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LaRee L. Ewers speaks to audiences interested in
expanding their perceptions on the disease. In addition to a straightforward
presentation on the Making Tired Eyes Smile® process, LaRee offers
several ‘readings’ that weave metaphors into understanding. LaRee engages the
audience’s imagination to see Alzheimer’s as a sandcastle on the beach or
clouds in the sky or wild flowers in a field. Then she invites the audience to
begin a conversation, ask questions, listen to the stories of others and to
extend our compassionate view.
How does one facilitate Making Tired Eyes Smile®?
Target audience: Professional caregivers, civic groups
Excerpt from speech, Why This? on the Making
Tired Eyes Smile® process.
When I look at my circle of friends I see individuals who
had dreams, went places, savored ice cream cones and talked on the phone. I
know each has laughed, cried, made mistakes and done it perfectly. Holidays
have been celebrated with special traditions. They have worried over loved ones
and stayed up late waiting for news. They are mothers, fathers, brothers,
sisters, friends, coworkers who contributed for decades to work, family, church
and community.
Though minds are gumming up and bodies are failing
“something” remains. Together that “something” takes form. Lingering words are
validated. Something so everyday from rich lives appears again. It is fun. It
is meaningful.
Where do caregivers begin new conversations?
Reading experiences:
Target audience: Support groups for families,
professional caregivers
Making Tired Eyes Smile® rests on the power of
story to entice life’s intangibles from a circle of friends. The power of story
is now extended to the caregivers of these wonderful friends. The metaphors of
teachers, sandcastles, clouds and wild flowers lend poignantly to opening new
perspectives, giving words to feelings that are below the surface and providing
ideas on how to do things differently. It is the beginning of a conversation
perhaps most don’t know they need to process.
Note: These stories are available within the Making
Tired Eyes Smile® System. The stories are designed for the facilitator of a
family support group to read to the group.
They are presented in order of thought provoking complexity. The facilitator
would read one story every quarter.
Fees
For a limited time only . . .
The only required fee is covering the cost of
travel, lodging, meals and any duplication expenses. The organization pays a perceived
benefit fee. The organization decides what they would like to pay. What
value did LaRee bring to the participants? What is a reasonable fee considering
the organization’s financial situation?
I choose a perceived benefit fee because it matches the
attitude of trust I have for my circle of friends.
The only time in which a perceived benefit fee for the presentation is waived (not the out of
pocket expenses) is if the organization is an IRC 501 (C) (3) and no other
speakers on the program are paid. This arrangement is to be agreed upon before
the presentation. Otherwise, the fee is based on the perceived benefit.
Travel, lodging, meals and duplication costs are to be
reimbursed at the time of the presentation. The fee for speaking is payable
within ten days after the presentation.
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