Join Us For Our 43rd Annual Meeting!
Posted on May 10, 2012
We invite all interested members of the community to join us Thursday, May 24, 2012 beginning at 6:00 pm here at MORE, 399 Placerville Drive in Placerville, for our 43rd Annual Meeting. Our special guest speaker is Michael Rosenberg, Executive Director of Area Board III. The dinner will be catered by Diane Wilkinson. Members will have a chance to vote in new board members, any new by-laws, hear whats new at MORE and participate in discussions about pertinent issues. If you plan on attending, please fill out the attached response form and return it to MORE before May 14. You need not be a member to attend. Thank you! 2012_flier_response2
2012 Art & Wine Festival – Our Best Ever!
Posted on November 8, 2011
Our Art & Wine Festival, in partnership with Kiwanis of Placerville on January 21, 2012 was the “Best Ever” in 9 years! This is a direct reflection of the wonderful community we live in and the support we receive from them. There were over 1,000 very happy, well fed people present thanks to 18 wineries, 2 local breweries and 16 food vendors. We had 110 works of special needs artists displayed on that evening and every artist sold at least one piece of art. People really seemed to enjoy the dessert auction as they were able to bid, buy and share the over the top desserts with the people at their table.
In this continuing tough economy, we are so grateful and appreciative of the people who came to support two worthwhile organizations, MORE whose vision is “full inclusion for people with disabilities” and Kiwanis whose focus is on the youth of our community. This partnership also includes Key Club Members from El Dorado, Ponderosa & Union Mine high schools, Builder’s Club members from Markham and Aktion Club members from MORE. The Kiwanis members and MORE staff are the backbone of this event and come out in force to work the evening of the event. All of the food, wine, and beer is donated, as well as the desserts, raffle items, and silent and live auction items. We are very fortunate to live in such a generous community. We would like to thank all of the following for their ongoing support and generosity:
Our Sponsors:
|
Wells Fargo Bank The Mountain Democrat Carter Kelly El Dorado Disposal Pacific Gas & Electric Umpqua Bank Union Bank Ted & Joyce Amlick |
Bill & Susie Davies
Thompson Auto Windfall Classifieds Paul & Erin Zappettini Gold Key Storage Vicki & Lou Barber Koby Pest Control |
Maureen & Jim Carter
Motherlode Insurance Daryl Warden Equipment Rainbow Orchards River City Bank Sierra Pacific Foundation Wofford Acres Wines |
Our Wineries:
| Auriga Cellars
Boa Vista Orchards Boeger Winery Chevalier Winery Colibri Ridge Winery Crystal Basin Cellars |
David Girard Winery
Gold Hill Winery Holly’s Hill Vineyards Jodar Winery Madronna Winery Mount Aukum Winery |
Nello Olivo Winery
Oakstone Winery Perry Creek Winery Sierra Vista Winery Windwalker Winery Wofford Acres Winery |
Our Food Vendors:
| Auntie Bea’s Bakery
Cascada Candy Strike Emporium Cold Springs Country Club Diane Wilkinson Catering |
Keith’s Sierra Smoker
Mia Sorella Old Town Grill Ooey Gooey Desserts Ponte Palmero Senior Living |
Powell’s Steamer Co.
