Making a Difference

2020 1st Quarter

Calendar of Events

March 2 Shrek Tickets

rcs.ticketleap.com

April 10 Holiday/RCS Closed

April 20

Shrek Dress Rehearsal

April 21

Shrek Performance 9:30 a.m.

April 22 Shrek Performance 9:30 a.m.

April 23

Shrek Performance 7 p.m.

April 24 Shrek Performance 7 p.m.

May 25

Holiday/RCS Closed

June 5 Participant Picnic

September 14

Art Show

September 15 Art Show

September 16

Art Show

October 2 RCS Talent Show

October 16

Sock Hop

November 13 Shine On VIP Night

November 14

Shine On Community Day

December 23 Christmas Party

Pictured left to right: Gregory Klemm (Manager), Chrissy Reyes (Employee), and Ginny Bergschultz (Manager)

RCS Empowers, Inc. and HearthStone of Wisconsin hosted an Employer Recognition luncheon to honor local business partners in Sheboygan County. These businesses have championed the practice of hiring individuals with disabilities.

RCS expanded its partnerships with the addition of 17 new businesses that, for the first time, hired one or more individuals working with RCS in 2019. Sean Pieters, General Manager of The Sheboygan Yacht Club, was one of four RCS business partners, who spoke to the audience of over 200 business leaders about their experiences hiring individuals with unique abilities. The quality, reliability, and can-do attitude of their employees, was echoed by all four speakers.

RCS Employment Services program works closely with each job seeker and the employer to find the best fit possible. “RCS assists the employer with the hiring process and training if needed, for their new employee to ensure each individu-al has a smooth transition and is on a path for success,” said Lynn Justinger, Employment Services Program Manager. “These individuals are enjoying meaningful employment and successful lives that they have created with the help of the RCS Employment Services program.”

The event was sponsored by the generous donations of HearthStone of Wisconsin, Sargento Foods and Kohler Company.

The award for the 2019 Exemplary Employer of the year was given to Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center. Goodwill demonstrated a high degree of com-mitment to hire people with disabilities, provided the supports needed, and expanded opportunities for multiple people with disabilities in Sheboygan County.

RCS Mission RCS empowers individuals with disabilities and special needs so that they may

work, live, and function with dignity and respect.

RCS Empowers, Inc. Community Employment Highlights

RCS Employment Services prepares and assists individuals to obtain employment in the community. Em-

ployers benefit from RCS support services and receive numerous benefits from hiring people with unique

abilities. For more information on obtaining employment in the community or to see how RCS Employ-

ment Services might benefit your business, call Lynn Justinger, Employment Services Manager at 920-694-

1206.

Please patronize these businesses and thank them for their partnership with RCS!

Thanks to the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for supporting these opportunities.

Michael Moungovan Gibbsville Implement

Abraham Brower Festival Foods

Michael Meinnert Hope Church

Anna Johnson Faye's Pizza

Carter Udovich Just Orthodontics

Collin Leibham The Osthoff Resort

Corbin Dickson Tietz's Piggly Wiggly Store 331

CONGRATULATIONS to the following individuals who were hired to work in the community and to

the individuals who chose not to be publicly recognized. We are proud of your accomplishment.

Johnsonville Sausage

Dollar Tree (Plymouth)

Humane Society of Sheboygan Co

Thank you to the following businesses for providing valuable work experience for RCS participants:

Employer of the Month

In recognition of exceptional commitment to hire and support people with disabilities.

September 2019 Plymouth High School in Plymouth

From left to right: Toni DeStefano and Krystal Mayer

November 2019 McDonalds in Sheboygan Falls

From left to right: Ben Dykstra and Sheila Barger

What’s Your Super Power? A look into Anime, Com-ics, and Gaming is a new class that is added to the over 60 classes offered in the RCS Empowers Day Services program.

The class Mission Statement: To develop and en-hance social and employability skill sets through the world of Anime, Comics and Gaming.

The journey through this class promotes the under-standing of teamwork, inclusivity, and self-awareness by enhancing engagement through verbal and nonverbal communication while utilizing a variety of mediums. Story Line Creation, CosPlay, Comic Book Creation, Play Writing, Performance,

Music, Film, Editing, Japanese Culture, Graphic Design, and Technological Exploration are all examples of subjects implemented throughout the class. What’s Your Super Power finds the talent within the individual to self-advocate with confidence and promote the Super Hero with the Super Power in all of us.

