May 2014 May Georgia's Economic Flowers Recovery & Growth MUST include Employment for Citizens with Disabilities GVRA is good for business. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Greg's Greetings The SRC at RWS Agency Signage Office Supplies at GIB Friends Helping Friends Goes to the Ballpark Spring is in the air. Everything is there, said Denise Puckett, work blooming. But at Cave Spring adjustment coordinator and Center (CSC), the latter can be said greenhouse manager at CSC. about any season of the year. "We are a competitive business Throughout the year, the center but we also train our clients there. operates two large greenhouses, It's a business and a classroom," with 90 percent of the work being she said. "They learn job skills and done by CSC clients. social skills. You have to get along with other people. They learn Flowers and plants are sold to the conflict resolution. They learn public at wholesale prices, but in customer service. It's just a great addition to generating enough tool to help them." revenue to stay sustainable, the greenhouses also provide valuable The different varieties of plants work training and experience for the and flowers that flourish in the individuals with disabilities who work CSC greenhouses run the gamut Cont. on Pg 7 Greg's Greetings "Spring Fever" Now that the weather is getting warmer and the trees are turning green, it's hard not to get "spring fever", that wonderful sense of new beginnings and things beginning to blossom. Mother Nature is amazing in how this cycle of life seems to work and it is always inspiring to see how things grow when they are nurtured. So since I've got "spring fever", I decided to use that as my theme for this month's newsletter. Let me share my thoughts about the importance of nurturing. If we trust in the example that Mother Nature gives us, and then we can assume that just like plants, humans need to be nurtured as well if we are to grow and blossom. We too need healthy soil, the right amount of sunshine, water and all the other nutrients. To me, the healthy soil means a strong foundation, something we can rely on that will support us as we grow. The warmth of the sunshine is the appreciation, the pat on the back, and the acknowledgment that we are doing a good job the more of that we get, the better we feel and the more we unfold to do even greater things. Water is most like knowledge. We thirst for information, communication, understanding, clarity, etc. so we know how to push forward and how best to grow. If I imagine GVRA as a garden with all the unique vegetation and flowers and plants, it must be cultivated to produce the very best. That responsibility lies with me and with every other manager within GVRA to constantly cultivate the garden and provide the nutrients needed. To every manager within GVRA, let me ask you to consider the needs of your staff, each one of them; and to give them a daily dose of the essential nutrients of healthy growth. Support them, thank them, and keep them informed. It is because of the flowers in our garden that Georgians with disabilities will have a bright future. Thank you. Greg Schmieg GVRA Executive Director Cleveland VR Means Business Many GVRA offices go the extra mile to let our clients know why we exist. This sign was recently spotted in the Cleveland, Georgia reception area. Kudos to RUM Kenneth Hise and all the staff in the Cleveland office for their ommitment to putting people to work! Does your office show our purpose? If so, send your photos to john.boan@gvra.gvra.ga.gov an maybe your office will be featured in an upcoming newsletter. 2 SRC Meeting at Warm Springs Save the Date The next meeting of the GVRA board is on May 14 at 1 p.m. It will be at Jacobs Ladder Neurodevelopmental School and Therapy Center in Roswell. Pictured above Members of the State Rehabilitation Council are led through several games and team-building exercise by students from Roosevelt Warm Springs. The SRC had their regular meeting at RWS several weeks ago. New Hires and Retirements Please welcome Antonio Bridges (RWS Housekeeping), Jessica Carter (VR Valdosta Office), Katelyn Crawford (VR Lafayette Unit), Marissa Denson (RWS Housekeeping), Jasmine Dyal (RWS Inpatient), Maria Elrod (DAS Dalton), Lori Gales (RWS Patient Reassessment), Alina Garcia Ravelo (GIB Bainbridge), Andrew Henderson (RWS Therapy), Richard Jordan (GIB Corporate), Danielle Louis (RWS Inpatient), Jennifer Meadows (RWS Inpatient), Nancy Neely (RWS Housekeeping), Justin Richardson (DAS North), Michael Riley (GVRA IT), Tasha Singleton (VR Deaf Services), Tommy Stainton (DAS Thomasville), Demetria Thompson (RWS Inpatient), Christina Viljoen (VR Canton Office), Doreen Ventus (VR Marietta Office), Amber Wade (RWS Inpatient) and Kay Williamson (RWS Administration). Happy trails to Deborah Brown (VR Norcross Office), Laura Burns (RWS Health), Cynthia Faircloth (DAS North) Mary Grant (RWS Procurement), Virginia Hudson (RWS Clinical) and Annie Pauldo (VR Dublin Office). 