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Newsletter for
July/August 2007
Volume 4 - Issue 5 - Page 2 |
Advocacy/Training/SHC/CE
Amanda Urban/Jenni Welsch
Advocacy
Group members from each advocacy group went on a camping trip July
14th and 15th. We stayed at Lake Kanopalis which was absolutely
beautiful, and a new experience for most of us. We were able to
fish, swim and enjoy each others company.
August 18th, 7 members of the Aktion Club visited Hutchinson for
Kiwanis International Conference. There were several Aktion
clubs there to enjoy lunch with our fellow Kiwanians and also to
discuss what each club has been up to. The Aktion Clubs are
working on putting together an Aktion Club conference in a
centrally located city. It's too early to report anything at
this time as the plans are underway. The Aktion Club is making
plans to be crossing guards in October for the Halloween parade.
The Tuff Group is excited and anticipating the trip to Wichita
for the Self Advocacy Coalition of Kansas conference on October
19th, 20th, and 21st. There are 15 advocates and 3 staff going
this year!!
We will be in the Hoisington parade again this year showing off
the achievements of the advocacy groups and also the recycling
program. Hope to see ya there.
Disability Mentoring Day is approaching fast I am looking
forward to another successful year. This will be my 3rd year
coordinating this event with the hopes of each year getting
bigger and better!
Community Activities
We have been doing a
lot of different things for our Saturday activities. We have
gone to Fort Larned, Garden of Eden, fishing at Vet’s Lake and
gone to the SRCA drag races out at the Expo Grounds. There have
been a lot of people signing up to go to these different things;
so many that I have had to put a limit on the number that are
able to attend due to limited seating and only 1 driver. Our
most successful and by far the most fun was to the Garden of
Eden. You can still view the decaying body of Samuel Perry
Dinsmoor, the builder and owner of the home and garden. Everyone
that chose to view him was in amazement. All of us were in awe
when we learned that he was 64 years old when he started to
build the limestone cabin and concrete garden sculptures. The
way that house and garden was built and sculpted is truly
amazing to learn about. We also had a large group go to Fort
Larned and learn about the local development of our surrounding
communities. All the buildings were opened up for us and the
glass door barriers and let us all roam throughout asking
questions and giving facts along the way. Our tour guide was by
far the best I have ever encountered in a museum; he had a lot
of information about everything you could possible think of.
Day Services
Sarah Krom
Summer has been very busy for staff and clients this year. We
usually experience an ebb in the flow of work and activities
over the summer that corresponds with vacations and slower sales
by our customers. This year we have only had some very brief
periods of idle time and have had the wonderful struggle of
finding enough folks to meet the production demands. While that
problem, is not necessarily ‘stress free’ it helps us assist
clients in meeting their personal and financial goals.
Matt’s departure has thrown me back into the purchasing and
marketing side of production once again, and I have had a couple
new experiences bidding jobs and purchasing raw materials. I
love a challenge and understanding lumber specs, converting
items to a finished goods price, and making sure everyone is on
the same page has been fun.
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Working with all our customers has been very rewarding and I have
certainly gained more respect for people that do sales as the
primary function of their job. I could not do all the additional
tasks if I didn’t have the great support and assistance of my staff
– John, Dan, Angie and Coleen have covered calls, found info,
participated in product research, and pushed me when needed to make
it all happen. I also want to extend my appreciation to all the
customers who have been very patient and provided me with answers to
questions that may have seemed mundane to them.
Along with the plant staff, the folks at CHS have kept things
running seamlessly and provided folks with all kinds of activity
options to do inside and out. From watching alligator feeding at the
zoo, making butterfly magnets, to a back yard picnic there have been
options for everyone. Activities as varied as the abilities of the
folks we work with are always going on and everyone participates as
they choose. While planning continues for the horticultural therapy
area {fancy name for greenhouse} folks have had opportunities to
care for the backyard landscaping. If you would like a copy of the
monthly activity calendar please contact Penny and she will get one
to you.
I also have returned to heading the safety committee and have been
pleased to get some very dedicated representatives to work with. New
training to staff and client’s is forthcoming and short safety
refreshers will help us all keep ourselves, and each other, healthy.
Amanda and Sam have spearheaded the training calendar and all the
representatives have presentations they are hosting. Jolene {EEC},
Doug {transportation}, Dan {recycling}, Rhonda {HR}, Sam {Plant},
Penny {CHS}, Shelly {residential}, Amanda {training}, and I are
available should you have a safety concern please bring it to our
attention.
Summers heat has once again taken its toll on the vehicles. Transit
vans have had the normal A/C woes and we appreciate everyone’s
patience when we have to do temporary schedule and seating
adjustments to allow for vehicle repairs. Some of the drivers and I
will be taking a nationally renowned course in September on security
issues as they relate to transportation. This course has been
designed for rural areas and we were asked to host it in Great Bend
and are able to participate for free. It’s very gratifying to be
recognized as a professional system and given these types of
opportunities. While we hope none of us ever have to deal with a
security issue I’ll certainly feel better knowing that we’ll be
prepared if one does occur.
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The Post Office tells us that if
the PO Box number is not directly above the city, it could delay the
mail as much as two (2) weeks. The Post Office has asked that the
mail to us be addressed as follows.
Sunflower Diversified Services
8823 4th Street
PO Box 838
Great Bend, KS 67530
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