What’s Your Super Power? A look into Anime, Comics and Gaming

RCS President Recognizes Meinnert and Johnson

Pictured left to right: Michael Meinnert and Martha VandeLeest

Martha VandeLeest recognized Michael Meinnert for his employment at Hope Church in Sheboygan.

Pictured left to right: Anna Johnson and Martha VandeLeest

Martha VandeLeest recognized Anna Johnson for her employment at Faye’s Pizza in Sheboygan.

Jeff Everett

Community Development Coordinator

RCS Empowers, Inc. is proud to announce that Jeff Everett has been promoted to Community Development Coordinator. Jeff will work with high school transition students and their families. Jeff has a sister with a disability and understands the importance of high school transition services and finding the right "fit" for a loved one. Jeff's personal experience will be an asset to new families seeking services at RCS.

Viva Las Vegas Prom

RCS Empowers Nominated for Champions Gala Award

RCS Empowers, Inc. is excited to announce we have been nominated as Nonprofit of the Year for the Sheboygan County Chamber Champions Gala. A special thank you to all our supporters and local businesses who have helped us with our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities and special needs so that they may work, live and function with dignity and re-spect.

RCS would additionally like to celebrate the nomination of Sheboygan County Chamber Ambassador, Jenn Haneman, RCS Individual Placement and Support Manager.

Viva Las Vegas was the theme for this year's prom at RCS Empowers, Inc. The dance was attended by 105 RCS participants, who were served a pre-prom dinner. The doors opened at 6pm to the public, for an addi-tional 47 prom attendees to enjoy games, dancing, and the music of the Ricky Raybine Band. To see more photos visit: https://www.facebook.com/rcsempowersinc/posts/2636855833029049

RCS Empowers Day Service clas-ses created handmade Valentines for Project Angel Hugs. Project Angel Hugs sends out a Valentine HUG box full of goodies goes di-rectly to children touched by can-cer and their families. The holiday HUG includes something for each sibling in the family that is under the age of 15.

Participants Created 586 Valentine's For Project Angel Hugs

Contra Tiempo

Contra Tiempo, a Los Angeles based dance company, visited RCS to conduct a Salsa Workshop in our Day Service classes. Everyone learned a few new dance moves and enjoyed learning about dance in other cultures.

The group performed at the John Michael Kohler Art Center. Thank you, Contra Tiempo and John Michael Kohler Arts Center, for making this possible!

Fire Safety 101

Howards Grove Fire Department was the setting for After Hours Guys Night Out. A special thank you to the Howards Grove Fire Department and RCS staff member Jeff Everett, who is a volunteer firefighter for Howards Grove Fire Department. The gentlemen from RCS appreciated the opportunity to become more familiar with fire safety, learn some of the requirements needed to become a firefighter, and meet some of the firefighters that keep our community safe.

Red Kettle Volunteers

RCS participants spent time giving back to our community. Several classes rang the bells for the Salvation Army of Sheboygan Red Kettle campaign. The Red Kettle donations stay in the Sheboygan area to support vital social service programs such as a 45-bed homeless shelter, community food pantry, utility and work boot assistance, Christmas Toy Shoppe, and Coats for Kids. Recently mental health and financial counsel-ing services were added to the existing Red Shield Wellness Center offerings.

RCS Empowers was honored to have Gaelynn Lea perform on our stage to share her gift of music. Gaelynn, who is a singer-songwriter and violinist, has appeared in 43 states and seven countries – she's graced the stage of renowned venues like Nashville's Music City Roots, The Kennedy Center, and House of Blues Chicago.

Gaelynn's music not only touches the soul, it also touches the heart. Her originally written music speaks to her advocacy on disability rights and her journey to find inner freedom. Gaelynn encouraged everyone in the audience to become a self-advocate for themselves and to work to improve the rights of individuals with disabili-ties. Gaelynn Lea Music thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with RCS Empowers, Inc.! For more photos visit: https://www.facebook.com/rcsempowersinc/posts/2735962576451707

Gaelynn Lea Inspires Audience

After a long wait, we finally had Elvis in the building over the holiday week between Christmas and the New Year! RCS Empowers participants and staff enjoyed the performance and took advantage of photo opportunities with Elvis. For more photos Visit: https://www.facebook.com/rcsempowersinc/posts/2714106465303985

Elvis Was In the Building

Trauma Informed Care Graduating Class

Community Care of Wisconsin offered RCS Empowers and additional agencies in Sheboygan County the opportunity to learn from a professional trainer, Jonathan Cloud, about Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). As a service provider, TIC changes how you offer support to an individual. Instead of the question, "What is wrong with you?" it shifts to "What has happened to you?" and “How can we support you to succeed based on what happened to you?” This new mindset shift takes away the blame and shame that some people ex-perience when seeking services. TIC builds an understanding of how the past impacts the present, which effectively makes the connections that progress toward healing and recovery. TIC takes a collaborative ap-proach, where healing is led by the individual and supported by the service provider. Together, as a team, people learn from each other. There's greater respect, progress towards healing, and a targeted use of services that will be the most successful in helping each individual reach their goals. Our class was the first to complete all three sessions with 100% participation in all courses. RCS staff is always seeking new ways to make our service delivery more individualized.

