reflections - Transylvania Vocational Services, Inc

REFLECTIONS
The Newsletter of Transylvania Vocational Services, Inc.
Vol. XXVI
Summer 2012
Issue 1
Americans with Disabilities Working to Feed the Hungry Across the Nation and Around the World.
Serving People
and Industry of
Transylvania
County and
Western
North Carolina
Since 1967
N at i o n a l D i s a b i l i t y A wa r e n e s s E m p loy m e n t M o n t h
H
eld each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national
campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many
and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “A Strong
Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?”
NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October
National Disability
Awareness
Employment Month
each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was
Welcome New
Board Member
Guy Freeman
Disability Employment Awareness Month.” Upon its establishment in 2001, The Office of Disability
Blazin’ Biscuits &
Blazin’ Cornbread
removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of
disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to “National
Employment Policy (ODEP) assumed responsibility for NDEAM and has worked to expand its
reach and scope ever since.
TVS salutes the following employers who have demonstrated their commitment to an inclusive
workforce in Transylvania County and Western NC:
Dollar Tree
The Gatekeeper’s Table
Goodwill
Bi-Lo
FedEx
Smartrac
K-Mart
Continental TEVES
Nypro
The City of Brevard
Dugan’s Pub
Gaia Herbs
Aramark
Brian Center
Wendy’s
Systematic
Instruction
TVS, Inc.
The Oaks of Brevard
Zaxby’s
Transylvania County
Falls Landing
Hawg Wild BBQ
Salute to Special
Olympics
Sav-Mor
Ingles
Sodexho
Chartwells
Friday’s Staffing
Walgreen’s
Morrisons
Food Matters Market
Hampton Inn
New Quality Director
and New Staff
Edwin “Buddy”
Buckner
TVS is committed
to providing skills
development, career
opportunities, and
related services
in a supportive
environment for
people with barriers
to employment.
Welcome New Board Member
Guy Freeman is the newest member of the TVS Board of Directors. Retired from United
Community Bank, he brings a wealth of financial and business experience to the Board.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JACK T. PARKER
Chairman
MARK EMORY
Vice Chairman
NANCY STRICKER
Secretary
DAVID NEUMANN
Ex-Officio
DEBORAH HALL
RACHEL SMITH
DON MOORE
JOHN LEIBOLD
STEVE SEELINGER
BARBARA BOERNER
LLOYD FISHER
GUY FREEMAN
JUDY WELCH
LINDA NEUMANN
Director’s Letter
Dear Friends,
Over the past months I have been once again reminded that the challenges we face can make us
stronger and more determined to succeed. I see it in the lives of the people served by TVS who
face challenges every day. They overcome physical and emotional obstacles with quiet grace and
indomitable spirit which we should all applaud and affirm. TVS and other community rehabilitation
programs exist because people with disabilities want to succeed.
But as I’ve faced my own challenge over the past months, I’ve come to respect their determination
even more. I want to thank each of you for the support you have poured out to me over the past
months. You have paved this hard road with your love and prayers. It’s another reminder of how good
it is to have great friends and to live in this wonderful community.
—Nancy
New Product/New Partnerships
In partnership
with H-E-B
Grocery, a
major grocery
chain in Texas
and Northern
Mexico, TVS
developed two
bakery products,
BLAZN’ biscuit
mix and BLAZN’
cornbread mix
that is now available in 154 HEB stores. TVS employees
are blending, packaging and shipping the product to HEB
for distribution to its stores. This is a pilot project for TVS’
commercial grocery initiative. If successful, TVS plans to reach
out to other major grocery chains.
Both products are available locally at a new grocery store in
Brevard, Food Matters Market. Try them out to add a spicy
kick to any meal.
Systematic Instruction
Edwin “Buddy”
Buckner
passed away on August 23, 2012.
He was a part of the TVS family
since 1972. A sweet, gentle man,
he loved to work, listen to music
and go to garage sales. He will
be missed by everyone who knew
and loved him.
TVS Comings and Goings…
Dan Fisher was hired as new Quality Director when Brad
Bergman took a position with Samuel Adams Brewery in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Dan came to Brevard from Bradenton, Fl
where he worked in quality for Tropicana for 35 years. He and
his wife, Judy, have three daughters and five grandchildren.
He enjoys camping, reading,
walking, watching baseball and
football and really loves this area
and the people here.
Chase Henry attended a NISH sponsored training on
Systematic Instruction and he is now sharing the information
with all direct support staff and trainers.
Systematic Instruction is the brainchild of Marc Gold, a pioneer
in developing the “try another way” approach for teaching
people with disabilities. Marc Gold’s values about people with
disabilities are at the heart of Systematic Instruction. He
believed that everyone is able to learn, although each of us
acquires information in a variety of ways. A trainer’s essential
role is to discover the ways that best convey information to the
individual learner. A key element of Systematic Instruction is
for trainers to know how to recognize which cues or prompts
best help the individual learner complete the complex task. The
cues or prompts are the most important of all the supports that
the trainers use in the Systematic Instruction method.
