GVRA monthly newsletter [May 2015]

May 2015

Greg's Greetings

What shapes an organization and what characterizes an organization is its DNA. Just like a human being whose distinct, individual traits are due to his/her DNA, so too does an organization's DNA define it. So my thought is "what is GVRA's DNA?" When someone outside of GVRA comes in contact with any part of our organization, what is their impression of us? How do they see us, what do they think about us and what do they see as our distinct characteristics?
Now do me a favor...take a minute and just think about that question by yourself. What do you think people think of us? What would your colleagues say about what others think of us? What do you think others think our DNA is? Now once you have given that some thought, do you like what you thought? Are you satisfied with what you think our DNA is? If not, what would you like our DNA to be?

I think about it a lot. I also take it very personally. If someone doesn't like GVRA, I take it so personally that I try to think about what I can do to change that. Here's what I want our DNA to be: respectful, personable, creative, hard-working, unselfish, stewards, effective. Wouldn't you want to work for an organization like that...an organization whose DNA is so positive that everyone who comes in contact with it feels good about their experience? I certainly would.
So here's our challenge, and I do mean "our" challenge. One person in an organization cannot create the organization's DNA by himself. To create a DNA that all of us can be proud of will in fact take all of us. If you are disrespectful to others, difficult to get along with, stuck in your ways, lazy, care only about yourself and ineffective, then you really don't belong in GVRA, because your DNA doesn't match what we want. On the other hand, if your DNA matches want we want THANK YOU so much! Keep doing it and keep doing more of it!

GVRA Honors Admin Assistants

GVRA offices and programs recently celebrated all admin assistants for Administrative Assistants Day. In addition, the GVRA External Affairs team (pictured) honored admin assistants Harriett Young and Megan Mounkes with some special treats. In addition, the team also celebrated Megan's upcoming wedding in Savannah.
For all the admin assistants across the agency and its divisions, thank you for all that you do, and continue the good work.
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The ADA Legacy Tour Hits GA.

The ADA Legacy Tour is rolling across the country Information, swag, events, workshops, artifacts,

raising awareness and building excitement toward and other programming provided by local hosts.

ADA25 - the 25th anniversary of the ADA in 2015! Six, of the Tour stops will be housed at the

The Tour includes:

Abilities Expo, one of our major Tour partners.

These stops will include a workshop on the ADA,

The "Road to Freedom" ADA Bus - which traveled courtesy of the ADA National Network.

to 48 states in 2007 to raise support for the ADA

Amendments Act - courtesy of the Disability

The tour includes several stops around Georgia.

Rights Center and driven by veteran disability

These include: May 8 in Gainesville, May 10 at the

rights photographer, Tom Olin;

ADA Symposium in Atlanta, May 15-16 at the

Mobility Expo in Atlanta, May 23 in Gainesville,

A four-panel display on the history of

May 27 at the Interfaith Summit in Atlanta, May

self-advocacy, courtesy of the Museum of

29 in Augusta, June 12 at the Shepherd Center in

disABILITY History;

Atlanta and June 13 in Atlanta.

Displays on The ADA Legacy Project and its effort to preserve of disability history; celebrate disability history milestones; and educate future generations of disability advocates;

The ADA quilt - add your signature to thousands of others who have participated in the Tour; Displays on the history of the Road to Freedom Tour;

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The SRC Visits Cave Spring
Members of the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council recently visited the Cave Spring Center. While there, they watched teachers interact with students, toured the campus and learned about all the services the center provides. Here's some pictures from the day.
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GVRA at Rep. Scott's Career Fair
Members of the GVRA Human Resources team along with external affairs staff members Joseph Weatherspoon and Robin Blount recently attended a career fair in Atlanta hosted by Congressman David Scott. By all accounts, it was a well-attended event with many prime applicants.
BEP Busy with Lotto Vending
Within the last few weeks, the Business Enterprise Program has been able to establish two new vending lottery machines for licensed blind vendors. The machines are located at the IRS campus located in Chamblee and in the Twin Towers Sloppy Floyd building. Customers in both locations are excited and as expected, food sales have increased due to the installation of the lottery machines. The BEP has been busy conducting its research on its newest potential employment opportunity. Several staff recently attended the 2015 Annual CleanShow, a 4-day conference comprised of hundreds of businesses that cater to the laundry and dry cleaning industry. As the BEP prepares to potentially open a laundry mat, it was necessary to research the equipment needed to ensure a successful opening.
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DAS Employee of the Month

This nomination was submitted by Denise Johnson.

"I would like to recognize Lynne Jones for her dedication and hard work as an important member of the accounting unit dream team. She has been a team member for roughly seven years. Her extra efforts, insights and opinions have been very valuable to the success of our team. The personal pride in her work is obvious as well as the quality of work she displays.

