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Vol. 1, No. 2
July 2010
MONADNOCK FAMILY SERVICES
STAFF NEWSLETTER
STAFF APPRECIATION DAY
ANN FOERSTER DEMONSTRATES JUST HOW TO USE A HULA HOOP
You came attired in the fashions of the ‘50s, you rocked to the music of that era, maneuvered a hula hoop, enjoyed lunch, skits and entertainment from your colleagues and basked in a summer sun.
It was the 10th annual Staff Appreciation Day, June 25, hosted once again by Jean and John Hoffman at their Seward Mountain Farm in Sullivan. And even John and Jean got into the theme -- John as “Pat Boone” and Jean wearing a summery “Ike” dress – that saluted the American president in that era, Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose nickname was “Ike” and whose campaign theme was “I Like Ike.”
Jean (“I Like Ike”) and John (Pat Boone) Hoffman got into the swing of things at Staff Appreciation Day
And some of you walked away with prizes for a skit and knowledge of ‘50s trivia.
The ERO team from Peterborough won the award for the best skit, using lines from well-known rock ‘n roll tunes to shape a day in the office. Members of the winning team were Mary Seebart, Jim Wood, June Winey, Susan Howard, Kelly Penna, Melody Olivo, Melissa Maurer, Lydia Lamson and David Cote.
The Fabulous ‘50s team won the Trivia Game with their working knowledge of the rock ‘n roll era. Members of the team were Gail Coburn, Sharon Satterfield, Lydia Lamson, Linda Price, Mary Seebart, Christine Minasian and Lisa Whitney.
Lorna Pillsbury dressed for the ‘50s theme with her poodle skirt
Music was provided by a band of MFS employees – Eric Hedin, Michael Cancellieri and Andreas Lawrence. Members of the Staff Appreciation Day committee that organized the event were Jessica Francese, Jennifer Paone, Melanie Diehl, Sandy Jones, Chris Selmer, Meredith Lynch and Gail Coburn. Robert Rooney, chair of the MFS Board, and MFS Board members Heather Melander and Nancy Vincent also joined the celebration.
A BIG TIP OF THE HAT TO KELLY CLOW, RN IN MEDICAL SERVICES, FOR THESE GREAT PHOTOS FROM STAFF APPRECIATION DAY
HONORED AT STAFF APPRECIATION DAY
Geraldine Liebert, director of the Monadnock Volunteer Center since 1992, and Melanie Diehl, a case manager for Monadnock Family Services, were honored at Staff Appreciation.
Geraldine received the Hoffman Award (named for the hosts of Staff Appreciation Day) for community service. Her supervisor, Mark Bromley, noted the hours she (get details)
Melanie, whose supervisor also is Mark, received the Dwane award, named for MFS’s first director.
Jayme Collins, CEO, also honored these staff members for years of service to the agency:
15 years
- Cindy Henault, accounts receivable representative
10 years
- Coleen Wood, clinician
- Elizabeth Freyenhagen, family intervention specialist I
- Bonnie Vendig, community and family services associate – respite
- Barbara Hunt, administrative assistant II
- Stella Sise, courthouse mediator
- Joyce Aguilar, senior accounts receivable representative
- Christine Selmer, administrator – Monadnock Adult Care Center (MACC)
- Peter Skalaban, chief financial officer
- Danielle Hull, team supervisor
- Gail LeVasseur, community and family services associate – respite
- Michael Turino, clinician
5 years
- Lorna Pillsbury, administrative assistant
- Suzanne Bolduc, clinical coordinator
- Susan Bernstein, family intervention specialist II – BT
- Rachel Courtney, administrative assistant II
- Barbara Andrews, community and family services associate I (waiver)
- Gail Guyette, human resource assistant I
- Wendy Prescott, clinician
- Sonya Bartley, community and family services specialist I
- Laura Briedis, health mentor associate
- Maureen Lee, staff registered nurse
- Joy Proulx, customer service representative II
- Sheila Ellis, administrative assistant II
- Amy Janvier, team supervisor
- Judith LeClair, clinician
- Michael Conley, clinician
- Ann Monette, senior team supervisor
LUCILLE SALO RETIRES AFTER 14 YEARS
Lucille Salo on her retirement day at Monadnock Family Services with
Chief Executive Officer Jayme Collins, left, and Peter Skalaban, Chief Financial Officer
Lucille Salo, who began her career July 9, 1996, at Monadnock Family Services as an Accounts Receivable Clerk, retired exactly 14 years later on July 9, 2010.