Buddy Buckner
Dan Fisher
Tonya Brown is the new
Shipping and Receiving
Manager and Amber Frederick
was hired as the new second
shift supervisor. New employees
on second shift include Keith
Wood and Corey Thomas.
Doug Jones, the new third shift
supervisor, moved here from Kansas nine years ago. He and his
wife, Lynn, live on Selah Farm in Penrose and enjoy growing
organic herbs and vegetables, along with having a flock of
free-range laying hens. He also enjoys making furniture and
accessories. The third shift crew also includes new hires
Sharon Lunsford, Shane Young and Willie Barnett.
Salute to Special OIympics over 30 athletes and eight coaches in six sports participating
The vision for Special Olympics began in 1962 when Eunice
Kennedy Shriver held a small sports day camp in her backyard
for individuals with
intellectual disabilities.
Over the past fifty years
Special Olympics has
grown into a worldwide organization that
provides year-round
sports training and
athletic competition in a
variety of Olympic-type
sports to over 4 million
Michael Ream receiving
Special Olympics Silver Medal
athletes in 225 programs
in 170 countries.
Transylvania County students first participated in Special
Olympics in 1978 but there was not a local program until 1998
when Spencer Smith, a teacher in the special education program
identified the need. He along with Richard and Pat Ream, David
Siniard, Brian Kreigsman, and Ralph Cobb became the first
administrative board for SOTC. When the Special Olympics
World Games were in Raleigh in 1999, Transylvania County
hosted Slovika and their athletes stayed in local homes and
became part of the community.
competitions throughout the year. The teams attend the summer
games in Raleigh and the fall games in High Point every year. At
the Summer Games they join over 1,500 athletes from around the
state on the NC State Campus, staying in the dorms and eating
in the cafeteria. Last year at the Fall Games in High Point the
soccer team won a gold medal. In 2010 one of the local athletes
represented Transylvania County at the NC National Games
in Lincoln, Nebraska. Athletes return from competitions with
medals and memories of their experiences that last a lifetime.
A new emphasis of Special Olympics is the Unify Program that
pairs athletes with other athletes such as those from the local
Senior Games. Transylvania County will be having a unified
bocce team this year. New sports are being added including
power lifting and field hockey.
Pat and Richard Ream have been a driving force behind Special
Olympics and valued members of the community but they will
be moving back to Pennsylvania in October. It is their deepest
hope that SOTC will grow and provide more opportunities for
individuals. They want to thank the citizens of Transylvania
County, TVS, Civitan, Knights of Columbus, Brevard Community
Church, Transylvania County, Transylvania County Schools,
Transylvania County Recreation Department, The City of
Brevard, Connestee Falls Fishing Club, Brevard College and
Dick Ream became the coordinator in 1999 and bowling and
athletics (track and field) became the most popular sports. Adults
and school-age athletes participated and teams began to travel to
events at the regional and state level.
Brevard College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for their
support of Special Olympics.
But most of all they want to thank all the athletes and their
families who have worked so hard over the years. Individuals
Kathy Thorpe was the
coordinator from 20032008 and additional sports
were added including
basketball, bocce, field
hockey, golf, volleyball,
and recreational
swimming. Pat Ream
assumed responsibility
when Kathy died and has
coordinated the program
Dick Ream & Pat Ream
in local Special Olympics. There are county, regional and state
ever since.
Today there are
became stronger and more physically fit and developed more
independence and confidence as they enjoyed opportunities all
over the state. They made new friends and gained new skills. One
athlete who was initially afraid of any kind of competition has
gone from Special Olympics to high school track and on to high
school football.
The vision for Special Olympics is alive and well in Transylvania
County.
“Let me win. But if I can’t win let me be
brave in the attempt.” SO Motto
ADVP Happenings
Dance, dance, dance… Every other month TVS Life Skills is
booming with fun and excitement! There are food, drinks, prizes
and most importantly dancing!! It is held every other month on the
first Monday. The schedule for the rest of the year is September
10th and November 5th both from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Pizza and soda
are available for a small cost. Come and join the fun!
The 2nd Annual ADVP/Lifeskills Talent Show was held on Sept. 4
with the theme of “TVS Heroes”.
The Connestee Falls Fishing Club hosted a day at the lake which
everyone enjoyed.
Personals
Emile Adams, daughter of Lynn and Ken Adams graduated from
Brevard High School and plans to continue her education at UNCCharlotte.
Brooke Mulenex, daughter of Mark Mulenex, graduated from UNC
Law School with honors, completed NC Bar exams and is working
for Hendrick & Gardener Law Group in Charlotte, NC.
Courtney Stroup, daughter of Greg and Donna Stroup, graduated
from WCU, Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Recreational
Therapy and is now working at Mission Hospital.
10th Anniversary Celebrated
Susan Falat celebrated her 10th anniversary at Wendy’s.
TVS’ Life Skills Adult Enrichment Program has openings.
Monday – Friday, 8am – 2pm
Program focuses on socialization, leisure skills and
Lunch is provided for program participants.
activities of daily living.
Van transportation may be available through the County.
Call Carla at 884-3195 for more information
REFLECTIONS
Transylvania Vocational Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 1115
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-3195