Spring 2015 Newsletter

Message from the CEO
page 3
A Successful Tablescapes
Fundraiser
page 4
Keeping Lost Island
Beautiful
page 6
providing limitless opportunities horizons-unlimited.net
unlimited
POSSIBILITIES
holding their own:
our members working in the community
"We hired Travis last summer and Leonard last fall," says
Don Joyce, manager of the Emmetsburg Dyno's station. "Kathy
Jackson [job placement specialist] from Horizons wrote me a
letter about supportive employment, and then we followed up
with meetings. Dyno's decided that it was the right thing to do for
the community, and a great
Below: Travis Spoo has developed a
decision for our company. All it
talent for organizing merchandise
displays.
took was a little openmindedness."
Before working at Dyno's,
Leonard Swalve and Travis
Spoo worked at the Horizons
recycling center. They enjoyed
it, but when the opportunity
arose to work in downtown
Emmetsburg, they decided to
take a chance.
"I always wanted to work at a
gas station," says Leonard. "I like
seeing new faces every day and
getting to meet people."
Leonard works alongside
CONTINUES PAGE 2
the newsletter of
horizons unlimited
spring-summer
2015
mark your
calendar
UnWined wine tasting fundraiser
Jack Kibbie Room
The Shores at Five Island
3—6 pm, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015
Super Sunday Pancake Breakfast
Emmetsburg VFW
8 am—12:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016
Tablescapes theme table gala
Wild Rose Ballroom
Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg
5—8 pm, Thursday, Apr. 28, 2016
connect with us
horizons-unlimited.net
Above: Leonard Swalve and fellow Dyno’s employee, Patty, work together to stock shelves at the Emmetsburg location.
coworkers and independently, and can always be seen with a smile on his face. "My favorite day is
Wednesday—'truck day'. I like taking in the new inventory off the truck."
"The best thing about working at Dyno's is earning my own paycheck," says Travis. "A couple weeks
ago, I used my money to buy a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer that I drive to work." Travis works at both the
Emmetsburg and Pocahontas locations. "It feels good to earn a living,
Leonard Swalve enjoys making sure
and I like the people I work with."
the premises are clean and tidy.
In early March of this year, Horizons job placement specialist
Kathy Jackson led the Northwest Iowa Job Developers Coalition in
obtaining a $1500 grant from IowaWORKS to Dyno’s Oil
Company. “The grant subsidizes efforts to train
Dyno’s management, supervisors, and staff who
“My advice to
other employers
train and work alongside adults with disabilities,”
in the area is to
says Jackson. “In recent months, Dyno’s created
just be opencustomized jobs in 3 out of their 11 locations in
minded.”
northwest Iowa, and has plans to create new jobs
Don Joyce,
in all of their locations in the coming year.”
Manager of
“This plan will make a huge difference for the
Emmetsburg
people that are getting employment in the commuDyno’s station
nity,” says Amber Nelson, Disability Resource
Coordinator for IowaWORKS. “I think it says something wonderful
about Dyno’s Oil Company as a whole, that they would embrace this
initiative so fully.”
Says Don Joyce: "Leonard and Travis's customized employment
here has been a big success. It was pretty easy to train them. They
work hard, show up on time every day, and are a great help to the rest
of the staff. Changing people's ideas about this is a gradual process.
My advice to other employers in the area is to just be open-minded."
PAGE 2
DEAR FRIEND
Medicaid covers 546,000 people in Iowa, which is 18 percent of the population.
In Iowa, Medicaid expenditures by the state and federal government top $4.2 billion
annually, which includes $1.5 billion of state money. Horizons Unlimited receives over
$170,000 a month in Medicaid reimbursement providing services to persons with disabilities.
Managed care is already in place in many states, and is expected to expand to even more
states. This is in order to help cut Medicaid costs.
Managed care is described as a set of techniques to be used for reducing unnecessary
health costs while improving the quality of care.
Governor Terry Branstad has introduced plans to hire private managed care companies to
help run Iowa’s Medicaid program. Managed care is expected to be implemented January 1,
2016.
Private companies are involved in managed care arrangements to help oversee health care
programs and share the savings they obtain by making care more efficient.
