“THE KOKUA SPIRIT” “Kokua’s Mission is to provide citizens with disabilities the support they need to lead full and meaningful lives.” www.kokuaservices.com February 10, 2011 FUN THINGS TO DO: Harry Potter: The Exhibition Now is your chance to peer into the famous wizard’s magical world This exhibit will be on display at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle until February 13, 2011 (Kokua clients: Call to coordinate with the Resource Team if you wish to join the group that may be going from Kokua.) 2011 Pie Fest! An annual fundraiser to support the Thurston County Food Bank and Senior Nutrition Program Sat, Feb 26 at the Olympia Center,1-3:30 pm Eat Pie ($3.00 or cans of food), buy pie at the live auction, win prizes in the raffle You can also compete in a pie baking contest For rules/entry form, contact olybakers@gmail.com Kokua’s Reading Group After a short hiatus over the holidays, the reading group will resume on February 14th (Happy Valentine’s Day) The group is held twice a month, once in the morning from 10:30 – 12:00 and once in the afternoon from 12:00 – 1:30 Have you read, heard, or done anything lately that you’d like to share? The reading group would love to hear from you Or maybe you’d just like to listen to others stories and experiences Call the Resource Team at Ext 119 for more information.The schedule for the group can also be found on at: www.kokuaservices.com HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Volume 7, Number WHAT’S HAPPENING AT KOKUA? Amanda B and staff have been going for walks to a pond near her house, when weather permits She enjoys going because she gets to see ducks, geese and others from her neighborhood and she can visit with their children and/or pets Amanda likes to share doing bubbles with the kids They all laugh and compete to see who can the most We always have a good time Amanda is also helping staff with chores around the house, although she prefers for staff to the vacuuming We are awaiting good weather so we can get outside more to play ball and Frisbee, two of her favorite things Amanda’s neighbor has a cat that enjoys coming to visit her The cat’s name is “Jake” and is very loving and gentle with Amanda, and she does very well around the cat They seem to have bonded with each other Ben C has been busy caring for his cat, Missy She recently went to the vet to be spayed Ben is looking forward to Missy healing so he can take her outside to play when the weather is nice enough Jenny D will be attending a Smokey Robinson concert this Saturday at the Lucky Eagle She’s been hard at work planning her Chubby Checker concert and working on researching/viewing/test driving wheelchair adaptable vans to purchase She continues to visit her brothers in Centralia every other weekend She was excited to get pictures of the newest member of the family via email and continues to work on new goals and improving her signs for communication Bobby C is now working on some trips of his own, such as the Tacoma aquarium, the zoo, and local animal shelters He has been enjoying MELE and continues to express active engagement in playing the different instruments All of us at Jenny & Bobby’s house wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day! The 22nd house has been very busy planning Bev G and Maggie P are excited about their vacation to Seattle Bev is going to see her boys and Joany Maggie is going site-seeing and attending the ballet with Bev Manuela C is going on a day trip to enjoy the Harry Potter Exhibit and beginning a class at Evergreen Cecelia M is also going on a very special overnight, as her family is surprising her with an all-day Harry Potter expedition All the ladies at 22nd are beaming with excitement these days Maggie P is getting her room painted with a special mural this month as well Danny C had an adventure trip this month, attending the First Nation’s Pow Wow in Salem, Oregon He enjoyed seeing the dancers and hearing the drums He smiled a lot while in the pavilion! Unfortunately, there were no DVS’s available for sale at the time he was there; however, he bought a Dreamcatcher, a painting and a T-shirt, all which he seems to enjoy John C has been enjoying his brand new coffee maker – now he doesn’t have to wait so long for his cup to fill up! Derek E has been right in thick of things at basketball practice, enjoying all the action, sounds and lights He’s also been a regular at MEOW on Saturdays at the YMCA Kevin R has been working hard at fitness class, riding the exercise bike, lifting weights and one week even racing his instructor across the parking lot! (Continued on page 2) Contact us to have your newsletter delivered by e-mail (360)705- 4665 or e-mail: sally@kokuaservices.com EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION AWARDS This month’s Employee Appreciation Awards are presented to: Derek Solberg - In recognition of your hard work and dedication to your team Thank you for supporting