Above: (Back) Vickie Moreland – Executive Director, Terry Sampson, Susan Doan, Dean Demizio – Vice President, Kimberley Gray, Betty Talbot – President, Ray Rosettani.  (Front): Becky Parton, Pam Coulthurst – Treasurer, Sharon Schilz, and Robert Majkut – Past President.

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

REBECCA PARTON joined the Community Living Fort Erie team in June 2018 when she was sworn in as a new Board member.  Rebecca has supported people with intellectual challenges for over thirty years as an Educational Assistant with the DSBN.  She is also a Health & Wellness Coach and has been a citizen of the Fort Erie community her entire life. Mrs. Parton hopes to utilize her years of experience, leadership skills and personal characteristics in the best interest of Community Living Fort Erie focusing on service excellence. She has been involved in many community volunteer projects, including being the organizer of the Terry Fox run for over 20 years. She has participated in the Stair Climb for Cancer, has been a Public Health Educator for local service clubs, developed and facilitated “Women In Motion” and “Home & Health” Programs in our community. Rebecca is also a Rick Hansen Medal Bearer.

Welcome to the team Rebecca!! We know that you will truly be an asset to our organization and make great contributions in your role as a Board Member!!

KIMBERLEY GRAY was sworn in as a new  board member at our 2018 Annual General Meeting.  She has been a licensed lawyer in Ontario since 2015 and worked at Martin Sheppard Fraser LLP and is recently with Hurren & Gibson Law Firm. Kimberley hopes to share her legal perspective with the Board in order to provide advocacy and assistance with our mission, and to ensure people with intellectual challenges are included in their community and have their rights and privileges upheld.

Kimberley has a great deal of experience with advocacy and support of people with disabilities and she brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to our Board.

2017 was a year of great achievements. As an organization we purchased two new group homes, had a great fundraiser and celebrated our 60^th  Anniversary.  We also celebrated the retirement of Maureen Brown.  As a result of Maureen leaving, Community Living ~ Fort Erie was very fortunate in having Vickie Moreland join our organization taking on the position of Executive Director.

Vickie pretty much hit the ground running and dealt with a wide variety of issues in a timely and professional manner.  Having the support of our awesome managers and staff she fast became a valued and respected member of the Community Living ~ Fort Erie team.

With Vickie’s experience, wisdom and leadership skills, the board is confident that she will navigate us through any challenges that we as a group will encounter.  It’s a pleasure to have her here and we all look forward to working together to make 2018 even better.

Sincerely,

Robert Majkut, President

In this year of transition, it has been a pleasure working with the Board of Directors, getting to know many of the staff and people supported as well as participating in the special events and fundraisers here at Community Living ~ Fort Erie.  I am looking forward to meeting more family members during the next year.

The idea of sharing an Executive Director between Community Living ~ Fort Erie and Community Living Port Colborne-Wainfleet (CLPCW) was born out of necessity as funding for both organizations was stretched to the limit, and the phrase ‘doing more with less’ became a hard reality.  Three representatives from CLFE Board of Directors are members of the Shared Services Oversight Committee and include President, Bob Majkut, Vice President, Betty Talbot and Past President, Pam Coulthurst.  Along with their three counterparts from CLPCW, the Committee provides support and direction to the Executive Director as well as ensure accountability for my performance.

I truly appreciate the warm welcome I’ve received over the past six months from everyone here at Community Living ~ Fort Erie.  It hasn’t taken long to feel part of this awesome team of staff and volunteers and to understand the dedication and commitment that each person brings to their position everyday throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Vickie Moreland, Executive Director

Once Again . . . Fundraising Event Surpasses Expectations

On Saturday, November 18th, 2017, Community Living ~ Fort Erie held it’s Annual  Christmas Around the World Fundraiser celebrating “Christmas in Canada”.

The committee chose Canada this year to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday, along with the Town of Fort Erie’s 160th Birthday and Community Living ~ Fort Erie’s 60 Years of Service to the Community.

