CLI Incorporated

P.O. Box 508

Norwalk, Ohio 44857

CLIsupports.com

419-706-5137

Huron County Fair Week

August 14th Update, 2023

Ron & the guys chatted up the Thor Sports Racing crew

at the Erie County Fair last week

The Huron Pier is a great, accessible place to get some outdoor exercise-- and the lake keeps things a bit cooler than 15 miles south in Norwalk

Kristi Green is still checking on people at work around the community. Let her know if you'd like to be featured in

one of these short @work bits.

The most recent video from Sirna & Sons was under 60 seconds, so Youtube recorded it as a "short" and then our newsletter editing program (Constant Contact) wouldn't allow a video link

-- but click on the button below to see Kristi's interview with David

John's usual--

We're sad to report that our own Jen Swicker is moving on to greener pastures with OOD (Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities). OOD is a state agency that funds/facilitates employment related services for people with lots of different disabilities, including developmental disabilities (DD). While I am very sad to see Jen go, I understand her reasons. This is a good opportunity for Jen and we understand her reasons. I am very grateful to Jen for all of her hard work. It's been a difficult journey from when we privatized at the end of 2015 to now-- and we definitely would not have made it without Jen's leadership. Also, CLI's loss is not only OOD's gain, but it's also a good thing for the overall state system that she has so much direct experience working with people AND administering programs at the provider level.

So, Swick's last working day is Friday, August 25th. This is also CLI's next cornhole tournament at 38 West Seminary Street in Norwalk, so we're going to make that do double duty: fundraiser + Swick's farewell party. Please come out to wish her well. We'll have plenty of Miller Lite on hand (Swick's brew of choice). In the meantime, if you have any funny or embarrassing pictures of Jen-- send them in and we'll feature them in the newsletter and on our Facebook page!

It's Huron County Fair week this week-- and Tuesday is free admission. We'll be taking anyone who wants to go. Just let us know.

Also, Ron Ross is a demolition derby driver and has sported a car in pretty much all the local derbies, including the one this week at the Huron County Fair! We had ambitions of helping him decorate his car this year, but couldn't make it happen. He was kind enough to still give us advertising space (see below). I know that there will be a few CLI types cheering him on this Friday at the Derby!

That's all I have for now. Have a great week!

John

The pools might be closed, but there is still plenty to do at the Ernsthausen Rec Center!

Some pics from last week's trip to the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky

Do you know anyone looking for a special event space for your next party-- one that's definitely not cookie-cutter

but still 100% wheelchair friendly?

CLI rents out our property at 16 West Main Street

anytime we're not using it.

Just let Holly know if you'd like to take a look!

When CLI makes money renting out our spaces like 16 West or Kenilee Lanes-- that cold, hard cash goes right back into CLI programs. Win-Win!

Firelands Local LLC

James Johnson james@firelandslocal.com 419-921-6400

Sandusky Concert schedule

Party at the Pier (all shows happen at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays)

• Aug. 17: Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac tribute

• Aug. 24: The Ten Band, a Pearl Jam tribute

• Aug. 31: Carlos Jones & The PLUS BAND

Are you into gaming? CLI hosts a gaming hour every afternoon at the FL Workshop at 2pm!

Announcing CLI's newest service exclusively offered to people who are community employed--

 because there's more to life than the daily grind!

We believe that lifetime learning and playing shouldn't stop after high school or after you get your

first "real" job! CLI wants to help you continue to grow and/or to enjoy the fruits of your labor!

CLI's Good Works Cafe offers a free community lunch every Friday afternoon at the Norwalk Reservoir Clubhouse.

Thanks to the generous donations (money & food), CLI is able to take care of our neighbors and also get some real life restaurant and customer service job training.

 ** Important new change! **

Due to the increased need in our community,

we will no longer take pre-orders for the free lunches.

We are open from 11:30 until meals run out. The limit per person will be 6 so we can better serve those in need. Sorry for any inconvenience.

If you'd like to learn more or would like to donate to this cause--

please contact Jen Swicker by phone at 419-706-6221 or by email at Jen@CLIsupports.com

Question of the week

Q: I saw that CLI is advertising your event space at 16 West Main Street in this newsletter now. Why does CLI have spaces like 16 West & Kenilee Lanes? It seems like CLI shouldn't have spent the money to purchase those buildings.

A: Great question! The short answer is that there are 2 reasons why CLI bought those spaces and why we promote them as businesses. The first reason is that we believe that Ohio's new laws about community integration mean that we need lots of community spaces where we can duck in to use a wheelchair accessible bathroom and/or find privacy to get help eating a pureed lunch. It's really hard to get away from the segregated setting if you have to keep coming back every 2 hours to use the bathroom, etc. The second reason we bought them is that part of CLI's mission is to expand opportunities for everyone to do more community activities with other people. We've used all of our spaces to host lots of community events which has enabled CLI to build new relationships and help our clients have new opportunities.

As for why we rent the spaces out and/or operate them as a business-- that's easy. CLI needs more money and these spaces generate more money than they cost. We estimate that loans, taxes, and labor for 16 West Main Street cost CLI approximately $18K per year, but we generated approximately $23,000 in event rentals last year. That's $5k more than we spent and $5k more than we had otherwise. Kenilee Lanes operates as working bowling alley. Those operations cover the taxes, mortgage, utilities, and contribute another $25,000 back to CLI.

CLI's finances have been very tight for the last 4 years. Operating these extra side hustles is A LOT OF WORK-- but without this extra money, CLI would not havebeen able to stay in business.

We do get lots of questions about how we can afford to buy properties and/or vehicles. The short answer is that CLI's business operations require that we use commercial debt to a significant degree. We've never been fortunate to have any significant stockpile of cash. We've always had to operate according to reliable cash flow business fundamentals. That means if we want to spend more money on clients and staff and our community-- or even just stay ahead of rising costs-- then CLI has to keep finding new ways to make more money.

100% of the money spent in a CLI-owned business goes back to CLI. And if CLI ever sells an asset, 100% of the money left after we pay back the bank goes back to CLI too.

Video(s) of the Week:

CLI's three-part mission

• increase the earnings, status & quality of life of people with developmental disabilities
• increase the earnings, status & quality of life of people who support people with developmental disabilities
• actively work to improve the communities in which we all live