Arnold Center, Inc.
The Link
United Way Agency
CARF Accredited
Summer 2011
Arnold Center, Inc. Building Expansion
After many years of careful planning and collaboration with various community organizations, the Arnold Center revealed its long-awaited 14,000 sq. ft.
expansion project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 14, 2011. Among
the participants in the ceremony were various members from Dow Chemical
Foundation, Dow Corning Foundation, Midland Area Community Foundation,
H.H. & G.A. Dow Foundation, Doan Foundation, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Strosacker Foundation, and other various local and state government
representatives. The guest of honor was former president Michael C. Shea, to
whom the new addition is proudly dedicated. Mr. Shea’s family was present at
the ceremony to help honor his 25 years of leadership and passion. The Arnold
Center is excited to build upon its foundation of over 40 years of helping individuals with disabilities to reach their employment goals.
Comments from the President
A lot has happened sense our last Link
newsletter published in the winter of
2011. We finished our Midland addition and honored former president Michael Shea at a well attended dedication
and ribbon cutting ceremony in April.
The Midland County United Way has
selected the Arnold Center as a
“Company that Cares” for our continued support in the
form of donations and active participation in the program
campaign including numerous site visits and volunteering
activities supported by our staff and board members.
Significant progress continues to be made in support of
the wages paid to our participants. We have incorporated
new measurements in our outcome management system to
review our vocational programs in both our organizational
and community employment. We have begun new projects in our community; cleaning crews as well as new
kitting jobs. If you are in the area, please stop by and
visit our Midland or Gladwin locations to see what’s new
at the Arnold Center.
We also are looking to streamline our operations and procedures to work with our partners to create efficiency and
effectiveness in our programs and services. We recently
held joint meetings with Community Mental Health and
Michigan Rehabilitation Services teams in this regard and
are looking at actions that can help us provide more for
less.
CARF Accredited
Arnold Center Manufacturing
The Arnold Center provides assembly, packaging, refurbishing, and recycling at our locations
in Midland and Gladwin. Our Midland location moved into a 10,000
sq feet expansion in December
that allows us to provide additional capacity to our customers.
John is shown assembling a new
component for a customer in Saginaw.
For further information regarding our services please contact
the Arnold Center at (989) 631-9570.
Check us out on the Web...
The site is located at www.arnoldcenter.org. The information
at our site includes Annual Reports which gives highlights
from previous years, a list of community members who serve
on our Board of Directors, our community newsletter, The
Link, which gives information about happenings the Arnold
Center is doing throughout the community, and an organizational chart which breaks down the hierarchy of the organization. The news and events page has articles from local media
regarding the Arnold Center. There is a section that gives
links to related organizations locally and nationally such as
CARF, MARO, the Michigan Works Talent Bank, and the We
Cycle Store. We also have a section explaining the services
offered to our customers and the different programs offered.
If you have not checked out our website or it has been awhile,
log on today and see the different articles, services and options
offered through the Arnold Center.
ISO 9001:2008 Registered
The Link
Customer Success
Charles Smith has been part of the Arnold Center janitorial
team since March 1, 2010. He completes a variety of job
tasks on the crew including vacuuming and mopping.
Charles enjoys working on the janitorial crew and is not sure
what he likes best because he likes it all. Charles also works
on our Community Recycle team and again works very hard
while providing great customer service.
Duane Libbey began services with
Access Midland in 1993, and had
the opportunity to try numerous
job sites before settling into Community Employment at the Shelter
House and the Midland Civic
Arena. Duane developed work
skills that allowed him to move on
to bigger and better work sites, he
grew to be a very dependable employee.
With his renewed sense of purpose, Duane was offered the
opportunity to become a member of the Hemlock SemiConductor Crew. As the new job began, Duane showed
immediate promise and potential. He capitalized on that
potential by meeting production goals, and even taking the
initiative to add extra days of work to his schedule.
Charles says he enjoys making money but he also likes the
people he works with. He is always willing to go the extra
mile and volunteer to fill in when someone is absent. Staff
notes that Charles is a focused worker and dedicated to completing his job every day.
Charles is a valued member
of the Arnold Center janitorial crew and we appreciate all
his hard work and commitment to his job.
Duane is an excellent example of an employee who took
advantage of the support available to him to find a way to
succeed. He persevered in his commitment to himself to
find work that was both enjoyable, profitable, and most of
all, gave him a sense of inclusion.
Employers
Did you know we can help you reduce employee turnover by matching qualified, job-ready applicants to your job requirements. We
provide pre-employment assessment and offer job-related training for individuals we refer. Our staff can customize on-the-job training and support services, if needed.