3 DAS Employee of the Month This month, Vanessa Bodden was named Employee of She was awarded the following awards for the Athens the Month for Disability Adjudication Services. She office at the end of 2013--highest number and came to the Athens DAS office through a transfer from percentage of cases cleared, lowest percentage of the Miami, FL DDS . Vanessahas been an asset since Initial aged cases, lowest processing time and lowest her arrival, coming to the office needing only a few hours caseload size. of training on GA's business practice. Many of the Adjudicators use Vanessa as a resource While in the process of building her initial workload, she for questions on policy and guidance on how to would write reports for other Adjudicators, as well as complete casework. review and order materials as needed. She is always willing to assist with helping to get the She is able to do all case types. She was a key player right decision for the claimant, be it her case or on the Task Force Team in the Athens office that someone else's. She is a willing volunteer to help with worked to reduce caseload sizes in 2013. any kind of project. Extra duties include assisting co-workers with Spanish ADnAdSon top of everything she does so well, she is a calls and occasionally translating documentation. She VERY kind and compassionate person; her smile also listens, reviews and transfers Spanish messages to alone is a morale builder in itself. the appropriate Adjudicator. You may have never spoken with her, but chances are you have heard her Please recognize Vanessa for her voice as she is the voice on the GA DAS main voice OUTSTANDING work here at DAS...thanks!! messaging, both for the Spanish and the English. From VR Director Ed James The following are definitions of identity, recognizable or known." How are we known and I think they apply well to what we do. statewide and locally? Over the last few months, I have traveled around the state, and "The collective aspect of the set of I have been troubled by the signage in our characteristics by which a thing is local community offices. Some are outdated. definitively recognizable or known." Some are pieces of paper stuck to a door. I believe we can do better for both the "The set of behavioral or personal consumers we serve and the staff housed in characteristics by which an individual is those locations. As you know, pictures have recognizable as a member of a group." been taken of all the offices, and the hope is we can produce some conformity and instill First, "the collective aspect of the set of pride in our local office appearance for all. characteristics by which is definitely 4 Ed James Continued I believe you are the most important piece of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division, the Over the next few months, we will have local field staff who touches the clients some challenges and make changes to the directly. You are the agents of change and VR program as we continue to develop our hope for the people we serve. I want you to identity. The foundation is strong and on be proud of your office. It will take some course. I am confident your resolve, your time, but the first step towards righting the heart and your passion to serve will remain signage has been taken.Second, "the set of constant, consistent and firm. Thank you for behavioral or personal characteristics by that. I want us to build from these times which an individual is recognizable as a and create a program that is accountable, member of a group." For me, this speaks to results oriented and has the capacity to the heart, the calling, the passion I see in fulfill its mission. The mission: Employment each of you as we serve our collective and independence for Georgians with clients. We've had some rough times in the disabilities. Stay the course. past, but we have endured and stood to the test. Ed James Signage Changes and Agency Branding In the coming months, GVRA will change all the signage at all division locations around the state. It will feature the new agency and division logos, respectively. This will not only help unify the image of GVRA across the state, but it will also provide brand awareness for our clients and for anyone who passes by our offices. This comes in conjunction with the full branding campaign, which includes all agency collateral materials, email signatures, badges and anything that bears the GVRA logo or name. If you have a question or notice something that is improperly branded, please contact John Boan at john.boan@gvra.ga.gov. Thank you. 5 New Financial Manager at GIB Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB) is pleased Richard's responsibilities at GIB will include to introduce Richard Jordan as its new financial managing a comprehensive accounting/fiscal services manager. Richard brings 13 years of management program, which integrates experience in private sector accounting to his Generally Accepted Accounting Principles current role with GIB. (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards, statutory accounting requirements and agency Previously, Richard was the comptroller for fiscal policies and procedures. Please help us Georgia Pipe Company, a $60M a year welcome Richard Jordan to Georgia Industries manufacturer of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) piping for the Blind. products. His roles and responsibilities expanded across multiple areas such as forecasting, budgeting, cost accounting, weekly projection updates, inventory, fixed assets, payroll, receipts, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Prior to Georgia Pipe Company, Richard was the Divisional Finance Manager for Simmons Outdoor Company, an $ 80M a year distributor of riflescopes, binoculars and other sporting optics. Richard earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with a concentration in Management from Valdosta State University and his Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Georgia College & State University. Get Office Supplies from GIB When ordering or restocking office supplies, folders are available in both letter and legal remember GIB produces an assortment of folders size. and report covers at its Bainbridge and Albany Plants. Certain styles are available in an Purchase quality, blind made products at an assortment of colors; light blue, royal blue, light affordable price! Contact Lesia Walker or Tina green, moss green, earth red, deep red, and Boyett @ 1-800-605-7260. So think twice yellow. Styles range from a manilla folder with no when ordering your office supplies and fasteners up to a 3 divider, 8 part, 3" capacity file support one of the agency's divisions. folder and almost anything in between. File 6 Flowers at CSC Continued from ferns to Christmas cactuses said. "It builds their self esteem to to butterfly bushes, with the see that they can do something, and available flora and fauna changing that really is priceless." with the seasons. Prices, however, only range from $1 to $25 for State of Georgia employees get a even the largest plants. discount on plants. Employees and members of the public are More than anything though, Denise encouraged to head to CSC and pick said, it shows clients what they're up some flowers to brighten up their capable of, at the same time house or yard. preparing them for the challenges of the working world. "It's beneficial. It really is," she Employee Recognition at RWS Staff members were praised for their hard work Burbank, Bruce Dukes, Rhonda Fuller, Jeffrey and dedication recently during the 87th annual Goodin, Daniel Owens and Kimberly Wells. Employee Recognition Luncheon at Roosevelt Warm Springs. 10 Years of Service: Sherry Akins, Gary Baker, Nancy Bradshaw, Kevin Bunkley, Angela Dr. Ashish Dhungel, a physician in the Long Caldwell, Brenda Holt, Rosemary Johnson, Mark Term Acute Care hospital, received the 2013 Kurtz, Kimberly Lawson, Mark Malone, Beth Employee of the Year Award. Mitchell, Jesse O'Neal, Lynne Patterson, Oliver Lee Snelling, Chloris Stanford, Delwanda The 2013 Leader of the Year Award was given Thurmond and Reenae White. to Janet Greene, a nurse manager in the RWS Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. 5 Years of Service: Lewistine Andrews, Gary Bradley, Kenneth Brock, Felice Cameron, Bobby In addition to these two major awards, the Cassey, Maureen Cox, Leonard Crane, Deborah following employees were recognized for their Hall, Michelle Heath, Jane Jaudon, Delphine years of service at RWS: Leonard, Karen McDaniel, Lyndel Pettis, Robyn Pynenburg, Tammy Howe, Tina Rutherford, 25 Years of Service: Kathy Clark, Bobbie Dukes, Deisy Saumell, Larry Shuler, Meg Sturdevant, Morreese Horton, Tina McClendon, Ann McGraw, Quardez Warrior, Lametta West and Gayle Theresa Searcy and Larry Willis. Whitehead. 20 Years of Service: Clara Chaney, Gray Couch, Glenn Kersey and Michael Swetnam. 15 Years of Service: Lynn Betts, Robert 7 RWS Students Help Out Three current students at Roosevelt Warm Springs (RWS) developed their leadership skills recently by facilitating a series of team-building exercises for the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council. The Council met at Warm Springs on April 23, and the students led the council members in the cup game, the card tower game, the tank game and the minefield game. Two of the students, Taylor Phillips and Alma Valencia, are currently participating in a leadership program at RWS called "Step Up and Be a Leader." The third student, Dakota Dir, participated in the previous session of the "Step Up" program designed to help young people become leaders in their careers and in their communities. The leadership class taught by Buffy Mitchell, Director of Staff Education at Warm Springs, is just one of many opportunities for personal growth available to students at RWS. Other opportunities include serving on the student council, being a "First Buddy" to new students, being a student fire marshal to help all students escape the dorm in case of an emergency and being a member of the nutrition council to learn about good nutrition and healthy eating and sharing that information with other students. Friends Helping Friends Go to the Ballpark Nearly 150 Braves tickets were recently donated teachers backpacks to give to their students. to the Elbert County Comprehensive High School Friends Helping Friends (FHF) Club FHF members, who pay their own way on all thanks to State Representative Tom McCall and FHF trips, invited Elbert County primary, the Braves Reach Out Program. elementary, and middle and high school students along with young adults from Several Braves players generously contributed Advantage Day School to the game. tickets to the "Reach Out, Be Our Guest Program." There is no cost to the school system for all FHF trips. CSX provided funds for shirts, transportation and meals, making this wonderful trip FHF, dedicated to the memory of Bud McCall, possible. provides exceptional educational opportunities for Elbert County students who have special CSX Regional Vice President & State needs. Government and Community Affairs Craig Camuso joined the group for the game along with Tom and Jane McCall who presented 8