NOVEMBER
2013
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Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Nancy and Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE Page 2 GCS ON THE ROAD Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
Yesterday, quietly, a momentous occasion occurred for me, for our agency, and for the incredible persons that we are honored to support and interact with every day. I sat at realty offices located on west 151st. Street on a dreary, misting Wednesday afternoon, and representing our committed Board of Directors, closed on a nice house in the village of Worth that in the next few months will become home to six individuals we serve. Obviously, over the last ten years I’ve been involved in a number of these closings as more adults with developmental disabilities needed and wanted to make their home in small, community-integrated living arrangements like yours and mine. So what made this closing different? I’ve been involved with supporting and
advocating for this population for over forty years now. For twenty of those years, I was employed at the Illinois Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities when we were beginning to move individuals out of large, institutionalized settings into smaller communitybased alternatives. I vividly remember speaking to large groups of home and business owners in those communities where we were first establishing these group homes to address their questions and concerns, and literally being screamed and cursed at for how this movement was going to negatively impact their lives, their incomes, and their peace of mind!
“I vividly remember ... literally being screamed and cursed at for how this movement was going to negatively impact their lives, their incomes, and their peace of mind!” The house we closed on yesterday has a shared driveway with the mayor of Worth, Mary Werner. She personally made me aware that this house was for sale and encouraged me to consider it
as the site for our next group home. I was met with the same enthusiastic reception by Bonnie Price, the Village Clerk, and Chief of Police, Marty Knolmayer. There have already been commitments from neighbors to help out with yard and house maintenance, as well as references to plates of warm cookies that will be showing up at the front door once we move in! I am awed and grateful for the welcoming spirit and compassionate leadership we are experiencing in this situation. I am so thankful to intimately witness the growth in the understanding, acceptance, and support being widely expressed for persons with intellectual and physical disabilities. These individuals have the same rights to freely experience the fullness of their personhood and to be contributing members of our society. We’re not there yet, but we are certainly moving in the right direction. If you want to truly participate in the next really important rights movement in our nation, find a way to support our agency. Donate, volunteer, attend events, speak out! Sense the urgency.
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY SPOTLIGHT Check out our Holiday Shopping Guide for amazing gifts that help Garden Center!
G C S
H O L I DAY
GCS Holiday Bazaar December 6th 1pm to 6pm 8333 S. Austin Ave. in Burbank
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1. Hand-Painted Silk Scarves - $25 Garden Gallery/Etsy 2. Hand-Crafted Figurines, Stamped Cards, Miniature Holiday Houses - GCS Holiday Bazaar 3. Fine Jewelry - $5 to $40 Second Chance Thrift Shoppe 4. Garden Gallery Wall Calender - $15 Garden Gallery 5. Woven Art Totes - $20-$25 Garden Gallery/Etsy t men viron life ue endiverse on uniq m ion is a ls with com udiodividua to find preciattle ap & St ery ide in rtunity n and ks of litks of ov or Gall po or den d to pr the op expressio the w the w ar G signe as e es ures de perienc ugh th ry feat as well artists. ro ity lle for e ex nc ace nd th ur ga artists, mun e sp perie grou art. O tsider ed com eativ tic expe this s of n ou blish er fe, cr artis know esta a sa and . We ho l barriilar els cia fers o of skill leve-by-side the so dissimnds. ith ou studi wn The ls at all ther sidear do oups wl backgr ge ua gr ery w to d cia vid Gall indi work will helpuals an and so den to re vid omic, Gar Center ts di e tu in n th de at ppor structween l, econ sold d Gar at su . be llectua tings ts an cy th bilities inte pain e artis fit agental disa th ro from en me fit both t-for-p lopm co In bene a no deve ices, with Serv rsons pe
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6. Fresh Roasted Coffee in light, medium, dark and holiday roasts - $11 Garden Gallery/ GCS Holiday Bazaar 7. Original Art Cards - $3.50 Garden Gallery 8. Hand Painted Wine Glasses- $10 Garden Gallery 9. Hand-Painted Silk Ties and Pocket Squares - $30/$5 Garden Gallery/Etsy
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WHAT’s ETSY? Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items. It is a great fit for Garden Gallery and enables us to get our amazing hand-crafted products in front of more buyers. Now when you visit the Gallery website, you will see a link to our virtual store at the top. Just click this link to purchase our scarves, ties, totes and more. You may also visit our Etsy shop directly by going to www.Etsy.com/shop/growArts.
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Garden Gallery 17459 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park M-F 9am to 3pm Visit Garden GalleryandStudio. com and shop our new Etsy site! Second Chance Thrift Shoppe 44 Stephen Street in Lemont M-S 10am to 4pm TH 10am-7pm
S H O P P I N G
Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.
. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good
Important GARDEN CENTER on the ROAD Gallery Events Garden Gallery & Studio’s growArts artist training program is featured at the 20th SOFA CHICAGO, the world’s foremost fair devoted to Sculpture Objects Functional Art + Design.
As a part of the MY WISH PROGRAM, people we support make one wish each year and our staff work to make that wish come true. In September, a wish came true for a group of seven consumers when they and three staff embarked on a 5-day adventure to Branson, Missouri. The group stayed at Willow Ridge Lodge where they enjoyed the huge swimming pool and recreation area. But they didn’t spend all their time lounging around! The group Chrissy, Veronica and Inday pose attended an Oak Ridge Boys concert and even with a performer at Silver Dollar City got to meet the band following the performance. They went to the Legends show where they saw tribute performances by Elvis, Whitney Houston, The Blues Brothers, Buddy Holly, and Johnny Cash. After that it was a visit to Dolly Pardon’s Dixie Stampede dinner show where they enjoyed watching trick riders perform amazing horse riding feats.
Inday driving the Duck
growArts is included in the special exhibit, CASE (Community Art/Social Enterprise)
Getting ready for the boat ride on Table Rock Lake
One of the favorite excursions the group took was the Duck Boat tour on Table Rock Lake. The Duck Boat captain let Inday and Chris take the wheel for a spin around the lake. The group also visited a wax museum, got lost in a mirrored maze, and visited the Lawrence Welk resort. It was an amazing vacation!
SOFA CHICAGO Navy Pier November 1st- 3rd
GCS’s 57th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon
Come Visit Us at Booth SE006!
ONE MORE TO GO! Our amazing behavioral analyst, Annabelle Winters, has completed two of the three marathons she committed to run for GCS in three months. Annabelle finished the Chicago Marathon in only 3 hours and 13 minutes!! Please support her as she runs her third and final marathon for GCS on November 9th, the Catalina Eco in Catalina, California. This will be her most grueling marathon to date due to it’s difficult and often steep terrain. Go Annabelle!!
FIRST FRIDAY at the GALLERY Join us for demonstrations by two of our SOFA EXPO exhibit partners. A silk screening demonstration will be given by Bridgeport, CT artist, Liz Squillace and a weaving demonstration will be given by Brooklyn, NY artist Ruben Marroquin.
DoubleTree Hotel in Alsip Sunday, November 10th noon to 4pm
Friday, November 1st 7-9pm
Can’t make it, but still want to help out?
Consider purchasing a ticket for a GCS consumer who would like to attend the event and/or donate items for our basket raffles. Contact Jennifer Georgis for more information at 773-941-4151 Ext. 218
Mark your calendar...
November Sunday
Friday, Dec. 6th 1pm to 6pm 8333 S. Austin Ave. in Burbank Enjoy punch and cookies while you shop for baked goods, gifts, ornaments, cards, crafts and more!
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Garden Gallery at SOFA CHICAGO
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Small Business Saturday Shop GCS!
Daylight Saving Time Ends
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FIRST Y at FRIDA ERY LL the GA m 7-9p
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December 2013 F
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NEW
GCS ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Please show your support by visiting her page at at www.GoFundMe.com/3zo0kc and her blog www.fluencysfolly.com.
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Veteran’s Day
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Hanukkah Begins
GCS Day Programs closed for Thanksgiving Holiday Thanksgiving Day
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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
2nd Vice President
Doug Combs
Treasurer
R. Pat Ballis
Secretary
Annmarie Caulfield
Members:
Sharon Duncan
Jill enjoys a day out
Cathy & Donna are all smiles
Scott Hardek 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.
Muffin shows off her dance moves at the GCS Halloween party!
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE SUPER SALE Sunday, Nov. 17th 12pm to 4pm 44 Stephen Street Lemont Get an extra 50% off everything store-wide! Shop Second Chance any day for great deals on everything from wedding gowns to cookware.
Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Thur. 10am-7pm Second Chance proceeds benefit GCS programs & services
e picable M mily’s Des a f ! s a w in o c h s Kin stole the costumes
GET YOUR ISSUE OF THE LEAFLET VIA EMAIL& SAVE GCS $$ There are three EASY ways to sign up for the eNewsletter: 1. Visit our website and click on the link “Newsletter SignUp” 2. Email amcferron@ gardencenterservices. org with subject line “Newsletter” - include your first and last name in the message 3. OR... Call 773.941.4151 Ext. 218 GCS will earn a $5 BONUS for each person who signs up with iGive from now until November 12th!!! If you haven’t signed up for iGive, now is the perfect time! Just visit www.igive.com and choose Garden Center Services as your charity of choice. You’ll instantly start earning money for GCS everytime you shop at the over 1300 stores registered with iGive. Join today & help GCS with every online holiday purchase you make!