December 2018

Gala celebrates 60 years The Black Hills Works Foundation’s annual Gala & Recognition was not only a celebration of our four Outstanding Achievement Awards winners, it was also an observance of 60 years of services. The Gala, held November 3 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, fea-tured a video about our history as well as comments from Roxanne Kibben. Roxanne is the daughter of Jim and Alice Kibben, whose basement was the home of Rapid City’s first special education classroom and the precursor to Black Hills Works. She now lives in Minnesota and was unable to attend the Gala, but sent a video of her telling her family’s story. Five hundred tickets were sold to the event which honored Outstanding Achievment Award win-ners Bettie Jo Bsharah, James “JJ” Janis, Ramona Spotted Eagle and Stefanie Krick. We also honored former Chief Executive Officer Dennis Popp with the Legacy Award. Dennis was at the helm for 29 years until his retirement in 2007. Thank you so much to Tara Wilcox, founda-tion staff and the committee for an amazing night.

Outstanding Achievement Award winners for 2018 were (front row) Bettie Jo Bsharah, Ramona Spotted Eagle, JJ Janis. Back row Stefanie Krick. They were honored at the annual Recogni-tion Gala on November 3.

Employees had the opportunity to tour the new Learn-ing Institute location at 2828 Plant Street during an open house held on November 16. The building, which opened on November 12, is the new home for Retirement, Sensory, and Art Expression. The build-ing hosts Nursing and MSA services, as well as offers a dining area, conference rooms, a Sensory Process-ing/Snoezelen room, Technology Lab, a small fitness area, kitchen cooking spaces, supported employment offices and many classrooms including one where Flutter Productions will host music therapy, poetry readings, and dance classes. An open house for fami-lies, friends, conflict free case managers and external customers is scheduled for Monday, December 3 from 4-6 p.m. Our boards of directors will get a chance to see the building at their annual Christmas party on December 6. The Range Road Learning Institute continues to house Flutter Productions, the Health and Fitness Center, the Learning Center, the gymnasium and the cafeteria which delivers food to the new location. Both BHWI and Concourse buildings have been sold. Diane Flahaven-Neu credits the vision, plan-ning, and hands-on efforts of various comprehensive multi-departmental teams for the successful transition.

Transplanting to Plant Street

Kristina Wilder works on her art project at her new desk at the Plant Street facility.

Chuck and Glory giving back Chuck Wright spends his summers working in the dining room at Mount Rushmore clearing tables. Glory McClane is employed at C-Lock where she assembles wire components that feed energy to the automated cattle feeders the company manufactures. But she has found her hours reduced for the holiday season. Neither like being idle and both like the idea of giving back. “They both feel strongly about giving back to their community and for that I’m truly proud of them both,” says Employment Support Specialist Kelly Hotovec. They’ve found the perfect fit at the Real Fork Community Café which is dedicated to increasing food security and building community through its pay-what-you-can nonprofit restaurant model. Fork Real has recently remodeled a new location at 324 St. Joe. Chuck spends four days a week volunteering there and Glory volunteers two days per week. Both greet and seat customers. We are so proud of them both!

David Pearcy, Chuck Wright, Rhonda Pearcy and Glory Mc-Clane. The Pearcys are cofounders of Fork Real Café

SCAC to be featured on nationalnetworkRepresentatives from the Ovation Network were in town October 16-17. Ovation is an American televi-sion network whose stated mission is to connect the world to all forms of art and artistic expression. They will include the Suzie Cappa Art Center in an up-coming feature about art in the heartland. They were referred to the Suzie Cappa Art Center by artist Mark Zimmerman who serves as an artist-in-residence at the center and who will also be featured in the piece. At the art center, producers focused especially on art-ists Sheryl Finch and Sean Sipes, interviewing them and Sheryl’s sister Diane Thaler and Sean’s father Don Sipes. But they also interviewed Studio Man-ager Carla Julius, and many of the other artists at the Suzie Cappa Art Center. Be watching for details about when the feature will air. Thank you to Mark Zimmer-man for the referral.

Artists Sheryl Finch and Sean Sipes.

BHW to receive $775,000 housing grantBlack Hills Works is one of 25 organizations across the state who will receive a portion of $13.2 million in grant money from the South Dakota Housing Develop-ment Authority (SDHDA). Our portion is $775,000 which will be used toward the construction of a six-plex apartment at 314 Wright Street. Construction will begin in the spring. SDHDA’s mission is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing to low and moder-ate-income South Dakotans. Black Hills Works con-tinues to have a residential waiting list of 56 people. Thank you Judy Domalewski for successfully writing this grant to help address our housing needs.