Governor Branstad believes if the government is able to spend less on Medicaid, the
quality of care should improve greatly by lowering medical costs and hospital visits. Branstad is
projecting it would save $51.3 million during the first six months after implementation.
Legislators are being careful to make sure this shift won’t lead to cuts in services or
payment rates to medical providers.
HOW DOES THIS IMPACT HORIZONS?
Managed care is likely to present both challenges and opportunities for service providers.
There will be an emphasis upon the development of natural supports, with the dual goal of
integrating into the community and quality of life while managing costs. Managed care
companies will look beyond just mental health, but also focus on physical health. Preventable
health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, are among the conditions that
will be managed.
A focus will be on integrating into the community and providing services in smaller groups.
Horizons Unlimited’s Board of Directors and the Horizons management team are currently
working on strategic planning that will help ease Horizons into this new world of managed
care.
Ron Askland
CEO, Horizons Unlimited
PAGE 3
Above: The “Anyone for a Game of Scrabble?” themed table tied for first place, along with the “Life is Better at the Beach!” table. The
Scrabble table was decorated by Laurie Schneider and sponsored by West Bend Red Power. The beach-themed table was decorated by
Lecia Berven and Tammy Christensen and sponsored by Kingston Life & Health.
O
n Thursday, April 23rd, two hundred people
gathered at the Wild Rose Ballroom in
Emmetsburg for Horizons Unlimited’s fifth
annual Tablescapes themed table gala fundraiser.
Thirty tables were sponsored by area businesses
and organizations, and decorated in a variety of
creative themes.
Attendees enjoyed a chicken cordon bleu and
cheese cake dinner, along with the musical
entertainment of pianist Glenn Henriksen. The
event raised over $13,700 for Horizons Unlimited
members, which was even more than the event
raised last year.
To see a slideshow of this year’s Tablescapes
event, visit our website at Horizons-Unlimited.net,
and go to “Past Events” under the “News &
Events” menu.
THANK YOU TO OUR TABLESCAPES 2015 SPONSORS:
WILD ROSE CASINO & RESORT
BUILDING CENTER—EMMETSBURG
EMMETSBURG
DAN COOPER BUILDERS
WILDROSERESORTS.COM
EMMETSBURG
KINGSTON LIFE & HEALTH
EMMETSBURG CHIROPRACTIC
WEST DES MOINES
EMMETSBURG MUNICIPAL UTIL.
KINGSTONLIFEANDHEALTH.COM
EMMETSBURG.COM
DAVIS BROWN LAW FIRM
E’BURG REPORTER/DEMOCRAT
EMMETSBURG
EMMETSBURGNEWS.COM
DAVISBROWNLAW.COM
FAREWAY—EMMETSBURG
A&W—EMMETSBURG
FAREWAY.COM
AWRESTAURANTS.COM
FARMERS NATIONAL CO.
ALUMA TRAILERS—EMMETSBURG
EMMETSBURG
ALUMAKLM.COM
EMMETSBURGFORSALE.COM
ASI CONTRACTING—EMMETSBURG FARMERS STA. BANK—WEST BEND
FSBIOWA.COM
PAGE 4
HOMETOWN CONVENIENCE
EMMETSBURG
HOMETOWN ELECTRIC
EMMETSBURG
HUGHES, BRENNAN & WIRTZ
EMMETSBURG
HUGHESBRENNANWIRTZ.COM
HUGHES PHARMACY
EMMETSBURG
HEALTHMART.COM
IOWA LAKES COMM. COLLEGE
EMMETSBURG/ESTHERVILLE
IOWALAKES.EDU
IOWA TRUST & SAVINGS BANK
EMMETSBURG
IOWATRUSTBANK.COM
JOHNSON REALTY—EMMETSBURG
EMMETSBURGHOMES.COM
KAMPEN FOODS & CATERING
WEST BEND
KAMPENFOODS.COM
KIESLING ASSOCIATES
EMMETSBURG
KIESLING.COM
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
EMMETSBURG/WEST BEND
HOLYFAMILYEMMETSBURG.ORG
K&W ELECTRIC—EMMETSBURG
K-WELECTRIC.COM
LOUSCHER FAMILY DENTISTRY
ALGONA/E’BURG
LOUSCHERDENTAL.COM
MANSMITH PHARMACY/NWIC
EMMETSBURG
MANSMITHRX.COM
MANWARREN EXCAVATING
EMMETSBURG
MIDWESTERN MECHANICAL
EMMETSBURG
MIDWESTERNMECHANICAL.COM
MOLYNEAUX RISK SOLUTIONS
DAVENPORT
MOLYNEAUX.COM
NORTHLAND AUTO & MARINE
EMMETSBURG
NORTHLAND-AUTO-MARINE.COM
PALO ALTO COUNTY HEALTH SYS.
