The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 27, Milford, Kosciusko County, 17 August 1988 — Page 6

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., August 17,1988

Community corner

Dennis and Pam Cory have the best of two worlds

(By KATE WOLFORD Staff Writer

The world is getting smaller. Mass communications give us access to the lives of people in other cultures. Travel time is relatively short. Still, few Americans get the chance to fully experience other cultures first-hand. For Dennis Cory, who was born and raised in Milford, and his wife, Pam, who hails from Ohio, their life and work are in Hamburg, West Germany. Since 1979, they have co-directed IRIS, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Integration of the Sight Impaired. Profile The Corys began their interest in working with blind people during a stay in Germany when Dennis worked as a dorm counselor at a school for the blind. They discovered that although sight-impaired Germans are well provided for financially and academically, virtually nothing was done to encourage them to live independently. Cooking, cleaning, picking out clothes and the other daily duties that sighted people do automatically were performed for the blind by sighted helpers. “At that time, 1971,” Dennis explains, “there was no formal training within the fields that we now work in the blindness system in Germany. There were no orientation and mobility instructors, formally trained, and there were no rehabilitation teachers with (training in) daily living skills and communications.” The Corys and some friends decided to fill the void. After obtaining master’s degrees in rehabilitation of the blind from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, the Corys worked at the German institute for the Blind in Marburg from 1976 to 1979. Ultimately, they began IRIS, which is dedicated to training the blind in daily living /skills and communication skills. The institute also trains sighted people to teach these skills to the unsighted. \ The work they do at IRIS is in some ways an uphill battle for the Cdrys and their colleagues. “The blind population is not waiting for these skills as a whole. Many blind adults say ‘Why do you want to teach us to eat with a knife and fork? We’ve gotten along all these years,without doing it, why should we do it now?’... So you have to

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' OM’ . ... y ...K Fk/.y -.. . A HOMETOWN VISIT — Dennis Cory, right, seated, holds his son Jason, age three. His wife, Pam, left, holds Benny, age six. The Corys make their home in Hamburg, West Germany, where they co-direct a school that teaches daily living and communication skills to the blind, as well as training sighted people in the art of teaching these skills. Dennis is a native of Milford. He and his family are enjoying a twoweek visit with Dennis’ parents, Neal and Arlene Cory, who reside in Milford. (Photo by Kate Wolford) awaken their interest too. You have to almost bring up a new generation that says ‘We want these things,’ ” Pam states. With the important work they are doing in Germany, it is no wonder that the Corys feel they have too much invested in living there to just pick up and come home. It is not only professional time that they have invested in Germany, however, and it is here that one can see the differences in American and German cultures.

Roberta Busch and James Watkins exchange vows in Zion Chapel

Roberta G. Busch, daughter of Robert and Betty Busch, Syracuse, became the bride of James Steven Watkins, son of Pat Watkins, St. Petersburg, Fla., and the late Wiliam Watkins, on Saturday afternoon, May 14. The double-ring ceremony in which Lindy Stars were exchanged was performed by Rev. Merrilott of the Zion Chapel United Brethren Church, Syra-Web Road, Syracuse. Organist for the ceremony was Mrs. Merrilott of Syracuse and soloists were Daniel and Rebecca Tusing of North Webster. The traditional ring exchange was preceded by the uniting of blood and binding of bride and groom together with a silk sash by bridesmaid and best man. The bride wore a full-length white gown with a full bell crenolin. She had blue and grey roses on her dress and headdress. Matron of honor was Rebecca Tusing, sister of bride, North Webster. Bridesmaid was Carolyn Moser Klages, Orlando, Fla. Melissa Tusing, the bride’s niece, was the ring bearer. The bride’s attendants wore knee-length white on white floral print dresses and carried blue roses.

! 111 >g I Sgtocuse &/tiends cTta ‘-Poftfe Resents FREE SUMMER CONCERT The Fort Wayne Area Community Band Tuesday, August 30 7:30 P.M. SYRACUSE LAKESIDE PARK Funded By Augsburger’s Super Valu, Cotton & Cotton Insurance, Miller's Merry Manor And State Bank Os Syracuse > fflnn" t • -

Best man was Johnny Harper, Laotto. Groomsman was Aarron Busch, brother of bride, Bremen. Ushers were Christopher Busch, Plainsfield, and John Busch, Virginia Beach, Va., both brothers of the bride. A reception was held in the House of Friendship Church where cake, punch and condiments were served by Barb Busch, sister-in-law of bride, Bremen; Mary Busch, sister-in-law of bride, Plainfield; and April Busch, niece of bride, Plainfield. A wedding trip was taken to Mountain Brook, N.C., in the Smoky Mountains the week of May 15. The bride is a 1980 graduate of Wawasee High School and a 1984 graduate of Goshen College with a BSN. She is employed as an RN at Goshen Hospital. The groom is a graduate of Central Noble High School and is employed as a semi driver for Starcraft Transport. The couple is now residing in Dunlap. Early senility? Funny world. They’re selling coloring books to grown men and space encyclopedias to the kids. — Sun-Times, Chicago.