We currently have job candidates eagerly waiting to fill the following positions:
Midland
Janitorial - part-time position, 10-15 hours per week. Individual is open to working a variety of shifts. Has own drivers license,
vehicle, & High School GED. Dependable, hardworking, and enthusiastic about learning new tasks.
Stocking - part-time position, 10-15 hours per week. Looking for small business or retail setting.
Laundry Attendant - part-time position, 15-20 hours per week. Skilled and proficient in all areas of laundering process: washing, drying, folding, and inspecting for quality. Excellent judgment skills and outgoing personality.
Interested employers may contact: Amy Bissonnette
Arnold Center Inc. M-F at (989) 631-9570 EXT.13
Gladwin
Retail-part-time position, interested in working at a fruit market or clothing store. Interested in working 9:00am to 3:00pm. Monday-Friday. Has experience and is dependable.
Secretarial –part-time, interested in working in the area of secretarial. Answering phones, taking notes, sorting mail, greeting customers. 20 hours per week Tuesday-Friday.
Production-part-time, shredding paper and sorting, Part time Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
Interested employers may contact: Laura Iseler
Arnold Center-Gladwin M-F at (989) 426-6300 EXT. 5
CARF Accredited
ISO 9001:2008 Registered
The Link
Thank You
The Arnold Center would like to thank the following community members who have chosen to support us over the last few months either monetary or by other means:
A.S. Arbury Insurance Agency, Michele Calianese, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, Dow
Corning Foundation, Ed Kushion, Ruth Eesley, Eileen Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. John Evans, Carol
Feilder, Roy Goethe, Roger Gohrband, Michael Hayes, Carrie Iafrate, Space, Inc., John Mier, John
Ostergren, Karl Kemena, L.R.L Inc., F.R. Lehman, J.F. Lehman, Mary Sue Markey, Midland Resort, Mobile Waterproofing, Monday Club, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Murray, Reverend Dr. Brent McCumons, Jim Brozzo, Keith Mead,
Kevin Roeder, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Skory, Darcie Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mitchell, Servinski Sod Service, Knights of
Columbus Council #12660, Susan Holcomb, Pearle Vision, Sanford Pharmacy, Casey Weaver, Larkin Township, John
Ostergren, Jessica Barnette, Ann Vanderberg.
Congratulations GCDF Graduates!
Six Employees of the Arnold Center received certificates as Global Career Development Facilitators recently – so
give a pat on the back to: Marlana Cork, Nikimo Davis, Ben Guinn, Denita Rider, LaToya Sherman and Tiarra
Wright when you see them next!
The Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) Training Program is a growing competency-based program,
leading to national certification and an option undergraduate or graduate credit from an accredited university. Each
of our coworkers gave up more than 120 hours of their time to commit to learning specific kinds of tasks that will
help their customers learn more about themselves and the job market, and how to assist those customers in planning
their careers and obtaining meaningful work. Further areas of their training included:
 Helping Skills
 Assessment
 Ethical and Legal Issues
 Employability Skills
 Technology
 Consultation
 Labor Market Information and Resources
Tiarra Wright
Ben Guinn
 Diverse Populations
 Career Development Models
 Training Clients and Peers
 Program Management / Implementation
 Promotion and Public Relations
A graduation ceremony and banquet was held on June 1st to honor
the above mentioned employees. They’ve earned their GCDF title
and we are very proud of their accomplishments…congratulations
again.
Denita Rider
Marlana Cork
Nikimo Davis
Latoya Sherman
CARF Accredited
ISO 9001:2008 Registered
The Link
Arnold Center, Inc. Board of Directors
Arnold Center, Inc. would like to take this opportunity to thank the following community members who serve on our
Board of Directors. Their time and efforts, to direct our organization is greatly appreciated!
Chair: Mark Freed
Andrews Hooper & Pavlik P.L.C
Alice Strack
Parent
Susan St. Charles
Midland Center for the Arts
Vice Chair: Karen Langeland
Central Michigan University
Debbie Stradinger
Citizen’s Bank
Jack Starling
Garber
Treasurer: Pavel Konecny
Chemical Bank & Trust
Gregg Young
Young Associates
Patti Tuma
Dow Diamond
Secretary: Tom Kreucher
Dow Corning Corporation
Sid Allen
President & CEO Chamber of Commerce
Scott Walker
Midland Tomorrow
Jim Hummel
Dow Chemical Company
Karen Calkins
Mid Michigan Regional Medical Center
Kevin Gay
Three Rivers Corporation
Tim Dyste
Dow Corning Corporation
Kim Hohisel
Retired: Dow Corning Corporation
William Gaunt
Retired: Dow Corning Corporation
Peggy Gerstacker
Dow Corning Corporation
Randy Hall
Mar-Quest Research, Inc.
