Clovernook Tribute Gifts

Below is a list of people who received honor or memorial gifts in their name from 9/1/2009 - 1/31/2010. Making a tribute gift in honor or memory of a loved one is a very important decision and we can’t thank our donors enough for choosing Clovernook.

Honorarium Donations

In honor of Sharon Bazzle
Mrs. Charlotte Moore & The Art in Bloom Committee

In honor of Shirley C. Blackmore
Mrs. Charlotte Moore & The Art in Bloom Committee

In honor of Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Miller

In honor of Jan K. Danner
Mrs. Gayle K. Kidd

In honor of George & Marion Dorin
Ms. Nancy J. Colegrove

In honor of Richard & Mona Kerstine

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Osher

In honor of Honey
Mrs. Susan M. Bryant

In honor of Lynn Jansen
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Hammons

In honor of Anne Maxfield & Gene Lege

Dr. & Mrs. Tim Love

In honor of Donald Morrow
Ms. Donnia B. Barnes

In honor of Wanda Owens & Calder
Ms. Vivian C. Brown

In honor of Wanda Owens
Mrs. Charlotte Moore & The Art in Bloom Committee

In honor of Margaret Stocker
Mrs. Charlotte Moore & The Art in Bloom Committe

e
In honor of Robert Usalis
Mrs. Robin Usalis

In honor of Robin & Robert Usalis
Mr. & Mrs. David S. Mann

Memorial Donations

In memory of Bob Almond & Bill Almond

Mr. & Mrs. Dale Weisker

In memory of Walter D. Archea
Ms. Ellen A. Berghamer

In memory of Cathy Beuerlein
Mr. & Mrs. C. William Myers

In memory of Michael Bonfield
Mrs. Sandra Schille

In memory of John & Stella Brockhuis

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph K. Brickler

In memory of Ann Dickinson & Janet Dickinson
Mr. Donald J. Dickinson

In memory of Pat Eder
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Cohen

In memory of Elizabeth Emery
Mr. & Mrs. Roy Guill

In memory of Allan R. Folz
Ms. Kathryn I. Adams
Mr. & Ms. Vern Bachman
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Besse
Mr. Henry J. Blessing
Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Bodkin
Colerain Township Citizens Police Academy, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick M. Day
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond L. Folz & Family
Mr. & Mrs. Greg P. Haverkos & Family
Ms. Colleen A. Henneke
Hodapp Funeral Homes
Mr. & Mrs. Donald LaRosa
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph H. Lechler
Ms. Betty J. Matacia
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Meloy
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Mechanical Equipment Services
Ms. Mary Ann Ryan
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Schoenling
Mr. Jeff Schoenling
Ms. Linda S. Snyder
Mr. John Thinnes
Ms. Gertrude E. Utz
Mr. Jeffery Wood
Mrs. Nancy G. Woodhouse
In memory of Margaret Glassmeyer
Ms. Patricia Kisker

In memory of Alma & Howard Kemper

Ms. Carol Lommer
Fred J. Kessler
Mr. & Mrs. George & Marion Dorin

In memory of Geraldine Kirk
Mrs. Helen Mauntel

In memory of Howard & Nancy Maxfield

Dr. & Mrs. Tim Love

In memory of Philip McGing
Mrs. Philip McGing & Family

In memory of Christopher McIntyre
Mr. & Mrs. Glen E. Cook

In memory of David Myers
Mr. Cliff Jacobs

In memory of Steve Owens
Mr. & Mrs. David M. Owens
Mr. & Mrs. Roland Zimmerman

In memory of Tonya L. Patton
Ms. Mary P. Herron

In memory of Audery Pfalz
Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Pfalz

In memory of Larry Rankin
Mr. Cliff Jacobs

In memory of Christopher Russo
Mrs. Joan S. Reis

In memory of Kurt G. Seybold
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Cohen

In memory of Thomas A. Siegel
Mr. & Mrs. Vincent J. Auskamp

In memory of Frieda Wasmer
Crane Family Trust
Mr. & Mrs. Glen A. Rebka
Ms. Joyce Stivers

In memory of James L. Willoughby
Mrs. Virginia Willoughby

Put a lid on it

Good news for coffee purveyors and their connoisseurs -- soon Clovernook's compostable 12 & 16 ounce paper hot cups will be uniform in lip size.

Why is this important? Customers want to simplify their purchasing process and want to stock lids that fit a variety of cup sizes. In order for Clovernook to grow our commercial cup business, we must meet the needs of our customers.  Three funders are generously helping us build product capacity: Assisi Foundation of Memphis, William J. & Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation and Plough Foundation.

