Volume 59, Number 4
Fall, 2004

TWIN CHARITABLE PAINTING PROJECTS HIGHLIGHT SEASON!

Chicago PDCA/FCA came to town with a Charitable Painting Project this Fall at the Clearbrook Home in Mount Prospect.

Two painters, recruited from Beatty Decorating and Leopardo, finished all interior work within a week's time.

Clearbrook began close to 50 years ago through the efforts of a group of parents seeking services for their children suffering from mental retardation.

The agency began as a school that provided opportunities for growth and development, with services that were not available elsewhere within the community.

As the first recipients aged, Clearbrook came to be an organization that could respond throughout the lifespan of handicapped adults.

Initiation of vocational services occurred as the Clearbrook students completed their education. Then with the acquisition of vocational behaviors and skills came the need for employment services... initially as a center-based workshop program and ultimately including community-based job opportunities.

Residential services developed in response to needs for housing and independence that many sought. Children's services were re-introduced in 1974, as the awareness of the importance of early intervention in the lives of infants and toddlers with special needs became an industry focal point. Today, Clearbrook serves over 1600 families with young children with developmental delays and adults with developmental disabilities.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES INCLUDE...

Child and Family Connections -- One of the 25 service coordination units for the state of Illinois, serving as the "front door" to families throughout North and Northwest Cook County for early intervention services, including intake, evaluation, referral, and support.

CHILD Program -- (Clearbrook Helps Infants Learn and Develop) provides an expanse of direct services to very young children who exhibit delays in reaching their developmental milestones. An interdisciplinary, family-focused approach is the hallmark of this program.

Take-A-Break Respite -- This program matches trained volunteers with families of young children with special needs. The volunteer provides regularly scheduled times for the handicapped child's parent to receive relief from their daily responsibilities, while knowing their child is in the best of care.

The Compuplay Program -- An innovative program that uses technology, an array of hardware and software, to break through the barriers of disabilities and introduce individualized learning opportunities to young children.

The Alex Leone Equipment Lending Library -- Affords community members the opportunity to borrow pieces of therapeutic and adaptive equipment for use at home.

Clearbrook's Lekotek Program -- This program is part of a national network of resources utilizing play as a means to develop cognitive, physical and social skills. It makes specially-adapted toys available for home loan.

Chicago PDCA/FCA conducted a Charitable Painting Project at the Clearbrook Home, a group facility for handicapped people, in Mount Prospect this Fall.

ADULT SERVICES INCLUDE...

Residential Facilities -- Homes are located throughout northwest suburban Cook County, as well as one located in Lake County. Ranging from one-person homes to a 92-bed facility that offers 24-hour nursing care, this program offers levels of support and supervision commensurate with the needs of the individuals.

In-Home Program -- This provides one-on-one, goalbased services within the family home.

Clinical Services -- A full complement of therapies and professional services are made available. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, counseling and behavioral supports, psychological and psychiatric consultations and assistive technology are all elements of this program.

Developmental Training -- Offers a full day program structured to help participants acquire new skills and refine existing skills in daily living, communication, decision-making, and socialization. Emphasis is placed upon community participation and integration.

Seniors Program -- This plan provides a supportive environment to aging adults who suffer developmental disabilities. They are supported to maintain an optimal level of social, emotional and physical well-being.

Employment Services -- A spectrum of job services is availablt to furnish individuals with skills, experience, and opportunities to productively engage in meaningful work that matches identified interests. Community-based and program-based environments are both available.

Above (left to right) at the Clearbrook project were Miles Beatty and Ron Wulf (Beatty Decorating Company), Dave Hatcher, Norb Soltysiak, and Gavin Barcley (The Leopardo Companies) and Clearbbrook residents Vicki Selman, Buffy Sholl, Susie Hoeg, Libby Borkon, and Pam Ladore. Below, Ron and Dave at work.

Did you know that your chocolate habit can reveal your age. It's true... just try this exercise. First, write down the number of times a week that you normally eat chocolate. It should be more than once, but less than 10 times. Now, multiply this number by two and add 5. Multiply the total by 50. If you have already had your birthday this year, then add 1754; if you haven't, add 1753. Subtract the four-digit year that you were born. Your grand total will be a three-digit number. Check it out...the first digit will be your original number (how many times you have chocolate each week) and the next two numbers are your age!

Here are the top ten things you will never hear from a business consultant:

1. You're right; we're billing you way too much for this.
2. Bet you I can go a week without saying "synergy" or "value-added".
3. How about paying us based upon the success of this project?
4. This whole strategy is based on some Harvard business case I read about.
5. Actually, the only difference is that we charge more than they do.
6. I don't really know enough to speak intelligently about that.
7. Implementation? Actually, I only care about writing long reports.
8. I can't take the credit. It was Ed in your marketing department who did it.
9. The problem is, you have too much work for too few people.
10. Everything looks okay to me. You really don't need my services.

