| The WSOS Press June / July 2002 |
Tanzanian women leaders learn about Community Action
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| Tony Walker, left, Assistant Director of Resources & Community Relations, chats with Evalyne Aminiel Omari and Dr. Pilly Said Mtuka, both of the City of Tanga of Tanzania during the roundtable discussion. |
When Sandusky County's Farm Bureau's Director Robin Bessire explained how farmers in the county can effect change in the country, Dr. Pilly Said Mtuka of the City of Tanga, Tanzania, jokingly asked her if she would go to Tanzania and do the same.
Pilly was one of six women, who serve in various levels of government in Tanzania, who were the guests of WSOS on May 30. The women participated in a roundtable discussion with members of the Sandusky County community.
"I want to thank WSOS for making it possible for us to come here. We are taking home so much to make changs that will benefit our people," said Dr. Pilly. "We also look forward to strengthening the ties between us and the American people."
The women, who hail from the Dodoma Region and the City of Tanga, were in the United States as part of a leadership training program developed by the Great Lakes Consortium (GLC) for Training and Development. The group also toured Memorial Hospital, Community Health Services, the Fremont Family Development Center. The group also visited Ottawa County.
The goal of the visit was to enhance the management skills of women leaders in elected or administrative local government positions. It also hopes to lay the foundation of a network of support and long-term cooperation among rural and urban government representatives in Tanzania and their counterparts in Northwest Ohio.
This exchange is a follow up program to the visit of the Tanzania Prime Minister and his delegation to NW Ohio in August 2001. A similar delegation from NW Ohio, organized by the Great Lakes consortium, will visit Tanzania in the Fall.
The consortium is a collaboration of the University of Toledo, Lourdes College, Bowling Green State University, Medical College of Ohio, and WSOS. WSOS is the administering agency.
Community members participating in the roundtable included:
- Chamber of Commerce and Ballville Township Trustee Kay Reiter,
- Economic Development Director Bill Auxter,
- County Health Department's Director of Environmental Health Marianne Koebel,
- Clyde City Councilwoman Nina Pascua,
- County Commissioner Terry Thatcher,
- African American College Club Director Dr. Gayle Jackson,
- Memorial Hospital Education Services Linda Hoelzle.
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Board member profile
Cardinal seeks to use her board position to work toward helping children
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| Christine Cardinal |
Name: Chritine Cardinal
Address: Norma Place, Northwood
Family: Daughter Alexia Hope.
Employment: Christine has spent the last six years working as a baker/cake decorator. She enjoys this since it allows her to be creative, she said.
Goal as a board member: In her role as a board member, she aims to do what she can to help children. Keeping her daughter happy is important to her and this translates into doing what she can to create an environment where her daughter and other children can do well.
Board Status: Christine joined the board in May.
Hobbies/Interests: She has various interests. She said she enjoys sewing, cooking, music, computers, and doing crafts. She also enjoys the time she spends with the WSOS Child Development Policy Council.
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| Ralph Chisholm, left, dressed as Elvis Presley, and Belva Dye, right, dressed in her '50s poodle skirt enjoy the activities the Sandsuky County Senior Day. |
About 665 senior citizens in Ottawa and Sandusky Counties celebrated Senior Day May 1 and 14 respectively.
Senior Day in Ottawa County was a collaboration of WSOS Senior Programs, Magruder Hospital and The News Herald. About 17 vendors participated in the health fair that was held in conjunction with Senior Day activities at Camp Perry's recreation hall. Participants won prizes for their hats.
In Sandusky County, the theme was the 1950s and Joe Wyant, husband of Fremont Senior Center site manager, Sally Wyant, donned his Elvis white suit and entertained the audience.
The band from Ross High School also played selections of music from the '50s, which had some seniors dancing around the hall.
County commissioners of both counties participated in the event in their county. Also, Port Clinton Mayor Tom Brown attended the Ottawa County event as did Fremont Mayor Terry Overmyer in Sandusky County.
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Voters approve new levy for senior services
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Sandusky County voters in May approved a new levy that will help to keep senior services in the county.
