| The WSOS Press - October / November 2004 |
Area company donates to CCC Camp without being asked
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| CCC Camp Coordinator Jermain Nelson, second from right, and Jamie Okonski, camp participant, pose with TRW officials after being presented with the check |
It was a series of newspaper articles that prompted TRW's staffer, Alice Kirkendall, to seek funds from TRW's corporate office to help the WSOS Quilter Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Green Springs.
As a result of her alertness, the CCC camp is the beneficiary of $2,500.
"I read in the newspapers about the funding problems of the camp and saw how much (WSOS) was trying to keep the camp open," she said.
Kirkendall did not contact WSOS about her attempts because, she said, the company was about to be sold and she was not sure if the request would be funded.
"We are so appreciative of TRW's donation and for its generosity," said Camp Coordinator Jermain Nelson. "Every check counts and we are happy that Alice thought of us."
| Ruthann House named acting CEO at WSOS; Stricker takes sabbatical |
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| RUTHANN HOUSE |
Vice President Ruthann House was appointed Acting CEO of WSOS by the WSOS Board of Directors at its October meeting.
This appointment was the result of a six-month sabbatical the board approved for President/CEO Don Stricker to pursue activities to further the WSOS mission. During this six-month time, Stricker will hold the title of President.
Board members have indicated that the agency is in good hands.
"I would like everyone to know that I will continue to move the agency in the direction the board and leadership has set for it," House said. "Also, I am confident that our staff of dedicated employees will continue to provide the excellent services that the communities we serve have come to expect from us."
Stricker has served as President/CEO for 32 years. House has been with WSOS for 20 years.
At the November board meeting, the board approved the strategic plan for the third year of a three-year plan. This plan will guide the agency for the 2004-05 year.
Note: 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of WSOS.
Ottawa County passes levy for senior programs
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Ottawa County residents approved a 0.3-mill, three-year levy county commissioners placed on the November 2 ballot. Funds generated by this levy will be used to maintain services to senior citizens in the county.
The levy is expected to generate $432,000 per year for three years, costing residents about $9.18 more per year in taxes for property valued at $100,000.
Commissioners have indicated that the money will be used to provide alzheimer's care, and home care, in addition to the usual senior center programs. Some funds will also be used for maintaining facilities for seniors.
Commissioner John Papcun has said that commissioners will apply directly to the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio for the senior nutrition and socialization contracts that WSOS has received for the past 24 years. Then, com- missioners will advertise for bids to contract with agencies to provide senior services in the county.
WSOS is unsure whether it will continue to operate senior programs in Ottawa County. However, it will continue to follow whatever process county commissioners implement.
Since 1976, WSOS has provided senior citizens in Ottawa County with meals five days per week at the senior centers in Port Clinton, Genoa, Danbury, Put-in-Bay, and Oak Harbor. The Oak Harbor site was closed earlier this year due to insufficient funds to maintain the site and operations at the Genoa site were reduced from five to four days per week.
Meals are also provided to the county's homebound with home deliveries each week day. In 2003, WSOS provided 53,295 meals to the homebound and at the centers. Also, it provided seniors with 605 units of educational information, 877 social events units, and 515 health assessments.
Tiffin housing complex ready for tenants by Dec. 31
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| Above, a view of the Tremont Greene housing complex soon to be ready for tenants |
The Tremont Greene Housing Development on the former Daughter's of America property on State Route 53, on the north edge of the City of Tiffin will be ready for tenants by December 31.
Currently, the 40-unit family housing development is taking applications for income-eligible tenants.
The housing complex, made possible by Developer Woda Development, is not the first the developer has completed in the area. Tall Timbers senior complex also was built by Woda.
In addition to this development, Woda has partnered with WSOS to build two other single family housing complexes in Sandusky County as well as a senior housing complex in Clyde.
Woda partnered with WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. to get Housing Tax Credits, which make the units affordable for residents. Fifth-Third Bank is another partner in the development of the complex.
The development is comprised of four one-bedroom apartments, 20 two-bedroom apartments, eight three-bedroom apartments, and eight four-bedroom apartments. Rents range from about $400 to $550 per month. These rents are much lower than the open market rate for similar apartments.
These units are available to residents whose incomes are no more than $35,438 for a single-person household ranging to $66,813 for an eight-person household.
In addition, there will be various move-in and other rental specials available to interested tenants.
