An event you don’t want to miss! The Association of South Dakota Peer Supporters, Therapeutic Services of the Black Hills, and A Heart for the Kingdom have come together to bring this event to Hermann Park, Saturday, June 22 around Noon.
The event is for all folks who have lived a mental health experience, their families, caretakers, and all interested folks!
By the way, potluck means the meat, buns, paper plates, utensils, and water is provided. You bring a chair and a side dish to share.
Second Ward Alderman Pamela Somervold (and she is GOOD!) is the featured speaker. Timothy Flaskamp, ASDPS Board President, is the Meat Manager at Lueder’s Food Center and is the Master of Ceremonies. Faith Goehring is the Music Manager, as well as helping out with the production of the event.
Loran Harris and Michelle Moore are presenting ASDPS signature Peers Presentation of the 15 Question Speech.
Each child will go home with something plus there will be drawings for exciting door prizes donated by local businesses.
Dirty Dahg Productions’ tune spinner and artist, Half Dead, will be on site playing food music for the occasion.
Here’s a look at the main speakers.
Tim Flaskamp
Tim is the meat department manager at Lueder’s Food Center in Belle Fourche. He is also the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of South Dakota Peer Supporters (ASDPS). ASDPS is a very active group with Tim facilitating a zoom mental health support group since the pandemic. This group is continuing and is very successful. Michelle Moore and Liz Dempsy are co-facilitators of the in-person group held on Tuesdays at West River Mental Health, 3:30 to 5. Tim also is a teacher of the 15 Question Speech, a signature program of ASDPS. Tim is serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Potluck in the Park-A Mental Health Peer Event.
When asked to describe the upcoming event, Tim said, “This event will see a potluck with the non-profits providing the meat and buns, plates and utensils, and water. Folks need to bring a chair and a side dish. Door prizes and humor, recovery speeches and an opportunity to get contact information from other folks will all be offered at Hermann Park.”
Tim has dedicated so much of his life since he has come home from Mayo, after a harrowing total demise physically. Being rebuilt and then learning to live with what is there for him to work with. From heart surgeries and living in the hospital and fighting depression, to now a man in recovery and willing to give back and pay forward by helping others out. Tim is a remarkable soul who gives so much of himself to peers, he was named the “Hero Award” by Great Western Bank.
Pamela Somervold
Pamela Somervold is an energetic woman whose love for life is on display wherever she goes. An inspirational and motivational speaker for the last 35 plus years, she has traveled throughout South Dakota and Wyoming sharing her uplifting testimony to women’s groups for Stonecroft Ministries. Pam is the Founder and President of A Heart for the Kingdom Ministries, a 501c3 non-profit organization which includes speaking engagements, a radio ministry as well as a weekly television talk show aired on Black Hills Fox television. Her guests were people from various walks of life in the Black Hills region who shared their experiences and testimony of God’s intervention in their lives.
Pamela (Johnson), former Mrs. South Dakota International 2007, had the opportunity to travel and speak to various women’s organizations promoting the American heart Associations’ Go Red for Women Campaign, highlighting her families’ battle with heart disease. A certified fitness trainer at the YMCA in Rapid City for several years was a joy to her as she led a Body, Mind, and Spirit fitness and exercise class focused on health and personal well-being. Her career has spanned many areas of life including working as a legal secretary in law firms in the Belle Fourche and Rapid City areas. Most rewarding was her role as a television marketing specialist for KOTA television for over 13 years. She received an award recognizing her outstanding television campaigns: “New Arrivals” and “Students Making a Difference” at the National Association for Broadcasters Small Market Television Exchange.
Pam’s commitment to community service is seen throughout her involvement with many organizations over the years and currently is a volunteer for Feeding South Dakota Compassion Cupboard, Center of the Nation Visitor’s Center, as well as a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries and ASDPS.
At present, Pam is co-sponsoring the Potluck in the Park-A Mental Health Peer Event, June 22 at Noon in Hermann Park.
“This event is an incredible opportunity for people to come together”.
Michelle Moore
Michelle is a mental health peer and is one of the featured speakers. Michelle comes from the spot of having physical challenges along with her mental anguish and treatment of those ailments. Having numerous trips to Mayo for cancer treatment and many surgeries, we have watched each success. Michelle is in a good spot now and shows it by staying busy volunteering for Meals on Wheels where she cooks, serves, and delivers meals to shut-ins in Belle Fourche. For Belle Fourche neighbors she mows lawns, pet-sits and house-sits. Michelle’s ongoing treatment for both her physical and mental conditions makes her a hero in our eyes. She is giving back and paying forward one of the things the Association prides themselves in. Michelle has been involved in all our projects from gathering items for the Artemis House or canned goods for the Spearfish Pantry. Michelle has had a lot of experience in the mental and physical fields of medications and treatments. Michelle lives in Belle Fourche, plays pickleball, and has a fantastic garden. Michelle will be telling about her path through challenges to find recovery, both physically and mentally. We welcome a peer who has gone through so much.
Rev. Faith Goehring
Faith Goehring is a dedicated advocate with a profound passion for helping others. Since her childhood, Faith has harbored a deep care for individuals facing physical disabilities, a sentiment rooted in her own experience of overcoming the challenges brought by a stroke at birth, which affects the left side of her body from foot to head. Faith’s commitment to community service extends beyond her formal roles. She actively volunteers for organizations such as National Disability Rights Network, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Association of South Dakota Peer Supporters, DRSD (PAIMI), and governor appointed BH Advisory Council to the state. She co-presents on important issues related to disability rights and mental health. Therapeutic Services of the Black Hills with Faith as Executive Director, is helping with all parts of Potluck in the Park-A Mental Health Peer Event.
