THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

THE LEAFLET

The View From My Chair

Garden Center Family Spotlight

Amazing Year for GCS Artists

Around GCS

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ISSUE NOV YEAR 2011

A 501(c)(3) NONpROfIt ORgANIzAtION

As many of you already know, this past weekend garden center Services lost a parent that was instrumental in the founding of our organization, and who for over 50 years was a staunch supporter and advocate for her son, for all the individuals we serve, and for the agency she loved so much. Mrs. Dorothy cyga, along with her husband Steve, collaborated with a small group of other parents that had young children with disabilities in the mid 1950s, to establish a setting that would provide care and activities throughout the week. At a small, donated classroom above the bus garage at Revis High School, the foundation was laid for what would become the garden center Services that today supports over 140 adults with developmental disabilities in our two day and multiple residential programs.

It is a deeply accurate statement that agencies like ours, and the programs we provide, wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the tireless asking, demanding, and not settling carried out by so many of our families. though we have made positive strides

in the services available to persons with developmental disabilities and their access to what our communities offer, there are still miles to go for our consumers to fully realize and experience their rights to engaged and

meaningful lives. I believe the strong cooperation and communication between the agency’ staff and the families of those we serve is one of the greatest strengths of our agency, and what helps to distinguish us from other service providers. taking on the responsibility of caring for and protecting your loved ones at either the day program or in our

homes, is something we take very seriously and are committed to. though there may be times we see things differently, I have no doubt that we all have the best interests of our consumers at heart. this is no time to let up on our advocacy efforts. Especially given we’re located in the state of Illinois, we must continue the good fight on behalf of equal rights and adequate funding for persons with developmental disabilities. Let’s make Dorothy proud!

OUR MISSION

Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons

with developmental disabilities through

innovative and person-centered services.

Our commitment to the excellence of our programs

is surpassed only by our devotion to the people we serve and the communities

in which they live.

A MESSAGE FrOM OUr ExECUTIVE dIrECTOr

A 501(c)(3) NONpROfIt ORgANIzAtION

the View from My chair

“...agencies like ours wouldn’t exist if it

wasn’t for the tireless asking, demanding,

and not settling carried out by so many of our

families.”

Lori recently celebrated her third year with garden center. In addition to providing learning opportunities for her group of eight at the main building, Lori writes our monthly staff newsletter and heads up our ink cartridge and small electronics recycling program through think Recycle.

One of Lori’s favorite things at garden center is taking her group out in the community. Last month they visited Odyssey fun farm where they picked pumpkins, checked out the corn maze and watched the pig races.

In her free time, Lori enjoys crocheting and also likes to make personalized greeting cards. Lori says she loves her job because of, “the great people I get to work with...the consumers, the staff, and administration are awesome. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else!”LORI

JAEGER

garden center family SpotlightLisa joined the garden center family this past summer. She loves music and says one of her favorite things about coming to garden center is music class. Lisa takes piano lessons with garden center’s “music lady”, Stephanie Burrow and always makes time in her schedule for the weekly sign-a-long group too. Lisa has an eclectic taste in music, listening to bands from Pitbull to Katie Perry. She also likes to keep up-to-date on her favorite movie star, Johnny Depp.

In her group, Lisa is known for being a hard worker. Her favorite job is folding mail pieces for garden center’s print Shop. Lisa says she loves to get her paycheck and head out shopping! friends says Lisa is “friendly, sweet, and a nice girl”. Lisa is also known for her great sense of humor and for playing practical jokes. Jackie, who works in Lisa’s room, says one of Lisa’s favorite jokes when she heads out for the day, is to say “Have a good weekend!” leaving everyone wondering if it really is the weekend already.

thanks for keeping us on our toes Lisa!

LISAATTON

If you have an item to donate, please email Anne McFerron at amcferron@gardencenterservices.org

GCS BULLETIN BOARDCARSON’s COMMUNITY DAYSSupport Garden Center by purchasing Carson’s Coupon Books. 100% goes to Garden Center and you get fantastic discounts for your holiday shopping!

Purchase books from GCS volunteers at Carson’s in Chicago ridge at the following dates and times:

friday, November 4th 10:00 am - NoonMonday, November 7th 10:00 am - Noon

or contact Michele Hula to make arrangements to purchase a coupon book at Garden Center (708) 398-6506.

GCS 55th Annual

Fashion Show

date: Nov. 6th

Time: 12 - 4pm

Location: Doubletree hotel in Alsip, IL

Join us for fun, food and

fashion at Garden Center’s

Annual Fashion Show Event!

It has been a busy year for garden gallery & Studio and its artists. Over the past year the studio has grown from a handful of people painting for fun to a group of 45 artists who create and sell their imaginative works.

