unlimited unlimited POSSIBILITIES

the newsletter of

horizons unlimited

spring-summer

2015

POSSIBILITIES

providing limitless opportunities horizons-unlimited.net

holding their own: our members working in the community

"We hired Travis last summer and Leonard last fall," says

Don Joyce, manager of the Emmetsburg Dyno's station. "Kathy

Jackson [job placement specialist] from Horizons wrote me a

letter about supportive employment, and then we followed up

with meetings. Dyno's decided that it was the right thing to do for

the community, and a great

decision for our company. All it

took was a little open-

mindedness."

Before working at Dyno's,

Leonard Swalve and Travis

Spoo worked at the Horizons

recycling center. They enjoyed

it, but when the opportunity

arose to work in downtown

Emmetsburg, they decided to

take a chance.

"I always wanted to work at a

gas station," says Leonard. "I like

seeing new faces every day and

getting to meet people."

Leonard works alongside

Below: Travis Spoo has developed a talent for organizing merchandise displays.

mark your

calendar

UnWined wine tasting fundraiser

Jack Kibbie Room

The Shores at Five Island

3—6 pm, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015

Super Sunday Pancake Breakfast

Emmetsburg VFW

8 am—12:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016

Tablescapes theme table gala

Wild Rose Ballroom

Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg

5—8 pm, Thursday, Apr. 28, 2016

connect with us

horizons-unlimited.net CONTINUES PAGE 2

Message from the CEO

page 3

A Successful Tablescapes

Fundraiser

page 4

Keeping Lost Island

Beautiful

page 6

coworkers and independently, and can always be seen with a smile on his face. "My favorite day is

Wednesday—'truck day'. I like taking in the new inventory off the truck."

"The best thing about working at Dyno's is earning my own paycheck," says Travis. "A couple weeks

ago, I used my money to buy a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer that I drive to work." Travis works at both the

Emmetsburg and Pocahontas locations. "It feels good to earn a living,

and I like the people I work with."

In early March of this year, Horizons job placement specialist

Kathy Jackson led the Northwest Iowa Job Developers Coalition in

obtaining a $1500 grant from IowaWORKS to Dyno’s Oil

Company. “The grant subsidizes efforts to train

Dyno’s management, supervisors, and staff who

train and work alongside adults with disabilities,”

says Jackson. “In recent months, Dyno’s created

customized jobs in 3 out of their 11 locations in

northwest Iowa, and has plans to create new jobs

in all of their locations in the coming year.”

“This plan will make a huge difference for the

people that are getting employment in the commu-

nity,” says Amber Nelson, Disability Resource

Coordinator for IowaWORKS. “I think it says something wonderful

about Dyno’s Oil Company as a whole, that they would embrace this

initiative so fully.”

Says Don Joyce: "Leonard and Travis's customized employment

here has been a big success. It was pretty easy to train them. They

work hard, show up on time every day, and are a great help to the rest

of the staff. Changing people's ideas about this is a gradual process.

My advice to other employers in the area is to just be open-minded."

Above: Leonard Swalve and fellow Dyno’s employee, Patty, work together to stock shelves at the Emmetsburg location.

Leonard Swalve enjoys making sure the premises are clean and tidy.

“My advice to other employers in the area is to just be open-minded.”

Don Joyce,

Manager of

Emmetsburg

Dyno’s station

P A G E 2

D E A R F R I E N D

Medicaid covers 546,000 people in Iowa, which is 18 percent of the population.

In Iowa, Medicaid expenditures by the state and federal government top $4.2 billion

annually, which includes $1.5 billion of state money. Horizons Unlimited receives over

$170,000 a month in Medicaid reimbursement providing services to persons with disabilities.

Managed care is already in place in many states, and is expected to expand to even more

states. This is in order to help cut Medicaid costs.

Managed care is described as a set of techniques to be used for reducing unnecessary

health costs while improving the quality of care.

Governor Terry Branstad has introduced plans to hire private managed care companies to

help run Iowa’s Medicaid program. Managed care is expected to be implemented January 1,

2016.

Private companies are involved in managed care arrangements to help oversee health care

programs and share the savings they obtain by making care more efficient.

