From the Director . . . Kenneth W. Singer

    This summer involved many exciting projects here at Berkshire County Arc. It began with an award-winning 4th of July float which represented a fantastic effort by both our participants and staff in involving themselves in the Berkshire County community. We are still enjoying the camaraderie and excitement that accompanied that activity.
    More than 100 people attended our 4th Annual BCARC Night at the Pittsfield Mets. Ralph Chilton threw out the first pitch to get the game off to a rousing start. The game was preceded by a wonderful picnic attended by many families and staff. Many thanks to Chris Melski for his efforts on making this such a successful day.
    After many years of seeking specialized funds, I am pleased to announce that the ladies of Oxford Place in West Springfield will be receiving a therapeutic whirlpool tub. Through a grant from the Community Foundation of Springfield and additional funds from

Berkshire County Arc fund-raising committee, the lives of the women who live at Oxford Place will be greatly enhanced.
    We have also received grants from the State Transportation Department for two used handicapped vans. The vans will be located at the Habilitation Center in Pittsfield and at the Center for Development in Gt. Barrington.
    In program matters, we are very excited with the opening of the Berkshire Unlimited Bulk Mailing Service, a small business providing mailing services to numerous companies throughout Berkshire County. Berkshire Unlimited is one of the final steps in closing our sheltered workshop.
    We are currently looking for a new location for the mailing business and will be vacating the old Berkshire Unlimited building, which has served us for 20 years, in the coming months. It is exciting to know that individuals in vocational services are now being served in community-based vocational and employment services.
    On the legislative front, we have worked very hard with state and local legislators to obtain money to support our staff. The state legislature this year voted 28 million dollars in new funding for human service worker salary increases. Unfortunately, Acting Governor Celluci vetoed 6.5 million dollars of the amount allocated. Nonetheless, we will be receiving new funds which will go directly to our employees.
    For those of you wondering
                                                       		 about the results, our Department of Mental Retardation Quest Survey has been delayed until after the first of the year. More time was needed because the number of individuals surveyed increased.
    I am pleased to announce progress on revamping our employee training and orientation programs. Through an Agency Task force chaired by Barbara Pastie, we have developed a very comprehensive training for all new employees. In addition, we have contracted with Dr. Gerry Porter of the State University of New York at Oneonta to offer Behavioral Intervention Training throughout the year. This should be of great assistance to our staff.
    Many thanks to Mike Caritey, the United Way Committee and to all our staff for increasing our contribution to the United Way by 24% this year. We are now contributing more $10,000 to Berkshire United Way.
    Lastly, it was a pleasure recently to welcome seven family members from Armenia who were touring programs for the developmentally disabled. We enjoyed hearing how they have started, with no government funding, a family group which now has more than 2000 members. They really impressed us on their tour of our day and residential programs. It was an interesting and educational day.

Best wishes for a terrific fall season.   
                          

- 3 -

Next Page