This opportunity is to help make props for our play that will be presented in April. RCS will be offering open volunteerism every Tuesday afternoon to com-plete the props for our Shrek production. The volun-teer opportunity will be from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. every Tuesday starting on Tuesday, January 21, until project completion. Volunteers do not need to commit to the entire time frame.

No art experience is necessary to help us create play props for the production of Shrek Jr. A variety of craft tasks will be performed, including painting, sponging, paper mache, cutting out objects, etc., all conducted with guidance from our talented Art Ther-apist, Laura Griffin. Groups are welcome. Need an excellent team-building activity? This is it! Please contact Laura Griffin at 920-458-8261 extension 1287 to let her know you are coming and how many people to expect.

Tuesday Afternoon Volunteer Opportunities

Gold Sponsors:

Masters Gallery Foods

Sargento Foods

Silver Sponsor:

Johnsonville

Bank First - Wisconsin

2019 Event Sponsors

6 Foot Tree Sponsors:

Austin Foundry Corporation

Cleveland State Bank

HUB International

Van Horn Automotive Group

McClone Agency

Muth Mirror Systems

Quasius Construction

Signature Dental

Toman’s Fine Fashion

4 Foot Tree/Wreath Sponsors:

Engaged Marketing Co.

Lakeside Pepsi

Old Wisconsin Sausage

Rohde Dales LLP

Shorewest Realtors

US Bank

2 Foot Tree/Wreath Sponsors:

A. Chappa Construction

Bemis Manufacturing Company

David & Kris Dirkse

Falls Financial Associates - Thrivent Financial

Greg & Martha VandeLeest

Groove Salon

HearthStone of Wisconsin Inc.

Jon & Carol Rost

Legend Larry’s LLC

Mike & Pam Langan

Oostburg State Bank

Robert Angermeier

Superior Lawn and Garden

Centerpiece Sponsors:

Keith & Vicki Pfister

Kurt & Sue Zingsheim

Neumann Plumbing and Heating, Inc

Prevea Health

2019 Tree, Wreath, and Centerpiece Sponsors

Shine On, a two-day fundraising event featured a VIP night on Friday, November 15th, 2019 and a free community day on Saturday, November 16th, 2019. Guests strolled through the holiday trees, wreaths, and specialty items decorated and donated by people who continue to "Shine On" in our community. The trees and wreaths were auctioned off by a live auctioneer on Friday night. The VIP event featured live music by The Belle Weather, delicious appetizers, a variety of wines, and Three Sheep's craft-brewed beers. Commu-nity Day, on Saturday, offered live entertainment, visits with Mrs. Claus, and story time with the Mead Pub-lic Library Elf, followed by a special Christmas craft. Anna and Elsa from Frozen sang, read a story, and posed for photos courtesy of Dare to Dream Theater.

The event was organized to raise funds for RCS initiatives that include Disability Sensitivity Training and expanded Autism services to the Sheboygan community. Thank you to everyone who donated!

RCS Empowers, Inc. Benefactors

Frank G. & Frieda K. Brotz Family Foundation, Inc.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS

3 Sheeps Brewing Company Alyssa Sauer AmericInn by Wyndham The Belle Weather Betty Jones Bookworm Gardens Brillant Lightscapes—Mark Mann Cain's Bridal - Donna Cain Carol Pringle Carolyn Schroder Chris Hemmer Chris Martin Christi Vincevineus Christy Jacobs Cleveland State Bank Connie & Ava Gens Connie Woythal Culvers - Plymouth Curt G. Joa, Inc. Dana Krepsky Dare to Dream Theater Dave Williams Daven Claerbout Debbie Felde Deidre Martinez Denise Schueffner Desiree Buck DLC Engaged marketing Co. Erin Schueller Festival Foods Fred Hegel - HFI Gaby Jansen Gary & Jane Plate Gary Spettel Gordy Gruenke Hayssen Family Foundation Inc Heather Morella Howard & Mikki Kaufman Il Ritrovo James & Cherie Leonhardt Jamie Gassner Jan Doerr Janice Westphal Jenny Grunwald Jessica Schmitt-Reynolds Joann Harrison Joanne Galvin Jody Merenick Van Horn Automotive Group Jonas Edstrom Keeli Johnson

