1

MAY • 2015Welcome to the ClothesLine

- the monthly employee newsletter! In each edition we will be covering all corners of

the agency every month. Enjoy!

SPRING IS HERE. GO OUTSIDE!

There are really some fun and exciting things to do outside

as the weather improves, learn about the benefits!

Page 9

OMAHA GIVES! ISALMOST HERE

On May 20 Goodwill will be participating again in the third

annual fundraising holiday Omaha Gives!

Page 13

Employees at the Annual Dinner took turns dressing up and taking pictures in the photo booth. Fun signs, glasses and crazy wigs were available to use.

GOOD TIMES WITH GOODWILL EMPLOYEES

by Rita Crum

oodwill hosted its annual Employee Awards Banquet on Saturday,

April 11, 2015. Nearly 500 employees, guests and board members experienced an evening of cool raffle prizes, awesome video highlights and compelling acceptance speeches.

The night began with a social hour followed by dinner. Board Chairman Mark Brasee kicked the night off with agency highlights and successes. The rest of the evening was filled with a plethora of raffle prizes and

recognitions. Congratulations to our

award winners of the night. AbilityOne Custodian Dorothy Johnston was recognized as the Marco/Meyer Achiever of the Year. Dorothy started off in our Work Experience program 15 years ago. She’s come a long way since first coming to Goodwill and this is why she received this distinguished award.

Benson Park Store Manager Josh Meyer was recognized as the Manager of the Year.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

G

2 WELCOME

PUBLISHER: Frank McGreeEDITOR IN CHIEF: Rita CrumMANAGING EDITOR: Ann BaileySTAFF WRITERS: Brent Koster, Elizabeth Donner, Kris Pachunka, Rebecca Armstrong and Erin Swanson Russell

THE CLOTHESLINE is published monthly and is available at each Town Hall meeting. If you are unable to attend Town Hall, you may also find copies in the Marketing area at BPP, or request to have a copy delivered to you by calling 402.231.1912.

You may also find ClothesLine articles and full-issue digital downloads on the Goodwill Omaha website at http://www.goodwillomaha.org/category/publications/the-clothes-line/.

MAY 2015YouthBuild North improving parks – The

young people of YouthBuild will be working for the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission this summer, doing masonry work at several state parks. YouthBuild will be pouring new concrete slabs for campgrounds. So, the next time you camp at Two Rivers or Louisville State Recreational Areas, there’s a good chance you’ll see their handiwork.

Winner winner – Goodwill was awarded a Business Excellence Award by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. The chamber recognized around 20 local businesses and nonprofits with this distinction. It’s their first time giving out this award, so it’s an honor to be part of the inaugural class of recipients. There is a reception in May where we will receive the award. Congratulations everyone!

Earth unhappy about Earth Day; happy with Goodwill – Based on the weather, we can safely assume that the earth does not like Omaha’s Earth Day celebration. It rained all day last Saturday, as Goodwill staff struggled to stay dry. Recycling Manager Ken Barker was accepting used computers throughout the day, and a host of other Goodwill employees were showing attendees how to repurpose t-shirts into bags. The soggy conditions put a damper on attendance, but Barker and his crew were still able to recycle more than 3,000 pounds of E-waste. All that computer recycling surely improved the earth’s mood by the end of the day.

by Brent KosterTHE RUNDOWN

LOCATED INSIDE BENSON PARK PLAZA - 4805 NORTH 72 STREET Recycling Manager Ken Barker and Recycling Tech II Kendrick Ransom

3

Aaron Kastl Custodian Denney

Barry Sloan Laundry Finisher Spin Linen

Thomas Simodynes YouthBuild Cons. Trainer Benson Park

Elaine Caughlin Cashier 180th & Q

Deven Brown Donation Door Attendant 156th & Maple

Andre Miller Jr. Clothing Processor Hanger Benson Park Store

Mariton Barber Reserve99 Rep. Reserve99

Nathan Gunter Lead Laundry Processor Spin Linen

Makaela Peterson Cashier 156th & Maple

Andrew Glenn E-Commerce Associate 72nd & F

Lavanta Story Wearhouse Associate Prod. 72nd & F

Erika Spencer Cashier 78th & Dodge

Jennifer Perry Cashier Papillion

Hoth Bol Cashier 78th & Dodge

Vonetta Phillip Clothing Processor Hanger 156th & Maple

Pakawan Williams Cashier South Papillion

Kevin Lytle Jr. Business Outreach Specialist Ames Plaza

Adelene Finney Youthbuild Cons. Trainer Benson Park

Richard Strauss Accounting Specialist Benson Park

WELCOME! Below is a list of all new employees that joined Goodwill in March. Please say hello and make them feel welcome as they begin their new positions with Goodwill.

NEW EMPLOYEES!

NEW HIRES • AWARDS

MARCH 2015AWARDS

LIFESAVERSToni SimmonsNathaniel AndrewsJeff BloesDebra Minor-BrownRyan Christensen

Kathryn Naughton

ABOVE & BEYONDBrett GulbrandsonTierra WashingtonJenny SalsburySam ComfortPete BataillonSteve Andrews

Andrea RayAlicia BaldwinNatalie DallmanPatricia Oltman

SAFETY SMARTMegan Sharpe

Look around you... There are awesome people doing awesome things every day. Be the one to brighten a co-worker or manager’s day with the Safety Smart, Lifesaver or Above & Beyond Award. Go out and do awesome things and next month your name could be listed here.