At the end of 2010, garden center received a generous grant from the chicago community trust to help us further our dream of moving the gallery and studio to its own location in our building in tinley park. to accommodate the growing number of artists during the transition, the studio moved to the staff break room at the main building. gerry Beagles, gcS Executive Director, collaborated with the Village of tinley park and local architects to work out what needed to be done to meet village codes and make the studio/gallery a useful, working space. Beagles also worked with local nonprofit business advocates to further develop the studio/gallery’s business plan.

In April, Starbucks began showcasing our art in their stores. garden center Artist’s works now hang in seven Starbucks locations with plans to expand to more locations in the future. In May, garden center Artists entered the Tinley Park Benches on the Avenue competition where their bench Pie Eating Contest was on display along with Beth Kopf’s, garden center’s Resident Artist, award winning bench, Land of the Free.

In July, we opened our online gallery allowing patrons to view and purchase artwork online at www.gardencenterservices.org/artgallery.htm. this past September we added ceramics as an option for artists with the support of volunteer Linda Berk, an experienced ceramics instructor. We also started an online campaign this September to raise awareness and funds for the project on IndiegOgO at www.indiegogo.com/garden-Studio-gallery.

Last month, garden center artists were featured for the second year in Lewis University Caterpillar Gallery’s Local Artist Series. paul franklin and Karen Mcghee, garden center Artists, and Kopf spoke at a reception for the event. franklin and Mcghee were among four artists who had artwork purchased from the show.

Last week, ABc 7’s Karen Meyer visited garden center for a feature on garden center Services and the proposed garden gallery & Studio project. the story will air on ABc’s Sunday Morning News program sometime in December.

We are grateful to the supporters of this project and recognize the amazing impact it has had on all involved. As we reflect on the numerous accomplishments of our artists this past year, we look forward to what is to come. With your continued support, we can help even more of the individuals garden center serves, as well as other individuals with developmental disabilities in our community, to express themselves through the universal language of art.

An Amazing Year for garden Artists!GArdEN

CENTEr’S NEEdS LIST

Gerry and Beth with ABC7’s Karen Meyers and her crew

before the October interview

Electronic Keyboardspool tablepicnic tableszoo passesEvent ticketsNew dishesflat screen tVBookshelfVacuum & attachmentsNew gardening toolsLaptop computerscraft suppliesWall art frames for artworkBlank canvasesX-Box & dance gamesLiving room setXbox Kinectgym dues/passesclub dues

If you have an item to donate, please email Anne McFerron at amcferron@gardencenterservices.org

Garden Center Artist’s works hang in seven Starbucks stores

Paul and Karen pose with Beth by their works at the Caterpillar Gallery Show

Garden Center Artists work in their temporary studio while the Tinley Park

Studio/Gallery is renovated

www.indiegogo.com/garden-Studio-gallerywww.gardencenterservices.org/artgallery.htm

AROUND gcSWHErE WE GrOW dIGNITY ANd INdEPENdENCE

phone 708.636.0054

email info@gardencenterservices.org

web www.gardencenterservices.org

BOArd OF dIrECTOrS

President Barbara Clarke 1st Vice President Scott Hardek 2nd Vice President doug CombsTreasurer r. Pat Ballis

Members: John J. Kunkes Frances MientusLinda Stearns daniel Wenzler Linda Sherwood

http://www.facebook.com/gardencenterservices

http://twitter.com/gardencentersrv

http://www.youtube.com/user/gardencenterservices

November 6th55th Annual Fashion Show

November 4th & 7th

Buy Carson’s Coupon Books for GCS

Important Dates!

Dejuan has some fun at Haunted Trails

Nancy & Jen spend the day at The Art InstituteTim A., Katie & Tim L. smile for the camera

Karen at the Sox Game

DETAILS INSIDE THIS ISSUE!

http://gardencenterservices.wordpress.com/

HAVE SOME EXTRA HOLIDAY DECORATIONS LYING AROUND?

We are looking for gently used christmas decorations to decorate our homes and program buildings inside and out.

Drop off decorations at: garden center’s Board Room 8333 S. Austin Avenue, Burbank November 28th between 8:30am-4:00pm.

Thank You!

S ELA

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE

SUPEr SALE IS NOVEMBEr 13th 12pm-4pm

HALf Off EVERYtHINg IN tHE StORE!44 Stephen Street Lemont, IL

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!

HELP GARDEN CENTER’S Garden Studio & Gallery

& YOU CAN WIN AN iPAD2!

Visit www.indiegogo.com/Garden-Studio-Gallery for details!

Contest ends Nov. 10th