Straight to us from the 2004 Darwin Awards competition comes the story of the late James Burns, 34, (a mechanic) of Alamo, Michigan, who was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a "farm-type truck." Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway whilst Burns himself hung precariously underneath the vehicle to ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Unfortunately, Burns' clothing got snagged by something before he could complete the mission...and the other man found him literally "wrapped around the driveshaft."

Ken Charles Barger, 47, may be the runner-up. He accidentally shot himself to death last December in Newton, North Carolina after awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed. Reaching for the phone, he picked up his Smith & Wesson .38 instead, and it discharged when he drew it to his ear. (For whatever reason, residents of Southern states always seem to figure prominently among Darwin nominees.)

Special bags of pink-and-white M&M candy will be on sale this Fall to raise funds for breast cancer research. The bags are clearly marked, and it would be appreciated if you can help get the word out so we can beat this thing. Women fear and fight breast

cancer, including those closest and dearest to us...so let's do all we can to support this cause. Masterfoods has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new pink-and-white M&M candies. For each eight-ounce bag of the special candies sold, Masterfoods will donate 50 cents to the foundation. Pass this information on to help save lives. And, the next time you want a treat, pick up a bag of pink-and-white M&M's to donate to a great cause while satisfying your sweet tooth!

TOM & MARIANNE HESTER RECONSIDER THEIR WINTER HOME LOCATION...

Will Rogers had great observations about growing old that still apply today. First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way, and I've traveled a long way when some of the roads weren't paved. Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, remember Algebra. Fifth ~ You know that you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks. Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been. Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. Tenth ~ Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf. Finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

An independent trucker named John Holmgren, of Shafer, Minnesota, has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C. John has been "pulled over" numerous times by troopers who just want their picture taken with the truck. Watch out for John's truck...it just might be rolling through Illinois!

SIX SIMPLE STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM

In his book "Independently Wealthy," Dr. Robert Goodman, senior economic advisor at Putman Investments, reviews several proven strategies for achieving financial security. Hey, no need to reinvent the wheel here. Let's just borrow a few of his ideas!

First and foremost, we need to develop a plan. Jot down how much you can consistently save each month; then stick to the plan religiously.

Second, we need to add up these savings to see if they will be enough. Multiply how much you are saving each month by the number of months you have until you want to be financially independent. This tells how long (or short) the fuse is. What sort of income will this provide for you? How does this figure compare with what you'll need to live?

Third, we need to build our savings in tax-sheltered accounts wherever possible. How much will be in your 401(k)? How much will be in your IRA? Will you use tax-sheltered annuities? Will any savings go into tax-protected educational accounts? The vehicles we use can be changed from time to time in order to maximize results.

Fourth, we must always pay ourselves first. Take dedicated savings "off the top" before you have time to think about it...no matter how modest the amount. Employer plans are made to order for this, but if one isn't available (or if you're maxed out), set up your own with a mutual fund company. By investing regularly (the so-called "dollar cost averaging") one will automatically average out the ups and downs of the market.

Fifth, we need to protect the money that we've invested. Is it diversified? Is it structured to fit your level of risk tolerance? Is it balanced to include bonds as well as stocks?

Sixth, we need to be there for the rallies. This means we need to buy and hold. We all worry about being in the market when it collapses when the real danger is not being in the market when it climbs. While we all think we'll quickly jump back in a down market that's starting to climb, studies show that we do this too late. We miss part of the rally. Even though it has gone out of style in some quarters, most financial advisors still believe that it is better to buy and hold rather than to dodge in and out of the market. That's why mutual funds were invented...to let the money managers take care of those buys and sells.

NEXT ISSUE:
WATCHING THE MARKET...
HISTORY MAY REPEAT ITSELF!

Rett Humke is president of Humke Groups Inc., located at 555 S. Randall Road, Suite 103, St. Charles (584-7343). Holding an MBA in finance, he is both a certified financial planner and registered investment advisor, as well as a registered representative of Mutual Services Corporation.

CHICAGO PDCA/FCA PRESENTS CHECK TO FCA

Chicago PDCA/FCA President Marty Tew presented an Industry Advancement Fund check for $7924.56 to National FCA Chairman John Frye at the 9/9/04 Joint Membership Meeting. This year, the IAF has been contributing two cents per man hour of the total Union Painter man-hours worked to FCA every month.