2012 Wal-Mart Partnering in Successful Employment, Meals on Wheels and Foundation Support. Connie Jensen, Lee Olson, Vicki Dew, and Lee Coyour. West Central Industries JobLink: westcentralindustries.com WCI’s The Resource Center Program: westcentralindustries.com/trcp Willmar 320-235-5310 Hutchinson 320-234-7515 ships and weighed blankets, and more. Next spring, TRCP will host, This year marks our 50th anniversary “Autism and More!” a conference of employment training, job placefor this part of the state. ment, and job retention programs. Our internal United Way Campaign It is also the 40th anniversary of our went over the goal and we increased Meals on Wheels Program. We are the number of staff giving. proud to partner with you in people’s 2011-2012 Difficulties success! H ello friends! 2011-2012 Victories Day Training and Habilitation Programs grew to 87 people. We miss Oliver Krage, and are thrilled to have Michelle Prahl and Sheila Ward take on our Program Director roles. WCI staff continued to be resourceful and frugal. They received their first raise in 3 years. The Annual Family Fun Festival Fundraiser was a success! The Thrift Store in Hutchinson is continuing to provide a valuable work skills training site, while generating income for WCI programs. Starkey Labs hired our Hutch workers to package products. We partnered with businesses to help them while training our hard workers. Work sites: Hjerpe Contracting, the Agronomy Center, KRA Speedway, Kandiyohi Landfill, Chappell, Ruff and Assoc., Recruiting Center, Green Mill and the Willmar Area Food Shelf. In Hutchinson and Willmar, we cross-trained our talented staff. We feel blessed that we continue to attract caring, smart, and versatile people. The Resource Center Program (TRCP) continues to help our region’s families. We host several networking groups, organized last spring’s Adventure Fair, held sign language classes, gave out scholar- The legislature added more fees and copays… 9 straight years of government cuts to our services. Staff members have been asked to take on added roles and even greater responsibilities. Crew partnerships have been lost due to budget tightening, automation, or work being redistributed to a business’s own staffers. We continue to look for ways to encourage Kandiyohi Co. Vocational Rehab. Services clients to join our programs. We will miss Jan Enockson and Helaine Bolter — each have given 9 years of volunteer service to our Board of Directors. We will miss Bob Johnson, Production Director, and Gary Stegman, Production Supervisor. They will retire later this year. We continue to work in an environment where businesses are still cautious about hiring any added individual workers or work crews. I am always interested in your thoughts. Call and ask for me! Sincerely, Charlie Oakes Charlie Oakes, CEO 320-235-5310 x 203 1 Insert/Circulars Crew Partner = West Central Tribune Vern Seeman, Circulations Manager, with WCI Tribune crew workers, Andrea Kelly and Dustin Klinghagen Cleaning Crew Partner = Spicer American Legion Tammy Kragenbring, Manager Good Workers and Good Service Did you know? WCI clients work in fields as diverse as: child care, floral department, video department, groceries, cashiering, lawn care, food services, custodial, production, and more! New Skills = New Opportunities! 