JANUARY
2015
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chrissy & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 YEAR IN REVIEW Page 2 BOARD ELECTIONS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
There is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I would like to share with you as we begin 2015 with all of its’ questions, potential, and beautiful, blank calendar pages: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” I so appreciate this quote as I reflect back on the last month and recall how much energy, time, and resources went towards the celebration of Christmas and ushering in the New Year. Now I love the holidays, and do not mean to come off as any type of
Scrooge. I thoroughly enjoy all the Christmas parties, and especially the joy and excitement I experience on the faces of the individuals that attend our programs. I simply want to emphasize the message contained in Mr. Emerson’s quote, that each of the days that we are given contain the possibilities to make it a precious, nurturing experience. I believe that one of benefits of working with
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
the persons supported by our agency is their capacity for approaching each day with an enthusiasm and fresh perspective that has been muted in many of us. In the past as I’ve reached out to you for your support of and participation in the
mission of improving the lives of those individuals we serve, I don’t think I’ve done a good enough job of letting our participants speak for themselves. Just as many of us make resolutions at the beginning of the year identifying those accomplishments we hope to achieve, so too our participants have goals and objectives that they would like to see come true. We have captured some of these individuals expressing their goals for the new year on video, and you can watch these clips by going to our website. We’ll also list these goals in upcoming newsletters for those of you that don’t use the computer. In closing, on behalf of myself and the board of directors, I wish you a happy, healthy, and peacefilled New Year. May it be a year where every day is the best day in the year!
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY YEAR IN REVIEW
G C S
BU S I N E S S
E V E N T S
2015 was outstanding at Second Chance because of you! We made new friends, welcomed many new customers and were able to provide Garden Center with more opportunities to enhance the lives of those they serve. If you shopped here, donated here, spread the word about us or affirmed “why we are here” in any way this year we are in your debt.
THANK YOU!
We look forward to a booming 2015 and hope you will be here with us again. Best wishes to you and yours in the New Year! FEBRUARY SUPER SALE AT SECOND CHANCE Sunday, February 1st 12pm to 4pm 44 Stephen Street in Lemont
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Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.
. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good
how you can help GCS
LOOKING FOR BOARD MEMBERS! Garden Center Services has a committed board that provides support, guidance, and oversight to the executive staff regarding the growth and direction of the agency. Our board is made up of dedicated and involved individuals that meet bimonthly throughout the year. GCS Board members have the unique opportunity to assist in the development and growth of Garden Center’s programs by playing a key role in the generation of discretionary revenues to supplant the State’s inadequate funding.
Garden Center is in need of donations of the following items
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art & craft
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porch swing
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basketball hoop
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wall-mountable TV for exercise room
Dues must be current in order to participate in the 2015 Board elections. Board Elections will be held February 19th, 2015
GCS HONORS OUR AMAZING STAFF
kitchen table &
On December 12th, GCS honored our staff at the annual Garden Center Christmas party. It is rare when we are able to gather all of our staff together from GCS’s many locations and that fact makes those moments when we are together even more meaningful. We are grateful for our dedicated staff who positively impact the lives of those they serve each and every day. Thank you for all you do!
chairs •
2015 membership dues will be due on or before January 31, 2015.
If you would like more information on becoming a GCS Board Member, contact Gerry Beagles at gbeagles@ gardencenterservices.org or at 773-941-4151 Ext. 201.
supplies
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IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Wii game station
If you have something to donate, please contact Anne at amcferron@ gardencenterservices .org
Mark your calendar...
January 2015 Sunday
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Second Chance Super Sale 12pm to 4pm
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GCS Super Sunny 5k & Walk ‘n Roll-a-Thon
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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday GCS Day Programs/& Offices CLOSED
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Growing dignity and independence 8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459 10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655 phone 773-941-4151 email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org
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 5 8 th G C S F a s h i o n S h o w & L u n c h e o n
Sean O’Shea
DoubleTree by hilton Alsip, IL
Linda Sherwood
We would like to offer a special thank you to everyone who participated in our 58th Annual Fashion Show in November. There are too many people to list by name, but whether you volunteered, donated silent auction items, purchased tickets for yourself or as a gift to those we serve - you’re support is deeply appreciated.
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.
! u o y k Than THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who used iGive for your holiday shopping. Because of you Garden Center earned money that will go toward our Wish Program and other essential services. Haven’t used iGive yet? Make your new year’s resolution to sign up today! Visit iGive.com and choose Garden Center as your charity to get started.
SAVE A TREE ...AND GCS MONEY
JULY
2014
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Garden Center Services
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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
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.