ARRM News and Public Relations

Opportunity Partners hands out awards to four companies

MINNEAPOLIS – Opportunity Partners recognized four companies’ work with people with disabilities during the November 1 Celebrate Opportunity event at the Doubletree Park Place.

Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award, Whole Foods Market

Emily Stockinger of Whole Foods Market accepted the Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award. The award spotlights a company with an inspirational strong work ethic. Whole Foods Market’s dedication to hiring workers with disabilities whenever it can and proactively contacting Opportunity Partners with job openings made them the perfect recipient for this year’s award.  

Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic food retailer with more than 300 stores and $9 billion in sales last year.

Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award, General Mills

The Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award recognizes a company that provides outstanding supported employment work opportunities in the community. Twenty Opportunity Partners participants currently work at one of three General Mills locations each week. The award was accepted by General Mills’ Mike Hon.

General Mills’ quality brands began with Gold Medal Flour in 1880. General Mills is now home to some of the world’s best-loved brands, including: Betty Crocker, Green Giant and Cheerios.

Customer of the Year Award, Graco  

The Customer of the Year Award is presented to a company that has provided exceptional work opportunities to Opportunity Partners’ participants. Since 2004, Graco has provided 5,000 hours of work for people with disabilities each year. Everyday, up to 10 people package a variety of filters and strainers for the company. In 2010, more than 200,000 units were packaged for Graco. Karl Hurston, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Graco, accepted the award.

Founded in 1926, Graco is a world leader in fluid handling systems and components.  

New Customer of the Year Award, Lunds & Byerly’s

Julie Griffin, Director of Lunds & Byerly’s’ Private Brands, accepted the New Customer of the Year Award. In the last year, a 100-person workforce from Opportunity Partners packaged more than 70,000 tubs containing 35 varieties of candy.

Lund Food Holdings Inc. owns and operates 10 Lunds’ and 11 Byerly’s’ supermarkets in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

The awards were presented by Opportunity Partners’ President and CEO, George Klauser. Four Opportunity Partners participants helped present the awards: Andy Tanghe, Katie Worrell, Jake Kukla and Michael Young.     

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DSPAM seeks board, committee members

The Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota (DSPAM) is currently seeking nominations and applications for both board members for 2012-2013 and committee members for 2012.  Direct support professionals, direct support consumers, self-advocates, family members of consumers/self-advocates, and professionals working in a disability-related field are encouraged to apply. 

To volunteer or nominate someone, you can do any of the following quick and easy steps to submit the full name, e-mail address, and phone number for you or the person you're nominating:

• use our online form by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, December 4; or,
• mail the information postmarked no later than Wednesday, November 30 to DSPAM; 800 Transfer Road, Suite 7A; St. Paul, MN 55114.

DSPAM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization working to improve the quality of human services provided to persons with disabilities.  It does this by strengthening the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce.  DSPAM is a volunteer-driven organization affiliated with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). DSPAM strives to help reduce turnover rates; increase social status; improve training opportunities and programs; increase educational and career opportunities; plus enhance wages paid and benefits offered for DSPs.

Members of DSPAM generally fall into the following three categories:

• DSPs and front-line supervisors;
• self-advocates (i.e. individuals experiencing chronic illness or disability) and family members; and,
• other professionals who work in Minnesota's chronic illness and disability communities.

The board of directors has operating and oversight responsibility for the Minnesota chapter.  Presently, the Board meets quarterly in St. Paul.  The Board is responsible for ensuring that the organization is operating within the legal standards governing non-profit corporations in the general areas of finance, programming, and oversight.  Therefore, the board must approve the policies, positions, budgets, and plans for the organization.

Each board member is responsible for preparing for, then attending, quarterly board meetings.  Board members are encouraged to stay up-to-date with issues impacting DSPs, asking questions, or otherwise gathering needed information.  Board members also represent the organization at community events, as well as those events hosted by DSPAM.  In addition, each board member must serve on at least one DSPAM committee.

Beside their efforts to recruit new board members, DSPAM is also recruiting DSPAM members and other supportive community members to actively participate with their committees.  These committees meet once a month during months when there isn't a full board meeting. DSPAM has three basic committees with a variety of subcommittees available for participants. 

• Legislative Policy Committee keeps tabs on laws, regulations, and policies that might impact DSPs in Minnesota.  Committee members often talk with legislators and decision-makers to be sure they are informed of these issues.  Sometimes, committee members will testify at the Legislature or even help to write pieces of bills with legislators.
• Communication Committee helps to develop content for the organization's website, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group.  Plus, responsible for creating a newsletter that is distributed via e-mail and posted online.  In addition, they create and distribute press releases and other printed material for our membership.
• Membership Development Committee focuses on recruiting new members to the organization, making presentations, conducting training, facilitating relationship-building, and offering information for DSPs, front-line supervisors, direct support providers, and the general community.  This committee is active in various conferences, trade shows, and community events.  Information conveyed may relate to DSPAM membership, DSP certification, issues facing DSPs, and other direct support topics.  The committee also hosts the annual meeting, DSP recognition, and community awards event.

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Nancy Peterson celebrates 15 years at ARRM

Nancy Peterson, ARRM's director of member services and education, celebrated 15 years of employment with ARRM this month. She came to ARRM in 1996 after working as a director for member agency Cooperating Community Programs. After arriving at ARRM, one of her first tasks was elevating the quality of ARRM's Annual Spring Conference. Today, this conference is nationally renown as a premier training event for disability providers.

Besides enhancing the value of the conference, Nancy  has been instrumental in assisting staff and committees as they develop a variety of workshops and educational opportunities throughout the year. Nancy also recently took on the important responsibility of marshaling ARRM's member relations activities. Her in-depth knowledge of Minnesota's disability services and providers make her an outstanding asset as ARRM works to increase member satisfaction and retention.

Thank you, Nancy, for your 15 years of excellent service at ARRM!

Community enrichment is ingrained in MBW's culture

Throughout the year, MBW Company participates in a variety of activities in New Ulm, Minnesota which makes the agency renown for its "good neighbor" ethic. Below are the key activities in which MBW staff and consumers participated during 2011.

Bavarian Blast: Employees and clients initiated a garbage pick-up and recycling project for the Bavarian Blast Parade in July. This activity keeps the community clean while preserving the environment through recycling.

The United Way Day of Caring: Each October, employees and clients volunteer to assist individuals with fall tasks that they are no longer able to do themselves due to age or disability. After visiting one site, an individual MBW supports said, “Thanks for letting me help with this. It really feels good to be able to give back and help someone who needs it.”  

National Night Out (NNO): The National Night Out program in New Ulm was initiated by MBW Company. It has a dual purpose: to promote neighborhood safety and to promote the gift of diversity. Each year, MBW Co. joins with the local police department, fire department and recreational center to sponsor the NNO Community Rally with food, games, music and activities. The agency celebrates safety in the community and promotes neighborhood picnics.

In addition, some of the homes host the National Night Out neighborhood picnic in August. This activity fosters healthy relationships with neighbors and makes the residents of these homes valued members of their communities. Go here to view more photos.

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