4

A few months back there was a story in the ClothesLine about Victor Hull and his success running the donation trailer site at 50th & Grover. You learned about his dedication to his job, his appreciation for our donors, and about his undying efforts to promote our mission. It didn’t take long to realize just how good Victor is at his job.

Fast forward to now faced with a challenge when I realized Victor was our March Employee of the Month. What the heck was I going to write about now? We already said a plethora of nice things about him in that last article. What to do? So, I figured it might be interesting to learn more about the man behind the trailer.

In 2010, Victor went into cardiac arrest and underwent emergency heart surgery. His recovery was long and difficult. Just a year prior, Victor was working at a hotel managing the shuttle transportation program. He had lost his job due to his health condition. Victor attempted to receive unemployment and disability but was denied for both. He would apply for jobs

and was turned down time and time again. He felt discriminated against due to his health history and age.

To make matters a bit more challenging, Victor was a recovering alcoholic. Even though he had more than ten years of sobriety, he was at risk of falling back into his old habit due to all the stress he was enduring. Thankfully, Victor saw an ad for a Goodwill program called Projects with Industry.

Even though the program no longer exists, it did help many people like Victor find jobs and get back on their feet.

Upon completion of the program, Victor applied for a trailer attendant position. That was five years ago and since that time Victor has made a name

for himself at the 50th & Grover site. We credit him for building up Goodwill’s awareness in the neighborhood and among the local businesses; he credits Goodwill for giving him a second chance.

“Finding a job with Goodwill when I did helped me stay sober. The temptation was definitely

there. I’ve lost a lot of friends along the way from drugs and alcohol. Good things happen to good people who are given the opportunity to try hard, and Goodwill gave me that opportunity,” said Victor.

According to Retail Operations Director Shirley Hall, “Victor is customer driven. He strives at making sure donors leave knowing that

they just helped support our mission. He has a huge amount of pride for his trailer site.”

A heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes out to our March Employee of the Month Victor Hull!

Victor Hull is the attendant at 50th and Grover.

by Rita CrumEMPLOYEE

MONTHOF THE

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

5

Coffee House Assistant Manager Samantha Janousek stops for a photo with the winning donuts for being Specialty Store of the Month.

STORE MONTHOF THE

Congratulations to Josh, Sam, Chelle and Bobbi for achieving Specialty Store of the Month in

March!

COFFEE HOUSE

Goodwill employees and Work Experience students at 156th and Maple gather to celebrate their third Store of the Month achievement.

STORE MONTHOF THE

Congratulations to Janice, Jordon and their crew for achieving store of the month in March!

156TH & MAPLE

StoreS of the month

Specialty

6

“I am honored to be recognized for my hard work and accomplishments throughout my time with Goodwill. I am very lucky to manage such great staff who constantly make me shine with their hard work, not just here at Benson Park, but every store I help at. Thank you again for choosing me to be your MOY for 2014,” said Meyer.

Jenny Rohr received the coveted Employee of the Year Award.

“Being Employee of the Year is an incredible honor. It is very humbling to win this award knowing that my fellow employees voted for me. I love what I do and love being able to help employees succeed and it is wonderful to be recognized for it,” said Rohr.

GoodBytes was the Store of the Year for the second time in a row.

According to GoodBytes Manager James Coggins, “Without the collaborative efforts of the entire Goodwill staff, we would not have been standing up there speechless that evening. We

thank and applaud you, each and every one of you. And regardless of what is printed on the award we want all of you to know in our eyes it’s not just a store of the year award for us, it’s a testimony to all of our continued efforts to leave our community and the world in a slightly better place than we found it.”

The night ended with several employees winning the grand prizes consisting of eight hours vacation, four hours vacation, and a Kindle Fire. Many thanks to

businesses like WOWT and Bob Ervin Photography who provided photo and video services. However, I must give a big shout out to Rebecca Armstrong and Ann Bailey for creating a majority of the videos including the Employee, Manager and Store of the Year.

We hope you will consider joining us next year on April 30, 2016 at the Embassy Suites for this continued tradition of honoring employees.

cover story

by Rita Crum

GOOD TIMES CON’T.CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

7cover story

8

Last year, Goodwill’s Information Technology (IT) Department handled over 1,600 requests. There’s a good chance that you submitted one of those requests. And, there’s a good chance that our Database Manager, Jeff Bloes, dealt with many of your inquiries. Jeff is always prompt, courteous, and efficient while working with all of his internal and external customers. This, among many other reasons, is why Jeff is our Manager of the First Quarter of 2015.

Here at Goodwill, we’re all about efficiency. In this quarter, Jeff developed a new method to setup new computers that come into the agency. This process cuts load time by 75 percent.

Additionally, he completed the IT section of the Annual Statistical Report, ensuring the accuracy of all numbers reported to Goodwill Industries International and making Goodwill Omaha look really good.

