PEOPLE • PROGRESS • POTENTIAL

In This Issue:

Executive Directors Message • Page 2MSC Promotions • Page 3Autism Awareness Month • Page 3Employees of the Quarter • Page 4The Arc Gala • Page 5Delmonico’s Event • Page 6Exceptional Art Works • Page 7Percise Kit Promotions • Page 7The Arc’s Got Talent • Page 7

www.thearcolc.org

Issue 1 • Spring 2010

Page 2 • Issue 1 • Winter 2010 PEOPLE • PROGRESS • POTENTIAL

A Message From:Angela Z. VanDerhoof, Executive Director

All good things must come to an end, but good things are not going to stop here at The Arc when I leave as Execu-tive Director! I believe they will continue for many years to come. In January of 2008 I informed The Arc Board that December 31, 2010 would be my last day. Thereupon, the Board formed a Search Committee consist-

ing of Board Members, Foundation Members and community members. In addition, they designated that I work with an existing staff member who could learn the ins and outs of the Agency. My choice was Gail Miskowiec, not only be-cause she knows the ins and outs of the Agency, but because she already is a dedicated, bright member of the Senior Management Team. What Gail and I have been doing together for the last year is to have her “shadow me” so to speak, not only here in the Agency, but in the community, in Albany and in Washington. This has always been part of the succession plan that there would be someone who could take over on short notice. How-ever, understand this doesn’t preclude the fact that the Search Committee will be advertising and interviewing for the position. In fact, they have engaged a consultant, Harriet Rifkin, who has now

been working with them since Novem-ber. Together, the Search Committee and Harriet have come up with a sched-ule with a target date of search and selection by September 15, 2010. The Board, Senior Management Team and I want to keep you in the “know”, because you deserve to understand that a process is in place to prevent concern about what is going to happen at The Arc in 2011 and beyond. As I go on to another phase in my life, I believe I will have done a very good job as Executive Director only if the transition is smooth. There will be, of course, many sad moments and feelings on both sides, but hopefully, no fear that the wonderful people we support everyday are going to get less than the wonderful people who support them give everyday.

Save the Date: May 1, 2010The Silent Auction, Reverse Raffle, Wine Pull, Purse Pull and Basket Raffle will be held from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. on May 1st at the Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hart-ford. The Band Charlie will perform from 10:00 p.m. - Midnight. The Band Charlie is donating their time on behalf of people with disabilities. Several theme baskets will be available for raffle and the evening offers silent auction items such as toys, art, sport items, jewelry, housewares and travel. Advanced sale tickets are $40 each or are available at the door for $50. Reserved tickets are considered advanced sale. You can also purchase your tickets online through The Arc’s website. Please call 315.272.1528 for more information.

The Auction is presented by the Friends of the Arc Foundation. Brenda Johnson and Daina Bennett are co-chairs of the Auction Committee. The Foundation is the public education and fundraising arm of The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter. Money raised sup-ports programs at The Arc such as CollegeWorks, StageWorks, Guardianship and Sum-mer Day Camp. The Arc programs will directly benefit from your participation and your commitment to helping those with developmental disabilities in our community.

A quarterly newsletter published by The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARCA United Way Agencywww.thearcolc.org

March 2010Issue 1 © 2010

News Advisory Committee:Publisher: Anne Van Strander, Director of Community Development

Editor/Designer: Pamela DelMedico, Public Relations Coordinator

Deborah Barrett, Special Projects Coordinator

Colleen Bottini, Assistant Director of Service Coordination South

Frank Centola, Deputy Director of Residential Services

Shannon Clark, Children’s Programs Coordinator

Sharon Daktor, Quality Assurance

Victoria Hillebrand, Director of Community Recreation

Jo-Ann Mox, Community Development Assistant

Terrie Ripp, Habilitation Coordinator North

Mary Jane Tottey, Director of Residential Services

Michele White, Project Coordinator

Distribution: Angie Swartwout, Receptionist

News & Views is YOUR newsletter. Comments, story ideas and announcements are always welcome. Please send to the Community Development office at 245 Genesee Street or email story ideas to pdelmedico@thearcolc.org.

