February 14th, 2012
 “Team BEST” raised $350 for the Buddy Walk today during their first bake sale. “Team BEST” stands for “Breese East Staff Team” and was organized by Donna Fitzgerald, RN/Program Manager at the East building. A big thank you to all who purchased and helped out in making this a huge success! Just from today, “Team BEST” raised more money than they had from all last year’s achievements. Remember to mark your calendar for Saturday, April 21st, for the annual Buddy Walk at Carlyle Lake. Watch for more information to come.
Tags: bake sale, buddy walk, community link
Posted in Feature Stories, Fundraising, Special Events
February 14th, 2012
Follow the link to read the latest issue of the Possibilities, our quarterly newsletter to the public.
2012 JAN Winter Newsletter Final
Tags: community link, possibilities
Posted in Feature Stories, Possibilities
February 13th, 2012
 The Clinton County Parrot Head Club is hosting their 5th Annual Spring Phling on February 25, 2012 at Bretz Wildlife Lodge & Winery in Carlyle, IL. Tickets are $25 each, a chicken and beer dance is provided, which includes draft beer, soda and chicken; you may bring your own snacks. A silent auction will be held, along with raffles and prizes. The doors open at 6:45 PM, and the food will be served at 8:00 PM. To be a sponsor, get tickets or for more information, contact Todd Peppenhorst, President of the CCPHC at 618-792-6586 or toddpccparrot@yahoo.com. Proceeds benefit Community Link.
Tags: clinton county parrot head club, community link
Posted in Feature Stories, Special Events
February 7th, 2012
 Employees from Centrue Bank raised and donated $235 towards the agency’s Annual Appeal Drive. They presented the check to Hanna Laminack, one of our program participants at the West Developmental Training site. Community Link is very grateful to the Centrue employees for this generous donation. Pictured l to r: Anna Antonelli, Branch Manager; program participant Hanna Laminack; Executive Director John Huelskamp; and Hanna’s Aunt, Tanya Laminack, Loan Servicing, Fairview Heights.
Tags: centrue bank, community link, john huelskamp
Posted in Community, Feature Stories
February 3rd, 2012
 Community Link consumers held an election on January 19, 2012 to vote in new members for the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC). New members include Mallory Wessling, Connie Wahl, Heather Holthaus, Steve Huelsmann, and Jason Seidel (not pictured) who were installed at the CAC meeting on Monday, January 30, 2012. Kathy Wempe (not pictured) is also a CAC member currently serving a 2-year term. The new members were introduced at the All Consumer Meeting held Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
The Consumer Advisory Council acts as a representative for all of the consumers. The Council makes recommendations, voices their concerns, and discusses issues with representatives of the agency. The Council is made up of five consumers elected from a consumer voting process.
Tags: community link, consumer advisory council
Posted in Uncategorized
February 3rd, 2012
 Community Link announces Janice McElroy as the new Director of Children’s Programs. Janice started employment on Monday, January 23, 2012. She has a Master of Science in Counseling & Human Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Child, Family & Community Services. Most recently Janice has worked for the Department of Children & Family Services as a Child Protection Specialist. She has also worked at Central Baptist Family Services and Lutheran Child & Family Services. She resides in Beckemeyer with her husband, Ken and 5 sons. We welcome Janice to our team!
Tags: community link, First Step
Posted in Feature Stories, Uncategorized
January 19th, 2012
 The board of directors of Community Link is pleased to announce the appointment of Breese native John A. Huelskamp as the new executive director of Community Link effective January 30st. John Lengerman, president of the board of directors made the announcement following the December 27th board meeting. Lengerman commented: “The search committee followed a very deliberate and transparent process in the evaluation of candidates to fill the position; the board unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation and are pleased to welcome Mr. Huelskamp, a very qualified professional, to lead our dedicated staff and volunteers in their mission of service to our clients.”