Governor Branstad believes if the government is able to spend less on Medicaid, the

quality of care should improve greatly by lowering medical costs and hospital visits. Branstad is

projecting it would save $51.3 million during the first six months after implementation.

Legislators are being careful to make sure this shift won’t lead to cuts in services or

payment rates to medical providers.

H O W D O E S T H I S I M P A C T H O R I Z O N S ? Managed care is likely to present both challenges and opportunities for service providers.

There will be an emphasis upon the development of natural supports, with the dual goal of

integrating into the community and quality of life while managing costs. Managed care

companies will look beyond just mental health, but also focus on physical health. Preventable

health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, are among the conditions that

will be managed.

A focus will be on integrating into the community and providing services in smaller groups.

Horizons Unlimited’s Board of Directors and the Horizons management team are currently

working on strategic planning that will help ease Horizons into this new world of managed

care.

Ron Askland

CEO, Horizons Unlimited

P A G E 3

Above: The “Anyone for a Game of Scrabble?” themed table tied for first place, along with the “Life is Better at the Beach!” table. The Scrabble table was decorated by Laurie Schneider and sponsored by West Bend Red Power. The beach-themed table was decorated by Lecia Berven and Tammy Christensen and sponsored by Kingston Life & Health.

WILD ROSE CASINO & RESORT EMMETSBURG WILDROSERESORTS.COM KINGSTON LIFE & HEALTH WEST DES MOINES KINGSTONLIFEANDHEALTH.COM DAVIS BROWN LAW FIRM EMMETSBURG DAVISBROWNLAW.COM A&W—EMMETSBURG AWRESTAURANTS.COM ALUMA TRAILERS—EMMETSBURG ALUMAKLM.COM ASI CONTRACTING—EMMETSBURG

BUILDING CENTER—EMMETSBURG DAN COOPER BUILDERS EMMETSBURG EMMETSBURG CHIROPRACTIC EMMETSBURG MUNICIPAL UTIL. EMMETSBURG.COM E’BURG REPORTER/DEMOCRAT EMMETSBURGNEWS.COM FAREWAY—EMMETSBURG FAREWAY.COM FARMERS NATIONAL CO. EMMETSBURG EMMETSBURGFORSALE.COM FARMERS STA. BANK—WEST BEND FSBIOWA.COM

HOMETOWN CONVENIENCE EMMETSBURG HOMETOWN ELECTRIC EMMETSBURG HUGHES, BRENNAN & WIRTZ EMMETSBURG HUGHESBRENNANWIRTZ.COM HUGHES PHARMACY EMMETSBURG HEALTHMART.COM IOWA LAKES COMM. COLLEGE EMMETSBURG/ESTHERVILLE IOWALAKES.EDU IOWA TRUST & SAVINGS BANK EMMETSBURG IOWATRUSTBANK.COM JOHNSON REALTY—EMMETSBURG EMMETSBURGHOMES.COM KAMPEN FOODS & CATERING WEST BEND KAMPENFOODS.COM KIESLING ASSOCIATES EMMETSBURG KIESLING.COM KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EMMETSBURG/WEST BEND HOLYFAMILYEMMETSBURG.ORG K&W ELECTRIC—EMMETSBURG K-WELECTRIC.COM LOUSCHER FAMILY DENTISTRY ALGONA/E’BURG LOUSCHERDENTAL.COM MANSMITH PHARMACY/NWIC EMMETSBURG MANSMITHRX.COM MANWARREN EXCAVATING EMMETSBURG MIDWESTERN MECHANICAL EMMETSBURG MIDWESTERNMECHANICAL.COM

MOLYNEAUX RISK SOLUTIONS DAVENPORT MOLYNEAUX.COM NORTHLAND AUTO & MARINE EMMETSBURG NORTHLAND-AUTO-MARINE.COM

PALO ALTO COUNTY HEALTH SYS. EMMETSBURG PACHS.COM POET BIOREFINING—EMMETSBURG POET.COM QS LAWN & PEST CONTROL EMMETSBURG QSLAWNANDPEST.COM RE/MAX (BARBARA WORKMAN) EMMETSBURG REMAX.COM ROTARY CLUB—EMMETSBURG DISTRICT5970.ORG RUTHVEN METHODIST CHURCH FACEBOOK.COM/RUTHVENUMC

SLASH POINT SALES EMMETSBURG SLASHPOINTSALES.COM THRIVENT FINANCIAL EMMETSBURG THRIVENT.COM WEST BEND RED POWER REDPOWERTEAM.COM

O n Thursday, April 23rd, two hundred people

gathered at the Wild Rose Ballroom in

Emmetsburg for Horizons Unlimited’s fifth

annual Tablescapes themed table gala fundraiser.