Now, Jeff is guiding the

Employment and Training Department through its transition from a local Access-based database, one that is stored on hard drives in server rooms, to

a SQL web-based system, one that is stored on the cloud and more easily assessable. This is a large undertaking. It will involve migrating 11 databases to the cloud and coordinating the training of all Employment and Training and Quality Assurance staff to operate in this new database system.

“Jeff has worked diligently to develop a calendar for the

entire Employment and Training Department detailing this entire process,” said Gordon Scheet, Jeff’s manager.

He has made the agency ahead of the curve, and this new system will be standard for programmatic databases at Goodwill for the foreseeable future. Jeff has worked through this whole process while keeping agency costs at a minimum.

On top of all the database work, Jeff handled hundreds of customer inquiries during

tax season. Each year, Jeff becomes inundated with requests from donors to find their lost donations receipts. He treats each customer with respect and always ensures they are completely satisfied.

When not at Goodwill, Jeff is busy with his family. He has a wife,

Tina, and two children. His son, Dane, is almost five years old and his daughter, Laci, is three. Jeff’s favorite part about working at Goodwill is the challenging atmosphere.

“Honestly, there is always something new to work on. No day is the same,” says Jeff.

Congratulations, Jeff on your Manager of the Quarter win!

Manager of the Quarter Jeff Bloes.

by Rebecca ArmstrongMANAGER

QUARTEROF THE

MANAGER OF THE QUARTER

9

t is spring time in Nebraska and that means nice

weather…well, kind of anyway. The warmer temperatures

bring with them a number of outdoor activities. Those outdoor activities don’t have to be the typical running or biking if you’re not into that sort of thing. If you are a home owner there is typically a good amount of yard work to be done this time of year and that is a workout in itself. I asked a couple of Goodwill employees what they like to do outside when the weather gets nice and their activities range from card games to running. Eric Syphers wants to buy a soft-top Jeep and roll around with the top down and enjoy the outdoors that way!

From a wellness perspective

there are really some fun and exciting things to do outside as the weather improves.

If you drive by Memorial Park you can typically see some coeds enjoying a friendly game of ultimate Frisbee; don’t be shy, go join them!

Take your dogs for a walk around Lake Zorinsky or just around the block, it’s good for

both you and your furry friend. Even lying around outside can

have health benefits, the vitamin D we get from sun exposure can lower blood pressure and fight cancer causing cells! So even if you are not doing any rigorous physical activity outside, just being outside can be beneficial to your health, so go outside!

WELLNESS

Iby John Rumbaugh

GO OUTSIDE!

Brunch Parfaits

1/3 cup apricot preserves3 cups sliced strawberries 2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt1/2 cup low-fat granola without raisins (such as Kellogg’s) 2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted

To prepare: Place apricot preserves in a medium microwave-safe bowl, and microwave at high for 10 to 15 seconds or until preserves melt. Add strawberries, and toss gently to coat.

Spoon 1/4 cup yogurt into each of 4 parfait glasses; top each serving with 1/3 cup strawberry mixture. Repeat the layers with the remaining yogurt and strawberry mixture. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons granola and 1 1/2 teaspoons almonds. Serve immediately.Make Ahead Tip: Assemble everything but the granola and almonds ahead of time, and store in the refrigerator for up to an hour. Sprinkle with granola and almonds just before serving for the optimum crunch.

Photo credit: Google Images

10

his month we have ten questions for Senior Human Resources (HR) and Quality

Assurance (QA) Director LaRonda Birch BS, MHR, PHR.

1. What do you do here at Goodwill? I assist [Human Resources Vice President] Dave [Pfeffer] in the oversight of all aspects of Human Resources here at Goodwill.

2. You came to Goodwill in 1995, how has it changed in your tenure? Well, we were just a team of two, Dave and me. And we were overhauling the HR department. I had experience in affirmative action, EEO and benefits. Dave had the workers comp and compensation expertise. So we had a mix in specialties.

3. What brought you to Goodwill back then? I saw an ad in the paper for Goodwill. I didn’t know anything about Goodwill at that time. But after my first interview I knew that was the job for me. I was amazed at everything they did.

4. Was it fun overhauling the HR department? It was interesting. We had to see where the organization was, what they

needed, and Frank relied on Dave and I to use our best judgement and do what was best for the organization.

5. Why do you work in Human Resources? I absolutely love Human Resources. I love the people component. Being in a position where I can help people. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have a job where I could help people.

6. What do you do on your days off? Well I would really have to be on vacation for that to happen. I’m very involved in a lot of things outside of Goodwill. I like down time. I just don’t have much of it.

7. Do you like to read? I love to read. One of my favorite books is “When Good People Make Bad Choices”. It’s a book about integrity. Great book.

8. What are you most proud of about your time at Goodwill? For 17 years, I managed the programmatic side of AbilityOne while running HR at the same time. These days those are two separate divisions. It was a huge challenge, but I take a great deal of pride in the fact that I did that.

9. Your staff is fairly young… Yeah, and that’s refreshing, and I love working in an intergenerational environment. They have a lot to teach us, and we have all the history to share with them.