Making an impact

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has made the conscientious decision to use Clovernook’s 100% compostable paper hot cups in
their neighborhood locations in Anderson, Drake, Eastgate, Fairfield, Harrison, Mason and Northern Kentucky.  The Green Team, an assembly of representatives from key departments, were interested in making Cincinnati Children’s more environmentally friendly. With that in mind, Cincinnati Children’s Senior Business Director and Green Team member, Brian Wildman, began conducting research on local environmentally friendly products. 

Enter Clovernook.

Clovernook’s 100% compostable paper hot cups were the perfect solution in order to make Cincinnati Children’s green. When properly managed, use of these cups can reduce landfill usage and will compost completely within two months, under proper conditions.

The environment needs our help

According to the Worldwide In­stitute, Americans throw away more than 25 billion plastic foam products each year! These items can take up to 500 years to fully disintegrate.

Did you know?

Time it takes for garbage to de­compose in the environment:

Glass Bottle.............1 million yrs.
Plastic Bottle...................450 yrs.
Aluminum Can...........80-200 yrs.
Disposable Diapers........450 yrs.
Plastic Bag..................10-20 yrs.
Milk Carton...................3 months
Banana Peel...............2-5 weeks
Paper Towel................2-4 weeks

Good things happening at Clovernook

On Dec. 9, 2009, Jessica Salyers with Clovernook, accepted a generous check from the European Chamber of Commerce. More than 50 people enjoyed the“sensory dinner,” which helped raise awareness and money for Clovernook.

On Feb. 11, 2010, Karen Schoenharl with Clovernook, accepted a grant from the Cincinnati Rotary Club. Judy Schlather nominated Clovernook’s Youth Discovery Program.

Nancy Conner holds her tribute painting made for her by Margie Stocker. The tactile painting will be hung in honor of Mrs. Conner in Clovernook’s main campus building. For more information, you may call Jessica Salyers at 513.728.6216.

On Nov. 11, 2009, Steve Oberrecht with Clovernook, accepted an au­tomated external defibrillator (AED) from Mark Johnston of Project Heart ReStart at The Christ Hospital.

Leaving your Legacy is easier than you might think

Leaving a legacy means different things to different people. Professional coaches leave their legacy in the form of winning games so their team and school can display the trophy for years to come. Actors leave their legacy when they win the Academy Award. Philanthropic minded people leave their legacy in the form of a lasting gift to nonprofit organizations.

The most common instrument for any nonprofit to receive a planned gift is through a beneficiary designation for a will, trust, life insurance or IRA. This is the easiest way for donors to perpetuate their legacy. Over the years, Clovernook Center has been the proud beneficiary of many gifts ensuring thousands of people who are blind or visually impaired receive independent living supports and employment.

Helping Clovernook Center update and refresh policies and procedures for planned giving are six professionals with diverse backgrounds. They are working hard to make sure that Clovernook Center has the best policy to fa­cilitate the process of cultivating, designing, and stewarding planned gifts.

Chairing the committee is Frances D. “Fran” Cohen, who serves on Clovernook’s Board of Trustees. Serving on this committee are: Mi­chael T. Mann, Esq. – Mann and Mann, LLC; Delores J. McCann – MetLife Resources; Rick Scheeler -- Northwest Financial Mutual Net­work; Paula D. Thomas -- New York Life; and David Wallace – Ohio National Financial Group.

When someone includes Clovernook in any estate planning, they are invited to become a member of The Trader Soci­ety. This is an elite group of donors who want our mission to live on. Ninety-two people over the years have increased Clovernook Center’s long-term sustain­able funding and more are letting us know the organization is already in their plans.

To learn more about charitable gift planning and how you can leave your legacy to Clovernook, call or write Anne Maxfield, vice president of fund development at amaxfield@clovernook.org or 513.728.6274.

Trader Society members: Robin Altland, Ruth Ault, Ellen Berghamer, Elizabeth Blessing, Anna M. & Gordon Braam, Karen & Robert A. Cary, Barbara E. Clegern, William H. Clegern, Frances D. Cohen, George Fabe, Katherine T. Hannabass, Robert T. Kay, Patricia Kisker, Hel­en G. Levine, Anne M. Maxfield, Philomena & Charles Miller, Carol J. Morris, Alexis Z. Scott, Vickie Teachout, Michael J. Walsh, Alice M. & John D. Ware, Harvey Weitkamp and Virginia Willoughby

Communication device for the deaf available

As a free public service, Clovernook Center is offering the use of its in-house communication devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to anyone in the Greater Cincinnati area who might need access to these assistive communication tools.

Clovernook has both a TDD and a Sorenson VP-200 video phone. A TDD is a telecommunication device for the deaf. Clovernook’s model is adapted with a braille display for people that are deaf and blind. The video phone uses a camera and the in­ternet to allow people who use American Sign Language (ASL) to place and receive calls to any hearing person.

Public hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Call 513.522.3860 to learn more or stop by the main building to use the videophone.