your team members and the clients You are greatly appreciated! San Ahmath-Thank you for doing an excellent job supporting the clients and your team by working extra shifts Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated! Jill Smith- In recognition of your hard work to complete the medical equipment protocols Thank you for doing such a great job Your efforts are greatly appreciated! Independent Living Team B-In recognition of your ability to use your time and resources as efficiently as possible Thank you for pulling together and working hard to support Kokua’s clients You are greatly appreciated! NEW FACES AT KOKUA A new face you will be seeing at Kokua belongs to Shayna Malone Shayna was born in Linton, IN In her spare time she enjoys reading and writing, photography, cooking, knitting, sewing and gardening When asked where she’ll be working, she responded, “With the wonderful ladies at 22nd! I’m thrilled to be part of the Kokua Team and can’t wait to meet everyone!” We are thrilled to have you with us, too! Welcome! ARE YOU LOOKING FOR What’s Happening at Kokua Continued from page Paul J is looking forward to going to see some plays in the month of February Keith W has his 40th birthday coming up in February Keith’s staff and roommates would like to wish him a Happy 40 th Birthday! Michael C continues to work days a week He also continues to make decorations for his house Mike is planning a trip to the Henry Potter Expo with some other clients Joe L and his roommates went to the Space Needle to celebrate his birthday Joe’s family was able to come from Soap Lake to join the group A great time was had by all! Also, Joe went to Safeco Field to the Mariners Fan Fest and had a great time He got autographs from some of his favorite players: Felix Hernandez, Brett Boone, Dan Wilson and Jay Buhner! (See pictures below) Jay Buhner and Joe Felix Hernandez and Joe Brett Boone and Joe Dan Wilson and Joe Darren A enjoys going out to the community dance once a month He also likes to go to the AM/PM store to meet his friends and get a soda Gary W just started in the LEAD tutoring program at Evergreen College He also has been enjoying going to the movie once or twice a week He’s been going out on bus rides and meeting people out in the community The ladies at Angela St went to a free concert at the library in January Christine R and Kim R attended an Elvis show at Merrill Gardens in January and enjoyed the Elvis songs In February, the ladies will be attending a benefit dinner to support programs through Community Youth Services at Garden Courte Memory Care All the ladies are looking forward to Valentine’s Day and have been decorating around the house Kimberly R has been attending sign language classes on Thursday evenings and is enjoying learning to sign Christine R has also been attending sign language class on Thursday and enjoys going to the YMCA for swimming and aerobics Laurie H went with Jenny D to Rainy Day Records to purchase new records and has been going to the YMCA and enjoying swimming She spends time visiting with her family MORE HOURS? Temporary and fill-in hours are available We can train you to work at more than one house Contact Client Services Coordinators for more information Call 705-4665 Allen G ext 103, Sean B ext 118, Melissa K ext 123,& Theo P ext 106 FOR SALE: Jenny D has a TV for sale – it works great and includes a DVD & VCR player $80.00 Call 4563489 if you’re interested KOKUA COOKS Do you want to make something special for Valentine’s Day for your Valentine? Here’s a special dessert using a recipe from Kokua’s Cookbook, Love in the Soup CHOCOLATE MERINGUES egg whites 1/8 tsp cream of tartar ½ tsp vanilla extract 2/3 cup sugar tblsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 300° In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar on high setting until the egg whites stand in soft peaks Slowly add the sugar and vanilla and continue beating until the egg whites stand in firm peaks Beat until the egg whites appear glossy Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the cocoa powder and the chocolate chips Drop the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet in rounds (or shape into hearts) Bake 25-30 minutes To make into a special and easy dessert for Valentine’s Day: Remove from pans to cool completely To serve, top with fresh strawberries or raspberries and whipped cream Cookbooks Make Great Gifts Kokua's "Love in the Soup" cookbook makes a great gift – for someone else or yourself! Our cookbook is jam packed every other weekend Laurie is looking forward to going to breakfast with her boyfriend for his birthday Matthew L and his staff had a great month! First of all, Matthew loves music and he especially loves the staff to play their guitars for him Since almost all of the staff members play, there are plenty of guitars to make Matthew Happy, Happy, Happy! At times we have to let him know that we need a break – sore fingers! Matthew