10. What’s your favorite Goodwill program? I love ReStart, our new ex-offenders program. It says a lot about this organization that we’re stepping up to serve that population. And the community is noticing.

THE BIG 10 • LARONDA BIRCH

by Brent KosterTHE BIG 10 WITH LARONDA BIRCH

Senior Human Resources & QA Director LaRonda Birch (top left) joins a few friends and coworkers for a fun photo.

T

11

We want to introduce you to someone special: Duoth Chuol was selected as the E&T Department’s Participant of the 1st Quarter for 2015.

Duoth and his family immigrated to Nebraska from the Sudan. In their household, English is a second language. This school year Duoth was referred to Goodwill’s Work Experience Program to help him learn work skills and practice soft skills such as communication and working independently.

Duoth has come a long way since starting at Goodwill in August. Initially, he was shy and nervous. Duoth has worked

in four different areas in and around Benson Park Plaza. After learning the jobs and interacting with staff every day, his confidence has flourished.

Duoth said that his favorite rotation is at the donation door where he gets to meet people and help them with their donations. He also likes working in the store where there are other opportunities to help people. Duoth always has a beaming smile on his face when greeting people. He is proud of his efforts and enjoys coming to Goodwill each day.

According to his WE Trainer, Steve Andrews, Duoth takes

on projects without question and proudly completes tasks as instructed. Steve said that Duoth demonstrates what a good employee does – stays on task, listens, and follows directions. Duoth displays a positive attitude about his work duties and is friendly with co-workers and staff. He has an awesome work ethic.

In his down time Duoth enjoys watching basketball and playing basketball at the YMCA. In fact he has challenged his trainer to a game of one-on-one this summer.

Duoth is going through the application process for OPS’ Project Search at Embassy Suites for next school year to learn more about hotel jobs. He has a goal of working in a job where he uses his hands and fixes things. “Being a mechanic would be my dream job,” he said.

Please congratulate Duoth Chuol as E&T’s Participant of the 1st Quarter for 2015!

Particpant of the First Quarter Duolth Chuol with Work Experience Trainer Steve Andrews.

Duoth Chuol stands proud in front of a tree before it is decorated for the holidays.

by Holly SchwietzPARTICIPANT

QUARTEROF THE

PARTICIPANT OF THE QUARTER

12

$18,584.17to support Goodwill’s mission!

Excellent job retail! You have raised

January 1, 2015 - APRIL 24, 2015

49,676TOTAL ROUND IT UP TRANSACTIONS

449,535TOTAL STORE TRANSACTIONSOUT

OF

Congratulations to Gretna, Bellevue, Southwest and the Harris Center for more than doubling their RIU store goals since February 1st, 2015! Also a BIG congratulations to 180th & Q, 156th

& Maple, Fremont and Reserve99 for hitting their initial Round It Up goal!

Overall in 2015, the efforts of the retail staff through the Round It Up program has helped Goodwill raise over $18,000 in four short months. We are easily a third of the way to our goal

of $50,000 for 2015.

Thank you again for your continued support or Goodwill’s mission and programs.

CONGRATULATIONS

ROUND IT UP

13

s policy makers and workforce leaders seek to connect people to jobs in

our current economy, one industry that continually attracts attention is construction.

While construction workers have experienced repeated layoffs in the current downturn, demand for construction skills is expected to rebound as the economy picks up. In addition, new policies designed to promote energy efficiency and support the development or re-development of critical infrastructure have the potential to create significant demand for construction trade skills.

Moreover, the construction industry is experiencing an aging labor force, particularly among highly skilled craftspeople, which will also contribute to an increased demand for construction trades skills in the near future.

YouthBuild South is providing opportunities for young adults to improve their discipline skills to a level requisite for effective citizenship and productive employment in the construction industry.

How do we ensure that a variety of individuals are prepared to take advantage of these emerging career opportunities in construction? In particular, construction careers have generated interest among organizations and institutions working to help low-income individuals access jobs. In many ways, construction careers are

viewed as accessible to low-income groups, since formal education credentials beyond a high school degree are generally not required to begin a construction career. South High students enrolled in the YouthBuild South program, become employee prospects by learning construction skills through participation in Kiewit, Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuilding Together trainings.

We found that these partnerships play a significant role in developing a skilled and diverse construction workforce. As a result, a ready pipeline of skilled and diverse workers would be established for the construction sector to tap into, and more career and high-wage opportunities would be created for low-income adults, minorities and women.

While introducing students to the range of skills and abilities they will need in their future, career industry safety standards mean apprentices and new hires must be drug free. The entire program requires participants to be drug free, and some require participants to pass a drug test prior to entry and/or at various points in the training.

Nearing the end of senior year is pretty bitter sweet. On one hand, students are excited to finally be done and able to move on to the next chapter of life. But on the other hand, there is nervousness that soon everyone will be out on their own and having to support

themselves. Participants in the YouthBuild South program have learned and experienced many life lessons, such as being you, taking responsibility, making decisions, and planning for the future.

YOUTHBUILD

Aby Norman Barnes

STEPPING INTO TOMORROW

14

or half a century, thousands of students with special

needs have gained real job experiences and guidance on how to take the next step after high school through Goodwill’s Work Experience program.

