THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180354
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
LOIS VALENTINE'S reason for joining Pilot International, an organization of business and professional leaders devoted to improving the quality of life both locally and globally, was intensely personal.
``I have a brother who was born with spina bifida back in 1945,'' she said. He also suffered from severe spasms and convulsions.
``They didn't have facilities for him back then,'' the Minneapolis native explained. ``Nobody understood.''
By age 7, her brother had little speech, could not feed himself and was deemed incapable of ever being toilet trained.
Eventually he was accepted into an excellent state facility. ``Within six months he was trained, could speak and feed himself,'' she said.
Valentine never forgot how difficult it was for a family dealing with a severely handicapped child back in the days when little help was available.
When she was invited to join Pilot International and discovered that one of the group's major concerns was brain-related disorders such as her brother suffered, she was quick to become involved.
That was 15 years ago. Come July, Valentine, a Laurel Cove resident who is the headmistress of Virginia Beach Country Day School and Linlier Preschool, will become governor of the Virginia District of Pilot International.
``We have 586 clubs in the district,'' she said, ``and we're growing.'' That, in itself, makes Pilot International unusual. There are few service organizations nationwide which have shown growth in recent years. Most clubs consider themselves fortunate if they have as many members or units as they had 20 years ago.
Valentine is especially proud of the service projects her local club has undertaken through the years and the grants they've received from Pilot International to help them carry out their work.
Among the local programs they've supported are Infant Stimulation (a Virginia Beach Community Services Board program which serves 150 developmentally delayed preschoolers) and Very Special Arts, a group that gives special citizens an opportunity to participate in a variety of arts.
One Very Special Arts project in which Valentine was personally involved was a production of ``Peter Pan'' featuring special youngsters both onstage and off.
``It was just the most incredible thing,'' Valentine, who has had a great deal of experience in children's productions, said.
She is concerned about the future of arts for all citizens, but especially for those with disabilities, as state and federal funding for projects are cut.
Pilot International also sponsors an annual ``Disabled Professional Person of the Year'' award which spotlights the contributions those with disabilities make to the community on a daily basis.
In addition to her administrative duties at the two private schools she administers, Valentine will find herself very busy with Pilot International projects during her one-year term as district governor.
There will be clubs to be visited, meetings to be attended and plans to be made. Valentine does not mind the work load.
``I've always loved Pilot,'' she said. ``I've sold it, I've worked for it and I believe in it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
Melissa Raddatz, 4, is a preschooler at Virginia Beach Country Day
School, where Lois Valentine is headmistress. In July, Valentine
also will take over as governor of the Virginia District of Pilot
International.
by CNB