Winter 2013 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

urd

ick

St.

, St

e 10

0, K

alam

azoo

MI

490

07 *

269

-382

-467

6 the

60th DSODSODSO Some Time with Judy Markusse Paget:

‘You Never Know What You’re Going to Learn When You Work for Mary Brown’ This is one of a series of articles spotlighting former DSO staffers.

40 Years

of Service

Excellence

Judy’s history with the 60th

District Service Office (DSO) goes

back to 1983 when she was a stu-

dent at WMU researching the topic

of comparable pay. Her advisor

directed her to go downtown and

meet with Mary Brown. And of

course, Mary had the relevant sta-

tistics and the legislative reports

that Judy needed and also knew

how to get similar information

from other states. “The environ-

ment at the DSO was very excit-

ing.” Judy recalled. “Mary

Shafsma was the director then, and

there was so much going on.”

Soon, Judy was installed as an

intern working with constituents to

receive their calls or follow-up by

letter or phone on their issues. The

phone calls she made to Lansing

were very satisfying because there

was almost always a staff person

there who could help solve the

problem. Then, as now, most of

the calls were related to the De-

partment of Social Services (now,

the Dept. of Human Services).

Judy was also sent to represent

Mary at area meetings. She would

obediently attend these events

while silently saying, “I am 23.

Please don’t call on me.”

Judy has vivid memories of

tax season because those were the

days when tax returns were done

not only at various community

sites, but also at the DSO—and she

found herself in the role of tax

preparer. “People would be lined

up outside the door with their pa-

perwork.” Again, Judy recalls her

silent refrain was, “Whoever said I

could do this?” But of course, she

found she could.

These were very productive

times in the legislature. Mary

would run 32 pieces of legislation

at a time and would also follow

numerous bills that others had ini-

tiated. In a memorable example of

bipartisanship, Mary and Jack

Welborn worked together to enlist

Department of Transportation sup-

port to install a traffic light on a

treacherous part of Stadium Drive.

Mary was involved in passing a tax

credit designed to help small brew-

The District Service office was started 40 years

ago by a young upstart Michigan Representative

named Howard Wolpe, who would go on to become

a United State Congressmen. It's legacy was shaped

by a host of representatives who followed Howard,

including the pioneering Rep Mary Brown, who is still

active in the District Service Office today. How could

Howard Wolpe have envisioned that the DSO would

still be running 40 years after its beginnings? It fills an

important need. This is an effort that continues to have

great meaning to the many residents of the Greater

Kalamazoo area who visit or call us each year.

In 2012, we not only served over 300 residents of

the 60th District, but provided volunteer experiences

and internships for some two dozen local individuals

who provided direct services in our office. We also

count ourselves extremely fortunate to have the able

assistance of our volunteer Boards of Directors for

both the DSO and the Community Services Charity.

As we look ahead to the new year, let us all con-

tinue to be mindful of Howard’s vision and call to

service and action. Like those that have come before

us, let us think about how we can impact the next 40

years! By Matt Lechel

Rep. McCann with our board of Rep. McCann with our board of Rep. McCann with our board of

directors chair, Matt Lecheldirectors chair, Matt Lecheldirectors chair, Matt Lechel

40 Years & Counting40 Years & Counting40 Years & Counting

Markusse-Paget, Continued on page 3

Page 2 - Winter 2013

60th District Service Office

By Edie Trent, DSO Director

I am given to telling them all “You

have wonderfully fallen from the sky!

Heaven Sent!” This past fall, we were

extremely fortunate to have the able assis-

tance of several individuals who very

enthusiastically embrace their time at the

DSO.

Rondale is a student at the nearby

KVCC downtown campus and is a Liber-

al Arts Transfer Major student in Com-

munications and International Studies.

He is also very involved in the media

ministries at Galilee Baptist Church.

Katie attends WMU’s undergraduate

Social Work program and works evenings

at Residential Opportunities, Inc. (R.O.I.)

Recently married, Katie loves her pet

pitbulls and K Wings hockey.

BethAnn volunteered regularly for

much of the summer and fall 2012. She

was recently hired to work in the local

Michigan State Housing Development

Authority (MSHDA) agent’s office,

working with participants’ state housing

matters. After having been home for

much of the last twenty years with her

now adult special needs son, her goal in

working with the DSO was to gain valua-

ble work experience and re-enter the

workforce. We are thrilled for BethAnn

that she did it!

Himja (profiled in our Fall ‘12 issue)

continues her wonderful electronic media

contributions. This semester, she has

started working on her MBA in IT Man-

agement at Western. She’ll do well.

As a community volunteer, Art’s

goal has been to “give back.” He, too, is

looking for “just the right job” in the sci-

entific world. Art’s been a tremendous

“attention to detail guy” for work on our

recent Annual Appeal.

Sarah plans to attend Xavier Univer-

sity in the Fall 2013 to work on her Mas-

ter’s in Health Services Administration.

She has begun to do case work follow ups

for us and demonstrates great compassion

and caring among our constituents.

