PUBLISHED MONTHLY                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER 2010

 

LAFAYETTE — STILL GOING STRONG!

      September is our last month of this fiscal year, and I am happy to report that we are very busy at both of the shops and—like the Cardinals!—are aiming to finish strong! We have been able to secure new business; we have hired 27 new workers so far this year, and 396 adults with developmental disabilities have had the opportunity to work—not bad!  We also have begun the renovation on our North facility in Berkeley, and we are continuing to hire and take names on our waiting lists.

       Editor Becky Stillwell has presented us with a jam-packed newsletter this month full of interesting articles and events that occurred the last couple of months, so I’ll let you get right to it, but as a couple of reminders: 

• Free Flu shots — We are offering FREE flu shots at BOTH shops on Friday, October 8. Thanks again to the wonderful generosity of our donors that allows us to offer this benefit!
• Felice Cuores Dances - 2010/2011 Season - for adults with developmental disabilities,once a month with the first one of the season on Saturday, September 11^th.  Look for the schedule inside.
• Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drives - will be taking place in early October, with sign up sheets at both shops near the end of this month.  We are very fortunate to have several Councils support us, so please support them by volunteering a couple of hours at your favorite store or business corner.
• St. Louis Entertainment:  2011 Books - are now available, are a great “deal” - they pay for themselves with one use! - and help support the Auxiliary which supports our workers with social activities.
• North Safety Week, September 13-17 - which is also the beginning of Lafayette Industries’ 35^th year of operation!  North will end the week of hard work and training with their “Hot Dog Day” lunch at 11:30, followed by fun and activities with an early dismissal at 1:00 p.m.

     West had a fabulous “Hot Dog Day” in July, and both shops participated in a very rainy outing at the Cardinal baseball game, which you can read about in this edition.

      Finally, as I previously mentioned, September 13^th is the anniversary of our founding and the start of our 35^th year of Building Dreams and Creating Work opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.  Thanks to all of our parents, donors, friends and neighbors; and the support of our customers that have enabled us to keep our mission not only going, but expanding as we endeavor to be the “Workplace of Choice”.

 

 

Mission:  The mission of Lafayette Industries is to provide employment opportunities to persons who are developmentally disabled / mentally retarded and persons with other disabilities who are 18 years or older. Goals:  s To provide a meaningful and productive work experience to persons who are disabled  s To maintain a safe and pleasant work environment  s To teach and to train persons with disabilities to acquire better work habits  s To enhance self-worth and dignity through employment  s To provide high-quality business service through packaging, light assembly and commercial mailings  s To operate the center in a professional, fiscally responsible manner  s To provide fair wages and good benefits.

 

 

Rob Libera
Executive Director
rlibera@lafayetteindustries.com

 

=======================================================================================================================

Tele:  636-227-5666    s     Fax:  636-227-9650      s      E-mail:  lwc@lafayetteindustries.com        s      Web site:  www.lafayetteindustries.com

---

ST. LOUIS ENTERTAINMENT:  2011 BOOKS

 The books are in and are better than ever! This year the cover includes SIX $5 gift cards to T.G.I. Friday's, Culpepper's, Chevy's, Cecil Whittaker's Pizza, Casa Gallardo and AMF Bowling with "no additional purchase necessary".  That $30 value covers the cost of the book even if you don't use any of the other great coupons inside, like the $30 in Shop 'n Save coupons. A copy of the book will be in the LWC office so that you may look through it.  Call Gloria at 636-256-3976 if you have any questions or if you need additional order forms for friends and/or family. The Auxiliary values your support.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

YES!  I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THE ST. LOUIS ENTERTAINMENT 2011 BOOK

 

Each book is $30 (plus additional $5 each if you would like them sent by mail.)  Please make your check payable to LWC Auxiliary and return it and this form to the office.

 

I have enclosed a check for ______book(s).         I have enclosed cash for ______book(s).

 

Name_______________________________________  Address_____________________________________________________

 

State and Zip________________________________________  Telephone Number_____________________________________

 

________Please send the book(s) with my LWC worker.                           ________I will pick up the book(s) in the office.

 (The office/Auxiliary is not responsible for lost or misplaced books.)

 

________ Please mail the book(s) to me.

---

                       

                        HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEPTEMBER FOLK!  