MSC Announces Recent Promotions By: Deborah BarrettCongratulations to three staff in Service Coordination who were recently promoted to management positions: Karen Shan-ley, Deputy Director, and Colleen Bottini, Assistant Director (South), and Mary In-gersoll, Assistant Director (North). As part of a restructuring process, the SC Division is now divided into 3 teams, each headed by a Director/Team Leader. The Director/Team Leader is the front line supervisor to Service Coordinators and oversees any day-to-day concerns.

Congratulations also to Frank Coluccio who was promoted to QA/CC position. He will join Danielle Swenszkowski in

overseeing new services, billing and audit issues, and incident management in ad-dition to facilitating the OMRDD eligibility process for the agency.

Left to Right: Colleen Bottini, Frank Coluccio and Karen Shanley (missing from photo Mary Ingersoll)

Would you or someone you know like to volunteer?

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Edie Pugh, for more information or to get an application.

Call 315.272.1521 or email epugh@thearcolc.org.

ENTER TODAYfor your chance to win

$1,000To purchase your

$10 Raffle ticket call 315.272.1528 or email amvanst@thearcolc.orgfor more information!

Issue 1 • Winter 2010 • Page 3www.thearcolc.org

“National Developmental Disabilities Awareness” Month

Become a member of The Arc and help support people with developmental disabilities. The cost of membership is low, but the rewards are high for the individuals we support in Oneida and Lewis counties. Membership matters! With a strong membership base we can…• Strengthen our voice statewide with policy makers and lawmakers • Continue the quality services & pro-grams for the individuals we support• Meet the growing needs expressed by our families

For information on membership and how to become an Arc Member, you can visit The Arc’s websit at www.thearcolc.org or call Deborah Barrett at 315.272.1533.

By: Deborah BarrettMarch was National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year again, Governor Paterson signed a procla-mation naming March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the Em-pire State. The Governor’s proclamation states that “Approximately 300,000 New Yorkers have developmental disabilities. With the right supports, these individuals can lead meaningful lives, fill valuable community roles and enjoy all the privi-leges and responsibilities of citizenship.” The operative phrase here is “with the right supports.” Memberships, donations and volunteers are all crucial to our ability to provide the right supports to individu-als with developmental disabilities living in our communities.

Would you or someone you know like to volunteer?

In honor of April as Autism Awareness month, The Arc’s Children’s Services department has put together educational boxes which have been sent to 18 area schools in Oneida and Lewis Counties. Each box contains books for teachers and students, bookmarks, Autism Awareness ribbons, bulletin board materials and a puzzle piece estimation game. The prize for winning the game is an Arc frisbee and a Barnes and Noble gift certificate.

The boxes and their contents were paid for with grant monies from the Slocum Dickson Foundation.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Page 4 • Issue 1 • Winter 2010 PEOPLE • PROGRESS • POTENTIAL

Employees of the First Quarter for 2010Shari Cieslinski, Assistant Director of Community Recre-ation in the Community & Family Services Division of The Arc, has been named Employee-of-the-First-Quarter of 2010 for the Southern Region. Division Head, Barbara Carney, says that “Shari always goes over and above for every task and does whatever is needed to enhance the services and mission of The Arc. We are lucky to have her.” Ms. Cieslinski was nominated

by Vicki Hillebrand, Director of Community Recreation: “She is the first person to volunteer and regularly donates goods as well as her time. She works in the office all day and makes it a point to stop in on activities in the evening to keep in contact with staff and the individuals we serve. Hillebrand goes on to say, “Shari goes above and beyond my expectations as a supervisor. She is our division cheerleader and keeps us all smiling. She is kind, compassion-ate and caring and I feel very blessed to have her as part of my team. Our folks love her. Their eyes and the smiles on their faces when Shari walks into a room express, even more than words, just how much she is cared about.” Ms. Cieslinski, who resides in New Hartford with her fiancé Joseph Saba Jr. and their cat Mercedes, has been employed at The Arc since 2003.

