Passing of a Good Friend
Laurie (Lorie) Stephens was 58 when she passed away on January 15, 2012 after a short illness. Lorie was one of the first Iron Parke (now TURN) individuals to be served residentially when she moved into the first Cedar City apartment program in 1985.
Lorie enjoyed community living until 2006, when she moved to TURN’s Harps Cottage for 24-hour support. Lorie loved living at “The Happy House,” and enjoyed many activities, especially bowling. When Lorie became ill, she had been practicing twice a week in preparation for the upcoming Winter Games. The morning of the games (the day before she passed away), Lorie’s Program Coordinator presented her with an Olympic “participation medal” in honor of her dedication to bowling and to her teammates. Lorie was so proud that she repeatedly showed her medal to doctors and nurses, as well as family and staff members.
Meet Our Board: Jeff Cline
Jeff Cline, past-president and five-year trustee of Salt Lake Advocacy and Community Training (ACT), is passionate about continuing his advocacy of people with disabilities. Following the merger of ACT with TURN in June 2011, Jeff, an Investment Advisor and President of Responsible Asset Management, LLC, brought to the Board his extensive experience in conscientious investing and fiscal management. In his role as Development Committee Chair, Jeff is enthusiastic about helping the Board with fundraising efforts, planned giving, marketing, and other opportunities that will enhance the lives of the individuals who have chosen to receive services through TURN.
Honoring TURN’s Own Stars
While Hollywood’s award season is in full swing, TURN is also gearing up for our own celebration of excellence. The Exemplar Program is now accepting nominations to induct 2012’s Exemplar Staff into the program.
The Exemplar Program comprises a group of Direct Support Professionals who go above and beyond the regular duties of their jobs. They serve as role models for other Direct Support Professionals in how they support people receiving TURN’s services, and in how they demonstrate effective teamwork with the other staff. Exemplars are nominated and selected for the program by their peers. Once employees have been selected and have agreed to participate in the program, they remain in the Direct Support Professional position. However, they have additional expectations and duties and, while they don’t receive a gold statuette, they are paid at a higher hourly rate for their work.
Exemplar Staff will attend program staff meetings in February and March to explain the selection criteria and nomination process, and Direct Support Professionals will be getting the nomination form as an S-comm on Therap. Memo to Direct Support Professionals: Look around you and be prepared to nominate a peer who performs like a star! The envelope please…..
eBay Foundation’s GIVE Team Supports Summer Camps
eBay Foundation’s GIVE Team in Salt Lake City, under the championship of employee Matthew Waite, granted tuition support for TURN’s summer camp program for school-aged youth with disabilities. Camps are offered in Salt Lake and Utah Counties for the 9 weeks between school terms. This grant will serve as the basis of leveraging additional funds to enable participation by youth whose families cannot afford the fees. The program has a two-fold mission of providing respite to families who work while serving as the primary caregiver and to provide integrated community activities to keep the youth involved and current with social and academic skills.
Charitable Hearts in Our Community
In the spirit of giving and cooperation, TURN programs worked with the Zions Bank branch in the new Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) Building in Salt Lake City to decorate the tree that stood in the bank lobby through the holiday season. TURN program participants joyfully created unique and “full of character” ornaments and decorations that were then hung on the tree at the bank. Zions Bank, in turn, donated money to TURN for each ornament that was contributed. Thanks go to Kade Walton, Branch Manager at the Zions IMC branch, for his support of TURN and its mission. Kade was formerly a U of U Service Learning student who chose TURN for his service project, and has been involved ever since! We are glad that Kade has found a home (TURN) for his charitable heart. Thanks also to the TURN program participants and their staff from the following programs who were generous with their creativity: Woods Cross, Wilmington, and Clearfield Day Programs, Ogden Hourly Services, and Salt Lake Saturday Camp.
A New Year’s Message: You Can Make a Difference!
Dear TURN Advocates,
Welcome to 2012! A new year, with its new delights and challenges, are upon all of us. Also, each January begins a short period of lawmaking: the Utah State Legislature convenes its 45-day session on January 23. 2012. I am asking each of you, the people TURN works for, their families, advocates, and employees, to contact your state representatives and senators and ask for full funding of Governor Herbert’s budget for the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD).
Full funding will help to ensure continued support services for people with disabilities and sufficient revenues for the agencies such as TURN who provide those services. It may also permit DSPD to fund people who have spent years on the Waiting List.
It is easy to become cynical or impatient with the current political situation in Washington. Many of us feel powerless to advocate for change or affect the course of this country. However, you can make a difference at state and local levels. Experience has shown that your direct input to your Utah legislators can have a dramatic impact on their votes.
You can find out the names and addresses of your elected officials by calling your county clerk or by going online to the Utah State legislature’s website, http://le.utah.gov/.
When you call, write, or visit them, give personal stories about your needs and expectations. Remember: Be Polite, Be Specific, and Be Personal. You can make a difference in your life and in the lives of people you care about!
Mary Grace Miner
TURN Board Chair
Thanksgiving and Christmas Events are Important TURN Traditions
For many years, TURN has helped the individuals and families we serve gather together at the holidays for delicious meals, music and laughter, and maintaining long-lasting friendships.
