Spring 2011 newsletter - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Transcription
Spring 2011 newsletter - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
THE COMMUNICATOR Top 10 achievements with your 2010 contributions! 10) We are able to host our 3rd annual Kids Kamp in July 2011! 9) Twenty-seven more older individuals were able to receive hearing aids and improve their quality of life in 2010. 8) We covered our gas and electric bill for our building during the winter, keeping our staff and customers warm! 7) All our programs will continue to be secure for 2011. 6) We started an equipment room where any person can come in, test different things, and purchase through DHHS. 5) Getting closer to a new sign for the outside of our building! 4) Keeping our Muskegon satellite office available for services. 3) We launched a new web site look. 2) We have over 900 Facebook friends who keep up with our activities! 1) We keep our doors open and the lights on so people can come in for services! How you can donate: Send a check to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, P.O. Box 8812, Kentwood, MI 49518-8812 * Call Deb Atwood with your credit card # * Go to www.deafhhs.org and click on “Donate”. All donations are tax-deductible. Save the Dates! Check out DHHS‘ new web site! www.deafhhs.org for flyers May TBA—DHHS Golf Scramble June 18—Silent Celebration at Johnson Park in Walker, MI July 12-22—Kids Kamp at DHHS Newsletter Do you need Food Assistance? Come to DHHS and apply! Here‘s how: 1. Ask to use our computer. 2. Type in the web site www.michigan.gov/ mibridges and click on ―Apply for Benefits.‖ 3. We will help you with the application process. 4. You need to bring: Picture I.D. Proof of income before taxes for the past 30 days Proof of house/rent payments, insurance, taxes and utility expenses Proof of child care expenses March 24– DHHS booth at Kent ISD Transition Expo April 2—Spaghetti Dinner at Western Michigan Area Union in Grand Rapids April 26—”On the Border Night” fundraiser 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Spring 2011 Social Security numbers for all household members applying for benefits March 12—Euchre Tournament at DHHS March 18-20—CDI workshop with Jimmy Beldon at DHHS April 9—DeafNation Expo in Warren 4328 Kalamazoo Ave S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49508 We are on Facebook and Twitter! Join us! Proof of child support payments When you finish with your application, scan all the documents you brought and e-mail them to the online processing center. If you are approved, you get a Bridge Card to buy food. THE COMMUNICATOR Page 2 Board Debra Buckley President John Engman Vice President Beverly Chesebro Secretary Janine Byler Treasurer Nina Lazzari Fundraising Bill Creswell Sandy Faulkner Roman Karpinski Staff Katie Prins Executive Director Deb Atwood Business Manager Nan Soper Interpreter Referral Bethany Perry Administrative Assistant Mark Harrison Behavioral & Mental Health Supports Coordination Scot Pott Job Placement Specialist Cindy Hall Hard of Hearing Specialist Robin Mason Accountant Did you know we are building an equipment room? With generous donations from Quota, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan and the Lyons family, we will have an equipment showcase full of new things to show anyone who needs equipment! They can buy what they like through DHHS. Fast, convenient and life-changing! Interpreter Referral Updates Welcome Spring 2011 ASL Students! ASL I Hello, interpreters! Our first Silent Weekend, held February 18-20, was a big hit. Here are some comments: ―Even though I was frustrated, the immersion helped me learn so much.‖ ―I think we all need a Silent Weekend so we stop depending on just ‗saying‘ what we want. Great practice.‖ ―The value of mixing experts with beginners is immeasurable. As frustrating as it was at times, I know my receptive skills have improved greatly.