Thirty tables were sponsored by area businesses

and organizations, and decorated in a variety of

creative themes.

Attendees enjoyed a chicken cordon bleu and

cheese cake dinner, along with the musical

entertainment of pianist Glenn Henriksen. The

event raised over $13,700 for Horizons Unlimited

members, which was even more than the event

raised last year.

To see a slideshow of this year’s Tablescapes

event, visit our website at Horizons-Unlimited.net,

and go to “Past Events” under the “News &

Events” menu.

Thank you also to the

donors, volunteers,

attendees, judges, and

Wild Rose staff who

helped make our

event a success!

THANK YOU TO OUR TABLESCAPES 2015 SPONSORS:

P A G E 4

P A G E 5

U N W I N E D join our fall wine tasting fundraiser

Come enjoy a variety of wonderful wines from

area wineries at Horizons Unlimited’s UnWined

wine tasting fundraiser. This year’s event will be

held in the Jack Kibbie Room at the scenic

Shores At Five Island community center in

Emmetsburg, from 3—6 pm on Sunday,

September 13th.

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the

Second Hand Thrift Store (corner of Broadway &

Main, Emmetsburg), or by calling Horizons

development coordinator Josiah Schmidt at (712)

852-2211 ext. 106.

horizons board room

revamped

On April 16th, Horizons completed

significant updates to its board room, thanks to a

$4,159 grant from the Palo Alto County Gaming

Development Corporation. Updates include a

new 55” Samsung smart TV and a Lenovo

desktop computer system.

Says Horizons CEO Ron Askland: “Due

to the generosity of the PACGDC, our board

room has the capability to use current

technology to make our meetings more

efficient and to provide quality trainings to our

employees and members.”

horizons unlimited

is hiring now

Job Coaches

Hours: 40/wk. (full time)

Starting pay: $9.50/hour with excellent benefits

Description: Helping Horizons members train,

maintain, and retain employment.

Residential Direct Support Professionals

Hours: 20—40/wk. (evenings/overnights/weekends)

Starting pay: $10.00/hour with excellent benefits

Description: Developing and maintaining the well-

being of adults with disabilities.

Apply: Call (712) 852-2211, visit

www.horizons-unlimited.net/currentopenings.php

or stop in at 3826 460th Ave., Emmetsburg, Iowa.

horizons employee milestones Thank you to our valuable and hard-working

employees for your many years of service!

10 Years of Service

Lonnie Hansen

5 Years of Service

Irene Conlon

Corrie Schacherer

deb anderson (1954-2015)

We are remembering our dear friend and

member of the Horizons Unlimited family,

Debra Anderson, who passed away on Friday,

April 24th, 2015.

Deb was born in Iowa City on October

11th, 1954, the daughter of Leonard Dickson

and Kathy Goss. She enjoyed going on trips,

doing arts and crafts, and watching Disney

movies. She loved sports and always rooted for

the Hawkeyes, Vikings, and 49ers.

Left to remember her fondly are her

mother, her four children, her grandchildren,

and many friends.

Horizons extends its condolences.

E ver notice how there are no weeds on the

beach at the Lost Island Nature Center in

Ruthven? Or how the walking trails are so

free of branches and litter? Or even how the rest-

rooms at the Nature Center are so clean? A lot of

this is thanks to the hard work of Horizons

members like Lauren Ketelsen (pictured above).

Each Wednesday, a couple Horizons

members and area high school students meet

early in the morning at the Nature Center. This

week, Jade Colling from Emmetsburg High

School joins. "They begin by walking the three

trails, sometimes up to five miles, removing tree

branches from the path, picking up litter, and

notifying park rangers of any fallen trees or

hazards," explains Horizons job coach Carnie

Fitzgerald. "It's a beautiful place to work, and you

will usually see animals like deer while you're out

on the trail."

