Volume 1 , Issue 3

December , 2015

Upcoming Events

• Wizard of Oz

• Super Bowl Raffle

• Winter Special Olym-

pics

• Open House

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

SUFU Prom 2

Sew What? 2

Board of Directors 3

Unsung Hero 4

Community Kitchen 5

Raffle Fundraiser 6

A Note From Jennifer 6

EYES ON PROGRESS : A YEAR IN REVIEW

N E X T Y E A R S R A C E P L A N N I N G I S A L R E A D Y U N D E R W A Y !

Your Donation is Needed!

*See page 2 to help our

sewing group.

The Progress Center was pleased to introduce the first ever road race fundraiser to benefit The Progress Cen-ter’s many services.

People of all ages started Halloween early with the first Wicked Weird and Totally Freaky Trick or Treat Trot by the Lake 5K and 10K run Saturday morning.

Wicked Weird and Totally Freaky Trick or Treat Trot by the Lake

Making a referral for services

online is quick

and easy!

Go To:

progresscenter-maine.org/make-a-

referral-today/

Runners got into the Hallow-een spirit and wore costumes for the 5K and 10K.

Organizers and participants said the event helps raise money for The Progress Cen-ter, but also brings the com-munity together. Becky Michaud, a participant at Sat-urday's event, said "I really hope that people understand

that, places like this are so needed and to help benefit something like this, you've got-ta give."

WMTW News 8's Mallory Brooke was there to emcee the festivities. Mallory was joined by local DJ, a husband and wife team Charlie and Karcha Buker of Kruzin DJ Services.

— WMTW News 8

Page 2

E A R L Y B I R D G E T S T H E W O R M : Y A R D S A L E

Volume 1 , Issue 3

S E W W H A T ?

Our mission at The Progress Center is to promote inde-pendence and freedom of choice in the individuals we serve. One of the many ways we support our participants to assert their freedom of choice is during our monthly Voice of the People meeting. The purpose of the meeting

is to provide a time and space for everyone to come together to talk about their likes and dislikes and how we can better meet their needs.

Pictured to the left you can see one of the many results from those meetings: Sewing classes!

Our sewing group would like to request support from our loyal Eyes on Progress readers. If you have any unwanted sewing mate-rials please consider donating them to our newest community support program.

To donate please contact:

207-743-8049 x266

S U F U P R O M

Speaking Up For Us, better known

as SUFU is an organization that

encourages people with disabilities

make their wants and needs

known to their friends, family and

providers. The Progress Center has

partnered with Momentum to form

a local SUFU club that meets regu-

larly at various locations.

Most recently the SUFU club and

its members celebrated their

prom– a first for many! The group

met in June at the First Congo

church in South Paris for food,

friends and lots of dancing.

Everyone looked stunning in heels,

long dresses and tiaras! A special

thanks to everyone that donated to

the event and to Trish Logan Pho-

tography for taking our prom pic-

tures!

On June 27th The Progress Center hosted our First Annual Early Bird Gets the Worm Yard/Craft/Vendor Sale. The Event kicked off at 8:00 and ended at 1:00. The money raised was a combination of donated yard sale items, other misc. items owned by TPC, Tree Works, the kitchen's bake sale and the sale of table spaces. Pampered Chef, Origami Owl, Scentsy, Party Green and two private yard sale vendors also participated in our event. In addition to the funds we were able to promote The Progress Center within the community and build relationships with our neighbors and local business owners.

With your support we raised a total of $2,171.59!!!

development@progresscentermaine.org

Eyes On Progress:

The Progress Center is

hosting a bottle drive.

The Progress Center is working on raising funds in many different ways. We realize that making a cash donation may not be possi-ble for all families. There are many ways you can support TPC and our participants. One of those ways is to do-nate your cans and bottle.

There are two ways you can donate bottles: One, stop by our office and pick up our Clynk bags and drop them off at Hannaford. Two, visit Don’s Redemption on Cot-tage Street ask that all funds go to The Progress Center account.

In 2015 you will see us embarking on some brand new fundraising events, including dinners at local restaurants, raffles, affini-ty marketing, crowd fund-ing and a fundraising

walk.

To make these events suc-cessful we need to build our volunteer base. We are looking for people willing to sell raffle tickets, share our facebook posts with their friends, and to join us in other fun events and activi-ties.

Call Celeste Wideman

743-8049 x 206 for details

Ronald Raymond, Chairman

Kathy Perkins, Vice-Chair

Tom White, Treasurer

Richard Clough, Secretary

Dorothy Coffin

Melissa Burgess

Brian Paradis

Bonnie Paradis

The Progress Center is please to announce the ad-dition of two new members to our Board of Directors. In June the board voted to add husband and wife Brian and Bonnie Paradis.

They happily agreed to join our current members:

Pictured (L to R): Ron Raymond and Brian Paradis

Ron and Brian regularly volunteer at the Communi-ty Kitchen on Thursday helping to cook and serve meals. We are so grateful for their dedication to The Progress Center.