On November 22, the Salt Lake Hourly Services Program Coordinators held their annual Thanksgiving dinner for clients who do not go home for the holiday, and those who want to just spend an evening with friends. Together, Peggy Laursen and Shirley Barnes prepared three, 25-pound turkeys with stuffing, potatoes, yams, vegetables, green bean casserole, and five pies. This year, approximately fifty clients attended, along with a great number of TURN employees.
The next day, 25 Wasatch Front area residential clients from Weber, Davis, and Salt Lake, and their support staff, gathered at the West Valley Country Inn and Suites for the 2-day annual Thanksgiving retreat. The first evening, everyone enjoyed turkey sandwiches and left-over side dishes from the previous dinner, and another traditional Thanksgiving meal served by the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.
Throughout December, TURN programs celebrated Christmas with parties from Ogden to St. George. On December 9, TURN held separate parties for Wasatch Front day programs and Salt Lake area residential programs at the historical Organ Loft in South Salt Lake. On December 21, Northern area residential and hourly services clients attended a TURN party at the Ogden Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Entertainment included pipe organ music and Christmas carols led by Lydia Roberts at the Organ Loft, and dance music and videos by DJ, Henry Neville and video and still photographer, Dave Brooke. Baked ham dinners were served at each event.
Twenty individuals participated in the Christmas retreat at the Country Inn and Suites, December 24th and 25th. They had dinner at Chili’s on Christmas Eve (a tradition!), and on Christmas night, Santa came after dinner and gave everyone a gift.
Utah County’s annual Christmas Dinner for our service recipients, their families, and our staff has been a tradition for 25 years. Over 250 people gathered at the Orem Senior Friendship Center on the evening of December 13th, to enjoy a traditional holiday meal, an exciting raffle of donated items, and fine local entertainment. Donna Brayton played a Christmas Carol on her accordion, the PALS group sang and danced through several Christmas numbers, and photos with Santa wrapped up the evening.
TURN holiday retreats are made possible through donations and funds raised each year at the agency’s Annual “Pastabilities Extravaganza” Dinner.
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| Thanksgiving for clients. | Pass the potatoes. | |
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| Homer opening present. | Lydia leads carols. | |
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| Phil Shumway and Board members Susie Miner and Jim Witherspoon enjoy entertainment at Orem party. | Donna Brayton performs Christmas songs on her accordion. | |
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| The PALS group performs Christmas songs in Orem. |
Labor of Love 2011 a Success
Labor of Love 2011 was an amazing success serving 133 low income individuals with developmental disabilities who lack resources and family support over the holidays. It took 70 volunteers to shop, wrap and deliver the bags carefully chosen and beautifully wrapped gifts to each person in need.
When Salt Lake ACT merged with TURN July 1, 2011, the Labor of Love program came to TURN. This season clearly demonstrates that regardless of where the program is located geographically, people will turn out to support it. TURN staff and board were heavily involved in sponsoring, shopping volunteering and delivering.
For the first time, we had the resources to support some very needy individuals in Provo, Ogden, Layton, Cedar City and St. George.
Volunteer Charles Foley prepares Labor of Love donations for delivery.
-Cynthia Proctor
Zions Bank Branch Manager Kade Walton wraps gifts for Labor of Love.
Results of TURN’s United Way Employee Giving Campaign
The final figures for the 2011-2012 United Way Campaign, marking TURN’s 30th year as a United Way Community Partner, have been compiled. Together, employees from Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Box Elder Counties, pledged an impressive $21,119!
Employees from TURN Utah County conducted their first employee campaign and pledged $3,391, with over 51% of employees participating! What a great start!
Grants and funds that come back to TURN from United Way provide critical funding that our families and individuals depend on. Our thanks to all employees who are able to make contributions this year; you help TURN be a “Community Partner”!
Meet our Board: Ron Burns
When Ron Burns joined the board in May 2011, he was “eager to become a part of an organization that places a true priority on people first.” As the parents of a daughter (Sydney) who has Cerebral Palsy, Ron and his wife, Tara, clearly recognize the critical role TURN Community Services plays in the community.
Ron, who is currently employed by American Express Bank, has been involved with TURN Iron County programs for a number of years, through his work with ADB Bank in Cedar City. In his six month role with the board, Ron has shown exceptional dedication and enthusiasm, and has attended every meeting and participated in a number of TURN events.
As a family, the Burns’ enjoy a variety of arts and crafts, and visiting around the country on family vacations. Ron is retired from the US Air Force, and Tara currently serves at Hill Air Force Base in the Air Force Reserve. They moved into the Salt Lake valley in 2001 and very much enjoy the community and the opportunities provided here.
Mitch Vosburg has been attending TURN day programs since 1986. When he had to go into a care center in 2009, he missed his friends at the day program that he had treasured for so many years. So, later that year, he was able to come back to the Woods Cross day program part-time.
Mitch loves holding onto hair scrunches and a deck of cards that he plays with. He enjoys Special Olympic bowling and track and field, but he cannot participate in the actual track and field games because of the heat. However, he enjoys practicing when there is cooler weather. Mitch loves being with his friends at the day program, participating in the activities, and going out in the community. He does not speak but he communicates his joy through a big smile on his face!