loves being involved,and he and staff have done a lot of coloring and paperwork together (Continued on pg3) What’s Happening at Kokua Continued from pg He’s been assisting with some cooking duties and he loves to eat! Matthew is extremely smart and very much a jokester – he likes to play with staff! He’s a very special, happy guy and this month we’d like to award him a medal for “Client of the Month” It’s birthday time at the 54th ladies’ house! Frieda B celebrated her 66th birthday on January 31st and Doreen L celebrated her 58th birthday on February Happy Birthday to both of you! Frieda, Doreen and Cecilia C are excited about participating in the LEAD Program They attended on February and got to meet their tutors and are looking forward to working with them Jeffrey D is having a great time going to basketball practice with Special Olympics every Monday and Tuesday night His team is the "Superstars" and next week, February 13, he and his team are going to Regionals in Bremerton Also, Jeff is very excited because he recently connected with his brother, and they have been keeping in contact with each other Rodney O is excited to be going for walks when the sun is out Rodney recently had a dental appointment and the dentist was very happy to see that Rodney's teeth looked great and he had no cavities The dentist was impressed at how clean they looked Good job Rodney! Charlie B wants to thank Allen G for helping him put his Bike Safety Book together Charlie is very proud of it and has been showing it to everyone.Charlie has been going out on special outings every couple of weeks with his buddy Karen He loves doing that Charlie still has his Blue Bike for sale (see picture) If you or someone you know is looking for a Cool Bike, contact the Resource Team at the Kokua office for more information MAKING FRIENDS THROUGH MUSIC By Devin Giles, Resource Team Member Kokua staff first met Bobby C at Rainier School in the summer of 2010 This was a "get to know each other" visit which preceded Bobby's move to the community During that visit Bobby had his first interaction with Kokua's MELE music program when Resource Team member, Devin Giles, offered him a "shaker egg." A big smile crossed Bobby's face as he gave the egg a shake After Bobby's move to Lacey he was offered the opportunity to attend the morning session of MELE, a smaller less rambunctious version of the afternoon session When weather, health issues and transportation problems interfered with his participation, MELE sometimes came to visit Bobby at home Gradually, as his home routine stabilized, Bobby became a regular morning MELE attendee His staff deserve major kudos for their positive attitude and perseverance in helping Bobby to attend and participate with yummy recipes all designed with healthy eating in mind All of the proceeds from cookbook sales will benefit individuals with developmental disabilities Buying a cookbook (or two, or three!) is easy You can order them from our website and they will arrive by mail If you live in the local area and would like them delivered to your home, call Chris at 705-4665, ext 101 and we will arrange delivery at your convenience A THOUGHTFUL GIFT Jim asked his friend, Tony, whether he had bought his wife anything for Valentine’s Day “Yes,” came the answer from Tony, “I’ve bought her a belt and a bag.” “That was very kind of you,” Jim added, “I hope she liked it.” Tony smiled as he replied, “So I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.” RECRUIT NEW EMPLOYEES FOR KOKUA AND EARN $$ Kokua is still giving out bonuses for referrals Here’s how it works Refer (or give an application to) people who would make great Kokua team members Have them notify the Kokua interviewer that you’ve referred them A referral form will be completed at hire A referral form must be completed and in the new employee’s file for you to receive the bonus If your referral is hired and completes the 90 day probation period, you will receive a $50.00 cash bonus If your referral remains a Kokua employee for a year, you will receive a $100.00 cash bonus ******************************** ********** 12 Step Program of Recovery for Web Addicts Submitted by Robb Krieble 1) I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my PAPER newspaper like I used to, before the Web 2) I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing 3) I will get dressed before Because Bobby likes to move objects from one bin to another, the Resource Team created a special arrangement for his MELE participation made from an old drum rack and adorned with various bins and containers This allows Bobby to handle the musical instruments as he transfers them from one bin to another It is a truly unique apparatus! Early this month Bobby attended his first afternoon MELE session with the veteran "jammers." Group members were interested to welcome a new participant They listened to Bobby's vocals over the microphone and they watched his