Spring 2011 newsletter - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

THE
COMMUNICATOR
Top 10 achievements with your 2010 contributions!
10) We are able to host our 3rd annual Kids Kamp in July 2011!
9) Twenty-seven more older individuals were able to receive hearing aids and
improve their quality of life in 2010.
8) We covered our gas and electric bill for our building during the winter,
keeping our staff and customers warm!
7) All our programs will continue to be secure for 2011.
6) We started an equipment room where any person can come in, test
different things, and purchase through DHHS.
5) Getting closer to a new sign for the outside of our building!
4) Keeping our Muskegon satellite office available for services.
3) We launched a new web site look.
2) We have over 900 Facebook friends who keep up with our activities!
1) We keep our doors open and the lights on so people can come in for
services!
How you can donate: Send a check to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, P.O. Box 8812,
Kentwood, MI 49518-8812 * Call Deb Atwood with your credit card # * Go to
www.deafhhs.org and click on “Donate”. All donations are tax-deductible.
Save the Dates!
Check out DHHS‘ new web site!
www.deafhhs.org for flyers
May TBA—DHHS Golf Scramble
June 18—Silent Celebration at
Johnson Park in Walker, MI
July 12-22—Kids Kamp at DHHS
Newsletter
Do you need
Food Assistance?
Come to DHHS and
apply!
Here‘s how:
1.
Ask to use our
computer.
2. Type in the web site
www.michigan.gov/
mibridges
and click on ―Apply for
Benefits.‖
3. We will help you with
the application process.
4. You need to bring:
Picture I.D.
Proof of income
before taxes for the
past 30 days
Proof of house/rent
payments,
insurance, taxes and
utility expenses
Proof of child care
expenses
March 24– DHHS booth at Kent ISD
Transition Expo
April 2—Spaghetti Dinner at Western
Michigan Area Union in Grand Rapids
April 26—”On the Border Night”
fundraiser 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Spring 2011
Social Security
numbers for all
household members
applying for benefits
March 12—Euchre Tournament at
DHHS
March 18-20—CDI workshop with
Jimmy Beldon at DHHS
April 9—DeafNation Expo in Warren
4328 Kalamazoo Ave
S.E., Grand Rapids, MI
49508
We are on Facebook and Twitter!
Join us!
Proof of child
support payments
When you finish with
your application, scan all
the documents you
brought and e-mail
them to the online
processing center.
If you are approved, you
get a Bridge Card to
buy food.
THE COMMUNICATOR
Page 2
Board
Debra Buckley
President
John Engman
Vice President
Beverly Chesebro
Secretary
Janine Byler
Treasurer
Nina Lazzari
Fundraising
Bill Creswell
Sandy Faulkner
Roman Karpinski
Staff
Katie Prins
Executive Director
Deb Atwood
Business Manager
Nan Soper
Interpreter Referral
Bethany Perry
Administrative Assistant
Mark Harrison
Behavioral & Mental Health
Supports Coordination
Scot Pott
Job Placement Specialist
Cindy Hall
Hard of Hearing Specialist
Robin Mason
Accountant
Did you know we are
building an equipment
room?
With generous
donations from Quota,
Area Agency on Aging
of Western Michigan
and the Lyons family, we
will have an equipment
showcase full of new
things to show anyone
who needs equipment!
They can buy what they
like through DHHS.
Fast, convenient and
life-changing!
Interpreter Referral Updates
Welcome Spring 2011
ASL Students!
ASL I
Hello, interpreters!
Our first Silent Weekend, held February 18-20, was a big
hit. Here are some comments:
―Even though I was frustrated, the immersion
helped me learn so much.‖
―I think we all need a Silent Weekend so we stop
depending on just ‗saying‘ what we want. Great
practice.‖
―The value of mixing experts with beginners is
immeasurable. As frustrating as it was at times, I
know my receptive skills have improved greatly.‖
Watch our website for a half-day voicing workshop at the
end of April.
If you worked for us in 2010 or 2011, you received a
request to sign a “Sole Proprietor Statement.” Thank you
for your quick compliance! It helped us meet a last-minute
insurance requirement.
Don’t forget, our interpreter files must also contain your
current certification, proof of your professional liability
insurance, and proof of a TB test less than one year ago.
Please keep us up to date on other changes as well, like
address changes, name changes, or any change in your
contact information.
Several of you have asked me about the changes that are
sometimes hand-written on your invoices and returned to
you with your checks. Let me take this opportunity to
clarify. If you make a mistake on your invoice, Deb corrects
it and sends a copy back to you for your records. You may
also see other things written on your invoice, like more
detailed appointment information. These notes are for
Deb’s use only, for invoicing and record-keeping. If you
have any questions about notes you see on your invoices,
please give us a call.