Eric is a Systems Engineer with

Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. He is

rapidly helping the DSO gain even more

electronics capabilities. As a big start, he

is concentrating on automating our online

donation process. He even ordered me a

“square” to be able to

process credit cards in

person.

Volunteer Kalamazoo

continues to be our prime

partner resource to recruit

our participants.

Our Volunteers Rock!

BethAnn Robins, volunteer extraordinaire, came one gor-

geous October morning with shovel and lily plants in hand.

Adding four mums plants later in the day—results stunning! We

added much beauty to our little corner of N. Burdick St.

How We Work at the DSO:

1. We listen. The DSO lends an ear to individuals or groups

who seek to voice their concerns more effectively to local

and state officials.

2. Ombudsman. DSO staff assists individuals navigating

their way through the bureaucracies of local and state gov-

ernmental agencies.

3. Legislative Information Center. The DSO seeks citizen

reaction to pending legislation, keeps citizens informed of

day-to-day occurrences in state government, and provides

information on access to legislative research

(www.legislature.mi.gov) in connection with specific bills.

4. State Publications. We make available numerous state

publications which are available to constituents at no cost:

copies of the MI constitution, landlord /tenants info, seniors’

publications, coloring books & state maps. Teachers &

group leaders may request in bulk.

5. Referral Services. The DSO provides a referral service to

other agencies: local, state, federal, public & private for

60th District constituents.

Eric Ulmer BethAnn Robins

& Himja Sachdev Katie Teske Rondale

Nichols-Templeton Sarah Edwards Art Reigle

Winter 2013 — Page 3

Serving the Kalamazoo Community Since 1973

eries including the fledgling Bell’s Brew-

ery. Other legislation dealt with concerns

ranging from leaky underground fuel

tanks, to allowing children to testify by

videotape, to removing unnecessary gen-

der references from government language.

Judy became the Director in Decem-

ber 1984 and stayed with the DSO until

1990 when she was recruited by Planned

Parenthood to work in the area of fund

development. After seven years, she took

a position as executive director of Minis-

try with Community which had been

founded in 1978 by her mother, Dorothy

Markusse. Judy spent eleven years in this

gratifying but intensely demanding job,

leaving in 2007 to care for her mother who

died in 2011. That was also the year that

she joined Hospital Hospitality House

(HHH) as executive director. HHH has

been in existence for 28 years but isn’t

well known to area residents because it’s

usually people who live at some distance

from the city who need the services. The

non-profit, located in a large house on

South St. provides lodging for people who

have someone who is receiving either in-

patient or outpatient medical treatment in

Kalamazoo. People who would rather

sleep at the hospital can use HHH to

shower, do laundry or nap. Many guests

are women who have recently given birth

but whose babies aren’t healthy enough

for discharge. Over the years, HHH has

served guests from 50 states and 40 coun-

tries. The length of stay ranges from less

than one day to longer than a year--and

there is no charge.

Judy may wonder sometimes how her

life might be different if she hadn’t be-

come intrigued by the topic of pay inequi-

ties and found her way from WMU to

Mary Brown and the DSO. That question

can’t be answered but we do know that,

like her mentor, Judy has made an im-

portant difference in many people’s lives.

By Deborah Gang

Above: Deborah Gang, Ken Greschak, Martha Cohen, & Bill Hough

At left: Laurie Harbaugh & Laurie Terlesky

At right: Julie Rogers

& Mary Brown

Through Our Through Our Through Our

Door Fall 2012Door Fall 2012Door Fall 2012

Who are we Who are we Who are we

listening to?listening to?listening to?

We are conveniently located in We are conveniently located in We are conveniently located in

Downtown Kalamazoo, in the 300 block Downtown Kalamazoo, in the 300 block Downtown Kalamazoo, in the 300 block

of N. Burdick, just a few doors south of of N. Burdick, just a few doors south of of N. Burdick, just a few doors south of

the Rickman House. We welcome dropthe Rickman House. We welcome dropthe Rickman House. We welcome drop---

in visitors, as well as phone calls and in visitors, as well as phone calls and in visitors, as well as phone calls and

emails. Ever since the days of “then” emails. Ever since the days of “then” emails. Ever since the days of “then”

State Rep. Howard Wolpe, the DSO has State Rep. Howard Wolpe, the DSO has State Rep. Howard Wolpe, the DSO has

served constituents “dayserved constituents “dayserved constituents “day---tototo---face.”face.”face.”

A woman receiving Medicaid was A woman receiving Medicaid was A woman receiving Medicaid was

using a medical device to help her using a medical device to help her using a medical device to help her

with her condition. The manufacturer with her condition. The manufacturer with her condition. The manufacturer

changed the design of this disposable changed the design of this disposable changed the design of this disposable

device and the new version does not device and the new version does not device and the new version does not

fit her well. She is aware of a product fit her well. She is aware of a product fit her well. She is aware of a product

that would fit her better but was told that would fit her better but was told that would fit her better but was told

by the medical supplier that the State by the medical supplier that the State by the medical supplier that the State

would not pay for what she would would not pay for what she would would not pay for what she would

prefer to use. We are currently advo-prefer to use. We are currently advo-prefer to use. We are currently advo-

cating for her.cating for her.cating for her.

