St. Lawrence NYSARC 24th Edition Winter 2011

News SLNYSARC Starts G.O.A.L.—Gallery of Arts and Learning

This Autumn, the Agency proudly opened the doors of a new business on Main Street in Canton. G.O.A.L. is a contemporary art gallery and learning center that features art work created by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The purpose of the Gallery is to provide creative art classes and educational opportunities for individuals and the general public. It is open daily from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The G.O.A.L. program was created to fit the interests of people living with family members, guardians, or on their own. The Gallery gives the Agency an opportunity to share the work done by participants in The Community Arts Program on a more permanent basis

than in the past. Many items are available for sale and proceeds benefit both the artist and further arts for people with disabilities in the County. The artwork available includes hand crafted jewelry, paintings, sculpture, fused glass, scarves, and much more. Commissioned works may also be available.

This project is partially supported through a special grant that was awarded through Family Support Services from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, located in Tupper Lake. Continuation will be dependent on support from the public. To fulfill the mission of the G.O.A.L., there is much left to be done. Community purchases and donations will help with supplies such as the following: print making press, pottery wheel, dark room supplies, molds, and much more.

As part of the vision of G.O.A.L., individuals will take classes in the space on Main Street in a variety of continuing educational courses, such as English, Math, Social Studies, etc. In the Spring, the Gallery will offer art classes in the evenings and on Saturdays. The workshops will feature a variety of topics such as jewelry making, dying silk scarves, and sculpture. Classes will be open to the public, as well.

The Gallery will also be holding an open house in January to celebrate joining the shopping community of downtown Canton. It is our hope that all St. Lawrence NYSARC’s members will join us for an evening of fun and demonstrations. Details will be outlined on the Agency website www.slnysarc.org, in local newspapers, and on Facebook!

“Winter Cabin” by Artist Patrick Trimm

Executive Director and President Message 2

Reese Honored as Outstanding Performer 3

Key Bank Sponsors Autism Awareness Walk 4

31st Annual Fund Raiser 4

Contributor Corner 5

News Briefs 6

Inside this issue:

Page 2

Season’s Greetings to Our Membership!

Before 2011 closes and 2012 rings in, I am taking this opportunity to share with you the good news regarding St. Lawrence NYSARC’s accomplishments in spite of the dangerous economy and the many changes being mandated to us. While working with the Agency’s strategic plan, our Administration has been able to con-tinue development as needed, and at the same time, staff has continued to provide the quality of care we need for our individuals to reach their best personal outcomes. This is no small accomplishment!

We continue expanding into community projects and activities, we have a rapidly growing Children and Youth Program, our contractual base is increasing, and with the Day Programs demanding more and more space according to program needs, we are “squeezing” our Administrative offices right out of the R.L.L. Center!! We will be looking at expansion alternatives early in 2012.

Working with 49 other chapters’ officers at the NYSARC level of business, I assure you we have a CEO, ad-ministration and staff second to none. On behalf of the St. Lawrence Board of Directors and consumers, I offer many thanks and much gratitude to every one of you. It is a pleasure to be able to work with you.

And now, the greatest appreciation and Best Wishes for the New Year from all of the above, goes to you – the membership – for your support of our mission. Our vision is our mission and it is each membership that sup-port us locally and legislatively. Please stay with us this next year as you are valuable to us. Thank you.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!!!

President

If you are reading this brief message, you are a member of St. Lawrence NYSARC and we thank you for your support! The 2011 Membership campaign ended in September and thanks to all of you, it was a tremendous success. We are now 2,306 members strong, an increase of 769 from our 2010 roster. We are living through tumultuous times and a demonstration of strength through membership will be needed more than ever.

The health care industry which we are a part of is under scrutiny! We are facing many challenges including reductions in Medicaid funding, increased regulatory control, increased external audits, and a struggling econ-omy in St. Lawrence County. We cannot let the times we live in interfere with our mission. Now more than ever, people with disabilities and their families need our support.

For the past five decades we have thought of ourselves and our organization as advocates. We have been proud of our ability to create meaningful programs for people with developmental disabilities. We have wit-nessed many successes (with sadly, some failures), learning from each other and these experiences.