What started out with a few students working in one Goodwill location in 1965, has grown to serving nearly 100 participants in seven Goodwill facilities throughout the metro this year alone!

Over the years, a strong partnership between Goodwill’s Work Experience (WE) and Retail staff has been a key component to the success of the students transitioning from school to the working world.

“The stores are instrumental in giving the students responsibilities throughout the store,” says Holly Schwietz, Goodwill’s WE Coordinator. “Managers are huge supporters. They give the students special projects and rely on them to help in all facets of the store.”

When you walk into any of our retail/training facilities, you see a cohesive team. The students are working alongside Goodwill’s Retail staff … and they wouldn’t have it any other way!

“I don’t know what we’d do without the students,” says Kay Hilgenkamp, Goodwill’s Retail Operations Director. “They help round out our staff and provide valuable skills that make our stores run smoothly.”

Here are just a few examples of how students “learn and earn” in two of Goodwill’s retail locations, Fremont & Blair:

• Goodwill’s Fremont facility has ten Work Experience students and Blair has eight students.

• The students work in the following areas: retail (salvage, straighten, distribute wares); custodial (cleaning in and around the store); production (donation door, price new goods, sort & hang clothes); and clerical (typing skills, money math skills, data entry).

• Several Goodwill employees

are former Work Experience students. Past students at Blair include Joy, who won Achiever of the Year last year, and Paul, who was our former Marketing intern. Both have worked with Jenny Salsbury, the Work Experience

trainer in Blair, to determine their strengths and future plans.

• Current students include Nate, who is a rock star at Fremont – Andrea Ray, the trainer in Fremont, uses an iPad and sign language to help facilitate communication; and also Danielle, who has increased her hours at Blair store to include 2 full days.

• During the 2013-2014 school year, Fremont’s Retail store paid $27,556.96 in wages and Blair’s Retail store paid $10,244.36 in wages to WE students.

• Before opening the new Goodwill in Blair, the students spent part of their valuable learning time on a bus commuting to the Fremont location. They are overjoyed to have the program in their backyard now. Blair has students from Blair High School, Ft. Calhoun’s PLC, and

Council Bluffs’ Heartland School attending Work Experience.

• Fremont has students from North Bend High School, Fremont’s Young Adult Program, and Fremont’s Pathfinder Program attending Work Experience.

Working as a team to better the community … that’s Goodwill!

MARKETING LIAISON

Fby Kris Pachunka

TRANSITION = TEAMWORK!

Left to right: Matt Love, Teri Points, Danielle Parr, Kitty Matzen, Yana Vonheim and James Peterson (Blair Work Experience).

Andrea Nuding, Josie Fischer, Nate Kubicek (Fremont Work Experience) signing the word “rad” for Spread the Word to End the Word.

15

n Tuesday, April 21, in collaboration with Nebraska

Orthopaedic Hospital we hosted Boaz Rauchwerger. Boaz is a nationally renowned speaker who has helped thousands of professionals, executives and employees to enhance and supercharge their careers and their lives.

Over a 30-year span, Boaz, author of “The Tiberias Transformation – How To Change Your Life In Less Than 8 Minutes A Day”, has conducted thousands of seminars internationally on goal setting and high achievement. When preparing for the session Boaz guaranteed the morning would be fun, interactive, insightful – and memorable, it was all that and

then some! In the three hours he spent with us he shared tips on:

• How to have powerful meetings;

• How to make people feel important;

• How to relieve pain;• How to read an answer; and• The Tiberias Transformation

formula

Those who were there could probably add to this list. Everyone

left with several pages of hand written notes, a Five Questions Card (questions to get to know people better) and a CD of inspirational affirmations to start every morning.

Without a doubt everyone got something from the training, my favorite part was getting to know my colleagues better by hearing

what they wanted to be when they were growing up. Linda Kizzier wanted to be a cowgirl, Brent Koster wanted to be a garbage man, Tashana Barrios wanted to be a doctor and Frank McGree wanted to be truck driver, bet you didn’t see that coming!

Special thanks to Andy, and all of the Goodwill employees

who were in attendance and who helped to make this event

TRAINING CORNER

Oby Miriam Blair

TRAINING CORNER: A MORNING WITH BOAZ

Director of Federal Contracts Tobi Mathouser particpates with Boaz Rauchwerger.

