Volume 13, Issue 1 October, 2014 K

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Helping People. Changing Lives.

Serving Eastern Oklahoma Since 1968

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The Land of Opportunity ...A Better Life! When you talk to Isidoro Garcia Landaverde, better

known as “Izzy”, you get the feeling he is home even

though his birthplace is over a thousand miles away. Born

in Jalpan de Serra, Queretaro, Mexico on December 7th,

1985, Izzy traveled to the United States at the age of four

with his mom and dad. His parents were seeking the land

of opportunity and a better life.

According to Izzy, “We had family in Inola and since

dad had always worked in agriculture, he fit right in.”

Izzy lived in several places before settling in Tahlequah

and, at one time, lived in Hulbert, where he attended Head

Start. Izzy lived in several rural Oklahoma towns but

soon his family settled in Tahlequah where Izzy received

his education and upon graduating from high school re-

ceived a degree from Northeastern State University in

Developmental Psychology.

Izzy remembers taking frequent trips to Oklahoma City

and Dallas, Texas to meet with lawyers, the Mexican Con-

sulate and Immigrations trying to get permanent residency

cards. According to Izzy, “Years later and lots of money

we received our permanent residency cards….by that time

I was 14 years old.” But being a permanent resident has its

limitations too….. you cannot vote, run for office, or hold

a government position. There are also certain things in

medical, travel, obtaining credit and life in general that are

to your disadvantage if you are not a citizen of the country

you live in. Izzy will admit he has been treated with kind-

ness, but being a U.S. citizen will hold no boundaries.

(Continued on page 6)

Isidoro Garcia Landaverde

It was exactly 50 years to the day, September 25th, 1964 –2014 that individuals gathered for

the dedication ceremonies of the

Eufaula Dam. It was estimated

that in 1964 over 30,000 individu-

als were attending as President

Lyndon Johnson spoke on the im-

portance of what the dam would do

not only for flood control, econom-

ic impact but the recreational as-

pect.

Fifty years later Former U.S.

Congressman J.C. Watts was the

keynote speaker as approximately

1500 individuals listened as he

spoke on how, as a little boy, the

lake was his swimming pool. He

went on to say that as a young man

he worked for the Corp of Engi-

(Continued on page 7)

L-R: Carroll Huggins, former Congressman J.C. Watts, Kay Box, Doylene Knowlton, Royce Alverson, Linda Love.

From the Desk of the Executive Director / CEO

Page 2 KI BOIS News

KI BOIS News is published monthly by

KI BOIS Community Action

Foundation, Inc.

200 Southeast “A” Street

P.O. Box 727

Stigler, OK 74462

918-967-3325

800-299-4479

www.kibois.org

R. Carroll Huggins Executive Director / CEO

Tom Marlatt Associate Director / CFO

Larry Hall, Associate Director / COO

KI BOIS Community Action

Board of Directors

Gene Bass, Board Chairperson

John Cook, 1st VP

Kenneth Monroe, 2nd VP

Jan Coplen, Sec/Treasurer

Cecil Williams, Parliamentarian

Steve Carter, Member

Kay Box, Editor

918-967-3325, Ext. 131

October 2014

Calendar of Events KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Incorporated is privileged to have such a committed

group of board members, staff, and volunteers that use their talents and resources to help those

who are less fortunate. Their expertise and commitment to help-

ing people and changing lives is commendable.

Our Community Action Agency helps people and changes

lives every day in cities, towns and rural communities all across

our service area. As the Community Action Partnership promise

indicates, “Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies

the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes our commu-

nities a better place to live. We care about the entire community

and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each

other.”

Several of our staff were recognized at the Annual Oklahoma

Community Action Association Conference awards luncheon on

September 19, 2014 in Midwest City, OK for their many years of

committed service. Among those being recognized are:

Red Ribbon Week October 23-31

KI BOIS Executive Board Meeting - October 27, 2:00 p.m.

National Weatherization Day - October 30

Halloween - October 31

Claudia Jeffrey

45 Years

Diane Sheives

40 Years

Tom Marlatt

35 years Ronda Berry

30 Years

Continued on page 3

Carroll Huggins

Let’s Get Involved! October Is…

*Domestic Violence Awareness Month

*Breast Cancer Awareness Month

*Head Start Awareness Month

*Health Literacy Month

*Healthy Lung Month

*SIDS Awareness Month

*National Downs Syndrome Awareness Month

*Disability Employment Awareness Month

“Because We Are Equal to the Task”

