawyers
  • Houston Bar Association Environmental Law Section Board Member (2007-2013)
  • Member (1998-2003) and Chairman (2001-2003) of the City of Houston Ethics Committee, a city administrative body adjudicating complaints of violations of the city’s ethics and campaign finance laws.
  • Member of legal delegations to Israel (2009) and China (2012) sponsored by the Citizen Ambassador program of People to People Ambassadors and the U.S. State Department.

Sukhdeep Kaur

Working with children for the past 6 years, I have had the opportunity to support individuals in a variety of capacities.  However, dealing with students that you simply can’t help through traditional means of support has made me in many instances feel helpless.  When I encountered SIRE and the work the organization is doing to support all types of individuals, I was inspired.  Having ridden horses as a child and feeling the therapeutic effect, I immediately resonated with the vision of the organization.  I knew that my autistic student Blaine and many others like him could benefit so much from the opportunity to work with such incredible creatures if given the chance.  I am thrilled to be joining SIRE so I can help grow its effect in any capacity I can.

Charlotte McIntyre

Charlotte is an HRIS Implementation Consultant to ADP products.  She has been a supporter of SIRE for years, chairing one of our most successful galas in 2012.  Charlotte has met several clients and heard stories from them and their families that inspire her to dedicate more time to ensuring SIRE’s sustainability and growth.

Wendy Thomson

My name is Wendy Thomson and my life has been forever changed because I had a brain stem stroke in December 2011.  One hour I was trying sandals on for a family vacation to Costa Rica (which we never went on) and the next hour I was lying in a hospital bed!  They found a blood clot in my brain stem and removed it with a suction tube that went all the way through my body.  They removed the clot,  but it still caused some damage to the nerve path ways that went from my brain to my limbs.  I was what they call locked in.  All I could do was blink my eyes. Being a talkative women and only being able to communicate by blinking my eyes to spell words was not fun! They gave me a 50% chance that I would always being locked in.  I had to relearn how to do everything from swallowing, speaking, walking, and picking my arm up!  I beat the odds!  Some things are still in progress and others I have accomplished.

Before the stroke, I was an active person.  I was volunteering at our church in the youth group, volunteering at school for my four children’s teachers.  I was athletic and worked out!  I was a soccer mom going to lots of soccer games with my husband of twenty five years. I had no warning signs of having a stroke!

Before I came to Sire 3 years ago, I talked real softy and had lots of balance issues.  I was even scared to sit on a rehab mat in fear of falling off.  After going to Sire, my therapist was always amazed that I could sit on a big horse( which he wouldn’t even do) but be scared on the mat.  I used to ride before the stroke so I think the muscle memory was coming back in that area of my life!

Riding has helped me in everyday situations.   The riding improvements translated into confidence, core building,  balance, and walking motions outside of class. I also saw that my breathing improved and I was able to talk louder.  Initially, I got on the horse using the motorized lift. Now I lean against horse on the ramp and someone puts my legs over.  I have always felt comfortable with two side walkers and a leader. Now I have not only have walked but trotted with out a leader or side walkers(one being my committed husband).  I couldn’t post when I trotted in the early days but now I am starting to get in down!  I used to get off with a lift and now I slide off the horse without the ramp and some help from others.  It’s exciting to see progress and I like that I’m gently pushed to do more.

There is a women in my riding class that was in a wheel chair when she first started coming to Sire. Her name is Alicia. She is walking now. Her gait may not be speedy but she can walk all around…she only  needs some arm holds on the rough terrain.  Oh, I can’t wait until I can walk.  I can take a few steps, but she is my hope and inspiration! She makes me believe it is possible!

 

If you are interested or know someone who may be interested in joining the SIRE Board, please contact Claudia Gee Vassar, Interim Executive Director, at cvassar@sire-htec.org.