Kelsey Borth Kris Williams Kyle Leipold Lakeland University Lakeside Pepsi Landmark Landscapes Laura Gumm Lauren Schmitt L'Bri Pure n' Natural - Jess Maxwell Lindsay Harrison-Eirich Lindsey Scheuer Lisa Girdaukas Lisa Ver Velde Liz Dufek Lynn Justinger Masters Gallery Foods Martha VandeLeest Mary Van Ess MaryJo Brunner Matt & Jodi Wegner Jeff & Michelle Gentine Miesfeld’s Midwest Dental Molly Talaska Monica Senkbeil Nails by LaLa Nan Walker Nathan Justinger Nikki Reick North High - The Strings Patti Debroux Paul & Barbara Gruber Paulette Fritz Pine Hills County Club Old Wisconsin Sausage Pizza Ranch Plymouth Foam Rage and Kick Fitness Randy & Chris Paul Ramona Schad Randy & Rita Romanoski Randy Harris Raw Dawg RCS Empowers Acts of Kindness Class RCS Empowers Art Therarpy Group RCS Empowers Participant Council RCS Empowers, Inc. Restoration Gardens-Craig Harms Richardson Hospice Resale Store Salon Aura-Kohler Samantha Landgraf Sarah & Jessica Louisier

2019 Cash and In Kind Donations

Sorrell Anderson is a talented artist who uses art in healing ways. He works in a vari-ety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry making. He has a passion for comic books and design-ing his own characters. In the past he has been selected to work on art collaborations in the community, including a clay and mixed media project with Sheboygan Sen-ior Community. This year he had several pieces displayed in the RCS Art Show. He was voted by his peers, RCS staff, and visi-tors from the community as the Favorite Artist of the 2019 RCS Art Show.

2019 Shine On Ornament Designed by Anderson

Sarah Rosenthal Sheboygan Leadership Academy Studio 7 - Stephanie Garcia Studio 7 -Brianna Stahl Sue Meyer & Natalie Meyer Tamara Salchert Tanya Arciniega Terri Brodhagen That's a Wrap - Gina Jetzer The Mead Public Library The Osthoff Resort The Red Hat Ladies of RCS Empowers

The Wreath Factory - Otter Creek Tim Gillis Tim Kaker Timber Rattlers Todd Leonhard Torke Coffee Two Girls -Two Glasses Uline Valerie Van Sickle Vicki Villani Wally List Wrought Washer

RCS celebrated the retirement of Mary Jumes! For nine years, Mary has been an excellent case manager, coworker, and advo-cate. Mary has been the voice of the voiceless with her contin-ued advocacy for individuals with disabilities. She has shared her experience with all of us and has been a mentor to many of the staff. We wish Mary joy and happiness in her retirement. We will miss you!

Happy Retirement

RCS Movers and Shakers

Emily Wodach Board Appointment

Congratulations, Emily Wodach, for your appointment to the Mental Health America Board. Emily works in Day Services.

Fedra Mattox Community Coach

Faedra will teach in Day Service and Prevocation-al Services.

Madeline McCannon Day Service Case

Manager

Madeline has been working with Mary Jumes to transition her caseload and ensure RCS participants and their families experience a smooth transition.

Danielle Buck Special Needs

Caregiver

Danielle will work in Oasis providing care for Day Service participants.

John Brodhagen RCS Chef

John will be creating meals and snacks for our food service department that serves our partici-pants and RCS staff.

Melissa Griffin Birth to Three Coordinator

Melissa will work with families in the Birth to Three Program located at Sheboygan County Health and Human Services.

RCS Empowers, Inc.

P.O. Box 248

Sheboygan, WI 53082

920-458-8261

MAIL LABEL INFORMATION HERE

Nonprofit

U.S. Postage

PAID

RCS Empowers, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS codes. To make a donation of items on our Wish List please go to our website www.rcsempowers.com or call Josh Senkbeil at 920-694-1215

Paint roller covers 18 inches Nail polish any color Nail polish remover Hairspray Hand mixer 5 Basketballs 3 Soccer balls Weighted blankets John Deere Gator or similar

Would you like to be a part of Shine On 2020? If you are interested in being a committee member, designer, volunteer, or a sponsor, please contact Jody Merenick at 920-694-1204 or email jmerenick@rcsempowers.com