Raley’s Sam’s Club Sierra Rizing Smokey Ridge Charcouterie |
Our Breweries:
| Jack Russell Brewery | Placerville Brewery |
And our donors:
| ADM Screening
Adventure Connection Arnolds For Awards Asanté Spa Auntie Bea’s Bakery Automotive Excellence Back Forty Barbecue Bel Air Market Big Lots Big O Tires Boa Vista Boeger Winery Breaker Glass Brenda Bailey Brewbakers Brewing Co. Brick’s Restaurant Camino Florist Maureen & Jim Carter Carter Kelly Margaret Clark Betsy Christ Cold Springs Country Club Marie Creasey Bea Crossen Diane Wilkinson Catering El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce El Dorado County Visitor’s Authority El Dorado Disposal |
El Dorado Women’s Fund
Fitzpatrick Physical Therapy Foothills Area Rapid Transit Friend of Wendy Matson Gold Hill Winery Kris Goodrich Carl Hagen Hangtown Originals Debi Harlow Harrah’s Hey Day Restaurant Holly’s Hill Vineyards Home Depot Imagination Theater Inalliance Independent Restaurant Jodar Carol Keates Kiwanis Club of Placerville Knotty Pines Lanes Elaine Kobus Latcham Winery Lourdes Lewis McDonalds, El Dorado Hills Mont Bleu MORE Nail Perfection Nello Olivo |
Nugget Market
Oakstone Ooey Gooey Desserts Papa Murphy’s Placerville Kinkade Gallery Queen’s Cheesecake Rainbow Orchards Riebe’s Auto Round Table Pizza SK Salon Sears Sierra Furniture Sierra Office Supply Sierra Rizing Ski Air Cordelia Smythe Kayla Spillson Spot on Signs Sugarloaf Brewing Co. The Flower Mart Togo’s Karl Weiland Windfall Classifieds Windwalker Wofford Acres Wines Paul & Erin Zappettini Tiffany Zink |
Message from the Executive Director
Posted on April 13, 2011
This year, 2011, marks for me, 39 years of supporting people with developmental disabilities. I have enjoyed 28 years here at M.O.R.E. and have been honored to serve as Executive Director for 11 years.
I did not realize what a wonderful journey this would be and continues to be as MORE has given me an opportunity to grow as a leader and an individual. I truly love my job. I have been blessed with an incredibly resourceful staff, a very supportive Board of Directors, great people from the community, and most of all the wonderful people and families we serve.
While the economy is slow in turning around and we continue to face cuts in fees, I’m happy to report that MORE thrives! I am told that saying the word “thrive” will give people the impression that we don’t need their help or support. We do! And I want the community to know that MORE thrives because we work hard, listen to the people we serve, fill needs in our community, and partner with other businesses and nonprofits to the mutual benefit of all.
Our staff has grown to over eighty employees and the people we serve to over 200 every day. Our “out-of-the-box” new ideas and partnerships are our current focus. We have many projects that might not exist in other similar non-profits serving adults living with a developmental disability.
We celebrate the individual freedoms and individuality of the people we serve by offering those services and programs that truly enrich their lives. We expand their awareness and knowledge empowering them to take responsibility for themselves to exercise the rights and choices that we all enjoy. We have become that strong voice in El Dorado County, daring to dream that people with disabilities will take their rightful place as neighbors, friends, co-workers, and contributing citizens in this community. Our “Good” work is paying off and we have only just begun.
Our journey has been moving us from traditional to non-traditional services; from center based to community based services and new partnerships and projects in the community.
Our Creative Options and Opportunities for People program serves individuals on the autism spectrum and has seen some incredible progress since its inception in 2007. We have seen two individuals move from 1:1 support to our more integrated programs. The growth of these two individuals and others in this program who “work-for-pay” has been phenomenal and we are so proud of them.
Our Independent Living Services (ILS) is a model for others to follow. We provide 1:1 services to individuals living independently, teaching the skills they need to succeed. From cooking and cleaning to shopping and banking, we don’t do it for them; we teach them how to do it for themselves. This is the ultimate “dream come true” for adults living with a disability. Our program design has unique aspects that empowers the people we serve as they interview staff and choose who they want to hire as their ILS worker. The word is getting around about our ILS services and the standards of quality associated with this and all our programs.
Our Creative Arts program is growing in leaps and bounds, requiring more space in the suites next door and participating in more community events all the time. Besides our major showing at our annual Art and Wine event in January, we have several shows throughout the year. This year one of our entries in the Main Street Banners on Parade competition took 3rd Place! Our Next Step project will soon provide us with our own gallery and studio space where our artists can mingle and learn from other artists in the community. The new class offerings and resulting creations by the artists are some of the most incredible pieces of art we have ever seen!
We recently expanded the space dedicated to our Classics program where seniors and others can participate in more leisurely pursuits suited to their needs and wants. Clients in this program are enjoying the newly expanded space and have had direct influence on the service offerings and schedule. The good news is the people we serve are living longer with an improved quality of life.
