Issuu

FEBRUARY

2015

Garden Center Services

The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Becca & Gerry

INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GCS FAMILY Page 2 BOARD ELECTIONS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4

I hope as you read this February Leaflet with its’ articles and pictures representing the daily happenings around our agency, you will truly sense the commitment we have towards enhancing the lives of those individuals that we serve in our programs. In numerous ways throughout the year, we seek your donations so we can offer opportunities and experiences that would not be possible on the inadequate funding we receive from the state. Well today I am not appealing to you for money out of your pocket, but instead I am pleading for you simply to make a phone call. At the end of the budget wrangling last June it was recognized that the final allocations

awarded to the Department of Human Services would not entirely fund a year of services for the community programs that support persons with intellectual disabilities. The budget building process was greatly influenced by the political races that were underway and this drove the decision to wait until after the elections to address this $70 million shortfall. Well, we have a new Governor, and a new General Assembly has been sworn into office. It is imperative that we motivate our legislative leaders to take care of an insufficient FY15 budget.

“IT’S TIME TO START MAKING NOISE!” Unless action is taken by our government leaders, communitybased provider agencies will feel the impact of this budget shortfall in the forms of cuts and extended payment delays. Recently, during a forum hosted by the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities to address our concerns, Representative Greg Harris, the Chair of the House Appropriations Human Services Committee advised “raise your issue and advocate

- there will be more need than revenues.” IT’S TIME TO START MAKING NOISE! We are asking that you contact your State Senators and Representatives by phone and convey to them the importance of focusing on and resolving this crucial matter. You can use information from the following bullet points to help you deliver the message:

• There is a $70 million budget shortfall for services supporting persons with developmental disabilities in the community. • Unless this problem is fixed, individuals and families may lose access to services, and providers could again face crippling payment delays. • Please work together with your family members and friends to address the budget shortfall and prevent cuts to community care. Visit our website to log in and make your call, today! www. GardenCenterServices.org. Alternatively, contact Jennifer at 773-941-4151 Ext. 218 to have her look up your representatives and their phone numbers for you. I sincerely thank you for your support and advocacy on behalf of the individuals we serve.

GARDEN CENTER FAMILY GCS’S BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS DREAM TEAM

abelle in & Ann fair r E i, n a n Ja ernship at an int

Garden Center Services (GCS) is proud to have such an amazing group of Behavior Analysts as a part of our team. The three-year old Behavior Analyst (ABA) intern program was the dream of GCS’s Behavioral Services Director, Annabelle Winters. Annabelle was first introduced to GCS when she was on a Support Services Team that provided assistance to multiple disability agencies in the area. Annabelle so liked the GCS philosophy of inclusion and compassionate, respectful service that in 2012 she joined the agency and quickly got started on developing GCS’s in-house Behavioral Support Services Department. In Fall 2012, with Annabelle’s leadership, GCS welcomed our first Rebecca and David Behavior Analyst interns, Rebecca Burke and Alex Rubio. on a trip to the zoo In 2014, our second group of interns, Grace Cascone, Janani Vaidya and Erin Boncher, started. And this past January, our most recent interns, Patrick Sebastian and Samantha Neubauer began work at the agency.

Our Behavior Analysts not only provide direct support to individuals in crisis, but they also develop innovative and individualized programs for effective skill development. BA interns Samantha Neubauer and Erin Boncher, work at our State street program. Samantha provides support and training for further enhancing program offerings at that site. Erin is working to provide communication assessments, write support plans and provide assistance to our staff. BA interns, Patrick Sebastian and Janani Vaidya are based at our Kedzie location. Janani, like Erin at State, conducts communication assessments, writes plans and supports staff in their implementation. Patrick along with Rebecca Burke, who has been hired as a GCS staff after completing her Masters Degree, work with a group of people we serve to develop and “beta test” new individualized training program techniques and curriculum that more effectively aid those we serve to increase their independence and build essential life skills. Programs developed in that group are shared agency-wide to benefit all of the individuals GCS supports.