use of the various bins and buckets Music experimentation allows for self expression in a fluid medium and can provide a great way for people to learn about each other Thanks for helping us all learn, Bobby! CLEANING UP THE OFFICE! Submitted by Diane Lamb Kokua is getting some extra help cleaning our offices from the VOICE program at North Thurston High School VOICE stands for ‘vocational opportunities for independent community employment’ VOICE prepares young adults ages 18 to 21 for employment Kokua appreciates having a VOICE participant give us a hand! Meet Bryden B who is in his final year at North Thurston High School Bryden also works at Morningside doing similar tasks of vacuuming, emptying trash and other janitorial duties Lewis Holmes is Bryden‘s job coach Lewis accompanies Bryden on Mondays when they come in to make the rounds vacuuming, sweeping and emptying trash in all offices It’s a big job and Bryden is making a difference in our workplace Thank you Bryden and Lewis! VOLUNTEER PROGRAM NEWS! By: Breezie O’Neill, Volunteer & Internship Coordinator LEAD Kokua’s new literacy program, LEAD (Literacy and Education for Adults with Disabilities), is completely up and running On January 25th Kokua launched the LEAD program The tutors, Kokua staff, and The Center for Community Based Learning and Action all met at The Evergreen State College Then, the tutors began their first formal training For the past two weeks eight Kokua clients have made the journey to Evergreen State College to meet with their tutor Together they are developing learning goals and building friendships For the next four months the pairs will continue to meet weekly to work on the goals they have created The ultimate goal is to empower adults with disabilities to become more independent through literacy and education! Every step in the process is client driven They determine what they want to learn and must put forth the effort to accomplish their goals The tutors provide support and instruction to make that happen The LEAD program could use donations of flash cards, work books, dry-erase markers, and other education related materials Please contact me for more information Welcome Melissa! noon 4) I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Web 5) I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Web-deprived 6) I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Web 7) I will read a book if I still remember how 8) I will listen to those around me about their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Web 9) I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email 10) I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not 11) I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Web 12) Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime and the Web will always be there tomorrow! BEYOND FRUGAL Anyone who knows Sally, Diane and me (Chris) knows how very frugal we are We use every rebate, coupon and cheap purchasing trick known to humankind to stretch every penny We are beyond frugal in the way we approach our stewardship of the agency's resources Discussing office supplies is not the most inspiring topic; however, it is important to note that Kokua's supply budget provides for the needs of 130 employees and 34 volunteers who work in service of the 56 individuals Kokua supports Most of you know that Kokua's state funding took a 3.4% hit in 2010 We redoubled our efforts at economy and Melissa Ebinger is Kokua’s new HR Intern She was born in Kauai, Hawaii and enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and watching sports She is working hard in the office to support the Service Coordination Team She is also working with a client to develop a communication chart Welcome to the team!! Kokua regularly hosts interns from Saint Martin’s University, The Evergreen State College, and South Puget Sound Community College We offer internships in Mental Health, Education, Team Support Specialist, Recreation/Physical Fitness, and Office Administration Quote of the Month I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands You need to be able to throw something back ~Maya Angelou Thank you volunteers for spending an amazing 199 hours of your time in January supporting Kokua ANOTHER ALL TIME RECORD! KOKUA KUDOS “Everyone appreciates being appreciated Try to catch people red-handed in the act of doing something right – and praise them for it.” Thank you to those who covered my shifts while I was out on FMLA Thank you so very much! From Lisa S Arthur S and Stephen M – you both are amazing workers Thanks for all you for the house and the guys From Rosie R Robb K is doing a wonderful job supporting Ron C and his team, and making sure that Ron is able to go to the YMCA Thank you to Devin G for taking Ron to the YMCA every Wednesday Wendy Y and Theo P – you did a great job solving Dawn M’s financial problem I appreciate the support you all give to me, also From Jill R Thanks to