Special Board Meeting

January 27, 2010

This is notification that there will be a Special Meeting of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities January 27, 2010 at 4:45 p.m. at the Wildey Center.  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss placing a levy on the ballot. 

The Wildey Center is located at 2040 US Highway 50, Batavia, OH 45103 (one mile west of Owensville).

Clermont DD Board Reorganization

January 21, 2010

Bob Proud, President of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners, was present at the January 21 meeting of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities to administer the Oath of Office to members for the 2010 calendar year.

The Clermont DD Board uses its January meeting to reorganize by accepting nominations for officers and to determine the date, time, and location of future meetings.  After nominations were closed, the following members were elected as officers:  Wanda Downey, President; Harry Snyder, Vice President; Kim Pellington, Secretary.  The following members will serve on the Ethics Committee:  Harry Snyder, Greg Carson, and Laurie Benintendi.  It was approved that all 2010 meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Thomas A. Wildey Center in Owensville.

Pictured:  Commissioner Bob Proud issuing the Oath of Office to Clermont DD Board members (seated from left):  Wanda Downey, Goshen Township; Jen Mailloux, Miami Township; Greg Carson, Williamsburg Township.  Standing from left:  Laurie Benintendi, Union Township; Sheila Madden, Loveland; and Kim Pellington, Miami Township.  Harry Snyder of Stonelick Township was running late and was sworn in when he arrived..

Collections for Haiti

January 21, 2010

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities is collecting items for Haiti during the months of January and February.  The public is invited to drop off the following at any Clermont DD location:  canned/non-perishable foods, personal care items, cleaning products, First Aid supplies. 

The items will be collected by adults who attend Clermont DD programs and delivered to Matthew 25: Ministries for shipping to Haiti.  Donations are welcome 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday at the following locations: 

4231 Grissom Drive, Batavia, OH 45103 (Clermont County Airport Industrial Park)

4275 Armstrong Boulevard, Batavia, OH 45103 (Clermont County Airport Industrial Park)

2040 US Highway 50, Batavia, OH 45103 (one mile west of Owensville)

For more information, call (513) 732-4921 or ldavis@clermontdd.org.

Clermont DD Board Meeting

January 5, 2010

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Clermont DD) will hold their Annual Reorganizational Meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 6 p.m. at the Thomas A. Wildey Center, located at 2040 US Highway 50, Batavia, OH 45103 (near Owensville).   In addition to their regular business meeting, Board members will take the Oath of Office, elections will be held for 2010 officers, and a schedule of meetings will be set for the rest of the year.  For additional information, please call 732-4921.

Excerpt from Board Policy 209 – Regulation Governing Appearance before the Board of Developmental Disabilities

Any individual or group may address the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities concerning any subject that lies within the Board’s jurisdiction.  Questions are to be directed to the Board as a whole and may not be put to any individual member of the Board or the Administrative staff.

Anyone wishing to address the Board shall notify the Superintendent in writing at least seven (7) days in advance excluding Sundays and Holidays, and request to be placed on the Board agenda.  The President shall allocate the amount of time that can be used in the presentation of any subject presented to the Board.

Goshen Students Perform

December 18, 2009

Students from Goshen High School’s Show Choir visited the Thomas A. Wildey Center in Owensville on December 18, 2009.  Their performance of holiday songs was both engaging and interactive for the audience of over 80 people from the Adult Services Department of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (formerly MRDD).

Nominations Are Now Open

December 11, 2009

The Cincinnati Center for Autism is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Night of the Stars Honoree. 

The Cincinnati Center for Autism was founded in October of 2003 with the mission of providing programs and treatment options to the children with autism, as well as support and resources for families affected by ASD.  The Center is family founded, and family focused, and strives to be a place of comfort and support for all families, not just those accessing our services.

We are asking for nominations of individuals with the following qualities:

**actions that parallel the mission and goals of the Center

**enduring commitment to the autism community of Greater Cincinnati

**committment to bettering the lives of individuals with ASD and their families

**contributions that have touched and impacted the lives of individuals with ASD and their familiies.

The 2010 Honoree will be recognized at our annual Night of the Stars Gala fundraising event.  Please provide nominations in writing to the Nomination Committee, c/o Cincinnati Center for Autism through email: info@cincinnaticenterforautism.com or by sending to: 

100 Office Park Drive, Suite H

Fairfield, OH 45014

Nominations will be accepted until January 15, 2010.  Please call Amanda Tipkemper-Sparks, Executive Director, for any additional information about this process:  513-874-6789.

Knights of Columbus Give Back

December 9, 2009

The Amelia Knights of Columbus Msgr. Gerdes Council #3123 recently presented $2,512.80 to organizations that work with individuals who have disabilities.

Clerco, Inc./Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Wildey School, and Clermont Special Olympics are the agencies that will split the donation this year, each receiving $837.60 to be used in 2010 for various activities:  for holiday parties at Clermont DD, to fund special projects and field trips for children and teenagers at the Wildey School, and for athletic fees at Special Olympics events for Clermont County athletes.