Her colleagues at 64 Main Street hosted a coffee hour for her on her last day at MFS. Lu – as she was known to all – was hired by Linda DeSantis, Accounts Receivable Supervisor, and was responsible for Medicaid insurance electronic billing and reimbursement processing, a responsibility she handled all 14 years.
“I developed many good friends working at MFS, loved my work, my co-workers and the agency,” Lu said on her last day. “I’m leaving with lots of fond memories and will miss being part of MFS.”
Linda DeSantis said of her: “Lu was a joy to work with. She was such a hard worker. She made sure to get every penny from Medicaid that she could get!! In the 14 years Lu was at MFS I came to consider her a good friend. The AR dept is a close group and we are all going to miss seeing her everyday. We plan on staying in touch and going out to eat, drink and be merry!! Happy Retirement Lu!!”
But Lu, who began work at MFS after moving to the area from Long Island in New York, will be active in retirement. She plans to:
--Volunteer in the literacy program for adults through the Monadnock Volunteer Center, an MFS agency. (She developed an interest in literacy issues while working as a caterer on Long Island, reading recipes to employees who could not read.
A NOTE FROM JAYME
At our recent Staff Appreciation Day, you could feel the enthusiasm as we relaxed on a warm sunny day, away from the pressure of our work. We all have been under intense economic challenges – to provide the best service we can to our clients, who depend on us. And you have been there for them, through thick and thin.
Recently, another chief executive from a local non-profit agency called me after reading in The Keene Sentinel about the financial cuts that the mental health field has endured. He was worried that our agency and the people it serves might be lost to the community. His agency depends on the services we provide to help his clients survive and thrive. “We need you,” he said.
I assured him we weren’t going anywhere. We’ve been here more than 100 years and we’ll continue to be here for the people we serve. But this has required change, some of it painful, but we’re financially viable and as I said when we restored the last of the pay cuts taken from you two years ago, we’re not going to ask you to make those kinds of sacrifices again.
Peter Skalaban, our chief financial officer, reminded me how we’re dealing with some of our financial challenges. He cited the Adult Day Care Center in Jaffrey as a good example. To make it financially successful, we needed to expand our services. This required fundraising, investment in the center, expanding it to accommodate more clients. As a result, we’ll increase the number of people we’re serving there and put the Center on a financially sound footing.
We’re looking for other ways to help us with the economic challenges and if you have a good idea that could work in your area or in some other part of the agency, let us know. Talk with your supervisor or send an e-mail to me, Gail Coburn, Peter Skalaban, Robert Fusco or Randy Gillispie. Together, we can build a better future for all of us.
JAYME COLLINS
TIME TO VOTE
We heard from some of you with ideas for a name for your newsletter. Below are the nominations and the person submitting them.
Time to vote on a choice -- e-mail your vote to Frank Dobisky at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The person with the winning entry will get dinner for two at a restaurant of your choice in the Monadnock region.
Here are the choices:
The Chatterbox
Submitted by Lisa Sullivan
MFS Chronicle
or
MFS Views
Submitted by Lorna Pillsbury
Fresh Thoughts
Submitted by Deborah Gaouette
Shared Sessions
Submitted by Ann Monette
MFS IN THE NEWS
The Keene Sentinel carried a story Monday, July 5, about the plight of homeless veterans and what is being done to help them. Randy Gillispie, director of emergency services at Monadnock Family Services, and Matt Primose, homeless outreach worker with MFSD, were quoted in the article.
