Partners, Fall 2002

By Joe Travers

Eight weeks – four events. Those were the marching orders for RTR’s fundraising staff over this past spring and summer. All the hard work paid off, however, thanks in large part to the community and business support Road to Responsibility receives throughout the year. It just goes to show how much people really do care about RTR’s mission and the individuals we serve.

First up, on May 18^th was our third annual fundraising Walk, On the Road for RTR. In spite of a good, old fashioned spring nor’easter, including howling winds, raw temperatures and torrential rain that blew in on the that day (thus forcing us to alter its format) the event was a huge financial success, raising well over $ 14,000! We would like to extend a very special thanks to Plymouth Savings Bank, which sponsored demonstrated their strong commitment to RTR by its sponsorship of this year’s event. And certainly, we thank everyone who either took the time to gather pledges, or make a contribution. We greatly appreciate your generosity and look forward to your continued support.

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We were very excited to introduce a new event to our fundraising calendar this year. Tee it Up for RTR was held on Friday, June 14^th at the South Shore Golf Practice Range in Braintree. As you can tell from its name, this is a golf related affair, although it’s an event that non-golfers enjoyed just as much as those who actually play the game. Our good friend (and last year’s Man of the Year) John Flatley owns this wonderful facility and was kind enough to let RTR use it for the day. We were able to arrange for several New England PGA teaching pro’s to be on hand to give free golf lessons to anyone purchasing a bucket of balls from RTR’s information table. We want to express our gratitude to the following for helping make this event so successful: Ron Hobson, The Patriot ledger; Jim McCabe, The Boston Globe; John Dennis, WEEI Sports Radio; Bob Beach, Braintree Municipal Golf Course; Jim Dee and his Dad, Harry, of Marshfield Country Club, along with their colleague and Massachusetts Open Champ for 2002, Geoff Sisk; Joe Videtta, of Videtta Golf Management, and of course, John Flatley.

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Our ongoing Working Wonders Capital Campaign was the focus of a special, first-of-its-kind evening on June 27^th. Local business leaders joined RTR staffers at the Ocean Village Nor’ester Function Hall in Weymouth, to meet and chat with Jeff Stone, CEO of Tweeter Home Entertainment. In his remarks to the audience Stone spoke of the need for businesses to support community oriented initiatives like Working Wonders, which has a goal of raising $1.5 million for desperately needed capital improvements at Road to Responsibility. (Stone and his wife, Candy, generously donated $ 25,000 in the very early stages of the Capital Campaign, which, in turn, helped defray the enormous renovation costs of the Nor’easter Function Hall.) Guest host for the evening was Mr. Robert Detwiler of Fector, Detwiler & Company. The Norwell resident serves as Chair of the Working Wonders Campaign Steering Committee.

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Closing out this round of spring/summer fundraisers was our thirteenth Jazz By the Beach concert, on July 6^th. Once again we had several special guests of honor, starting with Man of the Year for 2002, Ed Perry, owner of radio station WATD-FM. Other honorees included RTR’s vice president of human resources, Lorraine France (Bill Wirt Lifetime Service Award), Scott Seamans (RTR Employee of the Year), Clem Smith (Cory Kent Special Achievement Award), and Scituate resident, Polly Pyne (Volunteer of the Year.) This year’s event easily broke all attendance records as over 400 guests were feted to an unforgettable afternoon of superb entertainment, delicious food and, of course, our exciting silent auction. This unique event, which is now Road to Responsibility’s signature fundraising tool, continues to attract large and enthusiastic audiences. We are so grateful to our gracious host, Ron Della Chiesa, as well as the enormously talented jazz artists - most especially the supremely talented husband and wife team of Marshall Wood and Donna Byrne - who help make this annual event a truly special occasion. We are extremely fortunate to have such gifted and giving friends to assist us year after year.

Every time I read Partners I am so impressed with the wonderful things you are doing for our "Special People!" You are so in touch with all their needs, and are constantly coming up with new programs to better their lives.

Note: If you have any thoughts about what you read in our newsletter or other things going on at RTR we would love to hear from you. Your letter should be brief (200 words or less), and signed. Since any correspondence we receive might be published in future editions of Partners, we reserve the right to edit your comments for clarity, taste and length. Here is how you can reach us:

Ocean Village Books’ Ready’s New Store in Quincy Center

Plymouth Book Store Relocates to Court Street

By Joe Travers

If you appreciate books and are looking for some truly fantastic bargains we have some exciting bit of news to share. Road to Responsibility will soon be opening its fourth Ocean Village Bookstore, at XXX Hancock Street in Quincy Center!

