PUSH:

Amador County – About 175 people in all participated in the Amador County branch of the 2009 PUSH America Journey of Hope bicycle ride and luncheon at Saint Sava mission Tuesday morning in Jackson. About 60 national members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, from colleges and universities all over the country, rode into Amador County from Sacramento in the early stages of their cross-country ride to reach out to communities, organizations, and people with disabilities. The Arc of Amador Executive Director Mike Sweeney and about 120 people, including his staff members and Arc participants greeted the riders, who set out Sunday from the Golden Gate Bridge on the cross-country ride, called “Journey of Hope.” The destination is Washington D.C., and the ride is to raise awareness and funding for people with disabilities. The Arc, which assists people with disabilities in the community of Amador County, has been a host organization and fundraising beneficiary of Journey of Hope and its Pi Kappa Phi bicyclists for 21 years now. The fraternity has several philanthropic events under its PUSH America program. On Tuesday, Sweeney greeted the riders and their pace vans and treated them to a hotdog lunch on the picnic tables at Saint Sava Mission. Sweeney said in Nevada, the 60 or so riders and their assisting vans will split into a northern route group and a southern route group. He said it was a good way for the program to spread the word to more communities and also to assist more communities. Push America’s website said the group “has been cycling all across the country on behalf of people with disabilities since 1988.” PUSH America has visited more than 30 states, and the “cycling events are carrying with them a message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities.” 2 of the group’s team events, Gear Up Florida and the Journey of Hope, “provide grant funding to partnering organizations, through an application process, located in the cities we visit.” For information online, see PUSHAmerica.org. Story by Jim Reece jim@tspntv.com Story compliment of TSPN. http://www.tspntv.com/national/push-america-2009.html This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Amador Knights of Columbus raise nearly $2,000 for The Arc

From left, the Knights of Columbus' Joe Matthews, Dick Smith and John Bowling present The Arc's Mike Sweeney and Mike Rolf with a check for nearly $2,000.

Photo by: Scott Thomas Anderson

For 36 years The Arc of Amador and Calaveras has been helping people with developmental disabilities live fuller lives. On Wednesday, one of their biggest supporters, the local Knights of Columbus, continued their long-time aid of that goal, issuing The Arc a check for almost $2,000.

Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic federation of men in the world, boasting some 1.9 million. The group was founded in 1882 and opened a chapter in Amador County in 1910. However, the first Knights of Columbus in Amador were short-lived, lasting only until 1922. In 1997 the group was finally re-introduced to the area after a 75-year absence.

The first mission for the new Knights of Columbus was supporting The Arc. Each year the group has held a fund-raiser in which 100 percent of the proceeds goes to The Arc. "They help us out time and again, just like clockwork," said Mike Sweeney, The Arc's executive director. "This year the state is cutting some of our funding for employment, so the aid we're getting from Knights of Columbus is more important than ever."

The goal of The Arc is to provide services to individuals with a wide variety of physical and mental challenges, including mental retardation, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Employees at The Arc work hard to allow each of their clients to have the most independent life possible. The Arc renders supported living, which helps its clients pay bills, shop for groceries and take care of their homes. They also provide clients with employment opportunities and currently have many working in jobs that are rewarding and assist in their independence. According to Sweeney, one of the Arc's most popular services is assisting the clients with recreation and entertainment activities. "We help them go to places like the bowling alley, the movie theater, concerts and big community events," Sweeney said. "It's something the clients really like."

Sweeney said the help from Knights of Columbus would be appreciated by his clients and their families. "We've been here over 35 years, and I think the many families we interact with take comfort knowing we want to be here another 35, making sure their loved ones aren't on their own. We really thank Knights of Columbus for their tireless support of us."

Dick Smith, the Grand Knight who handed Sweeney the check, emphasized that it was a pleasure for his group to be of service. "That's what we're here for," replied Smith. "The Arc's a great organization and we're glad to help them."

CARF

CARF is a not-for-profit organization that accredits several types of specialized services: adult day services; assisted living; behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse); employment and community living services; and medical rehabilitation.

The mission of CARF is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.

CARF will be visiting The Arc of Amador and Calaveras this November and we are in hopes of receiving another three year accreditation, the most an organization can receive. .

The Arc recycles 19,665 pounds of glass, receives award

Friday, June 15, 2007

The Arc of Amador and Calaveras is the 2007 winner of the Recycle Ricky Award for excellence in recycling. The Arc also received a resolution from the Amador County Board of Supervisors recognizing and honoring its recycling efforts.

In 2006, The Arc recycled 796 pounds of aluminum, 701 pounds of plastic and 19,665 pounds of glass. The Arc was nominated and recognized by the California Integrated Waste Management Board and received the Waste Reduction Award Program for its efforts in 2006.

The Amador County Local Task Force on Solid Waste Management, a community-based organization established to address waste management and recycling issues, nominated, deliberated and voted for The Arc to receive this award.

Only recycled-content office paper, paper towels and toilet paper are at the Arc facility. Collection bins for glass, paper and plastic are also located throughout the facility. Food waste is also recycled through vermicomposting or worm composting one of The Arc's areas of interest and their green waste is recycled through backyard composting. As part of recommendations made through an energy audit, provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., efficient lighting, supplemental solar, new window panes and weather stripping have been installed.

In addition to its recycling efforts in the community, Arc is striving for a zero waste workplace with a written policy that guides waste reduction and environmentally conscious habits at their facility. Currently, The Arc recycles all of its fluorescent tubes and bulbs, batteries, printer cartridges and electronic waste. Each desk is provided with a basket for paper recycling.

Mike Rolf, director of services at the Amador site, points out that The Arc has flourished during Executive Director Mike Sweeney's tenure due to his commitment to community involvement.

Rolf said that Sweeney has forged long-term relationships with businesses and agencies that have resulted in many opportunities for the people The Arc serves. "People with developmental disabilities are volunteering at many sites including the Food Bank and Kennedy Mine while 20 people are currently employed at various businesses throughout the county," Rolf said. "The partnership that Sweeney established with East Bay Municipal Utilities District and Camanche Recreation Co. alone has accounted for 17 years of recycling contracts at both Pardee and Camanche. The contracts are performed by work crews from The Arc that are paid minimum wage to service the recycling containers at the two parks."

The Arc is a vocational program that assists developmentally disabled adults by fostering job, life and community service skills. The Arc operates two day programs, two recreation programs, supported living through Whole Life Services and a supported employment program.

The day programs provide skill training and community integration opportunities while the recreation programs offers people the chance to be involved in community events.

Whole Life Services supports people who live on their own in apartments and homes. They assist them with daily living needs by providing such things as transportation to doctors appointments, grocery shopping and help in paying bills.

The Arc's Supported Employment program supports people in finding jobs in the community and maintaining those jobs through job coaching and partnership with the businesses in the community.

Through a contract with Amador County and other agencies to collect recyclables at schools, parks and elsewhere, Arc members have been involved in recycling activities throughout Amador and Calaveras counties since 1991.

The Arc, at 75 Academy Drive in Sutter Creek, offers various social and learning programs for adult developmentally disabled area residents, who must be aged 21 or older to participate. ARC has day programs, community jobs and cooking, language and art activities.

The Arc also teaches computer skills. Some Arc participants take classes at Columbia College, others work various jobs in the community. Participants go to movies and bowl on a regular basis, play bingo and go to dances, parades and the Amador County Fair.

The Knights of Columbus meet every second Tuesday of the month for a business meeting and every fourth Tuesday of the month is Family Night.

For more information about The Arc, call 267-5978.