all the staff at Angela! Everyone works well together – we make a great team! From Amy B Thank you to Jessie M, Brianne S and Mareen D for covering for me when I was sick From Stacie M Thank you to Mandi C for working at the house during our team meeting Many thanks to Tina D for being acting team leader while I was on vacation and to Lavenia M, Tina D, Stacie M and Elke C for filling in shifts for me From Jessie M I would like to thank all the staff at 5th Ave for their dedication and hard work every day Also, thanks to Lea K and Ethan W for helping out at 5th – your help is much appreciated! From Fia F Kudos to our team leader, Eric M – he is awesome and is very helpful in keeping staff on track when it comes to Matthew’s wellbeing! Eric always retains his good nature, and is a very patient and loving person Eric does a great job all the way around! ROCK ON, ERIC! From Rob B Kudos to Susie W – thank you for all your hard work and organization You’re awesome! To Sue K – I appreciate how you go above & beyond for the clients You Rock, Lady and Thank You! Kudos to Jessica R, I thank you for your hard work as well – you’re awesome! And Nouhoum S, thank you for filling in when staff was out and keep up the good work From Hilary P A very special thank you to Janet K and Mel S for being so flexible and helpful in picking up extra responsibilities to help make such a smooth transition for the team and the ladies From Pam B Kudos to Lavenia M, Havi P, Mareen D and Ann B for all of your help filling shifts so efficiently Thank you Rose H and Diane L for all of your help over the past few weeks! From Autumn B Kudos to all of the 51st team – you guys are awesome! You are the best team! Melissa W, you are absolutely great and a fast learner We also would like to welcome Rob B to the team From managed to stay in the black The really sad news is that we will have another cut in 2011 This time, however, there is no fat to cut We will be very challenged to maintain our quality of service and we will have to implement cutbacks which are very unpalatable in order to ride out this wave of funding reductions This is why we are asking the community for help Any dollar we don't have to spend on office supplies is a dollar we can spend on client service We are asking community members to keep us in mind when they their weekly grocery shopping or when they make a trip to COSTCO If you are financially able to "sponsor" our work by picking up any of the following items, we will have a donation box in the front office Maybe you know someone with a business that is downsizing or has items taking up space that will probably not be put to use? These are the items we use most often: 3-ring binders(2”3”), Black Bic pens, Xerox (copy) paper, Manila folders, Toilet paper, Paper towels, Business envelopes, Dry erase markers, Tall kitchen trash bags, Scotch tape, liquid hand soap Thank you Chris Rasmussen-Barsanti, Executive Director Thank you! Lilie L Kudos to the giving members of the 51st 104 team Lisa G, Lavenia M, Melanie S, and Elke C – you continue to be selfless and help where help is needed Kudos to my girls in the office, Sally and Diane – you guys are beyond helpful and giving of your time, which benefits our clients and our team Kudos to Lilie for being such a great team leader to our team Kudos to Carol L for being so flexible and successfully going on her own CI with Jen Kudos to Melissa W for picking up the archiving AOR and doing such a great job Kudos to all our team for your innovative problem solving, your positive attitudes and compassion for the adults we care for, as well as your fellow co-workers From Havi P We’d like to say thank you to Elke C, Jane M and Hana G for helping us out with shifts in January, February and half of March You are the best – we wouldn’t be able to what we without your great work and dedication You all have such a great work ethic Thank you! Staff member Paige W has been on maternity leave and will return in mid- March Her baby was born in early January, 2011– a little girl,6 lbs, 14 oz–named Ingrid Rain Mom and baby are doing fine Thanks to Valerie H for helping Paige and baby with clothes, diapers, etc.– they can really use these things Your donations are appreciated very much Thank you From the Carpenter Team Kudos to Devin G for doing such a wonderful job with the guys! From Yolanda W ... January 25 th Kokua launched the LEAD program The tutors, Kokua staff, and The Center for Community Based Learning and Action all met at The Evergreen State College Then, the tutors began their... For the past two weeks eight Kokua clients have made the journey to Evergreen State College to meet with their tutor Together they are developing learning goals and building friendships For the. .. in the process is client driven They determine what they want to learn and must put forth the effort to accomplish their goals The tutors provide support and instruction to make that happen The