16 YEARS OF SERVICE

MAY 2015YEARS OF SERVICE

27 Craig Wilson 72nd & F

20 Brian Kent Offutt

20 Dave Pfeffer Benson Park Plaza

19 LeeAnn Graham Stratcom

13 Randy Parks Benson Park Plaza

10 Cecilia Marroquin Bellevue

9 Ronald Marion 72nd & F

7 Janice Head 156th & Maple

6 Jeremy Dolezal Stratcom

6 Leonor Gonzalez Garcia Southwest

6 Tierra Washington Ames Plaza

5 Michael Anderson Benson Park Plaza

5 James Coggins II 72nd & F

5 Marion Jackson 72nd & F

5 Adam Whittington Madison

4 Dale Cherek 72nd & F

4 Renee Jensen Postal 2

4 Kyrie Lynch 72nd & F

3 Justin Dougherty Ames Plaza

3 John Hurley 72nd & F

3 Abe Jessop Grand Island

3 Garrett Peterson Fremont

3 Tanya Zollicoffer 78th & Dodge

2 Susan Darnold Bellevue

2 Kermit Doolan South Papio

2 Ariel Falcon 180th & Q

2 Gabrielle Hallberg Harris Center

2 Jacqueline Hawkins 78th & Dodge

2 Steven Hembree Madison

2 Philip Higgins 72nd & F

2 Matthew Hilario Offutt

2 Bobbie Jones Offutt

2 Erin Main Benson Park Plaza

2 Mark Mumaugh Offutt

2 Kevin Ratliff 72nd & F

2 Tyler Sell Madison

2 Edward Spitalnick Offutt

2 Sherri Stewart Ames Plaza

1 Michael Basilil Bellevue

1 Cheryl Berry 78th & Dodge

1 Billie Brooks Benson Park Plaza

1 Makayla Davis Bellevue

1 Kyle Fountain Southwest

1 Cherish Fox Southwest

1 Bob Hladik Benson Park Plaza

1 Rondolon Manuel Bellevue

1 Marjorie Mathiesen Blair

1 Sherry Munk South Papio

1 Jakob Parks 180th & Q

1 Dakota Pierce 72nd & F

1 Irma Rosas de Ojeda South Papio

1 Akpene Sika 156th & Maple

1 Rebecca Thoman 78th & Dodge

1 Lice Vannoy Southwest

1 Ciara Watson Reserve99

CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for your years of service, we look forward to many more!

17

n May 20, Goodwill will be participating in the

third annual fundraising holiday Omaha Gives! During this 24-hour online-giving event, Goodwill has the chance to obtain bonus dollars and prize money for each donation we receive. All the funds raised by Goodwill go to support our mission of changing lives and strengthening communities through education, training and work. Last year the community raised $6.3 million dollars through Omaha Gives! and Goodwill raised over

$40,000.We are excited that this

year there are a number of

ways for Goodwill employees to get involved in the fun. First, townhall will be held on the 20th

at 11:15am at Benson Park Plaza. A free lunch for all employees will directly follow townhall. On top of pizza we will have samples of e-creamery ice cream where you can vote on your favorite Goodwill flavor. For the afternoon, we are partnering with Phenomblue to host an event at LIV Lounge in Aksarben starting at 3pm.

Be sure to participate in all the fun activities that will be taking place May 20 for Omaha Gives!

DEVELOPMENT • WHATS HAPPENING

Oby Elizabeth Donner

DEVELOPMENT CORNER: OMAHA GIVES!

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT GOODWILL

The 30th Anniversary of the Good Turn for Goodwill Donation Drive is from April 13-26. During this drive, local girl scouts collect donation for Goodwill. After completing this projects, the girls receivce a patch.

Another successful Team BLUE social hour happened on April 24 in Blair. The social hours are open to all employees and are hosted by an executive staff member. The even in Blair was hosted by COO Randy Parks. Join us next month for some after work fun!

18

Shout out to George Coleman and his floor crew: B&B Classic Dogs in Bellevue is thrilled with their shiny floor that George and company shined last week. Not only did the crew do a great job, George taught the customer some new tips on upkeep which made the customer even happier.

Some of the Goodwill truck drivers along with Retail Operations Director Shirly Hall stand proudly in front of their newest truck. Special thanks to Brent Koster for the help in writing the grant.

Goodwill’s HR team and Job READY Specialist conducted mock interviews for Project Search students. The current group of nine students includes five former Work Experience participants. A big thank you to Jenny, Erin, Derek, Bradie and Toni for helping them on their way!

Employment Life Skills Trainer/Ready Specialist Toni Simmons helps a participant during a free computer class at Benson Park Plaza. Classes are held every Friday at HWS and Goodwill Headquarters.

Harris Center employees Debra Flores, Sonia Galarza and Barbara Hatch stop for a group photo at the 2014 Annual Employee Dinner, now named GoodwillFest.

Girl Scout Troop 50155 poses for a photo at the Fremont store as they bring in donations for the Good Turn for Goodwill donation drive. This is the 30th year that Goodwill and Girl Scouts have partnered.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

19

Goodwill staff who work at Heartland Workforce Solutions all gathered together and wore bright neon colors to show their support for World Down Syndrome Day which occured on March 21, 2015.

Employee Chad Kookier glady gives VA Grounds Maintenance Manager Kevin Brown a big hug as they met at the 2014 Goodwill Annual Dinner.

On April 21, 2015, special guest speaker Boaz Rauchwerger visited Benson Park Plaza for an inspirational session.

Team BLUE gathered for their monthly social hour at Sinful Burger in March. All employees are welcome to join. Please look out for the monthly emails!

Goodwill was invited to participate at Head Start’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Sam Jones (above) & Holly McEllhatton had a booth and spoke to families about Goodwill services and networked with many.