Building on the overwhelming success of the three existing Ocean Village Bookstores, the new outlet will provide RTR yet another excellent opportunity to advance its mission of "…providing the means, the opportunity, and the support necessary to allow individuals with disabilities to take their place as productive members of the community."

Sharon Smith, RTR’s energetic executive director is very enthused about the new store because "…it not only provides more employment opportunities for the folks we assist, but also serves as powerful educational tool for our people, as well as the community."

The Quincy store, like all the others in the growing chain, stocks a wide assortment of donated used books (both paperback and hard covers) covering virtually every literary category including best sellers, fiction and non-fiction, historical, "how to" books, coffee table books, self improvement, sports, travel, biographical, etc.

More good news! Our Plymouth bookstore has moved to a new, super-convenient location at 363 Court Street (near WalMart.) Many Plymouth area residents may recall the building once served as the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and more recently, a bank. Please stop by and check out the store’s new home. We know you’ll be pleased.

Prices at all Ocean Village Bookstores are extremely reasonable, ranging from as low as $1 for paperbacks, to $5 or $6 for a standard hardcover. The other Ocean Village Book Stores can be found at 1831 Ocean Street, Marshfield, in Falmouth, at 435A East Falmouth Highway, Davisville Square, and North Plymouth, where we recently relocated to 363 Court Street (near WalMart.)

Congratulations to Kathy Battles, RTR’s assistant vice president of vocational evaluations. Kathy was recently recognized by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission for submitting the highest number of referrals to its Transportation Options Project. These referrals help individuals with disabilities obtain transportation to and from their places of employment.

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Road to Responsibility’s Residential division opened two new homes in June – one on Broadway in Hanover, the other at the former Grace Ryder School in Marshfield. A third one, in Middleboro, opened in August. Plans for next year include yet another program for Hanover, as well as one in Hingham.

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The spirit of competition is alive and well at RTR. There were four winners in our "friendly" contest for the programs raising the most money during our On the Road for RTR fundraising Walk. The winners (by division) were: Residential: Front Street, Weymouth.…Work Centers: Taunton;…Day Hab: A tie between Hingham Open Roads, and Marshfield Open Roads. Each of the winning programs received a catered ice cream sundae party from Jan’s Ocean Village Ice Cream.

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A tip of the cap to RTR’s terrific golfing foursome of Joe Travers, Guy Conrad, Dan Kostreva and Beth Hopkins, for their outstanding showing at the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s July 10^th cookout. The team tied for second place at the annual summer outing held at Whitman’s Ridder Country Club. A total of seventy-two teams competed both at Ridder and River Bend in Bridgewater.

By Joe Travers

Just how important is the Urban Youth Program to the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation (DMR)? Important enough for its commissioner, Gerald Morrissey, to take the time to visit and chat with the fourteen Urban Youth participants who spent the summer working at RTR.

The eight-week long summer initiative introduces the high school and college age students to career opportunities in the social services field through a very "hands on" approach as they work directly with people with developmental disabilities.

"This program gives young people an opportunity to do valuable, meaningful work," said Morrissey, who received a tremendous amount of very positive and valuable feedback during his meeting with the group, most of which had never worked with individuals with special needs.

As a result of their experiences at RTR, Loreen McGrath, and Jennifer Salazar, both 18, decided they would like to pursue a career in social services after they have completed their college studies. Each credits the Urban Youth Program for allowing them the opportunity to learn about social work. They also discovered quite a bit about themselves. "It’s been an awesome experience," said McGrath. "Working with the staff and individuals helped me mature in so many ways." The Abington teenager spent her summer in RTR’s Let’s All Fish program which takes individuals with disabilities out on a boat to fish. McGrath says watching people - most of whom had never fished before - get so excited was her favorite part of the job. Salazar is from Brockton, and was a job coach for disabled workers at RTR’s Braintree work center. "Getting to know the clients" was one of the things she most enjoyed. Both Salazar and McGrath agree their summer was well spent.

Advertising Accents House of Carpet Plymouth Cnty.

Airport Center Hytex Industries Plymouth County Coalition

Almeida 24-Hour Towing Dan Heitzman, AXA Advisors for the Homeless

American Copy Impruv Contractors Pyne Family

Barstows Realty Landing Inland Professional Corp. Rader Properties

Bay Copy Irish Cultural Center Rand-Handy Oil

Black Rock Development Jan’s Ocean Village Ice Cream Reggio Italian Ristorante

Boston Accents Hair Design Jordan Primary Care Richardson Gaffey Funerals

Brant Rock Fish Market Thomas P. Kramer, Atty. J. Michael Roberts, Atty.