KI BOIS News Page 3

Harvey Bittle

Lisa Caldwell

Karla Chambers

Mandy Clark

George Dowell

Debra Emerson

Tammy Fisher

Georgina Flanary

David Hayer

Deborah Hays

Charlotte Holly

Brenda Hume

Debra Jacobs

Cheryl Jordan

George Kasper

Sherian Newby

Mary Reidy

Ann Roach

LaWanda Sam

Sandra Skinner

Nicole Wallace

Ramona Watts

Kristi Wilkins

Imogene Wind

Tracey Barger

Linda Denny

Helen Gann

Tamara Hines

Carla Jackson

Karen Richardson

Connie Woods

Jodi Briggs

Jennifer Christopher

Donna Conrad

Jean Daniels

Victoria Ford

Carla French

Jan Garner

Susan Holbrook

Kenneth Moore

Sheila Noggle

Cassandra Sherman

Kenneth Barnhart

Calvin Blevins

Cindy Hamm

Doylene Knowlton

Linda Phillips

Vicki Wagoner

Carroll Huggins, CCAP

Executive Director / CEO

From the Desk….cont. from page 2

25 Years

10 Years

15 Years

20 Years

They’re Here! They’re Here! Tee shirts arrived just in time to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Head Start. Lynn Johnson, Assistant Family & Com-munity Partnership Director, is shown sorting the shirts into size and color. The tee shirts will be proudly worn by Head Start staff across the nine-county area.

Tahlequah KATS Route Supervisor Terri Squyres proudly displays a cake that the Tahlequah staff enjoyed at their monthly luncheon.

Linda Brown, daughter of KATS driver Carolyn Byrd, made the cake and decorated it to resemble a KATS bus.

Cooper Madden Gollihare made his way into the

world on September 3, 2014. He weighed 8lbs, 13 oz and was 21 3/4 inches long.

Parents are Chris & Jenny Gollihare; big sister is Kylee Gol-lihare.

Materernal Grandparents are Ronnie & Barbara Harris; Paternal Grandparents are Donnie & Kay Gollihare.

Barbara is the KI BOIS Head Start Disabilities/Mental Health Coordinator. Kay is a cook at Spiro Head Start.

Page 4 KI BOIS News

They were pushed, pulled and even carried…. It was a great day on the racing circuit as future racecar drivers and their cars arrived at

the Woodall Speed Way for the Annual Box Car Races. The cars were designed and

built by the children and their dads. Eager parents also lined the track and watched as

their favorite racecar driver hit the pavement. The event was held at the Woodall Head

Start Center on Friday, September 19th during the September Fatherhood Activity.

Each child and dad received a ribbon for crossing the finish line.

KI BOIS NEWS Page 5

On Monday, September 22, 2014 a group of volunteers gathered to begin a downtown clean-up of Wilburton to get ready for Main-

street Week. The group consisted of KI BOIS County Director Claudia Jeffrey along with several staff members, KI BOIS board

member John Cook, Kathy Healy & Nicole Norris with the Choctaw Nation YAB / SWAT members, and EOSC Church of Christ

Student Director, Quinton Decker along with some Eastern students. The groups made quite a difference in the appearance of the

downtown area.

The YAB/SWAT kids also picked up trash at Lake John Wells in Stigler on Tuesday the 23rd. Thank you!

Volunteers Make

A Difference In

Wilburton and

Stigler

John Cook

Page 6 KI BOI S News

The Land of Opportunity ...A Better Life!..........continued from page 1

So Izzy started down the path to becoming a U.S. Citizen. This takes a lot of time and energy. You must first have documenta-

tion allowing you to be in the United States. Then you complete an extensive application asking hundreds of questions about your

time in the U.S. As Izzy put it, “I went to a lawyer to help me with my application. We paid lots of money and made numerous trips

to Little Rock and Ft. Smith, AR, Oklahoma City and Muskogee. This takes a long time. The next step is getting your picture taken,

fingerprints and then comes the interview process. The interview is very scary and nerve racking. They ask you everything about

your life in the U.S. and if you lie or leave something out they will know because they already know the answers….they are the gov-

ernment!” Izzy also took a test where he answered several questions regarding our flag, our president and his knowledge of Ameri-

can History. “I had to study 100 questions for the history and

civics exam, but I was only tested on 10 of them at random,”

Izzy said.

Surrounded by family, Izzy’s dream and goal was accom-

plished on Friday, September 26th as he was sworn in as a Unit-

ed States Citizen at the Federal Courthouse in Muskogee. Alt-

hough Izzy’s parents are still permanent residents, Izzy can state

to his two brothers and one sister...I am too a citizen!