She has trained a number of accountant paraprofessionals as well as invoice authorizers, while continuing to maintain her work responsibilities. She exemplifies professionalism, teamwork and customer service to the unit and to the agency. Her responsibilities are numerous, consisting of verifying and processing payments for consultative examination reports for doctors and hospitals, medical records and travel for claimants.

Pictured above is DAS employee of the month Lynne Jones accepting her award from DAS Director Awilda Danko.

Thank you Lynne for coming to work every day and being committed to the tasks assigned to you and reaching the goals of the unit and agency. It has not gone unnoticed."

New Hires and Retirements
Please join me in welcoming new employees to GVRA.
They include: Carrie Henry (DAS Savannah), Dorothy Fletcher (GIB Griffin), Kendra Hines (GIB Brainbridge), Seth Leverette (GIB Bainbridge), Karen Martinez (GIB Griffin), Mary Mayer (GIB Corporate), Randall Nobles (GIB Griffin), Shirley White (GIB Bainbridge), Donielle Lindsay (GVRA Budget), Erin Walker (GVRA HR) and Vincent Slaughter (VR Business Coordinator).
There were no retirements last month.
Let's welcome all the new employees to the agency!
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Employee Luncheon at RWS

Grounds Maintenance Manager Jesse O'Neal

year throughout the years."

received the annual leadership award and Patrick

Smith, a trades craftsman in the facility maintenance Prater explained that this quote encourages him to

department, received the employee of the year

continue to make a difference in the city of Warm

award during the recent employee recognition

Springs and the surrounding community.

luncheon at Roosevelt Warm Springs (RWS).

In addition, RWS Director Bill Bulloch presented the

Selected from a field of four nominees, Jesse O'Neal annual employee service awards. This special

was recognized for his tremendous work on the recognition is given to employees for their years of

RWS campus over the last several years. Jesse and service to Roosevelt Warm Springs. This award

his staff have tackled numerous improvement

honors employees who have celebrated a landmark

projects on the campus, creating a beautiful and anniversary date. Lapel pins are presented to

welcoming facility.

RWS employees based on years of service. The

lapel pen is a replica from a pin presented to

Patrick Smith received the employee of the year employees during the Georgia Warm Springs

award for his friendly manner, his work to make the Foundation era. The lapel pin includes a scroll

facility better and his excellent rapport with the

design at the bottom of the pin which reads

students. The employee of the year is selected from Roosevelt Warm Springs Legacy. The lapel pin is

the previous year's employee of the month

engraved on the front with the number of years of

recipients. The other nominees were: Tim Smith, service being honored. In addition, silver engraved

Lakeitha Dixon, Cheryl Leidy, Linda Collins, Gena gift boxes are given to employees beginning with 20

Ogletree, Don King, Clyde Copeland, Debra Whitten, years of service to Roosevelt Warm Springs. The

Deion Wooten, Steve Hardnett and Lynne Patterson. recipients are:

Robert Prater, the mayor of Warm Springs, delivered 30 Years: Danney Yates; 20 Years: Cindy Armstrong,

the keynote address at the luncheon. He reflected Debbie Casey, Eman Daniel and Ed Friend;15 years:

upon his fond memories of his past employment at Chad Banks and Stella Ann Reid; 10 Years: Deborah

RWS as a vocational evaluator during the early

Bellesfield, Denise Burson and Deion Wooten; 5

1970's. He noted the significant impact the facility years: Connie Bonnette, Vera Beth Gibson, Kim

has made for those who received vocational services Mitcham and Megon Steele.

over the years. He also challenged the staff to keep

reaching toward the future to make Roosevelt Warm The Employee Recognition Luncheon was made

Springs bigger, better and brighter. Mr. Prater

possible by the Roosevelt Warm Springs

continued with reading one of his favorite quotes Rehabilitation Development Fund. Development

from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Fund Chairman Ken Dobbs and Board Member Lee

Norman were on hand to congratulate the

"Because after all, Warm Springs--to be successful honorees.

in the future--has got to make some progress every

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RWS Employees Continued
From left: RWS Employees Danney Yates of 30 years, Denise Burson of 10 years and Megan Steele of five years were recognized recently at an annual awards luncheon at the RWS campus. Congratulations to everyone who received an award or was recognized.

From left: Chad Banks and Stella Ann Reid, both of whom have 15 years at RWS, along with Ed Friend and Eman Daniel, both of whom have 20 years at RWS, were recently recognized for their longevity and were praised for their service to the campus and its students.

From left: Leader of the

year reciepient Jesse O'Neal

thanks his staff for their

dedication to keeping the

RWS vocational campus

DAS

beautiful. Former RWS

employee and current

Mayor of Warm Springs

Robert Prater encouraged

the RWS staff to keep

making progress every day.

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