 

                                   

                                    WEST                                                                               NORTH

Mandy	Doss	1	Robin	Corpora	16
Shad	Burnett	2	Ann	Kelly	16
Jacqueline	Londoff	2	Carol	Sax	16
Jeffrey	Combrevis	6	Shelly	Schmitt	16
David	Dust	11	Catherine	Curry	18
Ralph	St. Leger	11	James	Aldrich	28
Leslie	Kallemeier	14	Jim	Eppel	28
Tom	Heitert	15	Sherri	Lilley	28
Timothy	Hopkins	15	Cathy	Schmid	29
David	Myers	15

           

Kristina	Schrader	5	Tamara	Little	15
Dorothy	Gilmore	8	Barbara	Richter	15
Elois	Rogers	8	Stanley	Parciak	24
Bruce	Tidrow	10	Kathleen	Branson	27
Melinda	Doty	14	Robert	McCoy	27
Daniel	Booher	15	Chantelle	Muse	27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

LAFAYETTE AUXILIARY - WEST:  LWC Auxiliary would like to welcome any family members or caregivers of new employees.  Keep up to date on information regarding Auxiliary news and Lafayette Workshop reminders such as Free Lunch Fridays by submitting your e-mail to us at lwcaux@aol.com.

 

                               FLU SHOT CLINICS SET                           By Kathie Boyer 

      Lafayette, through the generosity of our donors, will once again offer a FREE flu shot to all interested employees at both Lafayette locations on October 8^th BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The Visiting Nurse Association will administer the flu vaccine, which will cover the swine flu.  A consent form must be completed for each person prior to receiving the vaccine.  These forms will be available in September. More information will be sent home.  Please put this date on your calendar.

 

---

 

LAFAYETTE WEST GETS NEW AIR CONDITIONERS

How cold is it in the shop?	Old air conditioner shows its age	Crane lifts the new units into place

 

Maybe the subject of air-conditioning isn’t very exciting to some, but it was the main topic of discussion, along with the heat wave, for a few weeks here at Lafayette West.  The old air conditioners were always breaking down.  They would fix them up only to have them break down again after a short while.  It was time to face the fact that new units needed to be purchased and installed.  This was during one of the hottest summers that St. Louis has had in a few years.  They had fans running, but it was still really hot in the shop.  Then they ordered temporary air conditioning floor units to help get rid of the heat, but it was still very hot.  First the air conditioner guys had to remove all the old units, and that required a big crane to lift them off of the roof.  That generated a lot of excitement among our employees.  Then they had to do some work to prepare for the new units.  When the new units arrived, curiosity got the best of some and they went outside to watch them lift them into place.  Now, just in time for the hottest part of summer - the dog days of August - we have wonderfully cool air circulating thanks to the new air conditioning!

 

MY MISSION TRIP TO AFRICA                     By Lizzie Simpson

 

Danny and me	Cooking supper	Lioness on the prowl	Team Leaders with Church Leaders

 

Jambo! (Hello!) Danny and I went on a two-week mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya through Training Leaders International (trainingleadersinternational.org). TLI sends seminary students overseas to teach and train pastors / leaders who desire formal theological training, yet have no access to it. Two conferences were held during the week (at a college and a slum) for the purpose of doctrinal instruction as well as correction from the Bible. For example, one of the theological problems in Africa is that many believe God will give them what they ask for if they have done enough good things or have enough faith. These teachers urge their followers to give them money, and these teachers in turn spend it on themselves by purchasing expensive sports cars, clothing, etc. This is a destructive message because it gives false hope to people who are in desperate need.

 

It was strange to see the stark contrast between the wealthy in Nairobi and the million+ people in the Kibera slum who live on $1 or less a day. Yet, it was encouraging to see how the churches/leaders in the area are bringing hope to people through Jesus Christ.

 

While the men were teaching, I spent time helping out in the kitchen where food was being made for 700+ children each day. I also visited a women’s refugee center, helped serve chai tea, which is very important in the Kenyan culture, and I built some relationships with the Kenyan ladies in the group. I was also laughed at by a group of Kenyan men who asked me to cut the head off of the chicken that we were having for dinner that night. At the end of the week, our group went on a safari and saw many animals in their natural habitat.

 

It was a wonderful experience for both Danny and I, and we are so thankful to be a small part of what God is doing around the world for His glory and praise.

 

---

LAFAYETTE WEST 2010 HOT DOG DAY                                By The Editor

Our volunteers for Hot Dog Day are always there!	Supervisors get a run-through of day’s events!	Paul from Chris’s Cakes cooks the dogs!
Fran our “Ice Cream Lady”	Everybody gets down to the business of eating	Even the production floor serves as an eating area
Johnny and Rob were a big hit!	Gotta give the fire truck a whirl	Photo ops for EMS and firemen
Everyone busts a move	Some wild dancing!	Some danced, some just quietly watched
Band’s point of view	Crowded dance floor made for fun!

