Vanguard, Spring 2006

A Letter from Your President

Dear Arc-South Bay members, consumers and advocates of people with developmental disabilities:

It is that time of the year when days are getting a little longer and the smell of spring is in the air. 

In the past few years, we have continued to give the best services available in the industry and although we face difficult times, I believe that we continue to move in the right direction.

We just got notice from our CARF review that we have been accredited with three more years. We owe a great deal of thanks to our staff and management at Southwest Industries and Administration for their efforts and professionalism during this review.

I would like to welcome Paul Kang back to our Board of Directors; he has continued to be very active with our finance committee while he was not a board member. We are very fortunate to have him as a board member.  I would also like to thank Lorenzo Ybarra for returning to the board; we are very fortunate to have someone with his background and experience.

On another note, we have seen a decline in the participation of members of the The Arc-South Bay in recent years, I would hope that everyone who has consumers at the Arc would take a moment to reflect on how fortunate they are to have the services available for their loved ones.  What would you do if we had to cut our services or, even more serious, what would you do if the Arc were not here at all.  I hope that when you reflect on that scenario that you will act accordingly with your support.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff and Board of Directors for their continuous commitment to excellence, and all of the people who give their time, labor, and hard-earned money to make the quality of life better for those whom we serve. 

Need packaging help? Small-parts assembly?

Don’t forget our Southwest Industries! We can do all sorts of jobs for you while reducing your overhead. We pay the liability insurance, rent, workers’ compensation, etc.!

Some of the tasks we can do are: shrink wrap, blister pack, skin pack, repackaging, labeling, assembly, sorting, collating. While doing your job for you, our consumers are learning work skills and earning a paycheck. Our prices are competitive and we offer pickup and delivery. Call our Production Office for more information at 310-532-6333, ext. 229 or 239.

SOUTHWEST INDUSTRIES Awarded Three-Year Accreditation Outcome

In early December, Southwest Industries was scrutinized for two days by surveyors from our accrediting body, CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). We are pleased to announce that we have been accredited for a period of three years for our work activity center and community employment services. (CARF accreditation is required for funding.)

This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF.  An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.

CARF is an independent, not-for-profit international accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of persons served.

Congratulations to the staff of Southwest Industries and the Administrative staff of The Arc-South Bay for their excellent work.

Double your donation power!

If you are employed, check with your Human Resource department to see if they will match your donation!

Corporate matching donations are a great way to increase the impact of your contribution to The Arc-South Bay.

Through a matching gift, donors can instantly double or even triple their contribution and in turn extend their reach to support even more people with developmental disabilities in the South Bay. If you are interested in making a matching donation to the The Arc-South Bay, here are five easy steps:

• Contact your Human Resources department or corporate foundation to make sure your company has a matching donation policy. There is usually a limit to the amount your employer will match each year (between $500–$3000 is typical).
• If your company has a matching donation program, inquire as to what paperwork is required to make a matching donation.
• Fill out the appropriate form(s) provided by your employer and submit them to your HR department or corporate foundation for processing.
• Contact the Arc if you need assistance filling out the appropriate form. (310-532-6333)
• Send your donation to:
• The Arc-South Bay
  1735 W. Rosecrans Avenue
  Gardena, CA 9024

Fundraising Begins for Building Improvements

Two major projects are underway for building improvement…one at our Adult Development Center in Gardena and one at Southwest House in Torrance.

The Adult Development Center in Gardena has been in dire need of renovation for some time now, and we are in the process of applying for a grant to cover the bulk of the cost.  Repairs range from resurfacing the parking lot to replacing flooring throughout. Crenshaw Lumber (Gardena) and Torrance Memorial Medical Center already donated towards the installation of new external doors (16 of them!).

At Southwest House, work is ready to begin on the addition of a bathroom in the basement. Two consumers share a large bedroom there, but there is no bathroom. The new bathroom will include a shower; this will relieve the overcrowding in the upstairs bathroom in the evening. Many thanks to the very generous donations of the Southwest House families toward this project: Pete and Polly Hathaway and their son Pete Jr., Haru Blanchard, Dale and Gladys Mohler, and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Turrentine.

A Blessing in Disguise!

In mid-summer last year, a little piece of plastic in the women’s bathroom broke on a weekend and resulted in a lot of water in the Southwest Industries facility come Monday morning. As a result of this “disaster,” we were forced to reconstruct the consumer bathrooms, and our staff kitchen, lunchroom and bathrooms. With new flooring and fixtures, the consumers are very pleased. Work was completed by All County Restoration.

Bon Voyage

Janice Clark, Tom Pulver and Stephen Craig, all long-time workers at Southwest Industries, retired this year. Janice has moved to a different day program in the area; Stephen now attends our Adult Development Center in Hermosa Beach; and Tom and his mother Margret moved to Antioch, California. All their friends at the workshop miss them, but gave them a fond farewell.

Meet Your 2005-2006 Board of Directors

	A Gardena resident for more than 30 years, Florence Bagsby is a nurse at Daniel Freeman Hospital. Her brother attends our Adult Development Center in Hermosa Beach.  She was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1997, and has served as Secretary in the past.
	Jim Brennan is a resident of Redondo Beach, and a real estate developer for commercial and residential property. He was appointed for a Presidential term by Jimmy Coleman.
(photo not available)	A long-time resident of Gardena, Sylvia Cameron’s son Paul attends our Adult Development Center in Hermosa Beach. In addition to serving on the Arc Board (and being President) she has served on the City of Gardena’s Rent Mediation Board where she received a commendation for her efforts.
	Jimmy Coleman is the owner of The Coleman Connection and lives in Redondo Beach. He has been actively involved with the Arc’s Adult Development Center in Hermosa Beach for the past 6 years and has received an award from the Arc for his volunteerism.  He is currently the President of the Board of Directors.
	Ed Feuer is a roofing contractor, who also happens to have a B.S. degree and several years of graduate school study. He lives in Redondo Beach, and has been actively involved with the Arc’s Adult Development Center in Hermosa Beach for the past 6 years.
	Bobbie Hedges grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated with a BS in Biology from CSUN.  Now a retired school teacher, she volunteers at Cabrillo Beach Museum in San Pedro. Bobbie was elected to her first term on the Board in 1996.
	Paul Kang is a C.P.A. with his own firm in Gardena.  A member since 1990, Mr. Kang has served on the Finance Committee for several years; he was also on the Board of Directors and served as Treasurer.  Mr. Kang graduated from UCLA with a business degree, and lives in Pacific Palisades.
	Warren Kelly is a partner in the law firm of Amador, DesJardins and Kelly, in Long Beach (a general service law firm specializing in litigation).  He is past President of the Rotary Club of South Bay Sunrise and has been active in many of their service projects.  (This club is a prominent supporter of The Arc-South Bay.)
	Ed McAuliffe is retired from TRW after 33 years, having been Assistant General Manager of Operations for the TRW Space and Electronics Division. He has a Master’s Degree in Finance from USC and lives in Manhattan Beach. Mr. McAuliffe was appointed to a Presidential term on the Board by Jimmy Coleman.
	Tom Wong was President of the Board of Directors in 1991 and in 1995.  His daughter Gina attends our Hermosa Beach Adult Development Center.  He has a BA in International Relations from Cal State LA and retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1989 after 23 years as a Data Management Specialist.
	Lorenzo Ybarra is a Past President and former Treasurer of The Arc-South Bay Board of Directors.  A graduate of USC, Mr. Ybarra has a M.B.A. in General Management and Finance from Harvard University. He also served as Treasurer of the City of Gardena for many years.