> NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2023
RCS empowers individuals with disabilities and special needs so that they may work, live, and function with dignity and respect.
Hello and happy spring, we are all looking forward to the beautiful Wisconsin summer months ahead.
RCS Empowers, Inc. continues to move forward with great new changes and enhancements to our Day Services programming. We have our John Michael Kohler Art Center combined event on April 29th. It is so great to see all of the enthusiasm from those who chose to walk the runway that night and those who chose to work on combined art projects for the event. I cannot wait to see the actual performance. Again, this year we will be participating in the John Michael Kohler Art Center mid-summer art festival. We would like to thank the Art Center for this collaboration, support and amazing kinship over the past year.
Our Business Services area continues to remain busy as we continue to work and develop new opportunities with our community. We are very proud of our participants and the RCS team as they continue to combine efforts making sure our customer’s deadlines continue to be met. The business services department continues to exceed all expectations.
One of our customers, “3 Sheeps” came onsite and with the help of our Participants planted lemon grass for a new campaign launch. Just a note to all, they have identified RCS Empowers as their charity of the month (May). There was so much joy in planting the seeds with the “3 Sheeps” team. The smiles were big.
Our Employment Services staff and Participants continue to create and maintain great matches in the community which really helps our Sheboygan County businesses continue to stay strong.
We have serviced Sheboygan County Health and Human Services, through our IPS and Birth to Three programs and now have started a third program for youth services. We continue to be so very proud of our impact on the Sheboygan Community.
One new item to reveal is that RCS is working to develop and enhance its greenspace into a beautiful fully accessible garden and park area for our Participants and the Community to enjoy. A great opportunity for all to come together.
Please save the date for our first annual golf outing on August 7th and our 6th annual Shine On – A Holiday Tree Festival” fundraising event, on November 10th and Community Day on November 11th.
RCS is looking to the future as we make plans for continued programming growth and keep stepping forward with new opportunities.
Thank you and have a great summer!
Martha VandeLeest
Upcoming Special Events
JMKAC Gala
April 29
JMKAC Midsummer Festival of the Arts
July 15-16
1st Annual Golf Outing
August 7
Participant Picnic
August 4
Shine On
November 10
Shine On Community Day
November 11
Employee Spotlight:
Partner Charity of the Month
3 Sheeps Announces RCS Empowers, Inc. As May Partner Charity of the Month
We are proud to state that RCS has been selected as 3 Sheeps Brewing Co’s partner charity of the month! Stop by their tap room to enjoy a glass of their seasonal beer, Lemongrass Pils. $1 of each beer sold during the month of May will be donated back to RCS. In early April, RCS was fortunate enough to have 3 Sheeps owner and founder, Grant Pauly, on site to help plant lemongrass seeds. These seedings will turn into plants and will be available during the month of May in the taproom.
Sara Fredericks
RCS is pleased to announce the hiring of Sara Fredericks as our new Lead Day Services/ Life Skills Specialist. Sara’s new role will be to manage the day to day staffing and programming needs in Day Services, provide assistance with class curriculum development and scheduling, and provide classroom instruction when needed. In addition, she will be supporting the new FORWARDS program by teaching independent living skills to youth in Sheboygan County. Sara holds her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and worked previously in a supervisory role at Pine Haven Christian Home. RCS is very happy to have Sara join our human services team, and we are confident that her knowledge, experience, and warm smile will make a positive impact in the quality services we provide to individuals with disabilities. Welcome Sara!
RCS Collaboration:
JMKAC Benefit Gala Held April 29
Celebrate the arts in NYC style at this night of nights on New York Ave. The evening features a runway show including artists, performers, and one-ofa-kind fashions showcased by RCS Empowers, Inc. participants.
JMKAC is hosting this event in partnership with RCS, an organization that works to empower individuals with disabilities so they may work, live, and function with dignity and respect. We are honored to highlight the importance of accessibility and belonging in our community while showcasing the creative spirit of all artists, making this year’s Gala an especially memorable experience.
The mission of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center is to generate a creative exchange between artists and the public. This fashion-event, fundraising gala is an exciting opportunity to connect with our mission while celebrating that creative exchange with amazing local and national artists. Your support enables JMKAC to bring artists and the public together in ways that ripple through and lift up our whole community.
Join them for a once-in-a-lifetime fun night when fashion, art, and community collide, while we gather to spotlight some of the incredible talented artists all around us. Click HERE to learn more.
Congratulations
RCS Accounting Team
Thank you for conducting our internal audit! This past year, we had a PERFECT audit with no errors or reconciliations! You are an all star team and we appreciate all that you do! (pictured: Debbie Wolf, Terri Brodhagen, Vicky Almgren, Wally List)
Happy Anniversary!
January
Ryan Bubb - 11 years
Hang Nuam - 3 years
February
Nathan Justinger - 11 years
Denise Schueffner - 11 years
Heather Morella - 9 years
Matthew VonDerVellen - 3 years
Sheena Kalies - 1 year
March
Kaylene Baetz- 5 years
Terri Brodhagen - 5 years
Sue De Blaey - 5 years
Chris Martin - 6 years
Mark Schroeder - 4 years
Mohmad Sofan - 6 years
Saeed Sofan - 6 years
Patience Weinberger- 23 years
April
Eric Cox – 4 years
Katie Drees – 1 year
January
Zips Car Wash!
February
Sports Core
Dan Herman – 5 years
Curt Mercure – 10 years
Jennifer Monteith – 2 years
Martha VandeLeest – 8 years
Ah Lau Zahkung – 4 years
March
April
Pick
Humane Society of Sheboygan County
Pictured: Kendall Pohl, Carter Udovich, Teresa Gross
Pictured: Michaela Garza & Don Pieschel
‘n Save # 6432
Pictured: Julia Vorpahl, Courtney Miller, Jacob Jarosinski, Chris Dreier, Mark Turner, Ann Kintzer, Zach Senger
Pictured: Emily Hening RCS, Kacie Sharpe, Lisa Marek, Jody Merenick Humane Society
Welcome New 2022 Employees!
October 2022 - April 2023
Robert Argall, Jr.
Sara Fredericks
Anthony Justinger
Katie Kraus
Kathy Matz
Cody Morey-Erbes
Rhonda Opitz
Amy Richards
Tammy Thill
Julie Vojtech
Donna Weier
RCS Employment Needs Join Our Caring Team!
Day Services Instructor: Provide supervision, instruction, training, and direct care for individuals. Assist Case Manager in implementation and documentation of goals and objectives per Individual Program Plan.
Personal Caregiver: Provide supervision, instruction, training, and direct care for individuals. Assist Case Manager in implementation and documentation of goals and objectives per Individual Program Plan.
Truck Driver: To be responsible for proper use and care of the vehicle. Driver must use mature judgment and provide safe operation of the vehicle while transporting materials. Be responsible for the movement and recording of material for North Plant.
Employment Specialist: Employment Specialists engage participants, ages 16 and older with diagnosed mental health and/or AODA needs, to assist with obtaining and maintaining employment and/or education that is consistent with their vocational goals and CCS recovery plans.
Production Worker: Provide assistance to Training Supervisor with subcontract work and be a role model for individuals served.
Birth to Three Service Coordinator: Coordinate Birth to Three services to assist families in supporting their infant’s or toddler’s development in the context of naturally occurring relationships, routines, and environments through a process of assessment, planning and intervention. Guide the early intervention team through consultation, observations, reviews of progress records and direct guidance and support to ensure individual and program outcomes are being met.