OUTCOMES IN ACTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 2 Summer 2010 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 2 CHOICE, unlimited 1829 East Superior Street Duluth, MN 55812 218-724-5869 Toast the Arts ~ Taste the Wine: A Great Success! If you missed the fund raiser Toast the Arts ~ Taste the Wine, you missed the best event CHOICE, unlimited has had all year. Not only was it fun but it raised over $11,000 for CHOICE, unlimited’s ARTS Program. To top it off, many people got screaming deals on everything from fine art to chocolate, tattoos to yoga, watercolors to pedicures, dog treats to ballet tickets, lodging to books, movies to music lessons, pizza to Tupperware, and golfing to fishing trips. Over 200 items were donated for the silent and live auctions. All money raised will help support the ARTS Program at CHOICE, unlimited where over 70 individuals participate in visual arts, dance, and theatre classes each year. Monies raised also help support the BOLD-choice Theatre Company in its mission to raise awareness in our community of the talents and skills of individuals with disabilities. We would like to extend our gratitude to our major event sponsors including: Northland Country Club, KeyPort Liquor, Wells Fargo Bank and Northland NewsCenter. Their generosity was instrumental in making this event a success. Thank you! Video Phone CHOICE, unlimited recently installed a Sorenson Videophone in its conference room. This is a very exciting step forward to aid in greater communication for those who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. A videophone provides greater independence for those who use a sign language interpreter to communicate. The Sorenson Video Relay Service is a free 24-hour service that makes it easy for persons who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing to place and receive phone calls to any hearing person with the assistance of a sign language interpreter onscreen. CHOICE, unlimited staff and consumers are using the phone to communicate with family members, employers, and other community members. CHOICE, unlimited is one of a handful of businesses that offers this unique technology. Grant Update Northland Foundation – We were approved for phase one of the grant. This grant is a capacity building grant meant to aid with IT infrastructure and program development. A second phase will become available where financial assistance is offered. MN State Arts Board – This grant will benefit the ARTS Program. We requested $14,000 although this relatively new grant has the potential to match the ARTS Program budget. It required an online submission as well as a 12 minute DVD showcasing BOLD-choice Theatre. It was sent out on February 26, 2010, and a response is expected sometime in May. Duluth/Superior Community Foundation – This grant will benefit the ARTS Program. This is another large grant meant to benefit programs needing temporary assistance. $15,000 has been requested. The application has been reviewed by our consultant Patty Carter and was submitted on April 1, 2010. A response is expected sometime in June. Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation – This grant will benefit BOLD-choice Theatre. This is a Duluth-based foundation that wishes to fund arts programs promoting community building. Our letter of intent was approved, and the application is near completion. This grant is on a rolling basis and has no specific due date. The intended request amount will be $2,000. Beim Foundation – This grant will benefit BOLD-choice Theatre. This is a Minneapolis-based foundation with an interest in funding arts programs that promote community building. Our application is due on July 14, 2010. We will be requesting $2,000. “Everyday Heroes” Rodney was featured in the Northland NewsCenter’s “Everyday Heroes” segment on May 20th on Channel 3 for all the volunteer work he does in Silver Bay through Northshore Area Partners. Rodney gives back to his community by working at the food shelf, delivering home meals, cleaning gutters, and shoveling snow for those in need. Rodney is a friendly, helpful person who enjoys helping people and is a valued member of his community. Congratulations Rodney! Employee of the Quarter Greg is our employee of the quarter. He’s worked at Old Chicago since 2007, cleaning the dining area every morning before the restaurant opens. Greg is responsible for washing chairs, booths, light fixtures and anything else that needs cleaning. He does such a good job there that one of his former managers asked him to work at the Texas Roadhouse when it opened in January of 2010. Now Greg works every day at Old Chicago in the morning and the Texas Roadhouse in the afternoon. He is a valued employee who works with fun people at two great restaurants! Congratulations Greg! Volunteer of the Quarter Dominique is our volunteer of the quarter. She enjoys being an active member of the community and is always glad to offer a helping hand. Dominique volunteers for the Lake Superior Zoo and for Little Treasures Daycare. As an animal lover, the zoo is the perfect place for her to help out, washing the animals’ food dishes. She enjoys the time she gets to spend around the animals. She has also proven herself to be of great assistance at Little Treasures. She helps out by playing with the children, helping with lunches, and sometimes feeding the infants their bottles. Dominique prides herself in her ability to calm the infants and the fact that the children like to spend time with her. Congratulations Dominique! Employer