Our Carpentry/Construction Services began formally serving clients in September 2011. Imagine a young person who is labeled developmentally disabled in a wheelchair with limited use of his hands, using woodworking equipment and a table that has been adapted to suite him to produce wood working projects. Imagine another young man labeled with Autism Spectrum Disorder becoming a carpenter’s assistant being able to focus on using a dolly or a piece of equipment where he has to stay focused for successively longer periods of time succeeding in accomplishing complex tasks. Imagine a group of apprentice carpenters all living with a disability becoming the repair person(s) for MORE or building a playhouse for a fund development project between MORE and Habitat for Humanity. This is all happening because of one Carpenter John who is taking our clients to a new level of performance. This new service has opened up a new career path for clients at MORE.
All our services including those that I have not mentioned above, Work Activity Services (Sheltered Workshop); Adult Day Services, Supported Employment Services and Pathways residential training, passed all audits and inspections without deficits. And of course, we cannot forget the March 2011 outstanding report from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
One of our most recent partnerships has been with the Burke Junction Company LLC which owns the Burke Junction Shopping Center and Train in Cameron Park. We have been asked to take over the operation of the train and the station on Fridays and Saturdays. MORE signed the agreement not losing sight of our vision: “Full Inclusion is for people with Disabilities”.
This is proving to be a time of transition, training staff and volunteers with the goal of creating job opportunities at the train station for the people we serve. This new venture offers huge opportunities for our Creative Arts program to become involved in upgrading the look and environment at Burke Junction. MORE has been operating the train since September 9th and our visibility has grown significantly.
MORE is also a part of the Executive Committee of the Human Services Non-Profit Alliance which was created by Bill Roby at the El Dorado Community Foundation. In just 2 years we have grown to over sixty member organizations and have had county leaders come to us for recommendations to help find solutions to county issues.
The local Non-Profit Partnership employee giving program created by Karen Good at the Marshall Foundation for Community Health had a successful campaign at Marshall Medical where each of the 12 partners received $10K in its first local employee giving campaign, with 100% going to the nonprofit agencies. We received approval from the Board of Supervisors and are now in the beginning stages of an El Dorado County Employees giving campaign that will run from September – December 2011.
We are in the discussion phase of creating increased Transportation Services for adults living with a disability in El Dorado County as a cost savings to Alta California Regional Center in coordination with El Dorado Transit. This could grow to be a new revenue stream for MORE.
The most encouraging hope-filled message that I want to share with all stakeholders of MORE is that I know MORE will survive and continue to thrive because people, businesses, other non-profits, and organizations of all kinds are coming to MORE with ideas for partnerships. I am proud of the image of respect that MORE has built in this community. We are seen not as a burden but a solution to our community’s issues. We are definitely on the right track, and I am not talking about trains.
We are definitely blessed to have our non-profit in this community and we hope the community feels it is a blessing to have MORE as part of this community.
Susie Davies
Thank You, Cameron Park for A Fantastic Chili Cook Off!
Thank you so much to everyone who came and enjoyed the event last Saturday. Here are the results of the Car Show and Chili Cook Off:
Car Show
3rd Place in the People’s Choice went to Robin & Joe Puleo with their ‘67 RS/SS Camaro. Bob Wolery nabbed 2nd Place with his ’63 Nova SS. 1st Place in the People’s Choice went to Wayne Sanford with his 1927 Model T!
Wayne Sanford won again in the Best of the Best Pre-1950 Category with his gorgeous Model T. Mike and Pascale Russo took the Best of the Best 51-73 category with their 1970 Chevelle. And Donna and Bob Rouse won the Best of the Best Pick Up division with their 45 Chevy Pickup.
