Happy Spring Everyone!
For those of you I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, please allow me to introduce myself as Amy Howard, Acting CEO for ACHIEVE. I am transitioning into this new role after having worked at the Agency for the past 12 ½ years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. I am a social worker by education and training, and have spent the last 20+ years of my career working at the executive management level of non-profit organizations, primarily overseeing operations and growing programs! It is truly my pleasure to collaborate with ACHIEVE staff, program participants and families, and other community partners in this new and exciting role!
This is a very busy time at ACHIEVE! We have several major initiatives and projects underway including launch of a new marketing and branding campaign for the organization; imminent ground breaking for a new multi-generational social day program at our Cutler Pond Road location; and site selection for development of our 20
th
IRA residence which will serve 4 individuals who are presently living with aging caregivers!
In addition, ACHIEVE’s Leadership Team has made employee satisfaction and retention one of its highest priorities for 2018. ACHIEVE actively participates in the #bFair2DirectCare Campaign, which is a statewide initiative aimed at providing Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s) with a living wage. We at ACHIEVE recognize that DSP’s are the backbone of our agency and will continue to advocate until all DSP’s are fairly compensated for the outstanding work they do every day with and for the beloved individuals we serve.
There are so many amazing and newsworthy happenings at ACHIEVE! To stay current, I strongly encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we will frequently share our key messages, advocacy initiatives, current events, success stories, and other notables through these social media outlets, and our website. Please feel free to share our monthly e-newsletter with your friends, family and others as well!
Again, I am blessed and thankful for the opportunity to serve at ACHIEVE in the capacity of Acting CEO. If ever I can be of assistance or support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
I hope you will enjoy the increased sunshine and peeping flowers that the month of April will surely bring.
Amy G. Howard
Acting Chief Executive Officer
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'OH WHAT A NIGHT'
March 20
Submitted by: Jana Fink
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“Oh What a Night”… Late March, back in 2018. On March 20th, 2018, I had the privilege of accompanying two of the individuals in our guardianship program, Mary Mead and Patrick Sheehe, to a night at the theater to see Jersey Boys. Both individuals got all dressed up for the occasion, and were ready for a night out on the town. Throughout the show, which features the story and music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Patrick could be seen smiling from ear to ear and lip-syncing along to the music and Mary, bopping to the beat. During intermission Mary said “What a great show” and Patrick spoke not only about how much he loved the show, but also about how he had the opportunity to see Frankie Valli, years back, when he performed in Binghamton. A great time was had by all.
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TIOGA DAY HABILITATION VISITS 98.1 THE HAWK
March 8
Submitted by: Sarah Dornblaser
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Tioga Day Hab traveled to downtown Binghamton on Thursday March 8th to get an inside look at TownSquare Media. They were able to spend the morning with Glenn and Tracy from the HAWK morning show. It was a great morning spent checking out the production equipment and singing Elvira!
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INSTRUMENT DRIVE
Submitted by: Christa Reese
ACHIEVE has partnered with the
Binghamton Philharmonic
for an instrument drive! We are collecting unwanted/used instruments that will be used to create music rooms in our Day Hab facilities. During Binghamton Philharmonic's Saturday March 17 presentation of Celebrating 100: Leonard Bernstein concert ACHIEVE was honored to accept donations from those in attendance.
You can
donate your instrument at ACHIEVE's Cutler Pond and Riverside Drive locations or at the remaining Binghamton Philharmonic concerts!
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Autohrap
donated by: Grant Best
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3 Trumpets
donated by: The Schwartz Family
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Keyboard
donated by: Sandy Henson
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ACHIEVE PROMOTIONS
Submitted by:Jamie Striley
ACHIEVE is proud to announce the following promotions for the month of February
- Lynne Majewski - Director of Vocational Services
- Elliott Campbell - Program Manager
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ACHIEVE RECREATION RESPITE PROGRAM
Submitted by:Mel Blakeslee
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FOWLSTON IRA RECEIVES PERFECT AUDIT
Submitted by:
Laura Thompson
Congratulations to the Fowlston IRA team on a perfect NYS-OPWDD audit! This team has come so far in changing the culture in this house and the auditor was impressed with the high level of individualized services that she was able to observe. Great job team!