Sarah Kapfer, Administrative Assistant at Turin Day Habilitation, has been named Employee-of-the-First-Quarter of 2010 for the Northern Region. Until recently, Ms. Kapfer was a Day Habilitation Specialist II at Turin. Day Services Division Head, Gail Miskowiec, says that “Sarah is a very caring person who is always upbeat and pleasant to be around. She is a valued member of the Turin Day Services team.” Laurie Ehlers, LPN at Turin, and Heather Yager,

Behavior Assistant and LPN, co-nominated Ms. Kapfer for Employee-of-the-Quarter. Ehlers and Yager say, “Sarah goes above and beyond for everyone and is always there to help, regardless of the situation. She has always made the individuals we serve feel important, especially when they try something new. In her new position, Sarah continues to make the individuals feel important. Her kindness and compas-sion have endeared her to them and her office is decorated with all of the pictures they have given her over time. Sarah improves their lives by being a friend, giving them her extra time and spe-cial attention.” Ms. Kapfer, who has been employed with The Arc since 2006, resides in Turin with her husband, Scott, and their two children, Emily and Stephen.

Sarah Kapfer Shari Cieslinski

By: Jo-Ann MoxEach year, The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter contributes to the education and training of the professionals of tomorrow through it’s internship program. Under the direc-tion of Volunteer Coordinator, Edie Pugh, 37 students participated in the program in 2009. Interns range from high school students to graduate students and PHD candidates. Local High Schools represent-ed through BOCES New Visions and SABA progams include: Proctor, Whitesboro, New Hartford, Rome, Clinton, Holland Patent, Westmoreland, Frankfort, Rem-sen, Oriskany and Brookfield. Institutions of Higher Education with interns at The Arc include: Utica College, MVCC, Ham-ilton College, Syracuse University, SUNY IT, Walden University and Grand Canyon University.

An internship can be as little as 40 hours, which Brittany Curtiss from MVCC com-pleted, or as extensive as 450 hours, which Melissa Grinnell from SUNY IT completed last year. Melissa was so im-pressed with The Arc and the work we do

Internships at The Arc

that, upon completion of her internship, she became an employee! Rachell Knight from Hamilton College completed her 75 hour internship that culminated with a dance recital at Arnold Ave. Five Utica College students completed 125 hours at various locations beginning last fall, and Christine Pallas from Walden University undertook her 2000 hour internship for her PHD.

If someone you know is interested in an internship at The Arc, please contact Edie Pugh at 315.272.1521 or email her at epugh@thearcolc.org.

Recital at Arnold Ave.

Lynda Fordmemorial golf tournament

Friends of the Arc Founda

on

Skins$20/Team Golf Raffle

and Door Prizes!

Golf Packets

$25

Friends of the Arc FoundationLynda Ford Memorial Golf Tournament

Valley View Golf Course

Monday, July 19, 2010Registration 11:30a.m.

Shot Gun Start 12:30p.m.Dinner to follow

Each Golfer will receive 2 PGA tickets!Chance to win $500 shopping spree at Chanatry’s!

Corporate Cup Challenge!

Issue 1 • Winter 2010 • Page 5www.thearcolc.org

ArcArc24th Annual

G A L A

The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter extends sincere appreciation to our 2010 sponsors and donors who made this year’s event a great success by raising over $43,000.

A special thanks to Diane Hobaica, Gala Committee Chair, for all her dedica-tion and hard work. Thank you to John Wade, this year’s Gala Honoree and to the Gala Committee members who devoted their time and coordinated their efforts to host a spectacular evening.

The Arc Gala is a major fundraising event sponsored by the Friends of the Arc Foundation. This year’s Gala was held at the Yahnundasis Golf Club on Saturday, January 30th.