A disabled woman returning to her A disabled woman returning to her A disabled woman returning to her

home from a hospital stay would not home from a hospital stay would not home from a hospital stay would not

have power in her apartment because have power in her apartment because have power in her apartment because

of alleged fraud by a family member. of alleged fraud by a family member. of alleged fraud by a family member.

With DHS’s Adult Protective Services With DHS’s Adult Protective Services With DHS’s Adult Protective Services

assistance, we were able to help her assistance, we were able to help her assistance, we were able to help her

get her power restored and a payment get her power restored and a payment get her power restored and a payment

plan established.plan established.plan established.

A constituent was due a sizeable re-A constituent was due a sizeable re-A constituent was due a sizeable re-

fund from Unemployment Insurance. fund from Unemployment Insurance. fund from Unemployment Insurance.

At first, she was ordered to pay back At first, she was ordered to pay back At first, she was ordered to pay back

funds which the state had indicated funds which the state had indicated funds which the state had indicated

they paid her in error, which she did. they paid her in error, which she did. they paid her in error, which she did.

However, she filed an appeal and, However, she filed an appeal and, However, she filed an appeal and,

eventually over a year later, an admin-eventually over a year later, an admin-eventually over a year later, an admin-

istrative law judge hearing the appeal, istrative law judge hearing the appeal, istrative law judge hearing the appeal,

determined that there was no miscon-determined that there was no miscon-determined that there was no miscon-

duct in her separation. Rather it was duct in her separation. Rather it was duct in her separation. Rather it was

a judgment call she made in good a judgment call she made in good a judgment call she made in good

faith. She was entitled to benefits faith. She was entitled to benefits faith. She was entitled to benefits

between the time she left and the orig-between the time she left and the orig-between the time she left and the orig-

iiinnnaaalll dddaaattteee ooofff hhheeerrr aaannntttiiiccciiipppaaattteeeddd rrreeetttiiirrreeemmmeeennnttt...

This is when she called the DSOThis is when she called the DSOThis is when she called the DSO———we we we

were able to help her learn when she were able to help her learn when she were able to help her learn when she

would get the check. It came.would get the check. It came.would get the check. It came.

Poinsettia Sale Poinsettia Sale Poinsettia Sale

a Great Success!a Great Success!a Great Success!

Our Annual Holiday flower Our Annual Holiday flower Our Annual Holiday flower

sale and gathering at Doug & sale and gathering at Doug & sale and gathering at Doug &

Penny Thompson’s home went Penny Thompson’s home went Penny Thompson’s home went

extremely well in early De-extremely well in early De-extremely well in early De-

cember 2012. Panse’s Green-cember 2012. Panse’s Green-cember 2012. Panse’s Green-

house has partnered with us house has partnered with us house has partnered with us

for several years to provide the for several years to provide the for several years to provide the

lovely blooms we make avail-lovely blooms we make avail-lovely blooms we make avail-

aaabbbllleee tttooo ooouuurrr fffrrriiieeennndddsss aaannnddd fffaaammmi-i-i-

lies. Your participation in this lies. Your participation in this lies. Your participation in this

fundraising event is greatly fundraising event is greatly fundraising event is greatly

appreciated. appreciated. appreciated.

Annual AppealAnnual AppealAnnual Appeal

To date, the donors to our To date, the donors to our To date, the donors to our

recent Annual Fund Appeal recent Annual Fund Appeal recent Annual Fund Appeal

are from 79 households! are from 79 households! are from 79 households! Thank you so much.Thank you so much.Thank you so much.

Markusse-Paget, continue from page 1

Our hosts: Penny & Doug Thompson

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 increas-

ing the responsiveness of the government to their needs and concerns. Services are provided without fee

on an entirely non-partisan basis. While the 60th DSO is sponsored by the State Representative, it re-

lies on the contributions of supporters to fund the daily operations.

Matthew Lechel, Chair Gary Swanson, Vice Chair Laurie Harbaugh, Secretary Fran Dwight, Treasurer Deborah Gang, Past Chair Ken Greschak Janet Jones Millie Lambert Laurie Terlesky

Mary Brown Ed LaForge Alexander Lipsey Rep. Sean McCann Julie Vogel, Staff Edie Trent, Staff

60th DSO Board of Directors

Upcoming Event!

May 2013 This year’s Spring Brunch will be held at the McCann and the

Chope-Hughes homes. If you would like to be a sponsor of this upcoming

event, please contact Mary Brown at (269) 569-5962.

Think Spring!

Think Spring Brunch!

Page 4 - Winter 2013

SCAN us on your SmartPhone

www.60thdso.com

Follow us on Facebook

The Back Page

60th WISHLIST— These are items we’d love

to have in the office.

Paper shredder

Bulletin board

More suitable confer-

ence room table &/or

chairs

An iPad