Freezin’ for a reason x 24!Special Olympics Head of Delegation Joe Burmeister will be the lone west river repre-sentative raising money for Special Olympics Rapid City Storm in the 2018 Super Polar Plunge on Saturday, Decem-ber 8. He’ll plunge into the icy waters 24 times in 24 hours. In order to participate, he must raise $100 for each plunge, or a minimum of $2,400. If you’d like to pledge or plunge yourself, give Joe a call at 718-8341 or 593-2481. Or you can go to his fund-raising page: https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/rapidcitystorm/2018-Sioux-Falls-Super-Plunge.

2019 Holiday CalendarBlack Hills WorksNew Year’s Day Tuesday January 1President’s Day Monday, February 18Memorial Day Monday, May 27Independence Day Thursday, July 4 Labor Day Monday, September 2Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 28 & Friday, Nov. 29Christmas Tuesday, Dec. 24 & Wednesday, Dec. 25

BH ServicesNew Year’s Day Tuesday, January 1 Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 21 Washington’s Birthday Monday, February 18 Memorial Day Monday, May 27 Independence Day Thursday, July 4 Labor Day Monday, September 2 Columbus Day Monday, October 14Veterans Day Monday, November 11Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 28 Christmas Wednesday, Dec. 25

Community Homes paying forwardDirect Support Professional Diane Hartson says that for the past three years, Dan and Cheryl Fuller who are the parents of a person served have purchased all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner at the commu-nity home s.This year she decided it be would nice to pay it forward. Leadership, staff and people supported agreed, so all six community homes purchased ingre-dients for two baskets to give to two needy families in our community. Diane contacted Bethel Assembly of God church who found two families in their congrega-tion who could benefit.

Alex Linseman, Courtney Shrieber and Tiffany Bosanco drop off their baskets at Bethel Assembly of God.

Get cool stuff! Check out all the Black Hills Works logo products at the Black Hills Works store the next time you’re at the Resource and Sup-port Center. The store is located behind the front desk at RSC. Products with the BHW logo include apparel, binders, coffee mugs, water bottles, and computer bags, sports bags and tote bags. Check it out!

If you shop on Amazon, sign up for Amazon Smile

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-0341382Your shopping can benefit BHW!

The bulletin board is back!The agency bulletin board is back, now on Lotus Notes. You can use this database to post things you are selling or giving away. You can also post general notifications for events such as garage sales or your child’s fundraisers. If you are also looking for some-thing, such as furniture, help with car trouble, etc., you can use the bulletin board for that purpose as well. To access the bulletin board, go to Lotus Notes, Agency Main, Staff, BHWS Bulletin Board.

Survey says...Thank you so much to all of you who responded to our survey about how to make the Workplace better. We received 81 responses and were happy to see that the majority of respondents read most of the newslet-ter every month. They did have suggestions for im-provement though, many of which we need your help with. Respondents would like to see:

•More kudos to staff for their accomplishments.

•More ideas about activities for people served.

•Motivational stories.

•More stories about employment of people served.

•More tips on providing services to people with dis-abilities.

•More department news. That’s where you come in. It’s easy to forget that the great things happening in your area are news. But readers really do want to hear what’s happening where you are. We can’t print it if we don’t know it. So please send us your news! Go to Agency Main. Choose Staff, then choose Create Foundation Request. Choose Newsletter Con-tent and fill out the form with your information and add a photo if you have one. Your news may also be featured on social media.

Congratulations to this month’s Power of B winners! This month we honor Becky Jandahl, Laurie Todd, Steven Donovan, Kim Jones and Samantha Heenan. Becky and Laurie teamed up to implement the Wells Fargo Credit Card Purchasing Program. The implementation took a full year and touches every part of the agency. New cards had to be issued, training had to be done and much time was spent in setting up the system. Becky and Laurie’s efforts ensured that a major endeavor went smoothly. Steven recognized a problem with Shad Bebout’s scarf machine and supported Shad in brainstorming ways to fix it. Then he went above and beyond to fabricate a vital piece for the machine, which Shad uses as a source of income. Kim is being honored for filling in extra shifts at Choices 3 and going above and beyond to develop close relationships there. Samantha has come up with many very creative ways to support people at Quincy and has recently begun supporting an individual to learn sign language. To nominate someone for a Power of B award, fill out the nomination form elsewhere in this newsletter or on Lotus Notes. Click on Agency Main; click on Staff (left-hand green buttons); then click on Staff Forms which is located in the center panel on the right side. Choose Rapid City, then page down to Power of B Recognition Award, launch the document and print. Send your nominations to Alexi Kieffer at RSC. Winners receive $50 and a Power of B T-shirt. Their story appears in The Workplace. Please give specifics about how your nominee demonstrates the POWER of B. See the above story for wonderful examples.