Chili Cook Off Results
Hottest Chili – Mickey Killian’s Chili Mic’s
Most Unique Chili – Bryce Bankert’s Bonnie Bella Chili Con Carne
Best of the Health Care Providers – Becky and Henry’s Texas Smokey Chili
People’s choice
1st – Becky & Henry’s Texas Smokey Chili
2nd – Tina Henderson’s Windfall Chili
3rd – Peter Messimore’s A Helping Hand Home Care Chili
Official Judging
1st – Susie and Sierra Vista Bank’s Three Stooges Plus One
2nd – Peter Messimore’s A Helping Hand Home Care Chili
3rd – Cathy Wheat’s Chapel of the Pines Chili
We want to thank all our sponsors: The Mountain Democrat and Wells Fargo Bank, El Dorado Disposal, Windfall Classifieds, The Burke Junction LLC, as well as American Hairlines, Arnold’s Awards, Auto Excellence, Back Forty Texas Barbecue, Vicki L. Barber, Ed. D, Bass Lake Golf Club, Belles & Beaus, Big O Tires, Boeger Winery, Carizma, Christy Brower, Food 4 Less, Hangtown Foreign, Car Service, Hey Day, Home Depot, Joanie’s Café & Grill, Madrona Winery, Max Muscle, Millennium Sports Club, Oakstone Winery, Old Town Grill, Papa Murphy’s, Ponte Palermo, Raley’s, Safeway, Save Mart, Shorty’s Boards & Glass, Snowline Hospice, Starbucks, Suds Car Wash, Target, Togo’s/Baskin Robbins, Vibe Salon, Wal-Mart, Wilkinson Portables, and Winterhill Olive Oil. Most of all we want to thank all our volunteers, our Staff, our Board and the Aktion Club for all their help; Bill and The Burke Junction LLC, All our wonderful Chili Cooks and Classic Car Show Participants, Old West Legends and Liars, and our esteemed Judges. We couldn’t do it without You!
The grand Re-Opening of the Burke Junction Train preceded the festivities and we appreciate that many of MORE’S Board of Director’s were on hand to witness this historical event for MORE.
Thank you to all our Chili Cook Off Contestants:
A Helping Hand Home Care……….. Peter Messimore
Cimino Care Chli……………………….. Mark Cimino
Windfall Classified, Inc………………. Tina Henderson
Killer Ant Chili…………………………… Mike Kobus
Pollock Pines/Camino Chamber……………. Wanda Flores & Dan Beebe
Texas Smokey Chili………………………………. Becky Petty & Henry Jeter
Graduate Degree Chili………………………….. Dale Van Dam
Wells Fargo Misfits Chili ………………………. Nadine DeBoard
Chapel of the Pines………………………………. Cathy Wheat
Pollock Pines Rotary…………………………….. Ken Harper
Three Stooges Plus One……………………….. Susie, Sierra Vista Bank
Jay Bird Chili………………………………………… Beverly Easley
Texas Talkin’ Chili From El Paso Texas……. Rose Daly
Chili Mic’s……………………………………………. Mickey Killian
Bonnie Bella Chili Con Carne………………… Bryce Bankert
Thanks Also to all our Classic Car Show Contestants:
Pete Koupas, 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
Joe & Robin Puleo, d1967 Chevy RS/SS Camaro
Donna & Bob Rouse, 1946 Chevy Pickup
Wayne Sandford, 1927 Ford Model T
A. Tovar, 1972 Volkswagon Squareback
Bob Wolery, 1963 Chevy Nova SS
Harvie Linville, 1941 Chevy Coupe
Troy Van Vleck, 1935 Plymouth
Don Thorne, 1960 Chevy Impala
Mike & Pascale Russo, 1970 Chevy Chevelle & a 1972 Ford Mustang
John Lease, 1965 Ford Mustang
Anthony Fonseca, 1951 Chevy
Al Bohlen, 1968 Chevy Chevelle
Don McDowel, 1934 Chevy
Roy & Tami St. Vart, 1934 Ford Sedan
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
Surveys
Posted on March 28, 2011
It’s time for us to find out what you think of us. Please take a few moments to let us know how we are doing:
If you are a current customer of MORE, please click on this link Customer_Survey and answer a few questions. Thank you!
If you are one of MORE’s community partners, please click on this link Community_Partner_Survey and answer a few questions. Thank You!
















