Board says ‘thank you’ for your hard work Dear Staff and Friends,
offered as a token of our thanks and gratitude for your hard work.” This issue of Ink will feature news of some more of AWARE’s advancements and expansions, including stories about two new key positions that have been filled and a briefing on the Montana Mental Health/ Head Start Consortium that was held in May in Billings. You’ll read a story on AWARE professionals who are involved with the National Health Service Corps shortage area program. You’ll see a photo spread from the Special Olympics Montana State Games, which were held at Montana State University in May. AWARE’s Anaconda team, the AWARE Recyclers, placed well at the competition and each member of the team was sporting a new uniform. You’ll read a piece written by Michael O’Neil, director of the Montana Home Choice Coalition, on how to buy a home. Michael points out that it’s a perfect time to do so. I always hope that – in writing these letters to you in the beginning of this publication – the emphasis put on the fact that you’re doing tremendous things is not lost. The bonuses that went out are another form of that emphasis – a gesture that we decided might underscore the fact that what you have done for AWARE and, more importantly, the people you serve, has not gone unnoticed.
Almost every one of these letters begins with glowing summations of the successes we’re seeing in communities across the state. And that’s the purpose of this – to offer a few thoughts on what we’re up to as an organization. It’s hard not to be glowing. In this letter, though, I want to take the appraisal a step further. AWARE employees received a letter on July 1 from Jack Haffey, president of our Board of Directors and myself explaining that, because of our successes over the last year, we have distributed bonuses. In addition, we’re pleased to announce that we will continue Larry Noonan with our tradition of annual salary increases. To be sure, we are in blessed position. As the letter stated, the last year has been abysmal for the country, and nonprofit-human service organizations have certainly not been immune to the poor economic climate. Some groups around the country have been forced to shut their doors altogether, providing services one day and packing up the next. So, while many continue to face the grim reality of cutbacks and closures, we’re able to keep focusing of expansions and openings. In the letter, Jack said it well: “Larry and I believe that last year’s success, which included the development of highly-specialized services for youth with autism – in particular, the opening of an additional group home in both Missoula and Bozeman for children who have historically been served out-of-state. In addition to this, the organization expanded services in several different communities, refined our telepsychiatry services, increased school-based and Head Start services, and fostered our Unconditional Care Philosophy to each and every individual and family receiving services. All of this is due to your hard work and dedication. Our clients continue to be given tremendous opportunities through your work, which has resulted in phenomenal success…This bonus is
Thank you.
Lawrence P. Noonan, CEO Geri L. Wyant, CFO Jeffrey Folsom, COO Mike Schulte, CHO Board of Directors John Haffey, President John O’Donnell, Vice President Al Smith Teresa Marshall Cheryl Zobenica Russell Carstens Stephen Addington Editing and layout: Jim Tracy Staff writers: Tim Pray Bryan Noonan
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AWARE Ink is published bimonthly by AWARE, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization at 205 E. Park Ave., Anaconda, MT 59711. Copyright ©2009, AWARE, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Please send correspondence to: askaware@aware-inc.org.