Paul Warren honored at Raider CaféPaul Warren was selected as the Raider Café Em-ployee of the Month for September. He received a gift card and had his name added to the plaque along with past winners. Employees from Sodexo, the military and BH Services took part in congratulating him on his achievement. Paul is a role model for those served by Black Hills Works and a valuable team member. He treats others fairly and maintains confidentiality in all dealings of the job. He volunteers for additional training areas and work coverage. His hands-on in-volvement supports people served professionally and personally.

Paul Warren assists a team member at the Raider Café.

Movie ticket discount for staff and people servedMovies are expensive, but employ-ees and people supported can buy discounted movie tickets for AMC theaters (formerly Carmike Cin-emas) for $8.50 from Laurie Todd at RSC.

PAID ON WEEK WEEKS WORKED15-Jan 1 Dec 16 thru Jan 5*31-Jan 2 Jan 6 thru Jan 1915-Feb 3 Jan 20 thru Feb 228-Feb 4 Feb 3 thru Feb 1615-Mar 5 Feb 17 thru Mar 229-Mar 6 Mar 3 thru Mar 1615-Apr 7 Mar 17 thru Mar 3030-Apr 8 Mar 31 thru Apr 13

15-May 9 Apr 14 thru May 4*31-May 10 May 5 thru May 1814-Jun 11 May 19 thru June 128-Jun 12 June 2 thru June 1515-Jul 13 June 16 thru Jun 2931-Jul 14 June 30 thru July 13

15-Aug 15 Jul 14 thru Aug 3*30-Aug 16 Aug 4 thru Aug 1713-Sep 17 Aug 18 thru Aug 3130-Sep 18 Sept 1 thru Sept 1415-Oct 19 Sept 15 thru Sept 2831-Oct 20 Sept 29 thru Oct 12

15-Nov 21 Oct 13 thru Nov 2*27-Nov 22 Nov 3 thru Nov 1613-Dec 23 Nov 17 thru Nov 3031-Dec 24 Dec 1 thru Dec 1415-Jan 1 Dec 15 thru Jan 4*

*3 week pay period for hourly employeesSCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Payroll schedule for 2019

*3 week pay period for hourly employees. Schedule subject to change

Hope your holidays are a hoot!

Congratulations Sheryl Finch whose work has been chosen to grace the Black Hills Works Christmas card this year.

Share the spirit!Community Works has set up Black Hills Works’ first Holiday Giving Tree. Stop by second floor at RSC to grab a tag if you’d like to bring joy to others this holiday season. Tags will be available for choosing up until December 14. Here’s how it works: 1. Take a tag off of the tree. You can take more than one if you want to. Anyone, including people we support, can take a tag if they want to help give presents to kids. Each tag has the wish list of just one child on it.2. Go shopping for presents based on the information that is on the tag. We are asking that people keep their spending to $50 or less on each tag.3. Return the tags to the tree location no later than December 14. Please don’t wrap the presents. You can keep them in a bag with the original tag from the tree. That will allow us to keep track of all of the tags and the gifts. The box by the tree will be emptied through-out the day so the gifts can be kept in a secure location until they are given to the children.

Welcome new employeesWanda Greene Raider CaféNicole Olson HamptonZachary Venable HamptonRhiannon Martin FirDavid Fogle WisconsinSara Brave Heart HamptonDaniel Nobles CH-WisconsinWrayanne Lamont HamptonTyler Bradt MinnesotaDerric Running Horse Edwards CNichole Towns ParkviewWendy Picarello BHWJeremy Hatch Choices 3Alexis Hatch Limball EDWARDS AJasmine Sanders ParkviewAndrew Kopp CH-Allen

In preparation for our 60-year celebration, we made an effort to locate some of the founders of Black Hills Works in order to honor their vision and tenacity. To our surprise, we received the following letter from Roxanne Kib-ben, the daughter of Jim and Alice Kibben who started Rapid City’s first special education program in the basement of their own home:

