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Fall 2014 T H E D S O C O N N E C T I O N
STATE REPRESENTATIVE SEAN McCANN
60
th D
istr
ict
Ser
vice
Off
ice
315
N B
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ick
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, St
e 10
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azoo
MI
490
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269
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6 the
60th DSO Passing of the Baton @ the 60th District Service Office
By Edie Trent, DSO Director &
Legislative Aide to State Representative
Sean McCann
The Voters have spoken!
With the election results tallied up just as we go to press, the baton is being passed by Sean McCann to the next State Representative of the 60th House District of the Mich-igan House of Representatives, Mr. Jon Hoadley. Congratulations!
Over the course of the next couple months, there is understandably much to do in transition. However,
extreme care will be taken so that there will be a smooth and seamless process to not interrupt our all im-portant constituent service work, both in Lansing and here at the DSO in downtown Kalamazoo.
If you have an issue or a prob-lem to resolve with a State government program, please continue to count on the DSO being your “go-to” resource. We are right downtown, just north of the Burdick Mall @ 315 N. Burdick, near the train / bus station. Accessible, Friendly Problem Solvers available at no cost to you, on a walk-in basis.
DSO Partners with PATH Program at MichiganWorks To Help
Clients Hone Skills for Employment
Over the past couple of years, the 60th District Service Office has been thrilled to be a community service site for “PATH,”a workforce development program jointly run in Kalamazoo County through the partnering of Michigan Works!, the Department of Human Services, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Services.
It is nothing short of “Win! Win! Win!” The community ser-vice volunteers who are selected to work with us through this program gain meaningful work experience and a current job reference. In re-turn, we get awesome volunteer
support for our constituent service work for local residents. Starting in the interview pro-cess, we look for candidates who possess an attitude for success, a positive work ethic, and an aptitude to grow into working with our con-stituents. As with any volunteer placement, we look for opportuni-ties to build skills in computer work, customer service skills, and general office administrative assis-tant work. Based on interest and initiative, direct service with our constituents is also very much a possibility. We are investing time and en-couragement to help an individual reach out to search for and get that important launch into meaningful work and gainful employment in the local workforce. Please take a look at the feature article on page 2, as we introduce our most recent participant, Rashonda Stapleton.
We recently also caught up with our PATH volunteer from the past Spring, Ms. Sha’na Cole. She left us in June to take a position as a Mobility Driver for Life EMS. She and her girls, Khamanni and Riyah, are
doing well. Sha’na is plotting her next moves—planning to return to school and enjoying times with her family. We miss you, but are thrilled for you!
Want to track current legislation going through the House or the Senate? On your computer or mobile device, go to https://legislature.mi.gov. If you know the bill #, insert it here or enter keywords. The prompts are easy to follow to see the progress of law-making. Call 382-4676 with questions you might have.
Who are we serving?
Conveniently located in Down-
town Kalamazoo, at 315 N. Burdick
near the bus\train station, we welcome
drop-in visitors, as well as phone calls
and emails. We serve “face-to-face.”
Here are a few examples of our recent
constituent service work:
We learned that if your Driver’s
License or ID card has been ex-
pired for more than 7 years, the
Secretary of State has most likely
purged your file and you have to
show all of your required docu-
mentation again. We helped such
an individual put all of his papers
together to present, including an
out-of-state birth certificate on
which the midwife put the wrong
year fifty years ago. Legal Aid is
actually helping him make that
correction with the State of Mis-
sissippi’s Vital Records.
We helped put a widower in touch
with the right office at the Treas-
ury Department in Lansing to re-
coup a $3,500 bank certificate of
deposit that had been returned to
the state that had belonged to his
late spouse.
We helped several voters read up
on the August Primary ballot issue
regarding the repeal of the Person-
al Property Tax. We provided a
link for them to the bill analysis on
the Michigan Legislature’s public
website.
We helped a constituent know
what the process was to report sus-
pected child abuse and neglect.
He had a young neighbor child
about whom he was very con-
cerned.
We helped a constituent learn how
to apply for one of the new jobs
coming into town, after he’d seen
a Facebook posting that Rep.
McCann had helped to cut a
ribbon at a recent Grand Opening.
We handed out hundreds of pieces
of State publications and maps at
both the recent Senior Expo and
the Project Connect event held in
October at the County fairgrounds.
(It was great to see the wonderful
turnout for these annual events
planned to help link local folks to
local human services.
We made several requests to Con-
sumers Energy to place holds on
potential shut-off notices, to give
constituents a little extra time to
find the resources to assist with
high heating and cooling bills.
During the summer months, the
state does not process requests for
payment assistance with these ex-
penses. Other local agencies have
experienced backlogs to handle
requests.
A constituent with
young children,
who literally lost
her wallet, was
linked to a faith-
based organization
to help get diaper-
ing supplies for
her children until
her ATM card was
replaced. We also
helped her sign up
for the drop in
child care center.
Fall 2014—Page 2
Serving the Kalamazoo Area’s House District Since 1973
Welcome to one of the DSO’s Newest Volunteers:
Rashonda Stapleton
My name is Rashonda Staple-
ton and I was born in Chicago, but
raised in Kalamazoo, MI. I have 4
amazing kids: Dezmeon is 5 years
old, Dezariah is 3 years, and my
twins are 1 year old Damyra and
Damarion.