Terpfully yours,
Nan Soper
Deb Zuidema
Ron Coleman
Erin Carolan
Kristin Seefeldt
Bethany Kelly
Barbie Coulson
Carrie Schneider
Fred Geurkink
Virginia Henion
Sandra Lundquist
Matthew Henion
Kathy Schultz
Saraswati Baral
Christy VanAndel
ASL II
Misty Genzink
Susan DeRoos
Jean Dangler
Rachel Wozniak
Barbara Sluiter
Kim Hayes
Patrick McLeod
Julie Morales
Kate Amaezechi
Emma Sams
Lori Dahlstrom
Joann Wisnewski
Elsie Colbert
Sue Klein
Jessica Mariano
Joyce Kitchen
Carrie Kalasz
Joann Ware
Angela VanLiere
Need more interpreters!
Sue Quals
This is a good problem to have. Our interpreter referral
assignments are growing by the month, and we sometimes don’t
have enough interpreters to cover all our requests! We are
looking for more interpreters to sign up with us, regardless of
QA, BEI or NIC level. We send interpreters to different locations
around Michigan
Contact Nan Soper at nsoper@deafhhs.org at 616-732-7358 to
sign up with us, or if you’re already signed up, please consider
accepting more jobs!
Peggy Flores
ASL III
Dawn Henion
Sally Atchison-Powney
Pat Cali
Debra Iams
Kathy Bennett
Spring 2011
1st annual Silent Weekend February 18-20, 2011
Thank you to our sponsors!
63 ITP students, interpreters
and deaf mentors attended
DHHS’ first Silent Weekend
at Camp Manitou-Lin in
Middleville, MI. We received
a resounding “YES!” to host
the second annual in
February 2012. Thank you
for a wonderful weekend!
See you next year!
Page 3
Spring 2011
Partners and Donors
Partridge Family
Dennis and Danielle Wilson
Redick Family
Audrey Southwell
DHHS Senior Citizens group
Michigan Deaf Association
John Rethman
Rita Petruziello
JoanWisnewski
Sandy Faulkner
Bev Chesebro
Nina Lazarri
John McKendry Jr.
Debra and Timothy White
JBS Packland
Jacqueline Willis
John and Cheryl Scheer
Angela and Mark DeLing
Ed and Marjorie Stinson
Gail Veley
Carrie Taylor
Terri Stonecipher
Sorenson Communications
ZVRS
West Michigan Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf
Unite for Michigan
Katie Prins,
Executive Director
DHHS ―On the Border Night‖ Fundraiser
The DHHS sign outside the front of the
building needs to be replaced with brand
new signage that will last a long, long time.
The new signage will have our logo and
colors on it!
Go to www.deafhhs.org and print the “On
the Border Night” flyer and bring it to a
OTB location on Tuesday, April 26.
10% of the proceeds go towards the new
signage! Thank you for your support!
MSU closed its deaf ed
program. LCC is
considering reducing their
ITP program to 1 year. New
graduates are figuring out
how to get jobs and
experience with BEI 1.
Which people feel the
effects? The deaf
community.
Do we unite to save our
deaf community and
nonprofits or turn the other
cheek? Chances are, you let
that happen … then there’s
no protection anymore for
you in this state.
Hold on and unite! Be
aware of your voice and
speak out to keep ITPs and
nonprofits open.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Services
Physical address: 4328 Kalamazoo Ave S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Mailing address: P.O. Box 8812
Kentwood, MI 49518-8812
Phone: 616-732-7358
Fax: 616-732-7365
E-mail: info@deafhhs.org
www.deafhhs.org
Visit us on the Web!
www.deafhhs.org
Yes, I want to make a donation to DHHS!
Name ________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________
Phone or E-mail _______________________________________________________
Designated for _____ hard of hearing program _____ general fund ____ building fund
____ job placement program ____ behavioral & mental health program ____ other
In honor or for a gift of __________________________________(if applicable)
_____ Check
______ Cash
_____ Money Order
____ Credit Card
Amount $ __________________ ____ one-time
____ monthly
____ yearly
Call us to set up a monthly or yearly payment plan and we’ll send you a reminder.
Credit card # ____________________________________
3-digit security code _______
Expiration date ____________
Signature _____________________________________
Credit card option also available through PayPal at www.deafhhs.org
Please send tax-exempt receipt to ______________________________________________.