EMMETSBURG
PACHS.COM
POET BIOREFINING—EMMETSBURG
POET.COM
QS LAWN & PEST CONTROL
EMMETSBURG
QSLAWNANDPEST.COM
RE/MAX (BARBARA WORKMAN)
EMMETSBURG
REMAX.COM
ROTARY CLUB—EMMETSBURG
DISTRICT5970.ORG
RUTHVEN METHODIST CHURCH
FACEBOOK.COM/RUTHVENUMC
SLASH POINT SALES
EMMETSBURG
SLASHPOINTSALES.COM
THRIVENT FINANCIAL
EMMETSBURG
THRIVENT.COM
WEST BEND RED POWER
REDPOWERTEAM.COM
Thank you also to the
donors, volunteers,
attendees, judges, and
Wild Rose staff who
helped make our
event a success!
UN WINED
horizons board room
join our fall wine tasting fundraiser
revamped
Come enjoy a variety of wonderful wines from
area wineries at Horizons Unlimited’s UnWined
wine tasting fundraiser. This year’s event will be
held in the Jack Kibbie Room at the scenic
Shores At Five Island community center in
Emmetsburg, from 3—6 pm on Sunday,
September 13th.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the
Second Hand Thrift Store (corner of Broadway &
Main, Emmetsburg), or by calling Horizons
development coordinator Josiah Schmidt at (712)
852-2211 ext. 106.
On April 16th, Horizons completed
significant updates to its board room, thanks to a
$4,159 grant from the Palo Alto County Gaming
Development Corporation. Updates include a
new 55” Samsung smart TV and a Lenovo
desktop computer system.
Says Horizons CEO Ron Askland: “Due
to the generosity of the PACGDC, our board
room has the capability to use current
technology to make our meetings more
efficient and to provide quality trainings to our
employees and members.”
horizons unlimited
is hiring now
Job Coaches
Hours: 40/wk. (full time)
Starting pay: $9.50/hour with excellent benefits
Description: Helping Horizons members train,
maintain, and retain employment.
Residential Direct Support Professionals
Hours: 20—40/wk. (evenings/overnights/weekends)
Starting pay: $10.00/hour with excellent benefits
Description: Developing and maintaining the wellbeing of adults with disabilities.
Apply: Call (712) 852-2211, visit
www.horizons-unlimited.net/currentopenings.php
or stop in at 3826 460th Ave., Emmetsburg, Iowa.
horizons employee milestones
Thank you to our valuable and hard-working
employees for your many years of service!
10 Years of Service
Lonnie Hansen
5 Years of Service
Irene Conlon
Corrie Schacherer
deb anderson (1954-2015)
We are remembering our dear friend and
member of the Horizons Unlimited family,
Debra Anderson, who passed away on Friday,
April 24th, 2015.
Deb was born in Iowa City on October
11th, 1954, the daughter of Leonard Dickson
and Kathy Goss. She enjoyed going on trips,
doing arts and crafts, and watching Disney
movies. She loved sports and always rooted for
the Hawkeyes, Vikings, and 49ers.
Left to remember her fondly are her
mother, her four children, her grandchildren,
and many friends.
Horizons extends its condolences.
PAGE 5
E
ver notice how there are no weeds on the
beach at the Lost Island Nature Center in
Ruthven? Or how the walking trails are so
free of branches and litter? Or even how the restrooms at the Nature Center are so clean? A lot of
this is thanks to the hard work of Horizons
members like Lauren Ketelsen (pictured above).