Next, the workers clear fallen tree branches

and sticks from the common area between the

Nature Center and the lakefront. They then

move on to the beach, which they keep clean and

scenic by pulling weeds and disposing of trash.

Vacationers especially appreciate our members'

hard work.

After breaking for lunch, the workers tidy up

inside the Nature Center facilities and clean the

bathrooms. On some days, the members might

clean the turtle tanks or tend to the bird feeders.

"It's fun!" says Jade with a cheerful smile.

Lauren considers this good practice for her

next job that she is eager to start. "I'm going to be

working in hospitality at the casino hotel in

Emmetsburg. That's what I really want to do."

"Every 5 weeks, we rotate a new team of

members out here to work at the Nature Center,

so that everybody who wants to get work experi-

ence here has a chance to participate," says

Carnie.

P A G E 6 CONTINUES PAGE 7

“The work study program gives the members a

sense of pride and identifies their strengths for

employment opportunities in the community,” says

Nature Center manager Mary Barrick. “They are

able to socialize and partake in different job duties,

such as cleaning inside the center and picking up

sticks and garbage in the park. They take great

interest in what we do

here at the Nature Center.

It is very gratifying to see

their accomplishments

during the 5 week work

period.”

Please head out to the

Lost Island Nature Center

this summer, and when

you do, take note of the

great condition the park is

in, thanks in large part to

the diligent service of

Horizons Unlimited

members.

P A G E 7

benefits of a horizons-funded 10

1

2

3

4

5

1. Get to meet new

prospective job

candidate.

2. No financial cost

associated with 20—

25 hours of

completed work.

3. No liability; covered

by Horizons Em-

ployment Services.

4. Ability to assess the

prospective job

candidate’s skills

performing the job

tasks.

5. Engage in proactive

community integra-

tion movement.

1

2

3 4

5

1. Better assess

whether or not this

type of work is a

good fit.

2. Assess if they have

the skills and

interest to continue

pursuing this type

of work.

3. Integration;

working alongside

individuals with and

without disabilities.

4. Paid experience.

5. Assess, through the

experience, the job

candidate’s

strengths and

needs.

P A G E 7

Benefits to

Employer

Benefits to

Job Candidate

find out more: Contact Kathy Jackson

Horizons Employment Specialist

712.852.2211 ext. 123

KathyJackson@horizons-unlimited.net

work experience

Horizons member Lauren Ketelsen (left) and Emmetsburg High School student Jade Colling (right)

Lauren and Jade keep the Lost Island beach clean

horizons unlimited of palo alto county 3826 460th Avenue, PO Box 567

Highway 4 South

Emmetsburg, IA 50536

Horizons Unlimited is a 501(c)(3) organization

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Emmetsburg, IA 50536

PERMIT NO. 4

3826 460th Ave., PO Box 567

Emmetsburg, IA 50536

(712) 852-2211

www.horizons-unlimited.net

Board of Directors

Cindy Magee, President

Kevin Banwart, Vice President

Karen Brown

Cindy Chapman

Robert Cozine

Bill Frevert

Jane Hoyman

Sue Joynt

Sean Solberg

Aaron Steffen

Jeremy Ward

Wish List 15th St. & Pleasant St. Homes

New A/C units

New locking doorknobs

21st St. Home

New windows

Refrigerator

New baseboards

Front landscaping

Kitchen utensils

2 new computers

King St. Apartments

New gutters & downspouts

New windows

Upgraded breaker panels

New boiler

Monroe St. Duplex

New kitchen flooring

New carpeting

New stove

Shelving in garage

New front screen door

Laptop computer

Office equipment

Copy machine

Horizons Office Building

New computer for

maintenance staff

Van

iPads for members

If you have something you

would like to donate to

Horizons, please call us at

(712) 852-2211 and let us

know what you have, its age,

and its condition. You can

also donate money via mailed

check or our website:

www.horizons-unlimited.net

Make a Difference — Be Their Hero