The Keene Sentinel reported on the impact of the Hundred Nights Shelter in Keene with a page one story Tuesday, July 13. Randy Gillispie, director of emergency services for MFS, was quoted in the article saying the shelter provided an invaluable service to the community.
Gail Coburn, chief operating officer (COO) at Monadnock Family Services, will be interviewed by Dan Mitchell on WKBK Radio (1290 on the AM Dial) in Keene at 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21. An article about MFS and Gail’s interview appeared in the July issue of ACCESS, the newsletter of the Monadnock United Way. MFS is the largest single benefactor of the annual United Way campaign.
NEW MEMBERS OF MFS STAFF
ALEXIS OZIMEK joined the Children’s team as a children’s clinician in June. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and elementary education from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge and a master of arts of clinical mental health counseling from Antioch University New England. While at Antioch, she studied in the autism spectrum disorders certification program and the substance abuse and addictions program. She recently became a national certified counselor (NCC). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, running, cycling and being outdoors.
ELAN MOSES graduated from Antioch University New England
and worked in a community mental health agency in western Massachusetts before joining MFS in June as a community based clinician. Before turning to the mental health field, he had worked as a teacher in public schools as well as at a private specialized boarding school. He lives in Putney, Vermont, with his wife, a craftsperson who runs the Vermont Weaving School, and 5-year-old son. And when not working, he enjoys all manner of outdoor activities.
ASHLEIGH YOUNG graduated in 2007 from Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, earning a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She played volleyball through high school and college. She loves suspense and horror films and she and her husband have an 18-month-old daughter, Aubrey. Ashleigh, a case manager, loves to play with Aubrey every chance she gets.
OTHER NEW STAFF
Donna Webb, Clinical Support Services Coordinator, announced four new people, working as Community and Family Service Associates, have been added to the Clinical Support Services Program. The new staff members are:
- Nancy Hardy
- Allan Commings
- Sarah Davis
- Patricia Davenport
“They all come highly recommended with many years experience working with children. Please join me in welcoming them to our children’s team. They will be working out in the community on a per diem basis,” Webb said.
“Clinical Support Services is a community based extension of the clinical services provided to children and families at MFS,” Webb said. “Should a child or family require additional support or intervention to implement the goals on the child’s treatment plan, a Community and Family Service Associate may be assigned.”
CHURCH BAZAAR TO BENEFIT MFS
Jaffrey – The First Church in Jaffrey will sponsor its 94th Annual Fair Wednesday, August 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In a note to Monadnock Family Services, Barbara G. Gilbert of The First Church in Jaffrey, said, “Your group has been one of the recipients of the proceeds of the fair. We thought you might like to have information and even attend on August 4.” And, she added, “The more people who attend, the better we will be able to support our many local groups. Thanks for all you do. We have been pleased to add our support.” The fair will feature antiques, collectibles, handicrafts, bakery, art, refreshments, books, tools/appliances, plants, vegetables, flowers, children’s games, food and bazaar. And for early arrivals, a lunch featuring sandwiches, salads, dessert and beverages will be available in the Parish Hall beginning at noon.
“KIDS IN THE KITCHEN”
The Community Kitchen and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension are co-sponsoring a free program for boys and girls, ages 5 to 12, called “Kids in the Kitchen.” In announcing the program, The Community Kitchen reported, “This program encourages children to enhance their cooking skills, enjoy fun activities and make new friends.” A poster promoting the program offers highlights: “Taste some new foods! Eat your own creations! Bring home food! Practice your cooking skills! Kool activities! Have fun with friends!” The program runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community Kitchen, 37 Mechanic Street, Keene, Tuesday, July 20, and Tuesday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 17. Pre-registration is preferred and can be done by calling The Community Kitchen at 352-3200 or the Cooperative Extension office at 352-4550.
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