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!