Page 3

B O T T L E D R I V E

Project Empty Bowls

The Progress Center is working in part-nership with the United Way of Oxford County and Healthy Oxford Hills to host an awareness and fund raiser for food insecurity in Oxford County. The event is titled Project Empty Bowls and will feature local food vendors, entertainment and more. At the conclusion of the event those in attendance will be able to take home a handmade bowl as a reminder that hun-ger is an ongoing issue.

Supporting the cause is OHMS’s Art Club!

A special thank you to all of the students (pictured on the right) who made and do-nated their clay bowls.

Pottery donations can be made to:

207-743-8049x 266

V O L U N T E E R S N E E D E D

I T E M S W A N T E D

Apple Crates-

Tree Works is looking for a donation of apple boxes/crates. We are adding a pop-up-shop to our administra-tion building to showcase the products made by our participants in the wood-

shop.

Pottery-

In preparation for our Project Empty Bowl Fundraiser for the Community Kitchen we are asking for donations of pottery.

Call Miranda with Donations

207.743.8049 x 266

J O B S E E K E R S W A N T E D

Sign on BONUS

Available*

Are you compassionate?

Do you want to make a difference?

Do you like working with kids?

The Progress Center is looking

to hire a Behavioral Health

Professional to support chil-

dren and families in multiple

counties in Maine.

Apply online or contact Hu-

man Resources at:

207.743.8049 x 206

*Some conditions may apply

APPLY ONLINE progresscentermaine.org

Community Kitchen

One of the programs that will benefit from the Project Empty Bowl fundraiser is the Community Kitchen.

As most of you are already aware TPC undertook the task providing free meals to the community. In 2008 a once a month meal in the basement of a local church quickly grew. Currently the kitchen serves meals every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 to 200 +/- patrons.

The Project Empty Bowls event will occur in early 2016. We’re looking for local restau-rants or clay potters to participate.

Please contact Miranda at:

development@progresscentermain.org for

N E W B O A R D M E M B E R S

The Progress Center is cele-

brating its 35th year of

providing services to individ-

uals with intellectual and de-

velopmental disabilities. On

Wednesday, Nov. 18 the

agency hosted their Annual

Dinner with a focus on re-

flection and vision for the

future.

Each year, employees are

asked to recognize a

coworker who routinely goes

above and beyond.

This year's 2015 Unsung

Hero Award went to

Maureen Bilodeau, a five-

year veteran of our Chil-

dren's Case Management

Team. Maureen’s co-

workers noted, 'she al-

ways demonstrates pro-

fessionalism and respect

to those she serves' an

she builds 'strong bonds of

professional trust and sup-

port' with her clients. Her

co-workers agree that she

is a 'great role model.'

In addition to thanking

Maureen for her dedica-

tion, The Progress Center

would like to thank the

Board of Directors, staff,

and, most importantly, the

individuals and families it

serves.

Did you know Tree Works has a pop-up shop at The Progress Center?! This holiday season why not support the local economy by shopping with us.

Stop by 8-3 Monday thru Friday and take a look at our products-- We pledge that every item made by Tree Works has been handcrafted and whenever possible, use materials that would otherwise have been disposed of to make these quality products.

Page 4

# G I V I N G T U E S DAY

2 0 1 5 U N S U N G H E R O A WA R D

deals and Cyber Monday for online purchasing. Now, we have Giving Tuesday , a global day ded-icated to giving back.

On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, individuals, families, businesses and the world over world came together

for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give back.

There is still time to make a contribution to The Progress Center! Visit: progresscen-termaine.org/donate

Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

If you’re on social media at all you may have noticed lots of posts about Giving Tuesday and thought what is this all about?

The philosophy behind the movement is simple; we have a day for giving thanks, Black Friday for

Volume 1 , Issue 3

Unsung Hero:

Honorable

Mention

Laura Roy,

Miranda Ward,

Tom Lawrence,

Danielle Richards,

Sandi Wilson,

Michael Rizzo,

Liz Blaquiere,

Jess Davie

Sarah Rosenberg

Diane Howe

Alex Roy

P O P - U P S H O P

Eyes On Progress:

The Progress Center is most well known for the services we provide to those individuals experi-encing disabilities. Not so well known are some of the other things we do that are just as important. Some of those things include the selling items at festivals, fairs, art and craft fairs all over Western Maine.

Tree Works is our wood-working program where our employees and their sup-port staff produce hand-made hardwood kitchen and houseware items. Some of those products include cutting boards,

chess boards, toaster tongs and more. Tree Works is a staple at art fairs and farmers markets and always receives posi-tive feedback from buyers. Tree Works has a been to the Moose Lottery day in Bethel, the local Gun Show put on by the Norway/Paris Fish and Game Club and the Norway Art Festival.

You may have purchased some of our tasty treats and not have even known! Our Community Kitchen crew bakes cookies and brownies to sell during those same festivals. We even grill burgers and dogs

and sell popcorn too.