Brant Rock Market Ted LeClair Rockland Fed. Credit Union

Brant Rock Variety Let’s All Fish, Inc. Rocky Mountain Rentals

Brooktree Auto Majestic Sales Corp. Rosev Dairy

Brewer & Lord, LLC Marshfield Center Garage Russelectric

Brown Printing Services Marshfield Chamber of Commerce Ryan Rotors

Buttonwood Books Marshfield Tire Sagamore Plumbing

Century 21, Kelly Lewis Realty, Taunton Marshfield Travel Scituate Federal Savings

Citizens Bank McGee Toyota Scott’s Mobil

Committee to Elect Ton O’Brien McSweeney & Ricci Seavey Engineering

Choice Printing Services Merrill Lynch, Chris Fahey Nathan Silbert

Coldwell Banker, Plymouth F.X. Messina Enterprises Sounder Systems

Coler & Colantonio Mid Cape Home Centers South Shore Community

Collecto, Inc. Millbrook Motors. Action Council

Dad’s One-Hour Photo Ming Dynasty Restaurant

Damon & Topham Miskinis Motors South Shore Savings

Rep. Vinnie deMacedo Mohawk Rubber Sales South Shore Signs

DeWolfe Realty, Hingham Mr. Beam The Studio

Delta Service, Inc./Patriot Investment Sen. Therese Murray Sullivan Tire

DiPesa & Co., CPA’s Needel, Welch & Stone, P.C. TJX Companies

East Coast Fence Marshall F. Newman Tradition Footwear

Eastern Bank North River Counseling Tweeter Home Ent.

Economised Time Services Ocean Bluff Packet Unicorn Realty

John J Flatley Co. Ocean Village Motor Inn Verc Rentals

Daniel J. Flynn & Co. Ocean Village Bookstores Village Framer

Four Star Paper Co. One Stop Painting & Renovating Watch All

W.F. Garvey, CPA O’Shaughnessy Plumbing, Inc. Wear Guard

Growth Strategies Parent, McLaughlin & Nangle Tim White

Haymarket South A.W. Perry White & White, PC

Judy Doyle-Hines, AXA Advisors Pilgrim Sands Motel Wilkins Sign

J.R. Holmes, Jewelers Plimouth Glass Williams Coal & Oil

Wolf, Biggin & Co., CPA’s

By Sharon Smith

This past summer fourteen eager young men and women spent eight productive weeks at Road to Responsibility (RTR) participating in the Department of Mental Retardation’s (DMR) Urban Youth Program. Working alongside individuals with disabilities in our various recreational and day hab programs, as well as RTR’s business ventures, these recent high school graduates not only got a first hand look at the human services field, but learned quite a lot about themselves in the process.

Teenagers, Loreen McGrath and Shamone Johnson, for example, spent the summer working in Road to Responsibility’s innovative Let’s All Fish program helping to introduce dozens of developmentally and physically disabled individuals to the sport of fishing. Meanwhile, Jessica Salazar worked in Jan’s Ocean Village Ice Cream, the neighborhood ice cream store owned and operated by RTR. But Guerdy Mars and Rosa Rosado, who were assigned to our recreation department, insist they had "the best job out of everyone!" They not only helped coordinate a number of exciting activities, but accompanied individuals on day trips to the beach, whale watches, the Water Wiz amusement park, as well as Boston’s famous Duck Tours.

Besides gaining some extremely valuable, real-world work experience, the youths participated in weekly training seminars specific to the field of disabilities. Led by Jay Vega, of Vega Associates, these insightful sessions included group discussions focusing on workplace diversity. Not only did they help to raise awareness among the group about their own personal cultural misperceptions, but demonstrated how these same misperceptions are manifested in the workplace.

In addition to their daily assignments at RTR, the teenagers traveled to Holy Cross College in Worcester to attend a day-long seminar focusing on future career development. They, along with hundreds of their peers from across the Commonwealth, spent yet another day visiting the State House where they learned about the state government system.

Introduced in 1992, the Urban Youth Program is a creation of, and funded by DMR as a means of introducing urban teenagers to human services. As the workforce crisis in this industry intensified, this outstanding initiative has come to play an increasingly important role in helping to recruit, expose and cultivate young people to the field in the hopes that some would pursue longer-term careers in the industry.

Many thanks to MY TURN, Inc. of Brocton, for assisting Road to Responsibility in recruiting these exceptional young adults who were willing to work at a summer job that required them to not only expand their knowledge base but open their hearts to the folks that we serve.

Casey Seaman, is our Vice President of Quality and Training and coordinator of RTR’s Urban Youth program. She gives a great deal of credit to the teenagers for infusing a "high level of enthusiasm" that permeated throughout the entire organization. "In every instance," says Seaman, "these young people made a tremendous impact both on the individuals they worked with as well as the staff."