Mack Murrell
Dow Chemical Company
Wendy Kanar
Cline, Close, Dyer, PLC
Ron Glomski
Retired: Dow Chemical Company & Parent
Honorable John Hart
75th District Court
Rhonda Henning
Dow Chemical Company
Shannon Greaves
City of Gladwin
John Young
Northwood University
Dave Murdoch
Comerica Bank
Outcome Management
The Arnold Center has made an uncompromising commitment to provide its customers exemplary products and services,
while meeting the highest level of ethical standards and performance. In addition, the organization’s environmental,
health and safety program helps to ensure its business operates in a manner
Customer Satisfaction Excellent-3
that protects the health and safety of its
Good-2
Needs Work-1
employees, customers, business partResults 2010‐2011
ners, community neighbors, and the
3
environment.
2.5
2
1.5
Goal
CARF Accredited
Manufacturing Community Employment‐Gladwin Community Employment‐Midland
Vocational Experience Vocational Exploration Vocational Evaluation Gladwin County Connection Access Midland 1
YTD
Customer feedback is essential to the
Arnold Center’s continuous quality
improvement process. The organization regularly surveys its customers to
determine their degree of satisfaction
with the services provided and to help
define their outcome expectations. The
chart summarizes our customer’s feedback last year.
ISO 9001:2008 Registered
The Link
Faces and Places
Our mission at the Arnold Center is to promote improved quality of life for
individuals with differing needs, by encouraging and supporting personal growth and
inclusion in the community through the development of vocational, social, and life skills.
Each day, all around the Midland and Gladwin communities, people with disabilities are working, participating in an
activity or volunteering their time, but in all cases it’s people getting to know people and enriching lives by doing so.
Here is just a glimpse of what has been happening recently.
Pictured here are Charles Smith
and Steve Cilley unloading cardboard from one of our community sites. We began partnering
with the local recycling business
by offering a pick up service in
the community.
Social/Recreational activities involve hanging out with some
friends at the Midland Mall Eatery,
sharing some stories and having a
soda!
Sydney Allen invited Karen Funk,
Jennifer Acker, and Sari Altman on a
tour of State Senator's John Moolenaar's office during their visit to Lansing in April.
Tim Day is pictured here volunteering at Family Farm and Home. He
stops in to help water and feed the
animals that are for sale.
Pictured here are Jerry Wise,
Jamie Parisi, Cheryl Millsap
and support staff, Steve Wood,
with an employee at Gladwin
City County Transit. The crew
collects pop can tabs which are
recycled and the proceeds go
toward funds for dialysis.
Dianna Smith and Jerry Horvat enjoyed a raining, cold day at a Loon's
Game. The temperature was 40 and it
was raining but this did not put a
damper on a fun day at the Ball Park.
Youth Leadership Students from
Midland and surrounding schools
spent the afternoon working and
getting to know customers at our
Midland Location. Ric Olson
"showing" how to get the job
DONE!
Ken Vaughan takes a minute for a
picture while working on the Gladwin
Record Flower Crew.
CARF Accredited
ISO 9001:2008 Registered
The Link
School Program Update
Vocational Exploration is a person-centered service that provides vocational training and career exploration to youth in
transition. Typically seniors enrolled at Bullock Creek High School or Meridian High School participate in the Vocational Exploration Program. The Arnold Center partners with the Midland County Educational Service Agency and
Michigan Rehabilitation Services to provide these services to the students. It is intended that the opportunities given to the students will enhance each student’s transition from school to work.
During the 2010/2011 school year four students from Bullock Creek High School participated in the Vocational Exploration Program. By the end of the school year each student gained work experience and
had an opportunity to have a job interview. Two students were hired for paid jobs in the community.
In partnership with
Arnold Center
Upcoming Events
Martha G. Arnold Endowment Fund
July
Arnold Center, Inc. has established the Martha G. Arnold
Endowment Fund to provide long-term support that will
secure the organization’s mission for years to come.
Through your donation to Martha G. Arnold Endowment Fund you too can help enhance the lives of our
community’s residents. For more information on the
Martha G. Arnold Endowment Fund please go to
www.arnoldcenter.org and click on the “Giving” tab.
Learn how your gift can benefit you, the Arnold Center
and our community’s residents.
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7/4 Closed 4th of July
7/8 Gladwin Community Fun Days Breakfast
7/25 Finance Committee
7/27 Annual Meeting and Picnic
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8/11 Outcome Management
8/29 Finance Committee
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9/5 Closed Labor Day
9/26 Finance Committee
9/28 Board of Directors
August
September
October
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10/24 Finance Committee
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11/3 Outcome Management
11/14 Finance Committee
11/16 Board of Directors
11/24/11/25 Closed for Thanksgiving
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12/12 Finance
Remember your donation is tax deductible
November
December
CARF Accredited
ISO 9001:2008 Registered