For several years, the Knights of Columbus have collected money in public areas, sold raffle tickets, and organized other fundraising events for the Clermont DD/Clerco and Special Olympics programs.  These are just a few of the organizations that benefit from the Msgr. Gerdes Council’s “Measure Up” campaign.  This program is one of their main charitable events and takes place with the help of many Council members.  Additionally, they collect donations on behalf of several other Ohio charities and make yearly donations to St. Vincent de Paul.

The Msgr. Gerdes Council actively participates with the Boy Scouts of America, American Heritage Girls, and other youth organizations.  For more information on the Amelia Knights of Columbus, call (513) 797-8868.

Pictured from left are Ryan Chowning, Wildey Student and Special Olympic athlete from Miami Township; Asia Moore of Batavia, representing the Wildey School; Larry Bush, Chancellor, Msgr. Gerdes Council #3123; Shaun Steward of Union Township representing Clerco, Inc.; Mark Hudak, Grand Knight, Msgr. Gerdes Council #3123; and Joe Boyce of MiamiTownship, representing Special Olympics.

Clermont DD Monthly Meeting

November 30, 2009

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Clermont DD) will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 8.   This meeting will take place at 5 p.m. the Thomas A. Wildey Center, located at 2040 US Highway 50, one mile west of Owensville.  Please call (513) 732-4921 for more information.

Excerpt from Board Policy 209 – Regulation Governing Appearance before the Board of MRDD:  Any individual or group may address the Clermont County Board of MRDD concerning any subject that lies within the Board’s jurisdiction.  Questions are to be directed to the Board as a whole and may not be put to any individual member of the Board or the Administrative staff.

Anyone wishing to address the Board shall notify the Superintendent in writing at least seven (7) days in advance excluding Sundays and Holidays, and request to be placed on the Board agenda.  The President shall allocate the amount of time that can be used in the presentation of any subject presented to the Board.

Public Hearing Notification

November 9, 2009

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 5 p.m. to receive input from interested individuals that will be considered in the development of the 2010 Annual Action Plan.  A draft copy of this plan will be available to the public prior to the hearing and will be posted on the Clermont DD website (www.clermontdd.org).

If you cannot attend the meeting but wish to provide comments/feedback for the 2010 Annual Action Plan, you may do so by calling (513) 732-4921 or by sending an e-mail to ldavis@clermontdd.org.   

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities appreciates the input it receives each year; it continues to be a pleasure to serve individuals with developmental disabilities in our community!

Local Employers Recognized

October 15, 2009

In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness, the Clermont County Business Advisory Council (BAC) recognized its 2009 Employer of the Year Awards on October 9 at the Clermont Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.  Frisch’s (Eastgate and Batavia) and Rivertown IGA were the honored recipients.

Harold Bryant, manager of the Batavia Frisch’s Restaurant and Brian Harvey, manager of the Eastgate branch, were recognized as the Large Company “Employer of the Year.”  Throughout 2009, both employers have arranged Community Based Work Assessments which help train individuals with disabilities in real-life work environments.  In addition, Bryant and Harvey have both hired permanent employees with disabilities within each of their restaurants and have assisted in coordinating transition-to-work opportunities for high school students. 

Rivertown IGA in New Richmond received the Small Company “Employer of the Year” award, with Linda Singleton-Taylor and Carol Porter accepting the award.  Singleton-Taylor, IGA owner, and her staff provide an excellent training site for community based work assessments, assist with transitioning high school students into the workplace, and have hired numerous individuals with disabilities to work in various capacities within the New Richmond store (stock clerk, baggers, and delicatessen clerks).  Singleton-Taylor and her staff truly go above and beyond to make each experience successful.

“Clermont County is strengthened by companies such as Frisch’s and Rivertown IGA,” said Scott Brown, BAC co-chair and Program Coordinator for the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  “The BAC is proud to work with these and other valued employers in our community to assist individuals with disabilities to gain work skills that will help them achieve positions within positive work environments.”

Agencies who are members of the Clermont County Business Advisory Council include the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Workforce One of Clermont County, the Clermont Counseling Center’s Work Initiative Network, the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, and the Clermont County Office of Economic Development.  Each year, the Clermont Chamber of Commerce allows the BAC to honor Employers of the Year at their October Legislative Luncheon.  

Pictured left to right are award winners and BAC Committee members Scott Brown, Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Clermont DD); Crystal Nudo, Clermont Counseling Center’s Work Initiative Network (WIN); Carol Porter, Rivertown IGA Assistant Office Manager; Linda Singleton-Taylor, Rivertown IGA Owner; Brian Harvey, Eastgate Frisch’s; Cathy Sahlfeld, Workforce One of Clermont County; Harold Bryant, Batavia Frisch’s; Michelle Doole, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (ORSC); Lynne Daley, WIN; Eugene Johnson, Clermont DD; Denise Gleason, ORSC; Kathleen Turner, WIN.