Why do we do this? It has always been and will contin-ue to be for our participants. Woodworking, baking and selling those same products to the community are all outlets for our participants to learn new skills and put them to use.

Every program that is of-fered to our participants is done so thoughtfully. We are not a daycare facility and we don’t offer activities to just to occupy time. We are here to support the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone that receives our services. We want to ensure that we’re providing

Kitchen Manager, Liz Blaquiere along with her sister and volunteer, Erlene Smith, presented our Board President, Ron Raymond with his birthday present featuring the Community Kitchen logo on his new, personalized apron.

Ron is an integral part of cooking and meal prep on Thursday afternoons. We’re grateful to him and all of our com-munity kitchen volunteers — without you we would not make feeding those in need possible.

Page 5

S U M M E R M E A L S E N D I N G F O R S U M M E R 2 0 1 5

F E S T I VA L S C H A N G E L I V E S

C O M M U N I T Y K I T C H E N

from our volunteers and the positive feedback we received from the families and children that attended through-out the summer.

As always we're happy to support our commu-nity and are looking for-ward to next summer!

The Progress Center would like to thank Healthy Oxford Hills for their leadership and guidance with the Summer Meals program.

In August we served our last free lunch of the six week program to children in the Oxford Hills area. We were pleased with the support

applicable life skills that will enhance and change our participants lives for the bet-ter.

That is what Tree Works and the Community Kitchen is all about.

A NO T E FRO M J E N N I F E R

35 Cottage Street

Norway, Maine 04268

Phone: 207-743-8049

Office Fax: 207-739-6110

CCM Fax: 207-739-2349

www.progresscentermaine.org

The Community Kitchen is at it again! We’re pleased to announce we’re back with our Second Annual Super Bowl Raffle. Last year we introduced this “fun”draiser to the community to showcase the culi-nary skills of the Community Kitchen! We happily raise over $400 for The Progress Center and brought awareness to the Community Kitchen’s many talents. Because of the positive feedback we’ve decided to bring back the catered Super Bowl party for 20 with an added second and third prize. This time around we’re offering a dessert tray for 10 and another for 5 for the second and third ticket drawn on February 3.

Our hope for this fundraiser is twofold; one to raise funds for the Community Kitchen/Food Distribution and two, to target a new population of community members.

Our agency has been in operation for 35 years and yet there are still people that don’t know of our ex-istences. At the very least they are not aware of the breadth of services we offer, including the soup kitchen. Our goal is to sell 1,000 tickets the proceeds of those sales will benefit the kitchen’s many programs while also increasing community awareness.

To make this goal a reality we need YOUR help! Contact us at 743-8049x 266 to either purchase tick-ets for the raffle. Or help sell tickets to your friends and family, whom I’m sure, like us, are hoping for another Patriots Super Bowl Ring.

Tickets are: $1 for 1, $5 for 7 or $10 for 15

We have had a busy fall and anticipate a similar schedule through the winter months. Our new Feel Better Food program is now delivering meals to newly discharged hospital patients throughout the Greater Norway area. Patients can access the pro-gram through a referral from their medical provider. We welcome any questions you might have.

Our Children’s Services pro-gram continues to grow and we are gearing up to open

an additional residential home this Spring.

On the next page please find some helpful information from Community Connect, a parent group, about the proposed changes to the Section 21 Waiver. All services provided under this Waiver will be affect-ed by the proposed changes.

Happy Holidays From The Progress Center

Like us on:

Changes in the HCBS Section 21 waiver rules are now out for public comment! This is

the hearing we’ve been waiting for, and it’s time to make our voices heard!

IMPORTANT Details about the Public Hear ing and Comment Per iod

PUBLIC HEARING:

Date: January 5, 2016

Time: 10:00am

Location: 19 Union Street, Room 110

Augusta ME 04333

COMMENTS DEADLINE: Written comments must be received by midnight January 15,

2016.

Click the link http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/proposed.shtml Scroll down to first two

boxes, MaineCare Benefits Manual Chapter III section 21 and MaineCare Benefits Manual

Chapter 21 Section II. Of each section click onto either “WORD” or “PDF” to fully view and

download

What you can do to provide feedback!

The recently released Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) waiver proposal is cur-

rently in public comment period. The training is open to individuals, families and interested

parties seeking to have a voice. Bellows and Company will provide the training in two inde-

pendent but related offerings.

In-Person Training: Preparing and Testifying for the Public Hearing

December 30, 2015, 5:00-7:00PM,

Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, Augusta, 225 Western Avenue, Suite 4

Learn what to expect at the January 5 public hearing

Learn how to prepare the most effective testimony

Conference Call Training: Preparing Written Comments

January 6, 2016, 5:00-6:00PM

Teleconference 1.888.407.5039, PIN 18533025

Learn how to prepare the most effective written testimony to submit by January 15.

Learn the difference between a Public Hearing for the Department of Health and Human Ser-

vices vs. for the Health and Human Services Legislative Committee

To join, please contact Kim Humphrey at khumphrey.phadv@gmail.com or 207-754-3435