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We partner with:
Zimmer | Madich is a full service advertising design firm who has been in business for over 15 years. A very diverse client base keeps creative fresh and impactful. From branding, product launches, web sites, advertising and trade shows, Zimmer | Madich excels at taking complex and technical information and turning it into compelling creative that meets the needs of the target audience.
Please choose to support our partners with your spending dollars!
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Feedback
We value your feedback. Please let us know how we can improve this newsletter, or if you have suggestions for future articles or content, contact
Marketing & Communications Coordinator Emberly Hermann-Johnson via email at
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We seek your referrals!
Help us continue to find meaningful work for the clients at 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:
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Let's Celebrate
Together!
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Greetings!
Is it really August all ready? This year is flying by. We have much to look forward to this fall as we kick off our 50th anniversary celebration year with the Golden Gala on the 10th of October, followed by an unveiling of a new donor recognition wall in the lobby at our main program site in Vadnais Heights. Development & Communications Director Karen Herrera shares more details in her column below. We salute the U of M work crew celebrating 20 years of service this month, along with several clients earning service awards at our annual client awards ceremony. With the ushering in of 245D, the MN Department of Human Services (DHS) new licensing requirements, we have made several changes to our leadership structure. Read the details below. As always our mission to empower adults with disabilities guides our work. We have much to celebrate. Won't you join us? ❖
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Members of the Shooting Stars Self-Advocacy group
enjoying an ice cream social.
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Celebrating Fifty Years by Karen Herrera
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October 1st of this year will mark the beginning of Merrick's 50th anniversary celebrations. Over the years, Merrick has grown from providing recreational activities for fifteen adults with intellectual or development disabilities in St. Paul to being a premier provider of day training and habilitations services to over 375 adults in the Northeastern Twin Cities.
We have met such great success with the support of hundreds of employer and business partners, countless volunteers, and the many clients and families whom we have served with pride. At our gala on October 10th we will recognize fifty of the contributors to our success as "Shining Stars." I hope you will join us to congratulate them and show your support of Merrick as we begin our next fifty years of empowering adults with disabilities. Invitations will be mailed in early September, and individual seating and sponsorships can be purchased on our website.
In December we will unveil our donor wall in the foyer of the 3210 Labore building. We look forward to recognizing the supporters who helped build Merrick into the industry leader it is today. The wall will be a permanent reminder to all of what can be accomplished when we put our resources together.
Next summer we will continue to enhance our building's physical presence with additional client "photos on canvas" and an additional panel added to our timeline in the main hallway. We look forward to these daily visual reminders of the importance of our work and the individuality of clients at Merrick, and I invite you for a tour. I'd be happy to walk you through the building and introduce you to some of our "Shining Stars" - the clients at Merrick. You can reach me by phone at 651-789-6202 or email me at
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U of M crew cheers twenty years on the job
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Staff Ellen Otto (left) and four of the hardworking U of M crew members pose for a photo in Merrick's greenhouse.
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From a connection made through the mother of a client two decades ago, this month we celebrate a twenty-year partnership between the University of Minnesota and Merrick, Inc. The U of M work crew typically consists of eight clients along with key support staff over the years. Support Service Staff Ellen Otto has been with the crew for 14 of those 20 years.
The crew is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting planting containers in the greenhouse on the St. Paul U of M campus; they occasionally work in outdoor areas as well. Some on the crew have specific tasks they oversee such as John who sorts and places the plant stakes after they have been disinfected. When asked about her job, crew member Sara proclaimed, "I love my job!"
Celebrating this twenty year partnership is a great reminder that our community connections truly sustain our work of empowering adults with disabilities. Way to go David, John, Eric, Sara, Juan, Brian, and Christina! ❖
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Client award ceremonies recognize milestones
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At two ceremonies this August, Merrick recognized 58 clients for their years of service. This year, Cathy E., surrounded by siblings, extended family, and housemates was recognized as the longest serving client, with 35 years at Merrick.
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The dual award ceremonies are a highlight of the year for
many clients and staff.
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All recipients had a moment in the spotlight with recognition and applause as Valerie Boettcher, the facilitator of the event and our Independent Services Work Procurement Manager, read a personalized narrative about the gifts each client bring to Merrick. Many family members, friends, house staff and Merrick employees were on hand to share in the celebration.
Once again, Linda Studley from LS Original Photography captured the pride of each client with a formal portrait after receiving their award. Linda has learned the names of many of the clients and has developed a familiar relaxed connection with them in hopes of getting a great photo. Thank you to Linda for sharing her time and talents in this celebration for the past thirteen years.
Special acknowledgements to Valerie for all the preparation work on the event and to her exceptional "assistant", our receptionist, Dorin Cimbura, who prepared the invitations, the certificates, and even the roses handed out to each of the recipients.
Congratulations to all 58 clients who received an award this year. We are very proud to have been a part of your journey thus far. ❖
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Two new Directors join leadership team
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With the ushering in of the new 245D licensing rule issued by the Department of Human Services comes changes to our program leadership structure. On July 1, Dede Hauck (28 years at Merrick) and Robin Mallek (21 years at Merrick) officially began their duties as Program Directors. Previous Program Director Colleen Timbers is transitioning to her new role as Program Training & Resource Director. Read all the Director Team bios online at www.merrickinc.org/director-bios.html
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New Program Directors Dede Hauck (left) and Robin Mallek
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Another management structure change comes with the new title "Program Support Manager". This position that will focus on managing Support Service Staff and daily program operations. Another position created called "Program Plan Coordinator" focuses on the case management tasks required by 245D.
We now begin the process of filling support staff positions vacated with these promotions and we encourage you to refer friends and family members that might be interested in full and/or part-time positions. Visit the job openings section of our website for more info: www.merrickinc.org/index.php/job-openings
With beginnings, also comes endings, July 1 marked new terrain for Merrick with Finance & Development Director Mike Greenbaum transitioning to his new role as Executive Director of our partner nonprofit Newtrax. Merrick's IT manager Mel Schroyer also joined Newtrax on July 1. Mike and Mel both still office at Merrick's 3210 location while waiting for the new Newtrax headquarters location to be finalized. Both will remain connected to Merrick through their work at Newtrax.
Executive Director John Wayne Barker said, "We have entered into this labyrinth of change forced by 245D, it is now up to us to take a deep breath, unite together, and find our way knowing that at the center of our journey lies our mission of empowering adults with disabilities. Keeping our focus on the clients will help unite us and keep us strong through these transitions." ❖
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