Planning starts in February each year and the committee works diligently all year to prepare for this event.  Over $3,000.00 was donated in silent auction prizes and over $4,000.00 in raffle prizes.   Due to the dedication of our fabulous volunteer fundraising committee the event was extremely successful raising $34,758.00.  The proceeds will help to purchase a much needed wheelchair accessible van.  A portion of funds raised is also allocated to our Inclusive Opportunities Grant fund.

Our event was sold out again this year with over 340 people in attendance.  Maria’s Catering served different dishes from provinces across Canada.

Entertainment included a Neal Young guitarist, Neo Young/Gary Pooler, vocalists Joe Green and Hannah Tummillo.  The Canadian Anthem was also sung by Hannah.  Mayor Wayne Redekop addressed the crowd as did Robert Majkut, President of the Board and Vickie Moreland, Executive Director.

A special thank you to Constable Daniel Carter who attended the event as a representative of the RCMP and allowed our guests to take many pictures and ask questions!

Smart Booth Images photo booth was provided at no charge to our guests due to the generosity of Scotiabank, Boggio & Edwards Pharmacy and Erion Insurance Group.

J & B Pro Audio Full On Productions and D.J. Mike Maurice entertained the crowd and our guests danced throughout the evening.

Thank you to all our Amazing Volunteers, Sponsors and Community Partners. 

THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF

THE FORT ERIE COMMUNITY!

When are you going to get yourself a job?

A typical question posed by most parents of adolescents and/or young adults.  The Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Summer Program at Community Living ~ Fort Erie offers a supported employment summer program, addressing pre-employment training and employment opportunities that meet the needs of youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with intellectual disabilities.

Those who show interest in the program and are committed to its objectives, receive pre-employment training so as to become job-ready applicants.  In conjunction, the program links TAY participants with inclusive volunteer experiences, work-training, and/or competitive wage employment positions within the local community with the primary aim of full integration with minimal support. Through the development of TAY Plans this aim is achieved, and each participant is matched to a placement opportunity based on their unique goals and interests.

This year the TAY Program numbers were impressive!  Overall, 21 TAY participants were involved in the program.   Seven TAY participants obtained paid employment, 12 TAY participants received volunteer or work-training positions, and 2 TAY participants solely dedicated their time to pre-employment training.  Thus, 90% of participants acquired work-related experience, and of this 90%, 30% of TAY participants successfully landed a job!  These opportunities would not have been available without our community partners and local employers and we thank you for being part of a TAY participants journey into adulthood!

– Marissa Peressotti, TAY Program Coordinator

From the Financial Post :

 “4 Reasons Volunteering May Help Your Career”

1. Networking:  According to the Financial Post, “Networking” is the term job hunters love to hear.
2. Increased Knowledge: A volunteer is exposed to a “plethora of new knowledge and experience as well it gives the individual opportunity to learn how other people and other areas of the community outside of their day-to-day activities operate”.
3. Give Your Résumé Some Leverage:  Volunteering shows an interest in doing new or different things and a willingness to learn.  You may gain experience in a field you are interested in before you make a career transition
4. Fulfillment: Volunteering can take your mind off your day job.  The reward is the sense of accomplishment plus the joy one gets just from helping someone else.

ACCREDITATION

WE DID IT!!

We are so pleased to announce that we have received our second four-year accreditation! 

As part of receiving this accreditation, we must now complete a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).  This plan must be submitted to Focus Accreditation within 90 days following receipt of our accreditation report and reported on annually thereafter.  The purpose of this plan is to address areas of improvement that were identified during our On-Site Validation. 

Overall, we did very well and everyone should be very proud of the work we do here!

This article was posted in the Fort Erie Times this week…

http://www.forterietimes.ca/2016/02/10/volunteering-for-leisure-buddy-program-will-change-a-life

Our Membership Application form can also be found in our newsletters.  We hope you will consider becoming a member!