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AGENCY NEWS.......at Ottawa Friendship House 

* REGIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPS

* UPCOMING EVENTS  2010
February Calendar of Events
     1 Name that tune 10:45 ; Bowling 1:00
     2 Eagle Watch 9:45; MGS 1:45
     3 Coffee Club 9:45; Bowling 1:00
     4 Tai Chi 10:30; Current Events 1:30
     5 $1.00 Sandwich day; Bowling 1:00
     8 Pajamas at work day! Coffee club 9:45
     9 Trivia time 10:45; M.G.S. 1:45
     10 Thinking about Lincoln 9:30; Rotary 11:45
     11 Tai Chi   10:30; Current Events 1:30
     12 $1.00 Sandwich day; Valentines Day Dance 1:30-3:00
     15 CLOSED   Presidents Day
     16 Fat Tuesday Pancakes 11:30-12:00 (free to all the consumers and staff);
              Connections/Ravlin 1:30; BINGO 1:00
     17 Current Events 10:45; Bowling 1:00
     18 Tai Chi 10:30; U of I class; 1:00 workshop - 2:00 D.T.
     19 $1.00 Sandwich day; Bowling 1:00
     22 Crazy socks day; Arm Chair travels 10:45; Reddick Mansion tour 1:00
     23 Bingo in D.T. 10:45; M.G.S. 1:45
     24 Current events 10:45; Peru Mall 12 Noon
     25 Tai Chi 10:30; L.C.Nursing Home bingo 2:00
     26 $1.00 Sandwich day

March 15, 6:30 p.m. A Free Workshop at Ottawa Friendship House, Guardianships & Special Needs Trusts. will be presented by Friendship House and Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau County.
The presentation is for family members of persons with developmental disabilities or other special needs. Topics include:
Guardianship: What is it and when & why you may need it for a family member.
Special Needs Trusts: Protecting the person with disabilities’ eligibility for services & programs.
Presenter: Michael Gulo, Attorney at Law, M G Gulo & Associates.   
See attched Application
* RICES Grant update
     On January 19 and 20, service recipients and employees of Streator Unlimited, Horizon House of Peru, and Friendship House of Ottawa attended a training session as part of the Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability Project (RICES).  This statewide initiative is an investment of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) and a collaborative venture between Health & Disability Advocates, Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC, and Marc Gold & Associates.  The three local organizations have the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by the current national and international forerunners in the field of customized employment services. 
      Over the next 18 months, Streator Unlimited, Horizon House and Friendship House will work with the national level consultants to master the process of customized employment while assisting participants with developmental disabilities to find jobs or develop their own businesses.  Customized employment is a cutting-edge process of building on the skills and strengths of people with developmental disabilities while leveraging funding to meet both capital and personnel needs of businesses in a unique and individualized manner. 
     Sandy McBride’s son Anthony will graduate from Streator High School this spring and is a participant in this project.  “Anthony’s friend Andy worked with Stephanie at Streator Unlimited to get a dream job in the parts department at Bill Walsh.”  Anthony’s teacher, Cheri French, noted, “we’re trying to work together so that students with developmental disabilities will be able to go right into jobs following graduation.”   
This county-wide approach includes a number of partners:  the LaSalle-Peru Division of Rehabilitation Services, Streator High School, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program, Illinois Association of Microboards and Cooperatives and local businesses who will benefit from this process.  Training sessions and mentoring will continue throughout the calendar year.  The goal of the project is to make a local impact on people with developmental disabilities and business while generating policy recommendations at the state level to assure funding and regulations support the process.  For further information, contact Stephanie Harcharik at Streator Unlimited.

*  Gift from Mussallem family commemorates the life of Bob Schwerdtfeger
         Members of the Schwerdtfeger family, Linda and Mike Mussalem,  board members, residents, staff, and good friends gathered on December 27 to attend the dedication of the dining room of the Developmental Training Building, in honor of Linda’s brother, Bob Schwerdefeger.  Bob was one of the first to attend ECHO School, which was spearheaded by Bob’s mother Jane McCormick and other families who had a dream that their children would have a special place to learn, work, and have social and recreational opportunities.   In 1966 this dream became a reality; and with a building on Ottawa’s south side loaned by the UAW,  Friendship House was born.
         Bob was certainly a pioneer in the development of support for children and adults with disabilities.  Bob also was one of the first to move into our residential program in 1978.  The ceremony was a tribute to his memory, and celebrated his courage to blaze the trail for people with disabilities in LaSalle County.   Bob will always be  remembered, as his life achievements are acknowledged in a plaque near the Training Center dining room.
          Michael and Linda Mussallem are recognized as Benefactors of Highest Distinction, for which the level of giving ranges from $50,000 to over $ 200,000. Their generous support paid for the dining and kitchen area of the Training Center, which was constructed in 2001. This Training Center serves as a programming area for over 40 adults, providing life skills training, as well as social, educational and recreational opportunities.

Members of the family of Bob Schwerdtfeger, Francis and Jane McCormick, Mike and Linda Mussallem, and Gary and Donna Schwerdtfreger.	Linda Mussallam displays the plaque honoring her brother, Bob Schwerdtfeger.

 * IIP Gift to Friendship House

Consumers Lance, Amanda, and Stan, along with Beth Mangold, Executive Director, stopped at Insurance and Investment Planning (IIP) to thank Pete McGrath and Jay Bottarini for the agency's generous donation of $1000 to Ottawa Friendship House.

  * Making Dreams Come True donors recognized.    

Donors to the Making Dreams Come True capital campaign, which ran from 2002 - 2005, are now recognized by a permanant display at Friendship House. The recognition wall was dedicated in the fall of 2009, and contains the names of the over 100 major contributors to the campaign. The display is located in the lobby of the Administration Building. The highly successful drive provided revenue to fund the Training Center, which was constructed in 2001, and provides daily programming for 40 adults.

     * RECENT EVENTS AT FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
December 19th Benefit at Jeremiah Joes for OFH. 3 bands for $5.00 starting at 6:30 open to all family members and community
December 17th U of I Extension cooking classes for the consumers
December 14th Christmas tour of Ottawa and snowflake making
December 10th Choir sang at LaSalle County Home
December 7th Choir sang at Ottawa Pavillion
December 1st- First Aid training for staff.
December 1st- Knights of Columbus donated $9,586.53 from tootsie roll sales towards the purchase of a new van.
December 18th Janie Schomas donated her DJ skills for a Christmas Dance at 1:30 for consumers
   * RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM NEWS
            Friendship House recently purchased 2 sofas and 2 recliners for house 2 and 3 to replace worn furniture in the residents' homes. Turk Furniture also donated a leather love seat and sofa, so all the homes are now refurnished.  A hot water heater was replaced in house 4.

      * FAMILY MEETING
         On November 4 Beth Mangold and Melissa Hulse facilitated a meeting with family members of Friendship House Consumers.  We were delighted to have 15 family members attend, and several other families indicate that they would be willing to help with special events and fund raising.  A survey was discussed and distributed with the families. The following information was requested: In what role would you feel comfortable in your involvement, which of the fund raising or special events for the consumers would you like to help with, and what informational presentations would you recommend that we host.
            The group expressed an interest in receiving monthly correspondence with upcoming events. They felt that the internet would be a great way to communicate with families.   The group will meet again December 2, 2009.           

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