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Julian Paugh a Success Story
Submitted by: Leslie Edwards
Julian Paugh began working at Buckingham Manufacturing in September 2017. He works full time Monday – Friday earning above minimum wage and also works four hours of overtime every other weekend. Previously, Julian worked at Burger King for a while but felt that he wanted to find something better for himself. It was at this time Julian utilized supported employment services (SEMP) through ACHIEVE. His story, as told by his job coach, Leslie Edwards, continues below….
“When Julian began SEMP services with ACHIEVE we focused primarily on practicing good interview skills. Julian never missed an appointment and was very motivated throughout the whole process. When we went in for the interview at Buckingham Manufacturing, Bob Whitehead, the owner, was very understanding and accepting of my role as Julian’s job coach and was happy to let me sit in on the interview. Julian was offered the job directly after the interview and began a few weeks later. Julian had several initial barriers to employment including lack of transportation. Fortunately, Buckingham Manufacturing was walking distance from Julian’s home and he has had no issues with getting to and from work. His grandfather, who is a huge support and role model for Julian, provides transportation if Julian needs it. Throughout Julian’s time at Buckingham Manufacturing, management have all been very supportive of Julian and my role as his job coach. Not only have they kept in great communication with me, but they have been very open in communicating with Julian – always offering support and assisting him in learning the skills he needs to succeed.”
Julian’s role at Buckingham Manufacturing was originally assisting in assembling parts together. He did so well at this that he received a promotion that moved into a new role. Now Julian cuts patterns for other co-workers to sew. This requires more responsibility but his supervisors say that Julian is doing very well. Julian’s supervisor once told his job coach that “Julian has a real ‘will to work’ and that he is very motivated to always try his best.” Julian’s story illustrates how ACHIEVE, working in partnership with the individuals served and our business alliances, results in meaningful, integrated community employment.
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2018 ACHIEVE MEMBERSHIP
Submitted by: Christa Reese
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March is a busy month for ACHIEVE as we launch our 2018 Membership Campaign, celebrate National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and plan for a busy year of fundraising events.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, celebrated across the country in March, is a valuable reminder that people with disabilities are valuable, contributing members of our community who have much to offer and a desire to participate.
People with developmental disabilities have proven to be reliable workers and excellent volunteers, capable of meeting or exceeding expectations and standards. Thanks to organizations like ACHIEVE, people with disabilities are leading richer, more fulfilling lives. But there are still challenges: as many as 60 percent of individuals with disabilities—7 million nationwide—remain unemployed.
We are fortunate to have so many opportunities in our community through the programs we offer and the partnerships we have created. But there is always more we can do. We ask you to encourage local businesses to hire a person with a disability, invite people with disabilities to participate in your civic organization or community activity, or to give time or money to an organization supporting people with disabilities. Our membership campaign is an important part of our year and support helps us to continue our mission to advocate for an enhanced quality of life through skill advancement, inclusion, integration, and independence of persons with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities through services provided in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties.
What is ACHIEVE’S Annual Membership Campaign?
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Each year ACHIEVE runs a membership campaign in which we ask our staff, families, people we support and the community to become a member of the agency.
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It is only $5.00, per person, to become a member!
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Membership lasts one full calendar year.
Why is ACHIEVE’S Annual Membership Campaign So Important?
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Your support and inclusion in the agency helps people with disabilities become more independent, productive and integrated in our local community. Without your help there is less opportunity for personal growth and achievement.
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Membership provides our agency the ability to advocate legislatively at the state and national levels. As we move forward, our agency continues to face enormous challenges given the current economic climate of our state and nation. It would be helpful for our advocacy with legislative and government officials to have the largest membership ever.
We hope you'll join ACHIEVE. Together, we will keep the vision alive of creating opportunities for individual successes.
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Submitted by: Bob Brazill
Here at ACHIEVE we are busy planning the 23rd Annual Bob Warner Pin Crushing Classic, 64th Annual Dinner Dance, 9th Annual Savor the Summer and the 2018 Binghamton Devils Charity Golf Classic. As you may know, ACHIEVE provides programs and services to 2,200 individuals with disabilities in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties. Our organization is growing physically and programmatically and we are asking for sponsorships to help support our organization and the individuals that we serve. Sponsorship opportunities come in in many sizes and provide you with recognition as a business that supports individuals with disabilities in our community.
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