By Joe Travers

The plight of the homeless has been the focal point of a group of individuals from our Hingham Open Roads program. For more than two months now as many as twenty-five caring RTR volunteers has been delivering bread twice a week to Father Bill’s homeless shelter in Quincy. On any given day Father Bill’s supports about one hundred thirty homeless men and women, and the bread, which is donated through the courtesy of the Victory Market in Norwell, is just one of many basic food staples the shelter depends upon to feed its residents.

Road to Responsibility staffers, Brigid Burke and Brenda Pallerin, oversee the RTR volunteers. Both agree the experience has been extremely positive and educational for our individuals as well as the men and women at Father Bill’s. Deliveries are made each Monday and Wednesday, and according to Burke, "the group has a very good understanding of what they are doing and takes enormous pride in knowing they’re making a difference in people’s lives."

Burke and Pallerin have received a good deal of wonderful feedback from several parents who have been so impressed to see their children getting more actively involved in the community. Burke went on to note that the individuals themselves are happy and enthusiastic about the program, noting that each of the RTR volunteers has developed a "heightened sense of self esteem."

By Richard J. Walker, Jr.

Looking across the doctor’s waiting room we recognized each other almost simultaneously. Frank Cirillo was a work supervisor/job coach in our employment services a few years ago. He asked about all the individuals he had worked with, remembering all kinds of details about each of their personalities. "You kind of fall in love with the guys and the times we had together," he said.

Frank started work at the Quincy shipyard when he was in high school. After serving his country he went on to a

40 year career of progressively increasing responsibility. His generation did not take very well to retirement, which led him, when that time came, to our doors.

Frank could never just do his job. He went to the extreme in his commitment to teaching and helping. Some days it might be a cup of coffee for his crew, other days he would treat to Chinese food. Every day he was there to listen, to guide, to support.

When we talked in the waiting room he emphasized how important for him those years working with us were – to have a job helping others. A job with such intrinsic value made those years after his retirement the most enjoyable of his career.

After a number of years with us he finally decided to really retire. We’ve missed him since he left, but like many others before, he never really left. The commitment is still in his heart. "You kind of fall in love…"

Frank is having some eye problems, but his vision of what is truly important in life is clearer than most of the world’s. This is what makes Road to Responsibility – the people who come from all walks of life, roll up their sleeves, and commit themselves to work. It is a privilege.

By Joe Travers

Affiliated with RTR since:

Debbie Hilgenhurst is one organized lady! Good thing, too, because as a full-time business professional, loving wife, and devoted mother of two, Debbie is on the go – all day, every day. For the last eighteen years the Tennessee native has been employed by Abbott Laboratories, a suburban Chicago-based company that develops, manufactures and markets an extensive array of innovative healthcare products and services throughout the world. "Basically, I manage relationships with executives from many of Abbott’s largest hospital customers," says Hilgenhurst. Since Abbott often has as many as sixty employees working on a single account Debbie’s business and communication skills are often put to the test.

As an active and integral member of Road to Responsibility’s board of directors, Hilgenhurst enjoys the personal and organizational dynamics of RTR that she says contrast sharply with those typically found in corporate America. "I love seeing the dedication and commitment of Rick and Cass Walker, and all the other employees I have met during my association with Road to Responsibility," she says. "I also find the issues confronting a small business (RTR employs approximately 450 people vs. Abbot Lab’s 70,000!) as well as the unique challenges of running a nonprofit to be very interesting."

With a cousin in Tennessee afflicted with polio and confined to a wheelchair, Debbie understands the challenges and frustrations that accompany living with a disability, and appreciates how the services RTR provides help enhance the quality of life for those with special needs. "For my cousin back home there are no programs like those at Road to Responsibility and while I’m unable to help him on a daily basis, I am delighted and get a great deal of personal satisfaction from my association with RTR."

Right now, the energetic Hilgenhurst is strategizing with several other volunteers as the group makes plans for Road to Responsibility’s first-ever Silent Auction and Sunday Jazz Brunch which will be held next March at the Ocean Village Nor’easter Club in Weymouth. "The team is very excited and has many excellent ideas. Right now we are working to secure entertainment, and have already received a number of fabulous donations for the auction. We’re also coordinating with a several terrific restaurants so we know the food will be absolutely superb." Hilgenhurst expects this newest fundraiser on RTR’s calendar of events to become an annual affair, and with any luck become just as popular as Jazz By the Beach.