    Every once in a while something very unexpected happens.  July 30^th started out as just another steamy day in St. Louis, but it was Hot Dog Day.  That was all that mattered around Lafayette West.  It turned ugly, however, when storms moved in and the rain wouldn’t quit.   But everyone was determined to make the best of the bad weather, and things moved from the outdoor venue to an indoor one.  Chris’s Cakes provided the wonderful hot dogs that everyone washed down with their favorite beverage and a bag of chips on the side.  Then to top it all off there was a choice of ice cream treats for those who had a sweet tooth.  Since the lunch room was partially filled with those who were serving the meal, the production floor acted as a temporary lunchroom, handling the overflow crowds.  So people were everywhere - inside and out.

     As the meal was winding down, the firemen and EMS guys arrived with the fire truck and the ambulance.  They came to visit with our folks, as well as to let them see the insides of the fire truck and the ambulance.  We got quite a crop of folks who decided to venture outdoors to have their pictures taken with the truck and firemen and EMT techs.  They see them here from time to time at Lafayette West in an official capacity.  These are always fun activities for everyone.

     The big surprise Rob had planned for everyone this year was a live band.  Johnny and Rob came to sing for about 15 minutes, and then the rest of the planned events would kick off.  Everyone was having a super time on the dance floor, so the music kept on going.  When asked when the pie-eating would begin, Rob merely replied, “Just look at this!” and pointed to the GREAT time that everyone was having dancing.  It was obvious that folks were having the time of their lives.  Lafayette people do know how to party, and there is never a stranger when it comes to dancing around them.  They will show you their best moves, and some that you never even thought of.  So we never got around to the rest of the events, but it didn’t matter because when all was said and done, Hot Dog Day was a blast and our fearless leader, Rob, made it extra-special this year.

     Thanks everyone, for your help, whatever you did.  You know you are appreciated and you know that we couldn’t have done it without you.  I want to especially thank Ron Nelson, Nancy Taylor and Sherry Hardy for helping me with the pictures this year. 

2010 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS GAME:  WASHOUT OR BORED TO TEARS?               By The Editor

It had to happen the year that Lafayette had their biggest crowd ever going to the game - a series of rainstorms and then severe weather started moving our way around the time the game was due to start.  There were 400 people coming from 4 different workshops, and everyone looked forward to the game.  Then the weather - earlier in the day when Lafayette West celebrated Hot Dog Day, it just rained and rained.  There was still hope that the Cardinals game would be at least be somewhat dry.  That really didn’t happen until after more than a 2 hour rain delay.  They pulled back the tarp, only to put the tarp back on.  Someone in the back of Section 228 watched the activity and said, “I wonder if they know something we don’t.”  They did.  A severe thunderstorm was headed toward St. Louis, and you couldn’t see the screen announcing its approach from where we were sitting.  People had to decide whether to stay and wait it out or leave.  Some didn’t even come to the game at all.  For the ones that decided to stay, the Cardinals began to play around 9:30 p.m., with the game continuing until after midnight.  After all the trouble of waiting it out, it sounds like the game was a lengthy, scoreless one with the game-winning run coming only in the extra innings.  Wish that I could tell you what the game was like, but my group left with me because we had already been through a lot of rain earlier in the evening.  Everyone looked exhausted and miserably wet.  Since we chose to leave, we didn’t get our usual group of pictures, but we still did manage to get a few.  Hopefully next year we will have better weather and cooler temperatures for the game.  To those who waited it out, way to go, Loyal Cards fans.

Put it on or take it off - decisions!	The true Cardinal fan comes prepared	Lots of empty seats
Folks settle down ready for the game to start - but it didn’t right away	Families get to spend quality time together

FELICE CUORES PARTY TIME - 2010/2011 SEASON

            A party for adults, age 18 and older, who are mentally handicapped or are developmentally disabled
 

St. Clare of Assisi School,
15642 Clayton Road, Ellisville, MO 63011
3½ miles West of Hwy. 141, ½ mile East of Clarkson
7:00 - 10:00 p.m., $5.00 includes DJ / snacks / soda / door prizes

2010:                September 11, October 9, November 6, December 4 --- October - Halloween Party - Wear your costume, December - Christmas Party with Santa

2011:                January 8, February 12, March 19, April 9, May 14 --- January - Welcome in the New Year, February - Valentine Party, March - Celebrate the Cardinals, wear Cardinal red, May - Patriotic Celebration (wear your red, white & blue)

We appreciate so much the Knights of Columbus and all that they do for Lafayette.  They are among our most loyal supporters.  We have so much news this month that we don’t have room for the registration form that was included with the information.  However, if you need a registration form for the dances or for any additional information, please call Gerry Villaire (636) 391-1620 or Bill or Jon Lukas (636) 537-9801. 

 SEPTEMBER 2010