WSOS operates senior centes in Clyde, Fremont, Gibsonburg and Woodville as well as Food Service and transportation departments, which serve senior citizens also. The levy provides funding to support those services as well as for senior citizens services in Bellevue, which is administered by the Young at Heart Senior Center.
"We greatly appreciate the confidence that voters demonstrated they have in us," said Robin Richter, executive vice president and acting director of the Senior Programs."It shows that the voters realize the value of the services that the seniors receive."
Funds from the new levy will be available after June 2003 and are disbursed by Sandusky County commissioners. |
Directors's corner
New programs keep Family Services on the go during the summer
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| Moreno-Denny |
Department: Family Services
Director: Cheryl Moreno-Denny
Family Services staff spent June preparing for the Fremont City Schools New Directions Summer School program. The program runs from June 17 - Aug. 17.
This program adds 13 more staff members to serve more than 200 students in grades K-8 at four sites within the school district. While the program is a mixture of school work and recreation, parental involvement is an integral part.
The Fremont Kiwanis Club donated five unicycles for the students to use during the program this year. That promises to be much fun!
This year, we also kicked off a new specialized program that provides job placement and training assistance for individuals with physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Interested participants have to be referred to the program by the local MRDD board or other rehabilitation agencies. It provides career exploration, interviewing techniques, job placement, on-the-job training, occupational skills training, case management and follow up.
We expect to learn in July whether we will be funded for a program that addresses the labor shortage in the Healthcare profession. WSOS will partner with Tri-County Healthcare Consortium to provide assistance to healthcare professionals to upgrade their skills or to allow eligible participants to enter the healthcare field. Local institutions will be used to provide the training opportunities.
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| Alvin Perkins, Wood County commissioner, accepts flowers from preschoolers in the Wood County Child Development programs during a visit with commissioners to say Thank you and for a proclamation for National Community Action Month. |
County commissioners in Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca counties once again signed proclamations declaring May Community Action Month in their respective counties. Staff and participants visited each county's commissioners to say thank you and show appreciation for the support commissioners give WSOS during the year.
"I really appreciate your support," Dorothea Martin of Genoa told Ottawa County commissioners. "I never thought I'd ever get my house fixed and WSOS did a great job repairing it. It is such a relief. Thank you."
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Business After Hours event brings visitors to Brady's
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| Barry McEwen, left, of the Hayes Presidential Center, chats with Bob Follman of the Allstate Financial Services in the Brady's building during the Business After Hours. |
The businesses which recently relocated to the Brady's building invited visitors to visit them at a Business After Hours event sponsored by WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.
"This was very nice. We really appreciate the opportunity to let customers know we are here," said Charlotte McCachren of Northgate Realty.
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A familiar face
Felter has many plans for improving services to families in Ottawa County
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| Gabi Felter |
Full Name: Gabriele "Gabi" E. Felter
Address: Seneca County Road 16, Tiffin
Family: Husband of 27 years Greg; daughters Allegra, 25, and Kate, 24, who are "turning into confident and enjoyable adults," proud mother Gabi said.
Occupation: Gabi has been the County Director of Child Development programs in Ottawa County for the past six years. Gabi joined WSOS as a Head Start home visitor, serving nine years in that position. She said she came to WSOS because she appreciates the emphasis the organization places on family.
Favorite part of the job: "I strongly believe that being a Home Visitor gave me a diversity of training that I have been able to transfer to my other positions at WSOS." Gabi is also especially proud of the families she worked with while a Home Visitor. "I get a kick out of seeing what they have accomplished since that time." She also enjoys working with her staff. "They make me look good!"
Goals: Her immediate goal is the opening of the childcare site in Oak Harbor. However, she also would like to bring a second language into the preschool classrooms in Ottawa County, and expand the Volunteer Storybook Reader program in the county.
Interests/Hobbies: When she is not working on Child Development projects, Gabi can be found gardening, reading, traveling or cooking. She said she and her husband enjoy using little known roads when they travel even though it has gotten them in trouble occassionally. "I really enjoy the little places with real people," she said. She especiallyy likes her home country of Germany where she was born in the Alps. " I can't believe I have settled down in the flatlands of NW Ohio," she said.
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