Sunflower Diversified Services, Inc.


Newsletter for December 2005 Volume 2 - Issue 12 - Page 2

Residential Supports/Day Services
Shelly Shelton/Sarah Krom
During the holidays we all try to spend as much time as possible with our families. With all the extra activities and shopping that is a part of the season, planning can get a bit stressful. We would like to encourage you to contact us early if you are planning activities with your family members. When we can plan early we can make the most of the season for our staff also. Staffing can be flexed to also allow them the opportunities we encourage our folks to enjoy.

To aid you in planning for any visit home the Day Services schedule is:
      CHRISTMAS: We will dismiss at 3:00pm Dec. 23rd
                    We will be closed Dec. 26th
              Day Services will resume on Dec. 27th

        NEW YEARS: We will be closed January 2nd
             Day Services will resume on Jan.3rd

Residential supports will, of course, be operating to support folks when day services are closed during the holidays.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH- DAY SERVICES
Winner of this months honor is Gary Pickerill. Gary drives a van route and has always had the safety of his passengers as his main concern. He has shown dedication to those folks and others not on his bus, and reports any concerns he has promptly. Gary works well with all staff and has come in at a moment’s notice when we have had extra riders booked or a driver unable to make their shift. Gary has also supported residential staffing needs and worked with folks in their homes.

EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH – RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
We are honoring all residential staff this month. By volunteering to cover open hours and going the extra mile they have ensured that no one is left without the needed supports. Last minute calls from Triage, calls from other staff, and special requests from management often require that they put their personal plans on hold and rush off to meet staffing needs. We couldn’t do it without this dedication to our agency. Day Services staff also has assisted us in meeting folk’s needs and we appreciate their dedication also.

      Happy Holidays – We look back on 2005
           with fondness and forward to 2006
                           with enthusiasm!

Safety News
Harold Jones
Safety Stuff
I keep beating the drum – Watch Your Step! Every month, as the Safety Committee reviews work-related accidents, the vast majority of them – well over 80% - are due to slips, trips and falls.

On the one hand, I’m glad that those are typically minor accidents, and that we don’t have serious injuries from them. On the other hand I can’t help thinking about how much better off we’d be if they didn’t happen at all. Here’s a reminder of how to avoid them:
     1) Watch where you put your feet.
     2) Make sure your footing is stable.
     3) Stay in designated walkways where marked.
     4) Watch for (and PUT UP/PICK UP) Trip Hazards.
     5) Wear shoes that give your feet a good grip.

Marketing
Informal negotiations for new contracts are underway with a local manufacturing company. The company makes rain gauges and some sporting goods accessories, and the owner of the company is very excited at the prospect of having Sunflower handle his assembly and packaging needs. There is a possibility that this could turn out to be a long-term relationship with a relatively new and growing company, who wants very much to establish a presence by using as many local resources as possible.

Other happenings of note:
* Construction of the new storage building will be finished, and that building will be in use, by the time you read this.
* Installation of the Fire Sprinklers at Eisenhower and Churchill is underway. There’s a lot of ugly steel pipe being strung through the houses. If you live, work or visit there, don’t worry – as soon as all the construction is finished and the systems are operational, we’ll start designing some soffits to cover up the pipe.
* 1st Step’s parking lot is going to have some changes made that will make it easier for customers to get in and out. The east gate will be opened up onto the alleyway, and that gate will become the exit. We’re also going to add some rock to the west side of the lot, and improve the alleyway before winter.
* The Plant has voice mail. Whoo Hooooooo!!!!

Advocacy/Training
Amanda Urban
I want to thank all the staff that has helped in all the special functions that we have done. Your support is appreciated! This year has been full of fun learning experiences for all of us. We have done a lot of great things like the charter dinner, the community service work and the monthly meetings with the individuals. Way to go everyone!!

The charter dinner that the Aktion club had on November 12 was a really amazing event. People from all over Kansas came to welcome the new group. The past Kiwanis District Governor Dick McCall, Kiwanis Lt. Governor Dallas Macklin, members for Russell Aktion club, Great Bend Kiwanis, Great Bend Aktion club, Larry Zenor are just a few to mention. There were approximately 60 people in attendance for the ceremony. The past Kiwanis District Governor and Kiwanis Lt. Governor presented the charter to the Aktion club members and then went through the job descriptions of each officer. We have a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. They explained how important each function is and how they must work together as a team to run the meetings.

Thursday the 17th a couple of Venture Crew members went to the chamber coffee that was held at Santa World. The Venture Crew did community service work in the building painting the interior walls. It was really fun to see how the building turned into something so wonderful. If you get a chance Santa World is worth viewing!