All proceeds from the Gala benefit Arc programs such as StageWorks, Summer Day Camp, Children’s Services, Guardian-ship and CollegeWorks.

The Friends of the Arc Foundation provides support to The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter which is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities in our community.

2010 Gala SponsorsGolden Arc Angel

First Niagara BankEntertainment Arc Angel

Poncell Construction Co., Inc.

Silver Arc AngelCarbone Auto Group

Empire Recycling CorporationExcellus BlueCross BlueShieldMohawk Valley Urology, P.C.

National GridRevere Copper Products, Inc.Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig, Inc.

Arc AngelAdjusters International/Basloe, Levin & Cuccaro

Bonide Products, Inc.Brindisi, Murad, Brindisi, Pearlman, Julian &

Pertz, LLPCaruso McLean & Co., Inc.

ConMed CorporationCoriale Flowers

Exclusively Yours by WendyEstate Planning Law Center/David J. Zumpano

CPA/ESQFirst Source Federal Credit Union

Jim Ellis InteriorsJoe Tahan’s FurnitureMarrone Photography

Nunn & McGrath Funeral DirectorsRichard & Grace PreskyR.E.M. Fire Systems, Inc.

Strategic Financial Services, LLC.

Guardian AngelBirnie Bus Service, Inc.

Felice Moving & StorageSurgical Associates of Utica

CherubAdvanced Tool, Inc.

Bank of UticaPacemaker Steel & Piping

Pugliese Pest SolutionsTrue Media, Inc.

Page 6 • Issue 1 • Winter 2010 PEOPLE • PROGRESS • POTENTIAL

Delmonico’sItalian Steakhouse

Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse, located at 147 North Genesee Street, celebrated their 8th Anniversary Fundraiser Event on Tuesday, March 30th with half the proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Arc Foundation.

The Celebration, was held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and was a fun and relaxing evening for everyone who attended. There was a red carpet in front of the restaurant with a Joan Rivers look-a-like, caricature drawings by JP Crangle, and magician Shaun Robison was on hand performing magic tricks. Drawings were held every half hour and included $50 Delmonico’s gift certificates.

The Friends of the Arc Foundation is grate-ful to everyone who came out and enjoyed the evening in honor of people with intel-lectual and developmental disabilities.

At the Genesee IRA we like to break up the routine and party once a month (if we have to, we make up reasons to party). In January we all took an imaginary trip to New Orleans to have a Mardi Gras celebration and in February we enjoyed the Chinese New Year. Wow, did we have fun!

Staff made beautiful masks and special souvenirs for all! The Chinese New Year party was noisy and it was a challenge to eat with chop sticks, but good times were had anyway. Each party consisted of great food, good friends and BINGO games to boot!

There’s Always Time for a Party!

Issue 1 • Winter 2010 • Page 7www.thearcolc.org

Individuals who attend the Gore Road CHOICES Program have been learn-ing how to express their creative skills through photography and craft projects. Yvette Hulett, Community Integration Facilitator, has done an exceptional job of helping them develop an eye for photographic opportunities. Marianne Piekielniak, the CHOICES Program Direc-tor, feels that, not only do the individuals in the program have hidden talent, but they become more positive and self as-sured when they are given recognition for their work.

By: Deborah BarrettLast month, The Arc’s Vocation-al Services program assembled 48,830 family hygiene packs for Precise Kit Promotions. Each pack is intended to serve a family of five for 30 days and includes soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, tooth-brushes, toothpaste, toilet pa-per and other personal hygiene items. The packs were sent to the American Red Cross and then given over to the International Red Cross to be sent to the earthquake vic-tims in Haiti. According to Steven Gould, President of Precise Kit, thirty eight ocean containers were shipped out of New Jer-sey bound for Port Au Prince.

Director of Vocational Services, Mike DiNitto, says “The Arc has been involved with Precise Kit Promotions since 1982.