Residents interested in information on renting the Tremont Greene units should call Juanita Mills of Woda Development at 419-448-7114. Those interested in renting in Sandusky County should contact Tracy Potter at 419-547-3700.
WSOS staffer finds wonders in Lebanon
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| JOYCE HUNTLEY |
Beautiful landscapes, the Mediterranean Sea reflecting the rays of the sun, lush valleys nestling among majestic mountains are only some of the memories I carry with me about the country of Lebanon I recently visited as part of an exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizens Exchange.
The grant is administered by WSOS and operated by the Great Lakes Consortium (GLC) for International Training and Development. This is the second Lebanese exchange the GLC has operated in addition to exchanges with Tanzania and Hungary.
Gone are all the stereotypes of angry Arabs waiting to pounce on Americans, of streets patrolled by men in military outfits, of streets and country- side littered with poor people.
Those images have been replaced by the faces of kindness, generosity and the goodwill of the Lebanese people that I and the six other women from Northwest Ohio had the good fortune to encounter during our trip to Lebanon October 2-15.
That is not to say that there are no poor people in Lebanon or that there was no military presence. That would also be wrong. However, my trip was so filled with good experiences and goodwill that I see the surprise on the faces of the friends, family and well-wishers when I respond to the question: "How was your trip to Lebanon?"
I learned a lot of the history of the country and its people. I saw the ravages of war as we passed abandoned buildings still bearing the bullet holes and holes from mortar shells of the 17-year civil war that almost destroyed the country. Then I hear the hope and determination of the people.
"Nothing can keep the Lebanese people down We do not give up. It's in our nature," said one woman whose family's business was devastated during the war. "We are a people who will not allow negative forces to quiet our enthusiasm for life."
As we traveled the country, we were inundated with Lebanese hospitality and generosity. Even when politics was introduced into the dialogue, it was done in an open and honest manner.
"We want you to tell your friends and family in the U.S. that the Lebanese people are not terrorists," said the mayor of Tripoli, "We abhor terrorists as much as you do. We want peace."
The American delegation was in Lebanon to support the seven Lebanese women who visited NW Ohio in June to learn how non-profits in the U.S. function. They were charged with conducting work-shops based on the information they gathered then.
At the workshops, participants declared that it is difficult to have the kinds of collaborations in Lebanon as in the U.S. because Lebanese nonprofits don't want to share. It reminds me of US non profits a few years ago, and this is still a barrier in some collaborations. The Lebanese people also will overcome it, if they are interested in collaborating.
Many of their concerns also centered on how to involve their youths in their communities. It seems they are making the same mistakes we did by not having youth representation when decisions concerning them are made.
Based on my experience, I'm hopeful that Lebanon will find its way back to its place as the gem of the Mediterranean.
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) has been successfully implemented in 3 Ohio communities and 20 in a six-state network. This intiative has allowed these small rural communities to plan for the future.
More than 300 Ottawa County senior citizens participated in Senior Programs' fall fun event, called A Ho-Down. Senior Programs began offering a fall fun activity in 2001.
A new newsletter has been introduced to the WSOS workplace. Entitled Embracing our Differences, this newsletter focuses on creating a greater awareness of diversity issues in the workplace. It aims to enhance the cultural competency of the WSOS workforce.
A familiar face
Bechstein simply enjoys helping her families
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| SHIRLEY BECHSTEIN |
Full name: Shirley Kay Bechstein
Address: Fostoria
Family: Husband Jim; Daughters, Susan 28; Jennifer, 24; Elizabeth, 22; and son Mikal, 20, a college student. First grandson Grayson Nathaniel will arrive in February.
Occupation: Currently, Shirley is the center supervisor at the Fostoria Child Development Center, a position she earned after 17 years
in WSOS Child Development. When Shirley joined WSOS in 1987, she worked as a part-time cook. It was one of many positions she would hold before being named to her current position.Other jobs include bus driver, teacher assistant, teacher, and summer youth advisor.
Favorite part of the job: "I love working with children and their families," Shirley said. She added that she also enjoys the staff she works with as well as the various opportunities she's had to share information about Head Start with the community.
Goals: Her immediate goal is to complete, in 2005, the associate's degree program she's working on. Then, she hopes to continue her education at Tiffin University.
Interests/Hobbies: Shirley said she and her husband are "huge Browns fans," but when they are not following the Browns, she loves to go shopping with her daughters, or spend some quiet time crocheting or sewing.
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