Each Wednesday, a couple Horizons
members and area high school students meet
early in the morning at the Nature Center. This
week, Jade Colling from Emmetsburg High
School joins. "They begin by walking the three
trails, sometimes up to five miles, removing tree
branches from the path, picking up litter, and
notifying park rangers of any fallen trees or
hazards," explains Horizons job coach Carnie
Fitzgerald. "It's a beautiful place to work, and you
will usually see animals like deer while you're out
on the trail."
Next, the workers clear fallen tree branches
and sticks from the common area between the
Nature Center and the lakefront. They then
move on to the beach, which they keep clean and
scenic by pulling weeds and disposing of trash.
Vacationers especially appreciate our members'
hard work.
After breaking for lunch, the workers tidy up
inside the Nature Center facilities and clean the
bathrooms. On some days, the members might
clean the turtle tanks or tend to the bird feeders.
"It's fun!" says Jade with a cheerful smile.
Lauren considers this good practice for her
next job that she is eager to start. "I'm going to be
working in hospitality at the casino hotel in
Emmetsburg. That's what I really want to do."
"Every 5 weeks, we rotate a new team of
members out here to work at the Nature Center,
so that everybody who wants to get work experience here has a chance to participate," says
Carnie.
CONTINUES PAGE 7
PAGE 6
“The work study program gives the members a
sense of pride and identifies their strengths for
employment opportunities in the community,” says
Nature Center manager Mary Barrick. “They are
able to socialize and partake in different job duties,
such as cleaning inside the center and picking up
sticks and garbage in the park. They take great
interest in what we do
Lauren and Jade keep the
here at the Nature Center.
Lost Island beach clean
It is very gratifying to see
their accomplishments
during the 5 week work
period.”
Please head out to the
Lost Island Nature Center
this summer, and when
you do, take note of the
great condition the park is
in, thanks in large part to
the diligent service of
Horizons Unlimited
members.
10
benefits of a horizons-funded
work experience
Benefits to
Benefits to
Employer
Job Candidate
1. Get to meet new
prospective job
candidate.
2. No financial cost
associated with 20—
25 hours of
completed work.
3. No liability; covered
by Horizons Employment Services.
4. Ability to assess the
prospective job
candidate’s skills
performing the job
tasks.
5. Engage in proactive
community integration movement.
1. Better assess
whether or not this
type of work is a
good fit.
2. Assess if they have
the skills and
interest to continue
pursuing this type
of work.
3. Integration;
working alongside
individuals with and
without disabilities.
4. Paid experience.
5. Assess, through the
experience, the job
candidate’s
strengths and
needs.
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
find out more:
Horizons member Lauren Ketelsen (left) and
Emmetsburg High School student Jade Colling (right)
Contact Kathy Jackson
Horizons Employment Specialist
712.852.2211 ext. 123
[email protected]
P PA AGGE E 7 7
horizons unlimited of palo alto county
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
PERMIT NO. 4
3826 460th Avenue, PO Box 567
Highway 4 South
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Horizons Unlimited is a 501(c)(3) organization
Address Service Requested
Make a Difference — Be Their Hero
Wish List
3826 460th Ave., PO Box 567
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
(712) 852-2211
www.horizons-unlimited.net
Board of Directors
Cindy Magee, President
Kevin Banwart, Vice President
Karen Brown
Cindy Chapman
Robert Cozine
Bill Frevert
Jane Hoyman
Sue Joynt
Sean Solberg
Aaron Steffen
Jeremy Ward
15th St. & Pleasant St. Homes
 New A/C units
 New locking doorknobs
21st St. Home
 New windows
 Refrigerator
 New baseboards
 Front landscaping
 Kitchen utensils
 2 new computers
King St. Apartments
 New gutters & downspouts
 New windows
 Upgraded breaker panels
 New boiler
Monroe St. Duplex
 New kitchen flooring
 New carpeting
 New stove





Shelving in garage
New front screen door
Laptop computer
Office equipment
Copy machine
Horizons Office Building
 New computer for
maintenance staff
 Van
 iPads for members
If you have something you
would like to donate to
Horizons, please call us at
(712) 852-2211 and let us
know what you have, its age,
and its condition. You can
also donate money via mailed
check or our website:
www.horizons-unlimited.net