Exceptional Art Works

Vocational Services Helps Humanitarian Efforts

Other work we do for them at our 14 Arnold Avenue facility includes bagging Easter crosses and “rough scuff socks” which are distributed to nursing homes during the Holidays.” DiNitto also said that “Precise employs individuals with disabilities on a daily basis year round to assemble kits for the Salvation Army, League of Mercy, Red Cross and other humanitarian relief organizations. They

also keep a large inventory of sleeping cots and shipped over 10,000 to Haiti right after the earthquake struck. We are look-ing forward to Precise’s being awarded contracts for supplying items to the victims of earth-quakes in Thailand and Chile as well.”

More good news from Voca-tional Services… “We currently

produce laundry and dish wash-ing detergents for purchase by state run institutional facilities - those that employ people with disabilities,” says Mike DiNit-to, Director of Vocational Services. “Now, The Arc has been awarded exclusive rights by New York State to produce dye and chlorine free products, including New Horizon environmentally friendly laundry detergent and fabric softener.”

Individuals who work at Precise Kit Promotions are working hard at putting together the Humanitarian Packs.

Individuals from The Arc’s CHOICES program present their beauti-ful works of art to Angela VanDerhoof, Arc Executive Director.

Photography Club members Ed Roberts and Juanita Rodriquez each took a number of beautiful pictures during educational trips to Delta Lake and the Barge Canal. Robin Ke-nyon has demonstrated her own creative side through making wall hangings out of re-cycled t-shirts.

Ed, Juanita and Robin exhibited their framed photos and craft work

at the NYSRA Art Show held at the Des-mond Hotel in Albany last September. Through the Exceptional Arts Program, their work has also been displayed at various locations around the commu-nity. Recently, the three artists met with Executive Director, Angela VanDerhoof, to donate their exceptional work to The Arc’s administration building at 245 Genesee Street where many more people will be able to appreciate the beauty of their creations.

Individuals who attend The Arc’s Rome Day Habilitation program displayed an array of talent at this year’s “The Arc’s Got Talent” talent show. Performances included renditions of “Take me out to the Ball Game”, “Hey, Hey We’re the Mon-kees” and a group tribute to the late Mi-chael Jackson. The show concluded with a hilarious series of knock-knock jokes.

The show began at 10:30am and was well attended by family members, Arc staff and other day program participants. There were 5 guest judges who were happy to show their support and be a part of the entertaining day!

The Arc’s GotTalent!

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PEOPLE • PROGRESS • POTENTIAL www.thearcolc.org

Board of Directors2009-2010Joanna Greco, PresidentJack Spaeth, Vice PresidentDavid Scharf, TreasurerDeborah McGrath, SecretaryRaphael AlcuriCarl AnneseLarry CalabreseLouis DunlayJoan EhlingerDavid HarrisJohn KowalczykSuzanne LavinDavid MathisLeland McCormacPhilomena NowakowskiRobert Payne, Jr.Ruth RidgwayLou SteppelloFrank TomainoDavid Wojnas

Friends of the Arc Foundation Board 2009-2010Peter Baildon, PresidentSteve Gassner, Vice PresidentAnthony Battaglia, Secretary/TreasurerKristen Basi - ScheibelMichael ColuzzaJames D’OnofrioJames E. EllisCrystal GravesZain HaiderDiane HobaicaSusie JenkinsDavid LupiaDarlene MahadyKristen MandourGail ManfredoZaida MorellRichard PreskyGregory RaabStephen RoefaroLaurie SchoenCullen StevensRosemary TalaricoSymeon Tsoupelis

Executive Director of The ArcAngela Z. VanDerhoof

Anniversary EventsCelebrating 55 years!

May 2010May 1 Friends of the Arc 10th Annual Silent Auction, Yahnundasis Golf CLub

June 2010June 17 Annual Dinner Radisson Hotel - Utica Centre

July 2010July 19 Friends of the Arc Golf Tournament, Valley View Golf Course