Iris Network Summer Party Beats Back the Rain

Click here to view a slideshow of the Garden Party pictures

On Friday, June 20, The Iris Network celebrated summer with a garden party that got rained out, but regained momentum inside the Iris Park Apartments. The gathering served as welcome to president Jim Phipps, who just completed three months of leadership at the agency; celebrated the contributions of Maine AIRS volunteers who live and record in southern Maine; and introduced Bill Irwin, a professional speaker who lost his vision at age 28 and became the only individual who is blind to have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, led by faith and his guide dog, Orient.

Nonprofit leader Kimberly Curry stated, “The garden party was a great excuse to meet more of the Iris Network family. I talked with staff, clients, and volunteers. Bill Irwin gave a motivating and exciting talk about his experience hiking the Appalachian Trail, and his story about how he became visually impaired was very moving. We never know what life will throw at us, and his attitude and spirit inspired me.”

Even the hosts had fun. Board member Keith Potts said, “Having a special opportunity to meet, recognize, and thank all who support our agency and its mission was a very rewarding experience.”

The Iris Network Summer Garden Party was sponsored by the Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation and PretiFlaherty. We express our warmest thanks to our sponsors.

Speaker Bill Irwin’s book, Blind Courage, and more information about him are available at www.billirwin.com

The next Iris Network event is the 12^th Annual White Cane Awareness Walk on Saturday, October 18, 9:15AM, at Back Cove Bay in Portland. See you there!