‖ Watch our website for a half-day voicing workshop at the end of April. If you worked for us in 2010 or 2011, you received a request to sign a “Sole Proprietor Statement.” Thank you for your quick compliance! It helped us meet a last-minute insurance requirement. Don’t forget, our interpreter files must also contain your current certification, proof of your professional liability insurance, and proof of a TB test less than one year ago. Please keep us up to date on other changes as well, like address changes, name changes, or any change in your contact information. Several of you have asked me about the changes that are sometimes hand-written on your invoices and returned to you with your checks. Let me take this opportunity to clarify. If you make a mistake on your invoice, Deb corrects it and sends a copy back to you for your records. You may also see other things written on your invoice, like more detailed appointment information. These notes are for Deb’s use only, for invoicing and record-keeping. If you have any questions about notes you see on your invoices, please give us a call. Terpfully yours, Nan Soper Deb Zuidema Ron Coleman Erin Carolan Kristin Seefeldt Bethany Kelly Barbie Coulson Carrie Schneider Fred Geurkink Virginia Henion Sandra Lundquist Matthew Henion Kathy Schultz Saraswati Baral Christy VanAndel ASL II Misty Genzink Susan DeRoos Jean Dangler Rachel Wozniak Barbara Sluiter Kim Hayes Patrick McLeod Julie Morales Kate Amaezechi Emma Sams Lori Dahlstrom Joann Wisnewski Elsie Colbert Sue Klein Jessica Mariano Joyce Kitchen Carrie Kalasz Joann Ware Angela VanLiere Need more interpreters! Sue Quals This is a good problem to have. Our interpreter referral assignments are growing by the month, and we sometimes don’t have enough interpreters to cover all our requests! We are looking for more interpreters to sign up with us, regardless of QA, BEI or NIC level. We send interpreters to different locations around Michigan Contact Nan Soper at [email protected] at 616-732-7358 to sign up with us, or if you’re already signed up, please consider accepting more jobs! Peggy Flores ASL III Dawn Henion Sally Atchison-Powney Pat Cali Debra Iams Kathy Bennett Spring 2011 1st annual Silent Weekend February 18-20, 2011 Thank you to our sponsors! 63 ITP students, interpreters and deaf mentors attended DHHS’ first Silent Weekend at Camp Manitou-Lin in Middleville, MI. We received a resounding “YES!” to host the second annual in February 2012. Thank you for a wonderful weekend! See you next year! Page 3 Spring 2011 Partners and Donors Partridge Family Dennis and Danielle Wilson Redick Family Audrey Southwell DHHS Senior Citizens group Michigan Deaf Association John Rethman Rita Petruziello JoanWisnewski Sandy Faulkner Bev Chesebro Nina Lazarri John McKendry Jr. Debra and Timothy White JBS Packland Jacqueline Willis John and Cheryl Scheer Angela and Mark DeLing Ed and Marjorie Stinson Gail Veley Carrie Taylor Terri Stonecipher Sorenson Communications ZVRS West Michigan Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Unite for Michigan Katie Prins, Executive Director DHHS ―On the Border Night‖ Fundraiser The DHHS sign outside the front of the building needs to be replaced with brand new signage that will last a long, long time. The new signage will have our logo and colors on it! Go to www.deafhhs.org and print the “On the Border Night” flyer and bring it to a OTB location on Tuesday, April 26. 10% of the proceeds go towards the new signage! Thank you for your support! MSU closed its deaf ed program. LCC is considering reducing their ITP program to 1 year. New graduates are figuring out how to get jobs and experience with BEI 1. Which people feel the effects? The deaf community. Do we unite to save our deaf community and nonprofits or turn the other cheek? Chances are, you let that happen … then there’s no protection anymore for you in this state. Hold on and unite! Be aware of your voice and speak out to keep ITPs and nonprofits open. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Physical address: 4328 Kalamazoo Ave S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Mailing address: P.O. Box 8812 Kentwood, MI 49518-8812 Phone: 616-732-7358 Fax: 616-732-7365 E-mail: [email protected] www.deafhhs.org Visit us on the Web! www.deafhhs.org Yes, I want to make a donation to DHHS! Name ________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________ Phone or E-mail _______________________________________________________ Designated for _____ hard of hearing program _____ general fund ____ building fund ____ job placement program ____ behavioral & mental health program ____ other In honor or for a gift of __________________________________(if applicable) _____ Check ______ Cash _____ Money Order ____ Credit Card Amount $ __________________ ____ one-time ____ monthly ____ yearly Call us to set up a monthly or yearly payment plan and we’ll send you a reminder. Credit card # ____________________________________ 3-digit security code _______ Expiration date ____________ Signature _____________________________________ Credit card option also available through PayPal at www.deafhhs.org Please send tax-exempt receipt to ______________________________________________.
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