2 WCI Outcome Data 2011 Calendar Year: Client Satisfaction Rating — 92% Rating at Program Exit — 97% People Served — 369 Willmar— 271 Hutchinson— 98 Program Advancements — 39 people Individual Supported Employment, Advanced to, or Maintained, Competitive Employment — 23 people Placements with 90+ days of retention — 83% Average wage rates: (highest wage in parenthesis) Center-Based Employment— Willmar $3.56 ($6.39) Hutchinson $5.11 ($8.06) Crew Employment— Willmar $5.26 ($8.06) Hutchinson $6.08 ($8.27) Individual Supported Employment— Willmar $8.62 ($10.00) Hutchinson $9.39 ($9.53) DT & H Program in Willmar — $2.62 ($8.65) People working on Crews — Willmar 98 Hutchinson 35 Individuals in Supported Community Employment — Willmar 55 Hutchinson 7 People in Competitive Employment — Willmar 3 Hutchinson 12 If you would like a WCI Financial Statement, Year Ending June 30, 2012, please call. We are happy to send you a copy. 320-235-5310 3 Award Winning Workers! Each year, WCI honors Hutchinson and Willmar workers for their exemplary service, hard work, and dedication. We are proud to share this year’s award winners: WCI Thanks Our Dedicated Staff For Their Years of Service: Michelle Prahl, John Gulden = 20 years Cindy Cameron = 15 years Dawn Freetly, Dan Theis, Beth Theis, and Patty Flannigan = 10 years Wendy Nolting, Ben Nelson and Ruth Renville = 5 years 4 5 Donors making a difference — one person at a time! September 2, 2011– October 5, 2012 AB Vacuum Center American Legion- Post No.545 American Legion-Spicer Robert & Diann Anderson Appert's Food Service Automotive Repair Specialists, Inc. Betty Baklund Bill Bannon Benefit Extras, Inc Bennett Office Technologies Best Buy Big Kahuna Helaine Bolter Carley Braband Winfield & Muriel Brand Althea Brandt Bremer Bank Willmar Rosella Brouwer Earl & Karen Brunberg Cheri Buzzeo Calvary Lutheran Church Marvin and Virginia Calvin Howard Carlsen Carol A. Carlson Richard & Laura Carlson Pat Chatleain Arlen & Claudine Christianson Christianson and Associates Church of St. Mary City of Willmar Jim & Cindee Clausen Rick & Norma Conway Cub Foods Curves of Willmar Jon Dahl Dairy Queen Dassel Community Chest George & Dorothy Davies Degree of Honor No. 29 Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center David or DeeAnna Dorsey Elmquist Jewelers Stephen & Janice Enockson Gladys Erickson Beverly Falk Family Eye Care Center/Fischer Laser Eye Family Practice Medical Center of Willmar First Covenant Church Fraternal Order of Eagles Gathering Friends Michael Gavin RW & Julie Gemeinhardt Giovanni's Pizza Girl Scout Troop #3276 Walt & Raeanna Gislason Glo' Studio Dorothy J. Graf Luana Graf Michael Gramm Patty Gratz Green Lake Liquors Green Lake Nursery Grizzly's Restaurant Sharon Gronseth Gurley Foods Hagen Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. John Haines Joel & Cathy Halbritter Dr Kevin & Karen Hallstrom Hamlin Community Drive Hansen Advertising Inc Darla Hatlestad Haug Implement Heart of Health Massage Therapy Brian & Sara Hedtke Heritage Bank Owen & Darlene Heuring Dennis & Janice Hier Jean Hogan Holiday Inn Willmar Scott Holmgren Lorraine Hoogeveen Hope Lutheran Quilters Kathryn Hund In Spa Studio Insurance by Strehlow Insurance Center James M Ruff Inc. Jennifer Jeffords Jennie-O Turkey Store Jamin Johnson Kandiyohi Candle Company Kandiyohi Power Jacqueline Karrigan KAT Bus Steven & Wendy Kidd Larry Konsterlie Pam Kotzenmacher Oliver & Carol Krage Marv & Kathy Kray Douglas A. & Julie R. Kveene Michael & Rhonda Lair Lake Region Bank Thomas & Susan Lange 6 Building Better Lives. Thank you so much! Marlys Larsen Richard B. or Betty Larson Emily Larson H. Willard Linder Robert & Patricia Loehr-Dols Ray & Leona Madison Luther & Mary Malmgren Barbara Marks Linda Mathiasen Max Bat Donald & June McGrath Taya Mergott Meridian Disc Institute D.E. Miller Mills Automotive Center Julie Nagel Marvin & Suzanne Napgezek Guy & Wendy Nelsen C. Samuel & Sandra Nelson Ralph & Mary Nesset