An exemplary program in Wichita, Kansas, demonstrates how to promote our Order's RiteCare clinics, centers, and programs.

As a fully licensed pre-school, the Wichita State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, in part sponsored by the Scottish Rite, promotes interaction of children with hearing, language, and learning challenges along with children who have typically developing language skills. Photo: Wichita State University

If you randomly asked most Scottish Rite members or their spouses what we do at the Scottish Rite, you would most likely hear various answers: "Reunions with Degree work," "meetings," "dinners," and somewhere down the list, you may get a "They do something with language disorders for kids, right?" Although the RiteCare Childhood Language Program is the primary philanthropy of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction, many members do not understand its place in our organization and the level of involvement the Scottish Rite plays locally and nationally in combating childhood language disorders. Fewer still, see it as part of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Kansas. The Valley of Wichita, Orient of Kansas, is helping to change that. Comprising the seven Valleys in Kansas, the Foundation gives support to the (1) Kansas University Medical Center Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic in Kansas City; (2) Kansas University Schiefelbusch Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic in Lawrence; and (3) the Wichita State University Speech- Language-Hearing Clinic in Wichita. All are RiteCare facilities.

As an example of our Orient-wide excitement, the Wichita Scottish Rite Center is breaking new ground with our relationship with the Wichita State University (WSU) Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic, in Wichita. This is the third RiteCare facility in Kansas. The key is not only in the financial and volunteer support offered to the WSU clinic but also the partnering between the clinic, the university's Comm-unicative Disorders & Sciences Department, and the Wichita, Kansas, Scottish Rite Members.

To enhance this bond, the first of several Scottish Rite open house events was held at the Clinic in the fall of 2001. Members and guests were invited to see what their contributions were doing to help children with speech, hearing, and language disorders. Free hearing screenings and hearing aid checks were offered to our members to familiarize them with the services available. Another open house was held in May 2002 with more events planned at the clinic and a special dedication scheduled for 2003.

Similarly, personal invitations and accommodations are made for key University faculty at all Scottish Rite meetings and functions. For example, recent events provided an opportunity for Dr. Kenn Apel (Prof. & Chair of Communicative Disorders & Sciences Dept.) and Dr. Trisha Self (Director of Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic at WSU) to attend and highlight our endeavors at a Veteran's Honor Banquet for more than 250 members, military veterans, and guests from around the country. Likewise, personal invitations to the Scottish Rite Kid's Christmas party and an offer of a free "Photo with Santa" were delivered to all the Clinic's faculty, clients, and their families.

At the Wichita State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, state-of-the-art speech and hearing diagnostics are an integral part of detection and intervention. Photo: Wichita State University

With this new and personal relationship between the Kansas Scottish Rite Foundation and, in Wichita, our Wichita Scottish Rite Charitable Trust, we have no doubt that we can raise the level of awareness and support for children with speech, language, and hearing disorders. Such awareness prompted a bequest from the family of one of our Wichita Scottish Rite members in support of continuing education for WSU Speech-Language-Hearing students. This large gift is being used to establish and perpetuate the Wichita Scottish Rite Charitable Trust Fellow-ship Fund. Income from this fund will endow an annual scholarship for graduate and post-graduate students in the Communicative Disorders & Sciences field at WSU.

Similarly, at a recent black-tie event, a "Champagne & Chocolate Fantasy" and auction with 20 of the WSU faculty in attendance, gifts to the clinic in the amount of $3,500 were presented. Although the WSU clinic has many facets, all Scottish Rite monies are used in support of children with speech, language, and hearing disorders. (See "Let's Communicate!")

Since the primary philanthropy of our great institution is the RiteCare Childhood Language Program, it is up to each one of us to make the fight against childhood language disorders the main charity that we support and are readily known for by the general public. Contact your local Scottish Rite Center to see how you can get involved in supporting this endeavor and assist in putting our cause out in front!

Robert C. "Bob" Talbott is a member of the Wichita Scottish Rite Bodies where he serves as Asst. Director of the Work. A Past Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 303 and a Noble of the Midian Shrine, Bro. Talbott currently serves as a member of the Grand Lodge Membership Committee, as Grand Lecturer, and as Grand Orator (2002-03) for the Grand Lodge of Kansas. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Kansas Masonic Foundation. For the last year, Bob has served as the Wichita Scottish Rite Liaison Officer to the Wichita State University Speech, Language, & Hearing Clinic and currently sits on the University's S-L-H Clinic Advisory Board. He has worked as a Sr. Systems Analyst for the Pepsi Bottling Group in Wichita for the last nine years. You may contact Bro. Talbott at: btalbott@southwind.net.

The Wichita State University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapy services on behalf of individuals with speech, language, and hearing disorders. The clinic, established more than 25 years ago, is a non-profit organization that provides accredited educational experience and clinical training to graduate and post-graduate students enrolled in the Communicative Disorders and Sciences program at WSU. As a teaching clinic, the collaborative efforts of students and faculty result in the creation of "best practice" methodologies to be shared. Clients include infants, children, and adults who display mild to severe communicative disorders. In addition to individual and small-group services, the clinic also offers a licensed preschool program for children 2.5 to 5 years of age. Kaleidoscope is an integrated preschool for children learning to communicate. Children with specific language concerns and delays, children learning English as a second language, and children who are typically developing are invited to enroll in this program. More information is available at http://education.wichita.edu/slhclinic.