times spring 2016
a publication of Mosaic in Beatrice | www.mosaicinbeatrice.org
Meaningful Life PEOPLE FIRST by Wendy Doyle and Lori Broady About a year ago, all we knew was that we wanted to start a local chapter of the People First of Nebraska. With the help and dedication of many at Mosaic in Beatrice and Lori Broady, mother of Michelle Broady who Mosaic helps to support, this quickly took off. This is a self-advocay group run for and by people with intellectual disabilities. We never could have imagined the amount of individuals that have joined and become involved.
Vanover, Vice President Jackie Wood, Treasurer Randy Grabowski, Secretary Doug Ratcliff, State Board Member Representative Karl Boerger. Other leadership positions that were filled include Elaine Richards, chair of fund
Members of the group work to improve their decision-making abilities, gain self-confidence and develop assertiveness skills. They also learn to make choices that affect their lives and to accept the responsibilities of those choices. After Mark Matulka, Governmental Affairs Director at Mosaic, spoke at their last meeting,
“The group is excited about raising awareness.� In December, members of People First started campaigning for different elected positions within the group. The People First of Beatrice organization held its election of officers on January 14, 2016. The officers for the 2016 term included: President Bob
2016, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Beatrice. With the help and support of many individuals and organizations, the People First organization raised over $700 to help provide funding for future activities and programming.
Bob Vanover campaigning for President.
raising committee, Michelle Broady, chair of prom committee, and Nancy Snell, chair of T-shirt committee. The People First of Beatrice held its first fundraising event on February 28,
People First Soup Luncheon, From Left: Elaine Richards, Tammy Richards, Nicole Hanshaw
the group is excited about raising awareness and helping with the campaign to get people with intellectual disabilities out to vote in the upcoming election.
People First Officers, From Left: Karl Boerger, Bob Vanover, Randy Grabowski, Jackie Wood and Doug Ratcliff.
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For more information, contact lbroady@gmail.com or wendy.doyle@mosaicinfo.org
Mosaic Times
Giving A Voice
Mosaic Allied Voices
BRINGING A LOCAL SENATOR IN TO LEARN ABOUT MOSAIC
When decisions are being made about important issues like services, homes and health care, people with intellectual disabilities should have a right to express their opinions. Too often, they have no chance to speak. You can become an advocate.
Nebraska Sen. Dan Watermeier was thrilled to be invited to Mosaic in Beatrice to be part of the monthly community tour, called Discover the Possibilities. Watermeier is the Nebraska Legislature senator for District 1 and the chair of the Legistative Performance Audit Committee which identified gaps in the Nebraska Behavioral Health System in a November 30 audit. During the tour, Sen. Watermeier said, “This place is covered. Mosaic is a Witness in Christ. The staff loyalty was incredible. I heard 15 years. 25. 30 years. Some people have been here for so long. Also, that goes hand-in-hand with residents. When you talk with them, they’re tickled. It feels like a campus setting, it feels like home to them. That was impressive, I thought.
Staff loyalty and the happiness of the residents are impressive.” We always love opening our doors to the community and showing them all that we do. We were really humbled that Sen. Watermeir took time to come and learn about us and see the great things that we are doing. On February 3, we were again blessed with Sen. Watermeier’s company at the Arc Senatorial Supper. Three individuals and Lori Broady, mother of a person in service, went to this supper to learn about bills in the legislature that will have an impact on them directly. This was such a great learning experience and we were glad to have Senator Watermeier with us to help us navigate what the legislative bills could mean for the people we support.
Become a Mosaic Allied Voices volunteer. Go to www.mosaicalliedvoices.org and sign up with your email address. When issues that impact people with intellectual disabilities are identified, you will receive an email alert asking you to contact your elected official. We promise you will only be contacted when there are critical issues that need immediate attention. You can be the voice of a person who would otherwise be silenced. Help them be heard.
Connect with Mosaic in Beatrice! mosaicinbeatrice.org mosaicinfo.org/blog facebook.com/mosaicinbeatrice twitter.com/mosaicpossible donate.mosaicinfo.org/beatrice
Arc Senatorial Supper, From Left: Bob Vanover, Senator Watermeier, Karl Boerger, Michelle Broady
Mosaic Times is published by Mosaic in Beatrice | 722 S. 12th St. | P.O. Box 607 Beatrice, NE 68310-0607 | 402.223.4066 | www.mosaicinbeatrice.org Executive Director Community Relations Manager
debbie.herbel@mosaicinfo.org wendy.doyle@mosaicinfo.org
Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life. Integrity at Mosaic If you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org
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Relationships Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America. Non-discrimination Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status. To be added or removed from the mailing list or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given. ©2016 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
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Greetings!