Rebecca Armstrong, Marketing & Development Coordinator, Myles Grefe, Goodwill AbilityOne employee, Sen. Ben Sasse, US Senate, Tammy Slater, COO, Goodwill of Greater Nebraska, Frank McGree, CEO, Goodwill Omaha and Annette Grefe, Myles’s mother

WHAT'S HAPPENING

20

1 Donte Packett 180th & Q

1 Florina Gonzalez Harris Center

2 Mitchell Parks South Papio

2 Angelo Massey 72nd & F

2 Jennifer Hale Ames Plaza

3 Zakia Ayubi Southwest

3 Tessa Lundgren Harris Center

3 Amanda Thomas Gretna

3 Cherish Fox Southwest

5 Lawrence Smith West Center

6 George Coleman, IV 72nd & F

6 Bobbie Jones Offutt

7 Michael Hennings Offutt

7 Eric Carlson Zorinsky

7 Sara Hancock Fremont

7 Casi Milton Harris Center

8 Kermit Doolan South Papio

8 Dakota Pierce 72nd & F

9 Consuelo Orozco Bellevue

9 Chestrina Wilson-Gibbs Offutt

10 Garry Kern Ames Plaza

10 Gage Clark Fremont

11 Christel Hurley Stratcom

11 Sandra Romero Fremont

11 Karen Kiser Blair

11 Tonya Sweeney Bellevue

13 Janet Johnson Zorinsky

13 Bradie Benjamin Benson Park Plaza

13 Wayne Van Eperen Lincoln

14 Rondolon Manuel Bellevue

15 Tobi Mathouser Benson Park Plaza

17 Christin Graff Fremont

17 Staci Burk Leibert Papillion

19 Rubi Franco Southwest

19 Rosemary Barry Southwest

20 Miriam Blair Benson Park Plaza

20 Azure Koziomkowski Gretna

21 Jeffrey Bloes Benson Park Plaza

21 Michael Hardiman Harris Center

21 Tressa Hudson South Papio

22 Shannon McGree 72nd & F

22 Robert Catrair 72nd & F

22 Sally Arnold South Papio

23 Samuel Comfort Madison

23 Mae Maclennan West Center

23 Sarah Jenkins 180th & Q

25 Julie Chandler 72nd & F

26 Laura Gerber Papillion

26 Vincent Jones Spin Linen

27 LeTrinh Tran 72nd & F

27 Bobbi Walls Coffee House

28 Gail Barger Offutt

29 Hope Tarrant 156th & Maple

30 Patricia Sullivan Blair

30 Maximilienne Agonzan Benson Park Store

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

BIRTHDAYS

21DIVERSITY CALENDAR10Hanging employment barriers out to dry. 10Hanging employment barriers out to dry. 10

May 2009 Multicultural Calendar Highlights

Asian/Pacific Heritage Month Starting in 1979 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, this was expanded to a month-long celebration after President George H. W. Bush signed legislation on October 23, 1992 making May of each year Asian/Pacific Heritage Month.

Jewish American Heritage Month On April 20, 2006 George W. Bush first issued a presidential proclamation designing the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month.

Older Americans Month Old Americans Month was established by presidential proclamation to honor the contributions of older Americans to society.