The Corys’ description of the medical insurance system in Germany sounds like a fiscal fantasy for the average American. Complete cradle to grave coverage is provided. New mothers can stay in the hospital for 10 days after giving birth, which is what Pam did after son Jason, who is nearly three, was bom. Pam and Dennis have another son, Benny, age six. Amazingly, the Corys are paid about SIOO a month for having Benny and Jason, due to the ever shrinking birth rate. “It’s a worrisome thing,” says Pam. Os course, with all of this fabulous medical insurance, as well as pension plans and unemployment insurance, someone has to pay. Taxes are high, approaching 50 percent. Os course, the Corys pay taxes like everyone else who is working in Germany. Germans, however, Dennis says, are among the best paid workers in the world. They also benefit from labor laws that make it difficult for employers to fire anyone. In addition to these employment perks, mothers get six weeks off before and after giving birth (with pay), and either parent can take up to a year off work to stay with the new baby. Pregnancy cannot be used as a reason for firing an employee. Benny and Jason’s education are another reason why the Corys feel that staying in Germany would be good for the family. College is much cheaper there. For example, tuition runs about $l5O to S2OO a semester and, like in the United States, the universities are open to those who qualify academically. Dennis sums up their thoughts on the subject by saying, “Let’s just say, if the boys want to go to college, they’d better give me a good reason for not going to a German school . . .or win the German lottery.” How does the United States compare overall to Germany? The Corys have the chance to weigh the differences as well as the similarities. They visit family in the States every two years, as they are doing right now in Milford. They deplore the casual acceptance of the violence that pervades American society, even on Saturday morning television. The filthiness of the cities seems to disturb them as well. They see plenty of good here, though. Dennis loves the cereal aisles in supermarkets. Pam misses the political activism that can be a characteristic of our society. “I think the real positive thing about the United States (is) in a system where you are dissatisfied, you do something.” Not, surprisingly, they see good and bad in both cultures and, in the end, not all that many differences. Citing the short time it takes to get from Germany to the United States as a reason, Dennis states, “The two countries are becoming so similar, that I don’t think we could say we like one better than the other.” Their unique way of life does appear to content them. “We have,” says Dennis, “the best of two possible worlds.”

■ '<'<^:?^3'fi'S k^>W’^: .^^■<'X< ; gMh r 1d i \ Rl * 3S& " ■■- MR. AND MRS. JAMES WATKINS

BPW honors recipient The August meeting of the Syracuse Business and Professional Women was held on August 9, at the South Shore Golf Club. Hostesses for the meeting were Carol Elder, Yvonne Huffman and Mildred McDonald. Margaret Tallon was a guest. The club’s 1988 scholarship recipient, Basil Bonner, was present at the meeting. The club voted to sponsor a Girl Scout Troop and to donate SSOO towards the purchase of the Jaws of Life, for the fire department.

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CALENDAR

Week Os August 17 To AUgust 24

WEDNESDAY Syracuse Lions Club 6:30 p.m., in Syracuse Case Teen AA Under 20 Group 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church Syracuse Jaycees 7:30 p.m., in Lakeland Eagles Lutheran Church Women 7:30 p.m., in Syracuse Grace Lutheran Church . Alcoholics Anonymous 7:30 p.m. at Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon 7:30 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse

THURSDAY Ebenezer Ladies Aid 2 p.m. Wawasee Community Toughlove

7 p.m., in Lakeland Youth Center, Syracuse. Parent support group for parents troubled by their teenagers behavior. Milford Volunteer Firemen 7 p.m., at Milford Fire Station North Webster American Legion Auxiliary 8 p.m., at Legion Hall

FRIDAY Milford Kiwanis 6:45 a.m., at Milford Community Building Alcoholics Anonymous Carl Sheperd Memorial Group 7:30 p.m., at Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse, open meeting •

SATURDAY Wawasee Kiwanis 7 a.m., at Gropp’s, Syracuse Turkey Creek Senior Citizens 12 noon, at Syracuse Scout Cabin

SUNDAY Alcoholics Anonymous Fireball Group 10 a.m., at North Webster Fire Station, open meeting S. A.L.T. (Single Adults as Living Testimonies) 9:30 a.m. Mike’s Soda Shop, North Webster Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday Night Recovery Group 8 p.m. in North Webster United Methodist Church, closed meeting Alanon Sunday Night Group 8 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church, clpsed meeting < \

MONDAY Lakeland Kiwanis 6:45 a.m., in North Webster Church of God Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District 7:30 p. m., Syracuse Town Hall

Syracuse EMS .12 X. 7 p.m., in Syracuse Fire Department North-Webster Chamber of Commerce 7 p.m., in Palace of Sports North Webster Milford Lions 7 p.m., in Milford Community Building Alanon 7:30 p.m., in Milford United Methodist Church Alcoholics Anonymous, Milford Group V 7:30 p.m., in Milford United Methodist Church, closed meeting Alcoholics Anonymous, North Webster Group 7:30 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church North Webster American Legion 8 p.m., in the Legion Hall

TUESDAY Alanon Just for Today 9:30 a.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary 12 noon at Beacon Restaurant Adult Children of Alcoholics 6:30 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church base-

ment Syracuse Town Board 7:30 p.m., in the town hall Refunder’s Club 7:30p.m.

WEDNESDAY Syracuse Fire Department 7 p.m., regular meeting in the fire station Teen AA Under 20 Group 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church Alcoholics Anonymous 7:30 p.m. at Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon _ 7:30 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse

Trinity Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4th And Martin • Ligonier

Invites You To Worship Sunday Church 9 A.M. Bible Class 10:15 A.M.