of the Quarter CHOICE, unlimited would like to congratulate Culver’s on the opening of its new restaurant in Duluth, located on Mall Drive by the Miller Hill Mall. This is the third Culver’s restaurant owned and operated by Kyle and Mindy Mehlum of Superior, Wisconsin. Culver’s restaurant provides a family friendly atmosphere, and is known for its wonderful service and great food. The award winning Custard and Butter Burgers are complimented by the hard working, team-orientated positive staff. Culver’s provides employment opportunities for persons served through CHOICE, unlimited. One employee notes that Culver’s is one of the cleanest restaurants he has ever worked at, and he enjoys his job because he feels like he is a part of the Culver’s family. Thank you Culver’s for providing a great environment for your employees! Staff Spotlight June 12th will mark Carol Liupakka’s 15th year working with CHOICE, unlimited. Within the first three months of employment with our agency, she was instrumental in helping the individual she works with secure employment at the Whole Foods Co-op, where this person continues to work today. Carol and the individual she works with have a bond that has flourished over the past 15 years. When Carol first came to CHOICE, unlimited she explained that working with people is, and continues to be, her calling in life. We would like to recognize Carol for all her wonderful work and the positive role modeling she demonstrates to staff members who are new to our agency, and new to the human service profession. Carol is an inspiration to us all and continually models integrity, hard work, dedication, and a person-first philosophy. Thank you, Carol. We are looking forward to working with you for many years to come! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RECENT PROMOTEES! Jackie Nelson began working for our agency in September of 2009 as an Employment Specialist I with the OPTIONS program. She was promoted to the position of Community Support Specialist in March of 2010. Congratulations Jackie! Cindy Hollis started working for our agency in December of 2006 as an Employment Specialist I. In May of that same year she was promoted to the position of Employment Specialist II. Most recently, Cindy was promoted in December of 2009 to the position of Program Support Specialist. Congratulations Cindy! Julie Jank began working for our agency in August of 2007 as an Employment Specialist I. In December of 2009 she was promoted to the position of Program Support Specialist with the Supported Employment Program. Congratulations Julie! Sharon Thompson started working for CHOICE, unlimited in August of 2007 as an Employment Specialist I. In April of 2010 she was promoted to the position of Employment Specialist II. Congratulations Sharon! 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games ~ Nebraska CHOICE, unlimited is proud to announce that Hank B. and Kevin O. have been invited to the Special Olympics National Games to participate in track and field. The nationals will be held in Nebraska July 18-23, 2010. Hank will be running the 200, 400 and 800 meter and Kevin O. will be running the 800 and 1500 meter. Both Hank B. and Kevin O. will be participating in the 4/100 relay. Good luck at nationals! CHOICE Homemade “SIT and SPEAK” DOGGY TREATS $4.00 a bag CHOICE, unlimited is trying their hand at new fundraising venture-homemade dog biscuits!! The biscuits are available at the office and by order. The yummy treats have been sampled by both human and canine taste testers with rave results! “Sit and Speak” Doggy Treats would be a great way to give your pooch a little pick me up or a fun addition to a gift basket for the pet-lover in your life. All proceeds go to support CHOICE, unlimited programming. Pick up a bag today!! Summer ARTS Program Update Summer is here!! We all couldn’t be more excited. BOLD-choice Theatre has wrapped up their production of Romeo and Juliet’s Tragic Comedy after a long and successful run of tours and productions. It is always a little sad to watch a show come to an end; the cast has gotten accustomed to working together and playing their specific roles. Everyone feels very proud of the work they did in Romeo and Juliet. The exciting news is that BOLD-choice has unveiled the new production they will create and tour next school year, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach. It is a story of finding love and acceptance in unexpected places. BOLD will be adding their unique twist on the story to express their message of self-confidence and respect. BOLD has also warmly welcomed a few new faces to the troupe. The cast is hoping to begin touring the new production in late fall. James and the Giant Peach will be a collaborative project involving every aspect of the ARTS Program. The actors will be incorporating dance into the production and the Visual Arts class artists will help create the set for the production by integrating their artwork as images used for the play’s backdrop. The Visual Arts class is currently in their early-summer session. The Acting Class has just concluded its Spring Session by performing a collection of small skits that are takes on some well known fairy tales: The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. The actors in class helped determine which parts of the classic stories would remain and which could be given new life. Each story has added a unique and comedic twist on the original. The class had a fun time creating and performing together. Dance Class will be wrapping up