Support Mosaic
ALL AROUND MOSAIC by Alicia Buhr and Renee McAllister
YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE BUSINESSES HELPS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE RECEIVING MOSAIC SERVICES
We have been blessed with some nice spring like weather so far, so hopefully the good Ol’ Nebraska winter weather stays away! We continue to be very busy in all areas here at Mosaic. The People First Group has been organized and is going strong! Their first fundraiser was a soup luncheon and it was a huge success with many in attendance! Lori and Jeff Broady make some awesome chili and chicken noodle soup! Thank you Lori and Jeff Broady for the luncheon that you served to Mosaic in Beatrice staff and also your dedication to the People First group! I hear the group is looking into attending the National People First Conference in the fall! Very exciting for everyone involved!
The Bargain Box Located at 506 Court Street in Beatrice, this business offers a wide variety of reasonably priced donated items for sale. The store now has new hours, Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Jackie Wood holding a Jack Russell puppy
What is better than going on a van ride out to the farm to see a staff member’s Jack Russell puppies? Staff and residents decided it was such a beautiful day; they had better go out to the farm to see them. After playing with the puppies, they were shown the different animals on the farm and all the farm equipment. We all enjoyed seeing the animals and spending the afternoon outdoors. What a great treat!
Friends Learning Center A unique business conveniently located just off the highway at 29107 Hwy. 77, south of Beatrice, the Mosaic Friends Learning Center has handmade crafts and gift items that can also be customized for you. Stop in during the week between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Screen Printing Mosaic in Beatrice offers a complete line of screen-printing services for any job you might have, large or small. Looking for new office shirts? Need apparel for your team or family reunion? We can help! For more information, please call 402.223.4066 x317 or email cindy. lillibridge@mosaicinfo.org
Save the Date From left: Lori Broady and Michelle Broady. Jeff, Lori and Michelle Broady brought lunch out and served to all Mosaic in Beatrice Staff.
I would like to send a shout out to Brooke Kreutzer, one of our newest family members here at Mosaic. Brooke came to us in October of 2015 and has done an amazing job of adapting to her new home and work. Brooke brings a beautiful smile and a laugh to whomever is around her with her witty personality, contagious smile and overall happy attitude!
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Wayne Pumel and Jeremy Woodard holding Jack Russell puppies
Plans are in the making for many of the folks to take vacations. Along with this we stay very active in the community attending spring baseball games, Mahoney State park, Special Olympics, Omaha Storm Chasers games, fishing, dirt track tracing and numerous other events!
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April 27 Partners in Possibilities annual Fundraising event. This will be held at Classic’s in Beatrice, at 12:00 p.m., lunch provided. If you would like to attend please contact Wendy Doyle at 402.223.4066 x351. April 23 Family and Friends Association Meeting This will be held at the Upstream Brewery in Omaha, NE., at 11:30 a.m.
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722 S. 12th St. | P.O. Box 607 Beatrice, NE 68310-0607
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A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Caring Community SO MANY PARTNER WITH MOSAIC TO PROVIDE A CARING COMMUNITY On October 9, during our Fall Festival, Beatrice Ford staff donated their time Beatrice Ford Lincoln hosted two and brought out vehicles and even test-drive events, The Lincoln Motor prizes for many. Company’s Driven to Give and Ford’s Drive 4 UR Community, that helped us From about 9:00 a.m. that morning raise $4,940 for the people of Mosaic. until about 4:00 p.m. that evening,
they were continuously taking people on drives in the new Lincoln vehicles. Not only were the staff of Mosaic having fun, but the people in service would come to get a ride and the staff of Beatrice Ford was so eager to take them. During this event, Beatrice Ford did not try to sell any vehicles; they did not try to make any money that day. Beatrice Ford staff were just there to help Mosaic in Beatrice raise funds to help the people that we support. We cannot say enough about the kindness and compassion they showed all of us. We are grateful to live in such a caring community.
Beatrice Ford, From Left: Chad Hernandez, Ray Hernandez, Alicia Buhr, Brenda Laflin
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