About Merrick, Inc.  

Help us continue to find meaningful work for the clients of Merrick by suggesting business partners who might be interested in hiring a client or a work crew. Send referrals to Executive Director John Wayne Barker at: JWB@merrickinc.org 

Check out the Virtual Tour

About Merrick, Inc.  

 

Greetings!

In 1999, I was working at Lake Area Bank and involved with Merrick as its banker and volunteering my time at fundraising events. I had no idea the impact the clients at Merrick could have on me or the culture of a business. That all changed when Merrick approached me about the possibility of having a client work at the bank. 

 

At first, I was like many of the businesses we approach, not knowing what hiring a client would entail and I was honestly a little hesitant. After further discussion with Merrick staff, I recognized that bringing someone in to shred documents would free up tellers to better serve customers and finish required paper work. After meeting the client who I will call "Alice", I became excited to bring her in to the bank. 

Since 1964 we have been working together to improve the lives of adults with disabilities. Join in the celebration as we flashback to our past, honoring the roots of Merrick, Inc., through a night of frolicking, 60's style fun! [Period dress encouraged, but not required]  

 

What: 2012 Golden Gala

When: Friday, October 12 | 6-11 pm

Where: Prom Center | Oakdale, MN

Why: To raise funds in support of our mission to empower adults with disabilities! 

 

Get all the details at: http://bit.ly/Goldengala2012registration❖

 

Jayne Lois (Neidermier) Frank

We pay tribute to Jayne Frank, who passed away on September 8, 2012. Jayne was an early and dedicated advocate for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and a parent of a client at Merrick. She joined the St. Paul Arc when it started in 1951 and later served several terms on their Board of Directors. She was the recipient of the Virginia McKnight Binger Award from The McKnight Foundation through a nomination for her work at Merrick. Along with that award she won numerous other awards for her relentless work advocating for people with developmental disabilities. She helped establish Merrick's annual client holiday party, and was an original member of the Golden Gala (formerly Gold Plate Dinner) planning committee. Jayne served on Merrick's Board for many years, and was President during a remodeling phase in the '90s, utilizing her professional skills as a interior designer. We celebrate her beautiful life and extend our sympathies to her family.❖

Seeking BOT member for three-year term

We are currently seeking an "advocate" nominee for our Board of Trustees (BOT) to serve a three-year term beginning in December 2012. An advocate member needs to have someone in their family with a disability, preferably an intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD). We would like to find a person between the ages of 25-35 years and from a minority population to better balance the composition of the BOT. 

 

Additionally, the BOT nominee should have an interest in our mission and offer unique skills, experiences, and community connections to enhance the breadth and depth of the BOT. In particular, the Board seeks someone with skills/experience in any of the following areas: 

• Lobbying and Political Backgrounds
• Sales and/or Marketing
• Communications
• Entrepreneurial Experiences
• Finance and Accounting

Please refer nominees to Volunteer & Events Coordinator Jo Ann Lizakowski at 651-789-6207 or joannl@merrickinc.org for more information. Family members of clients at Merrick encouraged to apply!❖

Steven K. celebrates ten years with Merrick this year and ten years in the workforce. Prior to coming to Merrick, Steven spent his days at home. He now thrives as an active part of his community, earns a living, and enjoys the friendships he has created through working on the Par Aide and Smith Micro Tech crews at Merrick. He is the nucleus of the crew---making sure the quality is high for the large volume of golf course marker stakes that the crew produces each day. 

Steven K. at work in Vadnais Heights

 

Beyond work, Steven participates in softball and basketball through Boston Health Care Systems, Inc., and enjoys playing the Wii when he's at home. He is a yearly attendee at Camp Friendship and likes to joke around with his peers, staff, and neighbors. When it comes to Merrick fundraisers, Steven is the king of volunteering at the Golf Schamble and Golden Gala---he loves helping Merrick raise funds for the benefit of fellow clients. If you ever need a historian about East St. Paul---Steven is your man. He is knowledgeable and insightful about the immediate community he has been involved with for decades.

 

Steven is unassuming, engaging, enthusiastic, honest, sensitive, polite, loyal, and good-natured. He takes pride in using Metro Mobility to get to and from work. In October of this year, Steven will accomplish a huge personal milestone when he moves out of a foster home into an apartment with a roommate, another client at Merrick. This was a long-held goal for him, so congratulations are in order. The new roommates will share an affordable two-bedroom apartment with access to bike paths, lakes, a workout room and swimming pool. Steven said, "It will be like being on vacation all the time!" Steven reminds us that hard work, living on one's own, community building, and being independent are wonderful human values to celebrate. 

 

Get to know more clients of Merrick with the client spotlight stories on our website: http://bit.ly/clientspotlight ❖