its late Spring Session by performing a Public Demo Day on June 14th at 1pm at Mt. Olive Church on Superior Street and traveling to Viewcrest Health Center to perform an original choreographed work the following week. This session explored the relationships we have to one another and what makes different “partnerships” good or healthy: siblings, co-workers, parents, friends, romantic relationships. The class worked some with partners and incorporated what characteristics are universal to successful relationships, i.e., respect, boundaries, trust, kindness. The class will perform to Sly and the Family Stone’s funk dance song, You Can Make It If You Try-perfectly fitting! Save the date: The ARTS Program is having an evening of celebration and music to get a chance to spend time together and do a little fundraising. Please come support this wonderful cause and listen to fabulous music from accomplished local musicians. CHOICE, unlimited’s own Ann Loop will be performing with her band, Lookdown Moon along with Toby Churchill and his band The Alrights. The show is July 17th at Beaner’s Central in West Duluth. The show will begin at 7pm and the price at the door will be $5. We will see you there!! Featured Poet: Nicki D. “Sleepy” Reading to get sleepy Working out to get tired Television to get lazy Jamming out to get dopey Talking to get yawning Eating to get cozy Playing games to Relax I’m getting sleepy “She does all the work” She does all the work Ester loves to feed the horse She calls the horse Black Beauty Black Beauty, after the story Ester and Beauty are best friends Ester’s work on the farm Is so hard and lonely But the love she shares with Beauty Makes the hard work bearable Thank God for animals. Upcoming Classes Summer Games! May 17-August 29 Sign up for: Bocce Ball, T-ball and Frisbee Golf Groups will meet in various locations and times throughout Duluth. Participation is limited. Contact your Community Support Specialist to sign up! LET THE GAMES BEGIN! 3rd Annual Fishing Contest June 2-August 29 Get out your poles and tackle because fishing groups begin May 17! During the first year, we had a contest for BIGGEST catch of the summer, the SMALLEST catch of the summer and the most UNUSUAL catch of the summer. In year two we had a contest for the three biggest catches. This year the contest is for the MOST FISH CAUGHT. Contact your Community Support Specialist and get signed up! Walking Clubs Clubs meet during a variety of times and a variety of locations—one of them must be perfect for your busy schedule! Come meet with friends, get some sunshine, and get some exercise! Other classes coming up for the summer are etiquette, origami, first aid, and music mania! Contact your Community Support Specialist if you are interested. The CHOICE Acton Group is off to a great start this year. We had a successful dance/fundraiser, and we would like to thank all those who donated their time, talents, and gifts. Our tentative plans for the summer are to continue with lots of fun activities, such as our annual picnic, Huskies game and more. We also plan to continue with our community service. This summer we are adding the Buddy Walk, a fundraiser to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota. If you are interested in joining us please ask to be put on our mailing list. Come join us at our meetings! Have some fun with friends while making a difference in our great city. OUR AGENCY EXTENDS SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES WHO EMPLOY PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVED BY CHOICE, UNLIMITED: Aero Design and Mfg Co., Inc. Always Available Roll Off Service, Inc. API Outsourcing ARCO Coffee B & B Market Barnes & Noble Bookstore Beaner's Central Blue Max Boys and Girls Club, Superior & Duluth Cash Wise Liquor Champs Sports Clyde Iron Works Restaurant Cold Stone Creamery Comfort Suites Cornerstone Child Care Center Culver’s of Duluth Culver’s of Superior CustomerLink DECC Duluth Bethel Econo Lodge Edgewood Vista Fall Inn Tavern F.I. Salter Field Logic Fitger’s Brewhouse GB Schneider & Co Hampton Inn JC Penney JC Penney’s Hair Salon Keyport Liquor Lakeview Montessori Mount Royal Pines III North Country Dry Cleaners Northern Lakes Advertising Northwood Children’s Services Northwood’s Café, Silver Bay Old Chicago Old Navy Old World Meats Pro video Productions Spirit Mountain St. Louis County St. Louis County Property Management St. Mary’s Catholic Church—Silver Bay St. Mary’s Hospital St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Target, Duluth Tejas Texas Grill and Saloon Texas Roadhouse The Gymnastics Academy Twin Ports Dog Training Club Voyager Bus Company Wal-Mart, Cloquet Wal-Mart, Superior Whole Foods Co-op Vision Our vision is to provide quality consumer-driven services leading to self-determination. Mission CHOICE, unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and persons who are experiencing barriers to employment and community inclusion. Values CHOICE, unlimited values each person’s right to participate in his/her own future planning. The agency is dedicated to finding community based employment, which emphasizes optimum matches between the individual applicant, the employment site, and the employment specialist. Beliefs CHOICE, unlimited is guided by the principle of community inclusion and natural supports. All recipients of services will receive individual guidance and support for successful community employment and community involvement. All individuals will be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.