May 1 – May Day (Labor Day): International In many countries the first day of May is celebrated as a spring festival, a time to celebrate the rebirth of life after winter. May Day later became associated with the trade union movement and now many countries celebrate May Day, sometimes called Labor Day, as an official holiday honoring working people. The United States and Canada, however, celebrate Labor Day in September. May 3 – Constitution Day: Poland This holiday commemorates the passage in 1791 of Poland’s first constitution, which was the second written constitution in the world after that of the United States and the first in Europe. It provided for the separation of powers between the executive (the king and his ministers), the legislative, (the Sejm), and the judicial branches of government. Although the constitution was hailed throughout the West as a triumph for progressive forces, it was suppressed in 1792 by the invading army of Catherine II of Russia, who saw the movement toward democracy across her western border as a threat to her own absolute rule. May 4 – Greenery Day (Midori No Hi): Japan This day is dedicated to the environment and is celebrated as a day to appreciate nature. May 5 – Liberation Day: Netherlands This day marks the end of the World War II Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1945. Children’s Day (Kodomo No Hi): Japan Formerly known as Tango No Sekku or Boy’s Day, Children’s Day is celebrated by attaching wind socks in the shape of carp to poles. The cap symbolizes perseverance, power, and strength. A special meal including a rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves is served. Children’s Day (Tano): South Korea This holiday is celebrated as a day of rest and work. Wrestling matches are held, as are swinging contests in which girls use swings hung from high tree branches to see who can swing with the widest arc. Cinco de Mayo (sinkô-dì-myô): México The French attempted to occupy Mexico and make it part of its empire under Napoleon III, probably in an attempt to offset the growing power of the United States. On the morning of May 5, 1862, under General Ignacio Zaragoza, five thousand ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army which in what came to be known as the Batalla de Puebla, which later was called Cinco de Mayo. The holiday tends to be celebrated more among Chicanos than in Mexico. Coronation Day: Thailand On May 5, 1950, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned as Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. Every year, the Thai people rejoice and express their affection and loyalty to him by organizing a celebration on his coronation day.May 6 – Constitution Day (Kempo Kinen Bi) observed: Japan This holiday celebrates the establishment of the current constitution in 1947. May 7 – National Day of Prayer: United States The U.S Congress has declared that “[t]he President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” Even before this official declaration, there had been days of prayer in 1775 as a “time for prayer in forming in a new nation.” On April 17, 1952 a National Day of Prayer was officially signed into law by President Truman, and in 1988 President Regan signed a bill into law decreeing that the National Day of Prayer should be held on the first Thursday in May. (m) May 8 – Victory Day: France This holiday commemorates the defeat if the German Army in Europe in 1945. May 11 – Victory Day observed: Russia and the Ukraine This day, observed by most of the countries of the former Soviet Union, commemorates the victory of the Allies over Nazi Germany ending World War II in Europe in 1945. This day also honors the 20 million Soviet people who died during the war. May 17 – Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka (1954): African American On this date the Supreme Court unanimously issued its historic decision holding that segregation in public education was a denial of the right to equal protection under the law and directing the lower courts to oversee the desegregation of the nation’s schools “with all deliberate speed.” This decision, which established the principle that segregation is unconstitutional, formed the legal basis for the civil rights movement of the late 1950’s and 1960’s. National Day: Norway On this date, Norwegians celebrate the 1814 signing of the Norwegian Constitution, signifying Norway’s breaking away from its 434-year union with Denmark. The focus of the celebration is on the children and family. Virtually every community has a parade that features students and teachers marching, often in national costumes, singing patriotic songs, and carrying the Norwegian flag. Many midwestern communities in the United States with large numbers of people of Scandinavian ancestry, such as in Wisconsin and Minnesota, have their own celebrations of Syttende Mai. May 18 – Victoria Day observed: Canada This holiday in Canada commemorates the birth of Queen Victoria, who lived from 1819 to 1901 and ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901, during which the time England became the world’s leading industrial power and the center of the British Empire. (m) May 19 – Atatürk and youth Day: Turkey Kemal Atatürk was the first president of the Turkish Republic, which he founded in 1923. (See entry for Republic Day on October 29)May 20 – Independence Day” Cuba This day commemorates the proclamation of the Cuban Republic in 1902, whereby Cuba declared its independence from the United States, which had occupied the country since the Spanish-American War of 1898. In 1902 the Cuban people elected Tomás Estrada Palma as the first president of the Republic of Cuba. May 21 – Battle of Iquique: Chile This marks one of the major naval battles on 1879 in the war between Chile and Peru. May 23 – National Day (Amendment of the Constitution): Morocco This commemorates the May 23, 1980 referendum on the amendment of the Constitution. May 24 – Battle of Pichincha: Ecuador This was a key victory in 1822, when Royalist forces loyal to Spain were defeated by an army under General Antonio José de Sucre, liberating Quito and securing the future independence of Ecuador. May 25 – Africa Day: Zambia and Zimbabwe In these and some other African states, this is a holiday commemorating independence from colonial rule. Anniversary of the May Revolution: Argentina This commemorates the beginning of the war of independence from Spain in 1810 led by José de San Martín.Independence Day: Jordan This marks the day in 1946 that Jordan under the Hashemite Monarchy gained independence from Britain. Memorial Day observed: United States Originally a day of remembrance for those who died for the Union in the Civil War, this national holiday, observed on the last Monday in May, now honors those who gave their lives in all wars. (A number of Southern states also have designated days for honoring the Confederate dead.) Many American families observe Memorial Day as a time for paying respect for deceased family members. (m) Dragon Boat Festival (Tuan-wu): China This public holiday honors Ch′ü Yuan, China’s first major poet, who drowned himself in 278 B.C.E. to protest the injustice and corruption of his prince’s government. In the traditional dragon boat races, teams from different towns compete in long boats with bows shaped like dragon heads. The customary holiday food is a dumpling made of rice with a sweet filling wrapped in a bamboo leaf. (m) Restoration of Statehood Day: Armenian On this day, Armenians celebrate the establishment in 1918 of the first republic following the genocide of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire and the collapse of the Russian Empire under the Czars.

April 20102011 May Diversity Calendar Datesdiversity calendar

MayDIVERSITY CALENDAR

22

M

AY

2015

SU

ND

AY

MO

ND

AY

TUESD

AY

WED

NESD

AY

THU

RSD

AY

FRID

AY

SA

TUR

DA

Y

1 First Friday Breakfast

2

South Papillion A

nniversary!

3

4 5

6

8:30 Leadership G

roup Meeting

7

8 8:00 Internal A

ffairs C

omm

ittee

9

10

11 12

13 7:30 Fraser Stryker Event 9:30 Executive Staff M

eeting

14

12:00 Toastmasters

15

16

17

18

19

12:00 Board M

eeting

20

Om

aha Gives!

*Mid-level M

anagers /Tow

nhall/ Employee

Luncheon *see story for details

21

9:00 Retail M

onthly M

anager’s Meeting

3:00 Custom

er C

onnect Graduation

22 23

24 25 M

emorial D

ay G

oodwill Closed

26

27 8:30 Executive Staff M

eeting

28 12:00 Toastm

asters

29 4:00 Team

BLUE

Social Hour

30

31