Huelskamp has had a 20-year career working in the long-term care nursing home field, most recently as the Administrator of Freeburg Care Center. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from SIU-Edwardsville and is currently participating in Master’s Degree Program for Public Administration through SIU-Edwardsville with an emphasis on non-profit organization management. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992. Huelskamp is a board member and current chairman of the Breese Little League and previously served on the All Saints Academy School Board. John and his family, that includes his wife Kim, daughter Kourtney and sons Zach and Parker, reside in Breese.
Huelskamp stated, “I believe it is imperative that everyone involved understands the impact of their work and how critical the organization’s success is to the clients and the community. When all members understand and invest in the organization’s mission, it will continue to thrive during good times and bad. I understand that this all starts with the leadership of the executive director and believe that I can provide this type of leadership to Community Link.”
Community Link, founded 39 years ago as Clinton County Rehabilitation Center, helps people with developmental disabilities, and other difficulties, achieve learning breakthroughs, find a job, live in a home of their own, and make friends. It operates two developmental training sites in Breese and one in Fairview Heights and owns and operates six group homes located in Aviston, Breese, Carlyle, Germantown and Highland. The agency’s more than 150 employees provide a full array of services, including employment support, adult day programs, service learning, small-group homes, family supports and infant programs to more than 500 individuals over ten counties in Southwestern Illinois. Community Link has been a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis since 1999.
Tags: community link, community link board of directors, john huelskamp
Posted in Feature Stories, Uncategorized
January 19th, 2012
This Dec ember, Community Link was fortunate to have received two new vehicles through the state’s Consolidated Vehicle Procurement program. A grant application with supporting documents was submitted the fall of 2010. The first vehicle is a 14 passenger van which is capable of being configured for 3 wheelchair passengers/5 ambulatory passengers or 14 ambulatory passengers. This vehicle will give the day program at the Metro location the flexibility to transport individuals to and from services as well as take persons into the community for various events or to utilize the area’s resources.
The second vehicle is an accessible van which will be used to replace the current van at the Breese 245 CILA home. Their van has over 108,000 miles on it. The van includes a removable front passenger seat for use by a person with a wheelchair as well as a flip bench seat if there was a need to transport a second wheelchair. The van will hold 1 wheelchair resident as well as 5 ambulatory residents.
Both vehicles are being supplied with binders containing various vehicle tracking forms and procedures as well as any safety and first aid supplies not included. Staff will be trained to drive each vehicle and use their respective lifts prior to their use.
Posted in Feature Stories, Uncategorized
January 19th, 2012
 After discussing a renovation for one of the restrooms in the Breese West building, Stacy Hart, DSP III with Community Link, mentioned that her father was a wholesale distributor for flooring. Well, one thing lead to another and this wonderful donation of flooring came through. Special thanks to Stacy and her father for this really, really nice donation.
Tags: community link, stacy hart
Posted in Community, Feature Stories
January 17th, 2012
 When times are tough, it affects us all and many people are not able to give back. Community Link wants to share a story about a group of individuals who, when Christmas time rolls around, asks — “Do we get a family?” Donna Gruenenfelder (Production Coordinator and coordinator of this giving back effort) cannot remember how many years the vocational consumers have been sponsoring a family from Community Link’s First Step Program at Christmas. It has become a tradition that keeps the “spirit” of giving alive and fulfilling some of the dreams of a family.
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Donna already had consumers in the Vocational Department reminding her to select a family so they can shop. There are some consumers who love “Black Friday” shopping and this gives them an extra reason to go hit the crowds with friends and family. They have a list of the family dynamics — parents, kids, gender, ages and some of their wants and needs. This year the family consisted of a mother and four children. What impressed Donna the most was a “need” for blankets. The consumers took it upon themselves to buy material to make a blanket for each child.
A total of $178 was collected and four blankets were made. Donna was able to buy all of the needs on the list with the money collected. The group knows how special it is for children to have a Christmas, and that is what the group strives for – to put big smiles on some faces. Donna cannot stress enough how big a heart this group of individuals have – they really do think about others. Thanks to all of them for being the caring people that they are.
Tags: community link, First Step
Posted in Community, Feature Stories
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