I graduated from Flint Genesee
Job Corps Center in 2006 with my
G.E.D. and a certificate in Business
Technology. I plan to attend KVCC
in the fall for Small Business Man-
agement which I consider to being
the beginning step to starting my
own business.
I have volunteered over time
with the several non-profit organi-
zations, including my Job Corps
internship. I was named “Helping
Hands Student of the Year“ for
2006.
Working at the DSO, this excit-
ing experience is breathtaking and I
plan to take in all that I can. I’m
very honored to be working with
Rep. Sean McCann at the 60th
District Service Office.
Knowledge is power.
Rashonda Stapleton
We truly must have an “in” with the weather bureau.
Once again, on August 15th, the weather was perfect for
our traditional Summer DSO / CSC fundraiser, in which
we raise an ice cream salute and sing “Happy Birthday”
to Mary Brown.
Page 3 - Fall 2014
60th District Service Office (DSO)
Carolyn & Melvin Alford
Tom Bailey & Katherine Joslin
Cheri Bell
Mary & Don Brown
Toni & Dave Buskirk
Omarr & Leona Carter
Bob Cinabro
Paul & Aiden Clements
Martha Cohen
Ron & Nancy Crowell
Ron DesNoyer & Conni Lutes
Rick & Lisa Fuller
Jeff & Kristen Getting
Melvin & Alberta Goebel
Kelly Grace
Dean & Cynthia Halderson
Tracy Hall & Amanda Bouman
Caroline Ham
Alan & Laurie Harbaugh
Barbara & RD Havira
Jon Hoadley
Bobby Hopewell
Brian & Linda Johnson
Ed & Ann LaForge
Millie Lambert
Margo Light
Tim & Joy Light
Bill & Jeannette Maxey
Sean McCann & Priscilla Lambert
Stephanie Moore
Dick & Karen Phillips
Mike Pioch
Art Cole & Sally Reames
Bob & Carol Smith
Linda Teeter
Max Tibbitts & Jeff Suida
George & Clare Todd
Edie Trent
Bill & Carrie Venema
Julie & Bob Vogel
John & Marjorie Weir
Nina Wolpe
Kevin Wordelman, Andrea Smalley &
Wally
Mary Brown Turns 79 at #80minus1
Bill Farmer John Curran Wendy Flora & Bob Cinabro
A piece of Representation LEGACY of the 60th House District: Ed LaForge (1995-2000, Sean McCann (2010-2014), Mary Brown (1977-1994), & Jon Hoadley (2015—…. )
Our Sponsors Honor Us with their Generosity ~ Thank You!
Friendly Faces in the 60th District include (from left to right): Olga Bonfiglio & Ann LaForge, Gwen Lanier,
Edie Trent, Namita Sharma, Rick Fuller & Stephanie Moore.
Art Cole & Sally Reames Leona Carter
Mark Your Calendars!
Mary recently sent us an email with the tentative
date for her 80th!!
August 21, 2015
Sean McCann State Representative
60th District Service Office
315 N. Burdick Ave., Ste. 100
Kalamazoo MI 49007
(269) 382-4676
www.60thdso.org
Lansing Office
N-994 House Office Bldg.
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-1785
Toll Free: (888) 833-6636
Fax: (517) 373-5762
Established in 1973, the 60th District Service Office is a non-profit corporate entity established for the purpose of
providing Kalamazoo area residents with direct access to their government and increasing the responsiveness of the
government to their needs and concerns. Services are provided without fee on an entirely non-partisan basis. While
the staff for the 60th DSO is provided by the State Representative, it relies on the contributions of supporters to fund
the daily operations.
Matthew Lechel, Chair Laurie Terlesky, Vice Chair Laurie Harbaugh, Secretary Fran Dwight, Treasurer Toni Buskirk Traci Hall Rev. E. A. Hayes Ken Greschak Janet Jones Millie Lambert Rondale Nichols-Templeton Mary Roscoe
Mary Brown Ed LaForge Alexander Lipsey Rep. Sean McCann Rep-Elect Jon Hoadley Julie Vogel, Staff Edie Trent, Staff
60th DSO Board of Directors
Page 4 - Fall 2014
Follow us on Facebook
The Back Page i
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/60th-District-Service-
Office-of-Rep-Sean-
McCann/196617097024987
Or use your smart phone to
find us on the web.
60thDSO.org
Dedicated to Serving Others
It’s Poinsettia Time!! SAVE THE DATE!!
On Saturday, December 6th from 10 am —1 pm at the Pavilion at Prairie Gardens, 1501 Blakeslee, the 60th DSO will once again sponsor our Annual Holiday Poinsettia Pick-up Brunch. Please see the enclosed order form for details.
These are such gorgeous plants, produced locally by Panse Greenhouse in Alamo. Prices remain the same this year—Good News!!
The 60th District Service Office has assisted with 375 cases so far in 2014 (through 10/31), up significantly
from 2013. Our problem resolution, information & referral services are free to anyone in the 60th District.
Annual Fund Drive to Start in December
The boards of directors for both the Community Service Charity and the 60th District Service Office are also soon to conduct our Joint Annual Fund Drive. Please look for our letter in the mail to you and consider an end of the year donation to these important organizations.