GCS’s newest interns Samantha (with friend)

If you would like to learn more about Garden Center’s Behavioral Support Services Department, contact Annabelle Winters at 773-941-4151 Ext. 210.

G C S

BU S I N E S S

C O R N E R

See What GCSWorks! Can Do For You! GCSWorks! provides finishing services including gluing, tying, folding, labeling, collating, stamping, inserting, sealing, product attachment, packing, assembly of kits/bags, information packets/folders and more!

Yvonne Krcmar 708-398-6524 yKrcmar@GardenCenterServices.org

Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.

. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good

and Patrick

how you can help GCS

MEET OUR BOARD MEMBER CANDIDATES Tom Beemsterboer: Tom is a Garden Center Services’ parent. His son Danny has attended GCS programs for almost three years. Tom was co-owner of Genesis Packaging & Design, before selling the business to RR Donnelley. In addition to his son Danny, Tom and his wife Lisa have four other children. Tom’s extensive business experience coupled with his passion for creating new opportunities for Danny and his friends at Garden Center will be an asset to the Board of Directors.

DO YOU HAVE LEFTOVER tissue paper, ribbon & cellophane from the holidays?

Dave Rauen: Dave is the Senior Business Products Specialist at Chicago Office Products Co. (COPCO) in Bridgeview. COPCO has been a long-standing business partner of Garden Center Services sponsoring special events and donating products for our programs. As a result of his position with COPCO, Dave has numerous business and individual relationships that would make great partners to Garden Center Services.

We will take your unneeded wrapping off your hands to use for our event raffle baskets.

Florence Head: Florence is a Garden Center Services’ parent. Her daughter Katie attends the Kedzie program. Florence is retired and is an active member of Garden Center Services. This past year, Florence served on the GCS Fashion Show Committee.

Drop off your items to our State or Kedzie locations to the attention of Sandra Coleman.

Caroline Connors: Caroline was recently named Executive Director at Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, where she is responsible for promoting and maintaining the area’s business district. Through her position, she works with a number of businesses and government officials that would be interested in partnering with Garden Center. Prior to joining the Business Association, Caroline was the editor of the Beverly Review, where she became acquainted with Garden Center Services and wrote several positive stories about the agency. Rep. Fran Hurley: Fran is the Illinois State Representative for the 35th district. The 35th district includes Mount Greenwood, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Worth, Oak Lawn, Alsip, Merrionette Park and Evergreen Park. Since Garden Center opened the Kedzie facility in Mount Greenwood, Fran has been an active supporter of GCS. Her office promotes our events and support businesses, and she has personally been a strong financial supporter of the agency.

Board Elections February 19th, 2015 Dues must be current in order to participate in the 2015 Board elections.

Mark your calendar...

February 2015

January 2015

T F S

2 3 9

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

More Dates! March 14th 22nd

Garden Gallery at Chicago Flower & Garden Show

March

ReStock the Thrift Shoppe Event

June

Garden Gallery at Abilities Expo

June

Super Sunny 5k and Walk ’n Roll-a-Thon

21st (tentative)

12th 14th 6th

Lincoln’s Birthday

Second Chance Thrift Shoppe SUPER SALE 12pm to 4pm

Friday

T F S

Saturday

Open House 1pm to 3pm 10444 Kedzie in Chicago

Valentine’s Day

7pm Membership Meeting /GCS Board Elections 8333 S. Austin in Burbank

President’s Day

2 3 9

12 Valentine Party 7pm to 9pm at 8333 S. Austin in Burbank

First Friday at Garden Gallery & Studio 7pm to 9pm

Groundhog Day

March 2015

Growing dignity and independence 8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459 10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655 phone 773-941-4151

Nancy paints a silk scarf

email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org

Karie & Ashley BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Daniel Wenzler

1st Vice President

Jenny Wojcik

Treasurer

George Sterba

Secretary

Sharon Duncan

Members:

Annmarie Caulfield Mary Beth Herr John J. Kunkes Sean O’Shea Linda Sherwood

OUR MISSION Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons with developmental disabilities through innovative and person-centered services. Our commitment to the excellence of our programs is surpassed only by our devotion to the people we serve and the communities in which they live.