Debbie and her husband, Graff, a physician at Carney Hospital in Dorchester, have two young daughters, (ages 4 and 2) and reside in Hingham. A graduate of Austin Peay State University, Hilgenhurst obtained her MBA from the University of Tennessee. In what little spare time she has, she enjoys boating, sewing and of course, spending time with her family. She also teaches a gift-wrapping course.

By Tom Kiel;y

What began as a simple white bedsheet slowly took on the form of the American flag as everyone in the building left his or her handprint in either red or blue paint.

When it was finished, ‘Old Glory’ was festively paraded through the building and finally hung on the wall in the back room. In a most touching (and unplanned) ceremony RTR staff members and the individuals gathered for a moment of silence, in memory of the tragic events of September 11^th. Holding hands, the group spontaneously broke into a most special rendition of God Bless America as well as several other patriotic songs.

As the gathering broke up a number of impromptu discussion groups began to share their thoughts about what it means to be an American. Said Boutilier, "We all left that day to celebrate our nation’s birthday with renewed pride."

By Tom Kiely

On Friday, September 20^th these intrepid sportsmen, each of whom gathered hundreds of dollars worth of pledges, were drawn to North Hill’s rolling fairways to take part in Road to Responsibility’s 2^nd annual charity golf tournament.

The driving force behind the popular event and its new, mini Ryder Cup format, is Dan Kostreva, RTR’s energetic vice president of finance. His goal (besides raising lots of money for RTR’s programs) was to give the event a unique twist. One that clearly differentiates it from other charity golf tournaments, yet still allows the golfers to enjoy themselves as they compete in a fun filled, no stress atmosphere.

The Ryder Cup-like set-up consisted of eight two-man teams competing in a series of nine-hole, "better ball" matches. First place went to Charlie Dobins and Tom Costello, one of two teams representing Benefirst. Joe Travers, an assistant vice president at RTR, and Ben Poinier, of Duxbury, took second place honors. Third place went to Dan Kostrva and Wayne Henderson.

"This was an awful lot of fun and the golfers seemed to really enjoy the match play," said Kostreva, noting the feedback he received from all the players was "very positive and enthusiastic." And why not? After all, each of the golfers received a very nice "appreciation package" of goodies including a top quality golf shirt, a half dozen Titleist golf balls, and a few other items to make them feel welcome - plus breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In addition to the players from the first, second and third place teams, RTR extends a sincere thanks also to the rest of the field including Rob Smith and Michael Cole; Beth Hopkins and Kristen Simpson; Linda Hardt and Greg Scandrett; Neil Clark and Michael Spence; and Kent Campbell and John Schneiter. A special note of gratitude goes out to Suzie Poinier, for her own culinary contribution to the cause - two huge trays of delectable homemade soufflé’s; to the staff at North Hill who were so accommodating throughout the day; and finally, a very sincere "thank you" to the individuals and businesses who provided the pledge money and hole sponsorships that made this year’s golf tournament such a great success. As Dan Kosterva said, "It may not be the Ryder Cup, but it sure was fun."

American Copy Supply Delta Services Rocky Mountain Rentals

Brown Printing Plymouth Savings Bank

By Kim MacLeod

As many of you know Road to Responsibility’s roots are firmly planted in recreation. Since those early days the recreation department has evolved into one of RTR’s major services. My name is Kim MacLeod and I was hired on September 9, 2002 as the organization’s coordinator of recreation and volunteer outreach.

We have many thrilling events planned for the upcoming weeks, including outings to a Boston College football game, and Spookyworld, a trip into Boston to see the play, Grease, at the Wang Center, costume dances and so much more! I am also very excited about two new initiatives that I have recently begun exploring: a swimming program at the newly expanded Mill Pond YMCA in Hanover, and a collaborative effort with the Special Olympics.

With respect to volunteer outreach, I am now developing volunteer recruitment policies that will focus not only on the importance of appropriate placement and follow-up procedures, but also emphasize the critical role (and thus, the value) of volunteers in RTR’s day-to-day operation. Two volunteer outreach events are currently scheduled for the near future. The first involves a group of employees from Merrill-Lynch’s Quincy and Rockland offices who will be doing some painting and landscaping work for us. The second one involves my participation in a recruitment fair at the Independence Mall in Kingston in order to determine if volunteer opportunities at RTR capture the interest of any passers-by.

I am very excited to see where this two-fold outreach takes not only the individuals we serve at RTR, but also the dedicated volunteers who do the serving.

1831 Ocean Street 363 Court Street 435A East Falmouth Highway (Rte. 28)

Marshfield, MA Plymouth, MA East Falmouth, MA

781-834-5696 508-830-6951 508-457-0976