North American State Bank Northern Factory Sales Marlow & Carol Norum Norway Lake Parish Lori Nuytten Charles Oakes Marvin & Mary Lou Olson Otto Bremer Foundation Our Shop LLC Paffrath Jewelers Papa Murphy's Pizza Randall & Mary Jo Patton Myrna Pederson Steve & Sharon Petersen Pizza Ranch Sylvia Poe Irene Pohlmann Prairie's Edge Casino Resort Qdoba Mexican Grill Quill Redeemer Lutheran Church Kevin & Cindy Remus Robert & Cheryl Retrum Mark & Jackie Reynolds Darren & Hannah Ringness Shirley Ringness Sheila Rohne Earlene Rolighed Roseland Reformed Church Robert & Dolores Rosenbrook Tammy & Scott Rudningen 7 Michael Ryan Phil Scheevel Woody & Mary Ann Schemmel Jerry & Elaine Schliep James & Mary Schnell James & Julie Shimek Larry & Beverly Slinden Slumberland Furniture Sons of Norway St Paul Saints Baseball Club Stacy's Nursery Lynn Stier Stingers Stockholm Lutheran Church Kay Strand Leonard & Opal Stulen Subway Geraldine Swanson S. Sweep-Ogawa Darlene Swenson Sysco MN The Barn Theatre The Little Theatre Two Joes Hutchinson, Inc. United Appeal of Ortonville United Methodist Church United Methodist Church-Mary Circle United Methodist Church-Rebekah Circle United Way of Kandiyohi County United Way of McLeod County US Bank VFW Post 169 Eric & Marilee Vogel Wal-Mart Foundation Wal-Mart Willmar Store Walt's Soft Cloth Car Wash WCI Thrift Store Norman & Janet Westby Francis Westby or Marlene Schroer Willmar Area American Association of Retired Persons Willmar Auto Plaza Willmar Rotary Willmar Sertoma Willmar United Methodist Church Glen & Peggy Wilson Clem & Gloriette Wimmer Wayne & Marilyn Zarnott and Many Anonymous Donors Celebrating 50 Years Opening Doors to Better Lives! WCI Employment Programs & Placement Services 40 Years 18 Years 3 Years 4 Years - Meals On Wheels Hutchinson Area Services Hutchinson Thrift Store The Resource Center Program Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensed 245 A & B 8 WCI Trivia Fun Quiz Yourself 1. How many years has WCI provided employment services for people in West Central Minnesota? 2. How many years has WCI provided services in the Hutchinson and Litchfield areas? 3. How many staff provide services and actively participate in the West and South Central regions? 4. In how many businesses are WCI clients working? 5. How many years has WCI served Meals on Wheels as their community service, revenue-neutral program? 6. How many counties does WCI’s The Resource Center Program serve? 7. How long has WCI run the Hutchinson Thrift Store? 8. How many combined years have Rollie, Dick, Steve, Gary, Darv, Pat, Terry, Michelle and John been talented, loyal employees at WCI? 9. How many weighted blankets were distributed FREE to schools, families and service providers, due to kind volunteer quilters in the past 2.5 years? 10. How many staff had babies this year? 9 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 450 years (just kidding, 50 yrs.) 18 years 70 people 24 individual employers plus 35 crew sites = 59 businesses 40 years 4 Counties 3 years 226 years 167 blankets/lap pads 1 staff member (Jolene)…and 2 are expecting. WCI Vocational Programs Work skills Pre-Vocational Placement Services Assessments Work Trials Crews Placements Assessments Work Skills Dev. Job Options Resumes/Cover letters Mock Interviewing Interviews/Follow Up Job Coaching Work & Pay Check + Community Involvement & Social Life = Stronger Community WCI Annual Awards Dinner Celebrating Clients, Staff and Board 10 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED PO Box 813/1300 22nd St. Willmar, MN 56201 WCI JobLink NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #667 WILLMAR, MN