I wish I could join you for your 60-year celebration, but I will be hosting a birthday celebration of my own as my special needs child turns 18. I wanted to reach out and tell you what I re-member of my family and the early days of what eventually would become Black Hills Works. My brilliant, college-educated mother, already wrestling with feelings of inadequacies because she married so late in life, had her first child at 37 and had troubled pregnancies, learned that my brother Win, then a year and half, had Downs syndrome. She was sure she was to blame, felt guilty, ashamed and devastated. My father, also disabled, never let that stop him. Blinded at 32 before he met my mother — and yes, they met on a blind date but that’s a story for another time — told her “Do not worry, Win will be our happiest child.” Once Mom came through her own emotional turmoil she vowed to be there for other mothers, to help parents realize the gift and blessing of a special child like Win. My parents refused to insti-tutionalize him (as was typical at that time). They banded together with other parents to share what they felt, what they knew and what they could do. Now, over sixty years ago, I reflect back on their first major contribution -- the first school for these special kiddos in our basement. That was the precursor to the Black Hills Workshop. I remember coming home from school and Elma Kuster, the first teacher and mother of Teresa, was there at a low classroom table sitting in the little chairs along with three or four of the first students. They soon were able to move the classroom to an older unused elementary school building. Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Storhdal, the Johnny Laws and many others (I can’t recall them all by name) started the Black Hills Association for Retarded Children. I can still remember the smell of the mimeograph ink as we ran off the newsletters along with our massive envelope stuffing efforts in the associations’ first official space on West Boulevard in Rapid City. What barriers did Mom, Dad and the countless others encounter? Shame, stigma, too few resources and so little hope. Remember these children were not expected to live, often even to reach their teens, let alone adulthood, and certainly not outside of institutions. Black Hills Works is here today not just because of my parents, but all the hundreds and thousands of individuals whose lives have been blessed by children with special needs. In turn those family, friends, volunteers and professionals expanded the services, resources and knowledge into what we see today. I consider myself an extraordinarily blessed person, because Win taught me to love unconditionally, Mom and Dad taught me not to be stopped by despair, discrimination or discouragement. If a service that you need doesn’t exist, figure out what needs to happen to start one – one service, one group, one event, one club, as-sociation, school or non-profit. Build it for they not only will come, they will carry on. I, too, know the work it takes to serve those who are in need but am rich in fulfillment – because I know that I make a difference, and because I experience the joy and the job of being my son’s mother. Reach into your heart and find a way to make a difference today, this week, this year, this lifetime.

— Roxanne Kibben

How it all began

The Kibben family — photo taken in the late 1950’s.

Special Olympics scheduleBasketball practice begins Monday, December 1 in the gym. For information, contact Amy Jobgen. Congratulations to the athletes for their performance at the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament Friday, November 2 in Aberdeen. Joe Burmesiter says of 41 registered bowlers, 19 brought home a medal in their divisions. Here are the final results:

Jessica Anderson 8th placeTracy Augustine 4th place Derrick Boegel Silver David Brooks 6th placeBethann Butturini Gold Manika Boheman-Gehl SilverEric Colvin GoldTonya Denke 4th placeJoe Dvorak 4th placeJeff Elwood 7th placeRandall Engesser BronzeLee Fire Cloud 4th placeHarvey Gammill SilverSarah Grigg 6th placeSusan Guest 7th placeTim Hathaway 7th placeGloria Kehn Bronze Cristy Kienzle 5th placeTeresa Krier 6th place Carmen Lester 6th placeBuck Long 6th placeKelley McMains GoldSara Mellegard GoldDiana Miller SilverRenae Moller 4th placeMatt Morin SilverHeather Morris 7th placeSierra Neff GoldRussell Reynolds GoldDarlene Running Bear BronzeLinda Schafer 5th placeCourtney Schreiber GoldMerrit Sell 7th placeOrdean Stevenson BronzeAngel Sumrall SilverTommy Tamayo 7th placeJeremiah Vigil 4th placeNancy Weiss GoldBart Williamson SilverChuck Wright 4th placeAmanda Yoder 6th place

Happy safe holidaysIt is that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner! While decorating this year please keep these things in mind... •We cannot have real trees in any area. Please use a fake tree for decorating and ensure it is flame retardant! •We must still conduct evacuation drills and in the case of a real emergency, please ensure your work area does not have decorations covering any exit signs, evacuation routes, fire extinguishers or fire sprinklers! •Please be smart when plugging electrical cords in to outlets. Do not overload your outlets! •Cords should not be in the way of anyone’s path causing a trip hazard. •Avoid decorations that are closer than 18 inches from the fire sprinklers! •Ensure decorations are away from any heat source. •Ensure there are no open flames in your work areas! •While hanging decorations, use a ladder and have another person at the base! Thank you for keeping our work areas safe this holiday season!!