As Izzy attended Head Start some 25 years ago he or his

parents never thought he would someday be the Disabili-

ties/Mental Health Coordinator for Head Start North. Accord-

ing to Izzy, “I started working for Head Start because I needed a

job, but then I realized I really enjoyed working with young

children. I have a determination to make a difference in those

young lives….just like someone made a difference in mine.

Editor’s Note: It was a pleasure to work with Izzy on this story

and I congratulate him on his new job title and his responsibil-

ity as an American Citizen.

Head Start Policy Council officers for the 2014 – 2015 school

years includes front row left to right, Vice Chairperson Anna

Eakle, Quinton; Chairperson Lindy Morgan, Wilburton; Secretary

Courtnie Sherwood, William Gay. Back row left to right, Assis-

tant Secretary Pat Flourney, Keys and Executive Committee Mem-

ber John Matthews, Sallisaw.

Domestic Violence Services

Staff Attend Conference

Amanda Martin, Domestic Violence Shelter Manager, Brittany VanDo-

lah, DVS Stigler Weekend Supervisor and Casey Long, McAlester CARE

Weekend Supervisor attended the 2014 Domestic, Sexual Violence, Stalk-

ing and Human Trafficking Partnership Conference in Norman on Septem-

ber 24-25.

According to Martin, “The conference included nationally known expert

keynote speakers who provided education and training tools we could use

to address the effects of trauma on the victims we serve daily. We also at-

tended 6 breakout sessions that were specific to shelter advocates. They

provided tips and techniques to use in providing services to shelter clients

and their children."

Page 7 KI BOIS News

neers. Watts also commented that in today’s political

environment a project such as this would never be

built.

There were many people there that was also there

in 1964 some of those being KI BOS Community Ac-

tion Executive Director Carroll Huggins. Mr. Hug-

gins was there with his National Guard Unit. Also,

KI BOIS Community Action Human Resources Di-

rector Doylene Knowlton was there as a baby carried

by her father. According to Lake Eufaula Association

President Connie Morris, “We used the same program

as they used in 1964 down to each song that was sung.

It was a beautiful day then and it is a beautiful day

today!”

50 Years ago...continued from page 1

KI BOIS Crossing Guards Help Children

It’s hard to believe that the first 9 weeks of school is almost behind us. Children who walk to school in Stigler are assisted by two crossing guards who take their job very seri-ous.

Left: Cleo Hill helps a grade school student cross safely to the school campus.

Right: Joe Trumbly poses with a group a grade school students who rely on him to help them get to school in a safe manner.

Community Action! Celebrating 50 years of helping people and changing lives!

These positions are open to KI BOIS Community Action Foundation Staff as well as to the public. (ALL

POSITIONS SUBJECT TO CONTINUED PROJECT FUNDING.) Deadline for all openings: Until

Filled. Current employees – please submit a letter of interest to Human Resources. Applications may

be picked up at any KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. office or printed from the website,

www.kibois.org. Applications should be returned to:

KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc.

P. O. Box 727, Stigler, OK 74462

Attention: Human Resources

Phone: 800.299.4479 Fax: 918.967.9100

KI BOIS COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

KI BOIS News Page 8

KI BOIS AREA TRANSIT PROGRAM

JOB TITLE: TRANSIT DRIVERS (Contact local Transit Office to verify openings)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Maintain a valid dr iver ’s license. Good dr iving record. Must be physically able to assist passen-

gers and their belongings while entering and exiting the vehicles. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs and provide wheel chair

assistance. Should have knowledge of area resources and live within convenient distance of city where job opening is available.

KI BOIS OAKS REHABILITATIVE SERVICES CENTER

JOB TITLE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR - FT (McAlester)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: A Bachelor level degree in counseling, psychology, social work or a related field. A Master s level

degree in addiction studies is preferred. Will provide counseling in a residential setting.

JOB TITLE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE TECH - FT (McAlester)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Assist Clinical Staff by providing logistical and suppor t services to residential clients. HS Diplo-

ma/GED.

KI BOIS HEAD START PROGRAMS SOUTH and NORTH

KI BOIS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM

JOB TITLE: HABILITATION TRAINING SPECIALIST - PT/FT (Poteau, McAlester, Ada, Ardmore, Pauls Valley and

Sulphur)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Will serve as direct suppor t staff for consumers. Ability to handle sensitive issues while protect-

ing others’ welfare. Able to exercise patience, understanding, creativity and flexibility. HS Diploma/GED, valid DL and auto

insurance. Must complete Foundation, CPR and First Aid Training (and any other training as required/requested.) Must be able to

lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

JOB TITLE: TEACHER'S AIDES AND SUBS - PT (Inquire at your local Head Start Center)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Must have HS Diploma/GED and enjoy working with children.