> NEWSLETTER - Summer 2022 RCS empowers individuals with disabilities and special needs so that they may work, live, and function with dignity and respect.
Celebrate Positivity!
Letter from our President, Martha VandeLeest Wishing everyone good times as we enter into the beautiful Wisconsin summer months! RCS Empowers, Inc. continues to move forward with great new changes and enhancements to our Day Services programming. We now have combined the breaks and lunches which allows much more face to face time with friends. In addition, our RCS afterhours programming has been a huge success and enjoyed by all! The Business Services area continues to remain busy as we continue to work with our community. We are so proud of our participants and RCS team as they continue to work really hard making sure our customer’s deadlines are met. I want to congratulate everyone in Business Services in exceeding all expectations thus far this year. Our Employment Services staff and participants continue to create great matches in the community which really helps our Sheboygan County businesses continue to grow and stay strong. The Sheboygan community has proven to be amazingly resilient over the past several years during such turbulent times. Our two contracts with Sheboygan County, Individual Placement and Support and Birth to Three, have also seen growth over the past several years. We are so proud to be able to make such a great impact on the lives of those we serve. Please save the date for our next “Shine On – A Holiday Tree Festival” fundraising event, on November 11, 2022. RCS is looking to the future as we make plans for continued programming growth and step forward with continued new opportunities. Thank you and let’s just enjoy each other.
Martha VandeLeest
Employee Spotlight: Patience Weinberger
As part of an ongoing staff restructuring process, RCS is thrilled to announce that Patience Weinberger has been promoted to the newly created Lead Case Manager and Project Development position. In addition to added supervisory responsibilities, Patience will be responsible to help develop human services initiatives and new programs as well as oversee the case management processes. Patience holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been employed by RCS for 22 years, serving as a Case Manager for the last 19 years. RCS is very excited about the development of this new role and is confident that Patience will help to further elevate the quality of services provided to the individuals with disabilities served. Congratulations Patience!
After Hours Special Events
We are pleased that After Hours events have been so well attended! Thank you to everyone who has participated thus far! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Lynn Justinger, 920-694-1206 or ljustinger@rcsempowers.com
News Update
New Furniture Arriving Soon
Our 2021 Shine On proceeds partially covered the purchase of our specialized and flexible educational classroom furniture, which will be modular, adaptive and ergonomically suitable while being comfortable for all. We are looking forward to the new furniture arriving in the next month.
Lunch Menu
Selections Going Digital
Coming soon, we will be offering a digital lunch selection! All individuals that participate in our lunch program will be able to make their lunch selections Online. We are excited about this offering! More information to be available soon.
Agency Closed July 4th
Midsummer Art Festival at JMKAC July 16th-17th
Participant Summer Picnic at RCS Trailside Park August 19th
Agency Closed September 5th
RCS Art Show on Site September 13th-14th
Shine On VIP Event on Site November 11th
Shine On
To Host In-Person VIP Event
Be sure to mark your calendar for our fifth annual Shine On fundraiser on Friday, November 11th! This year’s event will be an in-person VIP event. Gift baskets, trees, wreaths and specialty holiday items will be available for purchase and bidding starting on November 1st. This year’s fundraising goal is $250,000. The proceeds of the event will be used to further develop our outdoor green space. The enhancement of the green space will provide accessible opportunities for our participants and the community to enjoy beautifully developed outdoor space. It will also be a destination for welcoming the community to connect and interact with individuals with disabilities.
Happy Anniversary! May
Robyn Kulow - 23 Yrs Angela Buechel - 22 Yrs Sheryl Rupp - 6 Yrs Theresa Manderle - 3 Yrs Michele Roose - 1 Yr
June
Arthur Radke - 27 Yrs Nicholas Senkbeil - 20 Yrs Joshua Senkbeil - 18 Yrs Christopher Rentmeester - 9 Yrs Cameron Debroux - 1 Yr Sheryl Pfrang - 1 Yr
July
Kerry Desmond - 33 Yrs Tammy Tryba - 20 Yrs Luann Jeanty - 15 Yrs Michael Borth - 12 Yrs Nathaniel VandeLeest - 4 Yrs Helen Ploederl - 3 Yrs
March Employer Spotlight
Walgreens Store #6570
From Left to Right: Aubriena Lorge, Employee; Angela Buechel, Store Manager; Savanna Davis, Assistant Store Manager
April Employer Spotlight
Pine Haven Christian Communities From Left to Right: Kelly Honkanen, HR Representative; Stacey Alsteen, Dining Services Manager; Angie Holfeltz, Dining Services PM Supervisor; Jennifer Horen, Human Resources Specialist
RCS & John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Creative! Growth!
RCS has been invited to participate in an interactive, public area at the
John Michael Kohler Arts Center 2022 Midsummer Festival of the Arts, in connection with the upcoming exhibition Creative! Growth!
The Creative! Growth! exhibition, which opened May 22, 2022, is a
retrospective of the organization founded in 1974 in Oakland, California.
During the year-long run of the exhibition, JMKAC intends to plan various programs and offer resources that will provide opportunities for the IDD
community to engage with the exhibition as well as visitors to gain a better
understanding of the importance of ensuring the arts are accessible for all. The Midsummer Festival of the Arts is a juried art festival that draws
thousands of visitors to the Arts Center every summer. During this two-day event, the public enjoys walking around the grounds of the Arts Center,
participating in hands-on opportunities, and purchasing artwork from over one-hundred different artists. This summer, the festival will take place the
weekend of July 16 and 17. Please come find us in the Matrix on either day of the event!
Welcome to our New Employees!
RCS Employment Needs
Lead Birth to Three Service Coordinator
Chef Manager/Entrepreneur (Full Time)
Sheena Kalies
Kaitlyn Shaver
Birth to Three Service Coordinator
Monique Castillo
Employment Specialist
Emily Hening Job Developer
Mitch McFadden Production Utility
Casandra Patnode Production Worker
John Bone
Production Worker
Join Our Caring Team! Need an individual who is passionate about using their culinary experiences to create appetizing food for all to enjoy and have the ability to develop new culinary opportunities to enhance our program.
Production Manager (Full Time)
Need an individual who is adept at organization, prioritization, and careful planning to successfully achieve production goals and manage production processes.
Employment Specialist (Full Time)
Need an individual who can engage and build collaborative relationships with individuals with serious mental illness and/or drug and alcohol addiction in order to assist them toward the goal of obtaining and maintaining competitive employment in the community. Requires a Master’s Degree in a human services related field.
Cell Leader (Full Time)
Need an individual who has the ability to oversee the production activity in their assigned area and motivate and support individuals with disabilities to meet and exceed their work goals.
Caregiver/Instructor (Full Time)
Contact Information Main Campus 1607 Geele Avenue Sheboygan, WI 53083 Mailing Address P.O. Box 248 Sheboygan, WI 53082 Phone 920.458.8261
Email info@rcsempowers.com
Need a caring and passionate individual to engage and support individuals with significant special needs focusing on high quality cares, meaningful activities, and the overall well-being of individuals.
Job Coach (Part Time)
Need someone who can work a flexible schedule and support individuals with disabilities who have jobs in the community to help them develop solid work skills and strategies so that they are successful and reach their employment goals.
Production Worker (Full Time, Part Time, Temporary)
Need workers to perform light assembly and packaging work to help fulfill production needs.
For more information about the above positions, please visit us at: www.rcsempowers.com