Natalie Johnson, Safety Coordinator

LUNCH MENUS-Range Rd.-Plant St.-Bhwi-TBIRC All meals include Lemonade, Tea, and Coffee

WEEK 1

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday19-Nov 20-Nov 21-Nov 22-Nov 23-Nov

Sloppy Joe Bologna Sand. Ham TetrazziniColeslaw Lettuce/mayo Tossed Salad Happy ClosedTater tots Mac.Salad Diced pears ThanksgivingBanana Carrots Jell-O salad

Cookie

WEEK 2

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday26-Nov 27-Nov 28-Nov 29-Nov 30-Nov

Chick.Fritters Spaghetti Ham Salad Sand. BBQ Pork Mand. Org. Chkn.Ranch dress. Green beans Crm. Potato Soup Hamb. bun w/Rice & Vegs.Scalloped Potatoes Garlic bread Crackers French fries PineappleCapri Vegs. Spiced apples Mixed fruit Diced Peaches Bread & marg.Applesauce

WEEK 3

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday3-Dec 4-Dec 5-Dec 6-Dec 7-Dec

Cheeseburger Goulash Chicken Ndl. Soup BBQ Pork patty Hamb StewLett/Mayo Corn Crackers Hamb bun BiscuitPotato Chips Applesauce Corndog French fries Yogurt cupVeg. blend Snack Spiced Apples Mixed fruit Trop. fruitBanana

WEEK 4

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday10-Dec 11-Dec 12-Dec 13-Dec 14-Dec

Burrito Ham & Swiss Brd. Chick. Patty Tater tot hot dish Egg pattieLettuce/salsa Tossed Salad on Bun Green beans Saus. linksTortilla chips Mand. oranges Lettuce/Mayo Applesauce Cinn. rollBroccoli Cookie Potato chips Bread & marg. Diced PearsBanana Pea Salad Org. juice

Happy birthdayDoug Sorenson 1Lea Haisch 2Sara Benton 2Tara Gary 3Carol Page 3Todd Wicks 4Julie Martian 4Sandra Ollila 5Brittney Johnson 7Katie Zwetzig 10Katelyn Brito 10Chris Fliginger 11Melissa Alexander 11Lanna Backen 11Joe Burmeister 13Tianna Hurt 13Brookley Garman 14Carl Dixon 15Makayla Taylor 18Mary Wheeler 19Robert Graham 19Jason Smith 20Terry Wilson 20Robin Madsen 21Bronson Odle 21B.J. Strand 22Trena Garlick 22Brandi Buskohl 22Rachael Hopperdietzel 22Benjamin Mincks 22Sara Pekny 24Natalie Dekay 24Dina Montero 24Teri Alford 25Paul Warren 27Tori Hopperdietzel 28Lisa Richmond 28Zachary Venable 30Thomas Schmitz 30Sarah Holz 31Kayla Wagner 31

Employment anniversariesJulia Davis 3 yearsVince Horne 24 yearsJessilyn Thompson 1 yearJanis Frank 14 yearsLaura Smith 38 yearsGayle Steiger 38 yearsBrian Cho 1 yearLeah Drummond 9 yearsVandal Devries 11 yearsDouglas Neisz 8 yearsTeresa Kjos 8 yearsJulie Haataja 7 yearsDemi Reasor 1 yearAngela Chant 6 yearsBrittany Trainer 2 yearsDesiree Dubs 3 yearsOlaf Solvie 3 yearsMolly Bloemendaal 3 yearsSamantha Heenan 3 yearsAndrea Kenrick 2 yearsKelly Hotovec 2 yearsIsabella Hagg 1 yearMalinda Larson 1 yearShana Siers 1 year

Power of B

Nomination Form Name of the staff person you’d like to recognize: Title of the person you are recognizing: Department of area they work in: Check the “B” that applies with the example of the “B” they demonstrated.

For Being Respectful of Others

For Being Accountable

For Being Your Best (Their Best)

For Being Supportive

Reason for the nomination: Please provide a detailed explanation with specific information on what you would like to recognize this person for. Your name and title: _____________________________ Your department or area: ___ __ Please send this form to Alexi Kieffer at RSC. Your nominee could be selected to receive the $50 prize and be featured in The Workplace. Feel free to make copies of this form for additional people you’d like to recognize. There will be up to 5 winners selected each month to receive the Power of B prize and recognition.

9-6-16 Rev 5-30-18