St. Lawrence NYSARC was started by families, and my most enduring hope for our agency is that we maintain that belief that we are not just a “provider”, but a family who takes care of the people we support as if they were indeed our family. As we have grown, it is more difficult to keep the concept of the “ARC family” in our thoughts and hearts BUT we must do so.

It will be our membership who keeps us on track. And what does that membership look like? We are staff, family members, people with disabilities, business partners, professionals, educators, and friends. There are not many organizations that can claim such diversity! We come from all walks of life and we share one com-mon goal – to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Our membership is strong now and I am confident that we can count on you as we face the challenge of change over the next year.

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season!

Executive Director

Page 3

Timothy Reese Honored as Outstanding Performer In recognition of October’s National Employment Disability Awareness Month, Timothy Reese of Ogdensburg was selected as a Joslin “Outstanding Performer” for work on NYSID (New York State Industries for the Disabled) Preferred Source Contracts. Reese is one of 54 New Yorkers with disabilities being acknowledged for consistent, impressive performance through St. Lawrence NYSARC’s Seaway Industries program.

St. Lawrence NYSARC is proud to recognize Reese, who has worked for over four years as part of the Agency’s Seaway Industries Custodial Crew. He supervises at various locations including the Ogdensburg Mental Heath Clinic and Hamilton Hall at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

NYSID’s Joslin Award Program honors people with disabilities whose work on NYSID contracts is outstanding. Reese is one of the 54 people from more than 6,000 state-wide employees who is being honored for his personal success through employment on a NYSID preferred source contract.

For 38 years, St. Lawrence NYSARC has made it a priority to help employers realize that people with disabilities are a vital part of the workforce. Through various programs, the Agency teaches people the daily living, job and social skills needed to manage successfully at home and in the community. Today, St. Lawrence NYSARC’s fac i l i t y -based and supported work programs are provid-ing employment services to more than 300 people with disabilities.

NYSID is a not-for-profit organization with over 30 years of experience meeting the purchasing needs of state and local government agencies while advancing employment for New Yorkers with disabilities. The award is named after William Joslin who was the CEO of Human Technologies Corporation in Utica and served on NYSID’s Board of Directors for many years.

In photo from left to right: Corey Heritage, NYSID Regional Sales Manager; James Love, St. Lawrence

NYSARC Associate Executive Director of Day Services; Timothy Reese, Seaway Industries Supervisor; and

John Morrison, Director of Seaway Industries.

Contributor Corner

Page 5

Membership Drive 2011 Update The 2011 Membership Campaign has come to a successful end and we are happy to report that there are 2,306 Members this year. St. Lawrence NYSARC was one of the only five Chapters of NYSARC, Inc. to increase membership this year! The other Chapters were New York City, Suffolk, Warren Washington, and Westchester. A large Membership provides proof of support with legislators to maintain funding to serve over 750 people with intellectual and de-velopmental disabilities. Thanks to all your support, we are keeping up with down-state!

Each individual member enhances the ability to advocate with deci-sion-makers in Albany for legislation that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Representatives pay more attention to con-cerns when they realize that membership speaks not just for one hundred people, but rather thousands of people.

Cynthia Atkins James Bryant

Myron Dafoe Jr. Diane Freego Betty Grant

Bonnie Grant Knapps Station Community

Church

John & Judy Plonka Cheryl Robinson Family

Ellen Rocco Thomas Stowell

Thomas & Virginia Sullivan Josie Thomson

United Presbyterian Church

Donations in memory of: Gordyne Ashley

Linda Brady Helen Clary

Christine Cuthbert Stella Knapp Hittsman

Kathryn Latimer Lida Perrin

Contributions:

Michael Alzo Richard Conklin

Chip & LuAnn Cross Marcia Dier

Stephen Dixon Clarence Donah

Bettye Green Mr. & Mrs. Everett Hampton

Helen Henry Joyce Lilholt

Mrs. Sebastian Mazzotta Deborah Morgan

James Peets Kathleen Russell

Susie Spilman Norton Taylor

Frederick & Barbara Wilder Erie J. Wood

Pamela Yurgartis

New Lifetime Members for 2011!

Page 4

Key Bank Becomes Presenting Sponsor of the Autism Awareness Walk On Saturday, September 24th, Team NYSARC hosted the 4th Annual Autism Awareness Walk at the Canton Village Park on Main Street in Canton, N.Y. Key Bank was the event’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors included Potsdam IGA, Mix 96.1, Sullivan’s Office Supply/Season’s Gift Shop, Kinney Drugs Foundation, Olympia Sports, and Subway. More than 500 people were in attendance and raised over $12,000 to support people on the Autism Spectrum.

