“To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.”
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V

 The Director’s Corner
By Phil Taylor, Executive Director
 

Every year a full annual report is submitted to the Board of Directors.  This 20-page document is also submitted to the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and helps fulfill some of our requirements with that and other agencies.  It is a good tool for our staff to use in identifying how the year has gone and identifying some of our goals for the coming year.  Here is some summary information that you may find interesting.

It has been another good year which can be measured with a great deal of success in several different areas.  This type of news is always an essential part of building a good foundation of progressive strategic planing.  It certainly is also a good time for reflection and retrospection.  We also experience very good growth in the Adult Development and Work Activity Center in Jonesboro and the Waiver programs, retail sales in Paragould and in the production department.  Along the way we did take some corrective realignment actions that helped bring about some of this success.  One such adjustment was the creation and application of new Waiver positions (Waiver Specialist and Certified Implementors) along with a more intense focus on increasing our utilization and billing.

As mentioned last year a positive net outcome is extremely important in staff development.  This makes it so much easier to plan from a position of strength rather than from one of a weak financial position.  A good foundation helps us make realistic plans for future organizational growth and development.  It, also, greatly bolsters our efforts to compensate and retain good employees.  It cannot be emphasized enough how stressful and emotionally taxing many occupations are in our organization.  Every person plays a significant part in our program, but our professional staff have to shoulder many ethical, legal, and professional standards in order to adequately serve our consumers while protecting our organization in the process.  Leading the management team has been a great pleasure this year.  I feel each one grew stronger in their primary roles and in their secondary management roles.

Due to the increased demand on our refurbishing department to supply two stores and needing additional space in the production department, we plan to revamp that department.  We plan to move it to the Apple Hills location to share that space.  Currently, our plans for our newest venture for an upscale consignment shop in Paragould are looking very good and we may look at a Jonesboro location soon.
 
To remind everyone we are a double bottom line organization.  Our second bottom line is the most important one.  It addresses our mission and our reason for existing.  It is so important that our mission should never be minimized and to remember it is the sole reason to have the other bottom line.  I am always encouraged that the Board has a real sense of the importance of each one.  I appreciate the Board not being scared off by the differences and difficulties presented by some of the consumers and those related situations in which our professional and direct services staff have to function.  I appreciate your continued support and educated decisions on behalf of our consumers and the organization.  We are very fortunate to have a very good staff, most of whom are really dedicated to making services to our consumers better.  They often work under very stressful conditions and help secure good outcomes for our clients.  All of these efforts contribute to the many success stories with our consumers that go on continuously.  I truly thank all concerned.
 
 
 

 INCENTIVE AWARD WINNERS
 
The incentive award winners for August and September were chosen from a drawing at each staff meeting.  Two employees at each meeting for each month were chosen from all eligible employees to win a prize for meeting safety requirements and for maintaining perfect attendance.  The winners for safety were: Toni Dixson, Alice Waddell, Stephen Ongola, Patty Brewer, Ted Goffrier, Sarah Humphrey, Kelly Cunningham, Scott Barber, Carrie Armstrong, Brenda Helms, Stan Arnold, Mary Mooney, Connie Meredith, Phil Taylor, Dorotha Smith, and Alex White.  Attendance award winners were: Pat Brown, Lorene Gibson, Bryan Simons, Phil Taylor, Mary Mooney, Chris Paslay, Janet Gregory, June Dudley, Carolyn Roberts, Kathrine Goffrier, Brenda Porter, Kelly Cunningham, Laura Lee, and Sherry Veteto.  The grand prize attendance award winners for August and September were:  Vicky Goodwin and Phil Taylor.  They each will receive four hours with pay.  Great work everybody!!!
 
 

Happy                        November
         Birthdays
 
 
 

Alberta Cannady    2nd
Tobi Gragg     5th
Debra Rogers     7th
Charles McKinley    8th
Rita Puryear     8th
Amaray Spencer    8th
Kristin Rhodes    11th
April Junyor     16th
Fredrick Ellis     19th
Bruce Jamison    19th
Toni Dixson     20th
Esther Merriam    20th
Brenda Helms     22nd
Stephen Ongola    23rd
Carolyn Roberts    25th
Justin Humphrey    27th
James Kelii     28th
Brenda Garner    30th WELCOME TO ABILITIES UNLIMITED

Christy Adams  Flex - Paragould Retail
Vicki Bell  Flex - Production
Bobby Cameron Flex - Jonesboro Retail
Michelle Crooms ACS Implementor
Bethany Edwards ACS Implementor
Tonya Ferguson ACS Implementor
Katherine Garmen Flex - Paragould Retail
Nita James  Flex - Jonesboro Retail
John Ryan Jones ACS Implementor
Don Larry  Flex - Production
Tina Mangrum  Flex - Jonesboro Retail
Shawna Michael Flex - Production
Marion Morgan ACS Implementor
Robert Painter  Flex - Production
Chris Petty  Flex - Production
Glenda Snyder  Flex - Production
Amaray Spencer Flex - Production
Keith Todd  ACS Implementor
Penny Walker  ACS Implementor
Dave Wanner  Flex - Production
Reggie Williams ACS Implementor

OCTOBER SERVICE AWARDS

Marie Chism, Supervised Living Trainer (PAC), celebrated ten years with Abilities Unlimited in October.  She had the opportunity to have lunch with the Board and received a plaque and pin from the President.  In addition, Deanna Miller and Natasha Walker, ACS Implementors, received a certificate and pin for celebrating their one year anniversary with us.  Congratulations!

the UNLIMITED...
              a consignment boutique-
NOW OPEN!!!  AU has opened a consignment boutique and is now accepting consignors with new and nearly new clothing and accessories.  We pay up to 50% of the final sales price!! Empty your closets and earn some $$$. We pay commissions every 2 weeks.  Located next to the thrift store in Paragould at 6002 W. Kingshighway; 239-5690; hours 10-5, M-Sat.

UW Campaign Big Success!!
We raised more than a $1,000 over last year’s amount!!  Way to go y’all!! It means a lot to AU and the community we serve and serves us!!