NAME OUR MONTHLY GIVING CLUB CONTEST We need your help to find an awesome name for our monthly giving club. GCS has an amazing group of dedicated supporters who have committed to making recurring donations to the agency. Their monthly donation helps form a predictable source of income we can count on to further our mission. It is a “set it and forget it” donation option that makes a huge impact on our services. We are looking for a fun name for this giving program and we need your help! Submit your suggestions by February 9th to Jennifer Georgis at jGeorgis@ gardencenterservices.org or submit them in a post directly to our facebook page. In mid-February we will post all the contenders to our facebook page and ask you to vote for your favorite. The creator of the winning name will win a large softsided White Sox cooler filled to the brim with amazing sports-themed goodies.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY TODAY!!!

SHOW your love for GCS by doing your online shopping with iGive! Visit iGive.com and choose Garden Center as your charity to get started.

FIRST FRIDAY AT THE GALLERY February 6th 7pm to 9pm Garden Gallery & Studio 17459 S. Oak Park Ave. Tinley Park Join us to see the work of local artists Lisa Guardiola and Nicholas Sundberg of NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago. Enjoy LIVE music by Pleasure’s Paradox and refreshments by Sweet Freaks Chocolates while you shop the beautiful artisan products of our gallery artists. New this month…hand-painted valentine dish towels, original art valentine cards, beautiful up cycled garden art and bird feeders, new jewelry and more !!!

WEATHER RELATED CLOSINGS If GCS closes for inclement weather, we will post it to the following locations: WGN Radio 720-AM, WBBM Radio 780-AM and television news CBS Ch. 2,NBC Ch. 5, ABC Ch. 7, FOX 32, WGN-TV Ch. 9 or CLTV cable. It will also be listed at www.emergencyclosingcenter.com Search by Facility: Garden Center Services and city: Burbank

SAVE A TREE ...AND GCS MONEY

JULY

2014

Garden Center Services

HE LEAFLET

The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

by the referral agencies that require the person to take a number of assessments. The purpose of these assessments is to pinpoint those deficits in cognitive, physical, and lifeskill development that will

When you sign up to receive THE LEAFLET online

Nicole & Gerry

INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY Page 2 GCS WALKS, ROLLS & RUNS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4

Looking forward to this coming weekend and all the 4th of July celebrations leads me to think about the term “independence” and the struggles we’ve all gone through, as individuals and as a country, to become the people we want to be, spending our precious lives doing what we want to do. I would say the overarching goal we have as an agency that provides services and supports to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities is getting to know each person well enough so that we can accurately identify what their hopes and aspirations are and then doing whatever we can to assist them in realizing this potential. Before individuals are “awarded” state funding so that they can attend our programs, they must be screened

“It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. ”

verify they meet the criteria of having a developmental disability. It seems to be such a “what’s broken” way of looking at human beings, and does not give proper emphasis to the unique presence and contribution that each person possesses. It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. In both our day and residential programs we are continually working to improve the experiences and exposure our consumers receive driven by the approach described above.

We so appreciate the input provided by the families about their loved ones, and also the insights contributed by our caring staff that spends so much of their day engaged with our consumers. As an agency, as we become more aware and sensitive to the hopes and possibilities that are within each person we support, we must strive to make those changes necessary that will give them better access to full lives of participation. As much as I wanted to mention independence in this article, I also wanted to stress the need and benefit of “interdependence”. It’s truly only through the acceptance and support of one another that we can really become our best selves. I often think that one of the greatest gifts bestowed on us by the persons we support at Garden Center Services is their innate understanding of this principle, and the enviable way they open themselves to receiving and providing kindness. Enjoy the newsletter, and have a great summer.

We need your help to cut postage costs! If you would like to continue to receive the GCS newsletter, please contact Sandi at scoleman@gardencenterservices.org to receive your next issue via eMail.