The Walk was made possible with support from Reverend Michael Catanzaro, Brooke James, The Remington Arts Festival, the Canton Village Board, Dave Regan, and Chief Alan Mulkin.

Proceeds from the Walk benefit St. Lawrence NYSARC’s Children and Youth Program. This service is available to people with developmental disabilities from six to 22 years old. The Program specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Students involved in services participate in a variety of social skills activities based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Finding qualified ABA professionals is critical now with the passing of the Autism Bill in November 2011. Governor Cuomo signed this Bill, requiring Insurance Companies to fund ABA services for individuals diagnosed with Autism, effective November 1, 2012.

St. Lawrence NYSARC is the leading provider with the ability to assist and provide ABA services to individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in St. Lawrence County. Profession-als are available now to help families prepare.

Additionally, services are offered in the child’s home, in the community, and occasionally in their local school district. For more information, contact Nancy Davis at (315) 379-9531 or email ndavis@slnysarc.org.

31st Annual Fund Raiser Earns Over $40,000 The 31st Annual Fund Raiser was held on November 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Best Western University Inn, Canton, New York. The Agency sold 4,601 certificates for a gross profit of $39,050. The Agency gave away 33 prizes and Shauna Vallance of Madrid, won the grand prize of $10,000 cash!

The Agency’s Fund Raiser was hosted by WWNYTV’s Jeff Cole, the anchor of “7 News This Morning” and “7 News at Noon.” Patricia Campanella, President of St. Lawrence NYSARC’s Board of Directors, gave the opening comments for the evening. Those presid-ing over the drawing included: Mark Waterstram, C.P.A. from The Bonadio Group, and Chief Alan P. Mulkin, Canton Police Department.

In photo from left to right: Steven Pierce - Key Bank Sr. Vice President;

Patricia Campanella - St. Lawrence NYSARC President; and James Barger - Key Bank Sr. Vice President.

Bulk Rate U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 54 Canton, NY 13617

Non-Profit Org.

Executive Committee Patricia Campanella: President Jackie Sauter: 1st Vice President Anne Townsend: 2nd Vice President Clyde Butz: Treasurer Phyllis Shimmel: Secretary Administration Daphne A. Pickert: CEO/Executive Director Thomas VanOrnum: CFO/Comptroller Nancy Davis: Associate Executive Director of Clinical and Youth Services Mark Keller: Associate Executive Director of Residential Services James Love: Associate Executive Director of Day Services & Seaway Industries Dennis Durant: Assistant Executive Director of Human Resources Jerry Filiatrault: Assistant Executive Director of Operations Michelle Quinell: Assistant Executive Director of Community Relations Cassie Reagan: Assistant Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Timothy Welpe: Assistant Executive Director of Staff Training and Quality Assurance Josie Thomson: Executive Assistant

6 Commerce Lane Canton, NY 13617

News Briefs St. Lawrence NYSARC received two third place honors for Media Awards at the 2011 NYSARC, Inc. Annual Convention in Albany. The entry in the human interest category was “NYSARC’s Dodge Pond-Summer Camp Supported by Rotary Clubs” by Susan Mende of the St. Lawrence Plaindealer. The entry in the news article/story category was “Homeland Security Recognizes NYSARC” by Bob Beckstead of the Daily Courier Observer. The Community Players performed a Holiday Revue on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at SUNY Potsdam’s College Theatre. The event highlighted a variety of fam-ily-friendly acts including: holiday themed comedic scenes, music, and classic stories retold North Country Style! This show was sponsored by SUNY Potsdam’s Drama Department. The Memorial Service to remember those who have passed during the previous year is set for March 28, 2012 at St. Lawrence University’s Gunnison Chapel. The Agency is holding a Film Festival on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at St. Lawrence University’s Gulick Theater. St. Lawrence NYSARC’s Annual Dinner Meeting will be held on May 11, 2012 at the Barrington Student Union.

For additional information about programs or services, please contact Daphne Pickert at (315) 379-9531,

dpickert@slnysarc.org, log on to www.slnysarc.org, or check us out

on Facebook!