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Offering a lifetime of support, understanding, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families. |
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 Bea Rodgers Retires
Over 200 people gathered at the Prince George's Ballroom on May 3rd to pay tribute to Beatrice (Bea) Rodgers who recently retired from her position of Executive Director of Resource Connections of Prince George's County. As Resource Connections founding executive, Bea assured that the county-wide agency performed resource coordination, eligibility determination, and case management in ways that emphasized the aspirations and desires of Prince Georgians with developmental disabilities and their families. Her Deputy Director, Joyce Simms, has been named the new Executive Director of Resource Connections.
In addition to her work at Resource Connection, Bea has held executive positions at the Prince George's Mental Health Association, and the Prince George's and Governor's Office for Coordination of Services to People with Disabilities. Her quiet, but effective leadership and staunch advocacy over the past four decades will be missed by all of us. Congratulations Bea! |
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New Walmart Grant Supports Transitioning Youth
Exploring backstage career opportunities at the community college theatre | :
With this two-year, $25,000 grant, The Arc is expanding its Ready at 21 Program by partnering with Prince George's Community College and Prince George's County Public Schools. High school students will be exposed to career opportunities and industry fields within the community. They will learn ways to go about finding, applying for and keeping a job. Students will also have the opportunity to explore a college experience. Their parents will also benefit from information and resources that will help them guide their child as they prepare to leave school.
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 Your Voice Counts! Look what passed in Annapolis:
PASSED - Rate Commission and Adjustments (SB 633/HB 1034) - This legislation requires the same increase in the level of funding to the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Community Programs as other state programs. This means when other state programs receive a cost of living increase, so will Developmental Disabilities programs.
PASSED - Lorraine M. Sheehan Act to Protect Voting Rights for Individuals under Guardianship for Mental Disability (SB 28/HB 816) - This act guarantees people with developmental disabilities who have a legal guardian the right to vote.
PASSED - Developmental Disabilities Waiting List - Voluntary State income Tax Checkoff (SB 318/HB 830) - This bill establishes a checkoff box on Maryland State Income Tax Returns for voluntary donations to benefit the Waiting List Fund.
PASSED - Low Intensity Support Services (SB 920/HB 1226) - This bill establishes the LISS in statute, clarifies that services are not one-time only, waives the requirement that families of minor children apply for Medicaid, waives the requirement that applicants apply for the Waiting List, and lists the services that are provided.
Click here to read the entire report from The Arc of Maryland. |
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Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner
All Arc members are invited to attend our annual meeting at Newton White Mansion at 6:30 pm on May 20th. We will honor staff for their years of service, thank outgoing board members and elect new members. The cost of the dinner is $10 per person. Payment can be made at the door, or you can pay online by clicking here. Please RSVP to Sarah Logar at 301-925-7050, ext. 230. Click here if you would like to become an Arc member. |
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Thank you Arc Society Members for your generosity!
This year's Arc Society Luncheon was held at the University of Maryland Golf Club in College Park. There are three avenues of entry into The Arc Society. Legacy Members have designated The Arc as a beneficiary in their estate plans. Sustaining Members have provided total contributions of $500 or more. Horizon Members have contributed a minimum of $250 to our Endowment Fund. |
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Spiritual Community Spotlight:
The Archdiocese of Washington Department of Special Needs Ministries supports families in parishes in the District of Columbia, Prince George's, Montgomery, Calvert, St. Mary's, and Charles Counties.
The Department has been active in connecting church members with local resources in the community, as well as hosting conferences and workshops for the greater community. They will be hosting a Religious Education Workshop in Landover Hills on June 5th that will include breakout sessions on the topics of autism, adult catechesis, and more.
In March the Archdiocese hosted a conference on Faith, Deafness, and Disabilities, which was attended by over 260 people. The conference had multiple workshops on both church related topics and community resource topics.
Click here to read more about the efforts of The Archdiocese of Washington.
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 Jack and Jill Beautified a House on a Hill! Two of the Arc's residential homes in Bowie received a springtime renewal last month thanks to the local Prince George's County chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a mother-child service organization.
The volunteers spent the morning and afternoon pulling weeds, laying mulch, and planting flowers at the Needlewood and Starlight homes. The thirty individuals were more than happy to roll up their sleeves to show support for the individuals and families that The Arc serves.
To learn more about how to coordinate a volunteer project like Jack and Jill's, contact Sarah Logar at 301-925-7050 ext. 230, or email her at slogar@thearcofpgc.org. |
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Girl Scouts Give Back
Girl Scouts from 37 troops throughout the area donated cookies purchased through the Gift of Caring project to The Arc of Prince George's County. Giving customers the opportunity to purchase cookies as a donation, the project is a way for people to give back to their community while supporting girl scouting at the same time.
Troops chose The Arc because they knew that their donations would reach residents all over Prince George's County. Boxes of cookies will be delivered to Arc residential homes and day programs. For more information on project partnerships with The Arc, contact Sarah Logar at 301.925.7050 ext. 230. |
|  Ready to Work for YOU! Attention all Employers! Chris Kunkle, Bowie High School graduate and current Office Skills Training Program student, would love to be employed as your administrative assistant!
Chris has wonderful communication skills. He works as an intern at The Arc Administrative Building where has mastered the demanding 17-line phone board. He also has an internship at Trade Prep Non-Profit. You may not currently be hiring, but you may know someone who is. Let's use our networks and help land a job for Chris! Cost-sharing for Chris' wages may be an option! If you are interested in exploring career opportunities for Chris, contact Leah Kimball at 240-289-0115, ext. 230. |
| Upcoming workshops and events: |
Consortium of Care Meeting
May 4th. Click here for details.
Special Olympics Spring Games
Spiritual Community Outreach Committee
Sign Language Class
Appreciation dinner for mothers of children with autism
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Trip to the Zoo
Inclusive Education Action Group
Adolescent Transition Lecture Series: Sexuality and Reproductive Health
Transition 101 Workshop: College Experiences
The Arc of Maryland State Convention
Family Fun Day at Six Flags
Religious Education Workshop
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| The Arc is a great place to work! |
Our latest listing of employment opportunities can be found by clicking here. Please share this listing with your family and friends!
Arc Notes is a publication for members and supporters of The Arc of Prince George's County who have provided us with their e-mail address. Please feel free to give us feedback by replying to this e-mail.
Sincerely, |
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Mac Ramsey
Executive Director
The Arc of Prince George's County
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Step into Spring!
Take 20% off any one item.
Hurry! Offer expires May 31, 2010. (limit one coupon per customer.) | | 11000 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 301-572-4241 Open M-F 10 am - 8 pm, Sat 10 am - 6 pm, Sun 12 pm - 5 pm |
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