Memphis youth participating in transition week*

Local Memphis youth with visual impairments will start planning their futures with the help of specialists from Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired March 15 - 19 and March 29 - April 2.

This program is designed so that high school students can spend a week developing an individualized self-directed transition plan.
Students will tour the University of Memphis, learn how to write an effective resume, and participate in the Dress for Success program.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to picturing the possibilities of tomorrow.

*Funding provided by ACB (Memphis), Germantown Lions Club, Junior League of Memphis, Lilly T. Fischer and private donations.

Education Corner

Two MBA groups from Thomas More College, Fusion 521 and Cohesion, recently chose Clovernook Center as their Capstone course project. Fusion 521 provided a Market Analysis for the 100% compostable paper hot cups. Based upon that analysis, Fusion 521 suggested specific markets that would be in­terested in purchasing our product.

Following Fusion 521, Cohesion followed suit by providing Clovernook with a marketing plan for those targeted markets.

Clovernook’s Business Operations and Facilities Committee will be analyzing both plans and will be implementing tactics within the next few months.

Low vision support groups are located in Northern Kentucky, Fairfield and Cincinnati. Call 513.522.3860 for more information.

 

Clovernook hosts Macy's Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend

Once again, Clovernook Cen­ter was selected to be a part of the best weekend of the year – Macy’s Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend on February 20, 2010. People from all over the region spent time on Clovernook’s campus to experience music and the arts, experiencing an even deeper appreciation of the fine arts in Greater Cincinnati. Linton Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions were held in the morning in our main campus building. Linton Music has a stellar reputation of providing music appreciation to children between the ages of two and six. The children were mesmerized as they listened to the percussion music of North and South America, Africa and Asia. Three talented musicians played the boards, bongos, drums and the marimba.

The fun didn’t end there. At noon, The Willoughby Art Gallery was open to the public for an artists reception. Wanda Owens, an artist who is African American and visually impaired, was selected for a special show in honor of Black History Month. Soul Vision II was filled with history, inspiration and beautiful works of art. Ms. Owens spent countless hours perfecting each piece so that people who are sighted and visually impaired could experience art both tactually and visually. Clovernook Center thanks the Fine Arts Fund for their financial support now, and throughout the years.

Save the dates and event results

Clovernook Center plans a variety of opportunities for donors, volunteers and friends to connect to our mission. Here are some events that might interest you, along with a contact person to get additional details. Or, you can visit our website at www.clovernook.org; click on “come to our events”; click on “community” and/or “fundraising.”

4th Annual Dining in the Dark fundraiser: 4/15/2010 – 6:00 p.m. – Savannah Center – $125.00 per person. Call or write Jessica Salyers, manager of development at jsalyers@clover­nook.org or 513.728.6216.

Concert of classical and pop music performed by the Blue Ash/Mont­gomery Symphony Orchestra on the grounds of Clovernook Center in North College Hill. Rain location: North College Hill High School di­rectly across the street. The event will be held on September 19, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. and is free to the public. Blue Ash Symphony is our collab­orative partner. Call or write Jackie Conner, vice president of Multi-State Center East at jconner@clovernook.org or 513.771.1127.

2nd Annual Celebrity Bartender: 11/2/2010 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Clovernook Country Club – Celebrity Bartender event is free with all tips going to Clovernook Center. Cash bar with light appetizers served. Call or write Anne Maxfield, vice presi­dent of development at amaxfield@clovernook.org or 513.728.6274.

4th Annual It Feels Good to Give Back: 12/1/2010 – 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Clovernook Country Club. Event is free with a light breakfast being served. This event is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about Clovernook Center. Call or write Jessica Salyers, manager of development at jsalyers@clover­nook.org or 513.728.6216.

Celebrity Bartender rocks

On Thursday, November 19th, 2009, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired hosted Celebrity Bartender at the Clovernook Country Club. This special event was not only a fundraiser for the organization, but a friend-raiser as well.

More than 60 people turned out to have Janeen Coyle, morning voice for Married with Microphones on WGRR – 103.5, Al Tuchfarber, board chair and Robin Usalis, president and CEO, pour them a drink and give monetary donations to Clover­nook Center in order to help further the mission. In fact, the event netted more than $2,500!

Letter from the President and Chairman of the Board

Did you enjoy reading this edi­tion of the Perspective? It is full of great information and focuses on what we do best – helping people who are blind, visually impaired or have low vision, lead a more indepen­dent life. The cover story features Carole Lambert and how an integrated approach to low vision services improved her quality of life. It is an inspira­tion to many and illustrates what we do every day at Clo­vernook Center.

Now that you have reviewed our six month progress re­port, it is important to note that our numbers are up across the board. While it has been, and still is, a challenge during the economic downturn, we continue to serve every person who requests our help. Our funders stand by us and continue their investment in our mission. While this is an excellent progress report, we have more work to do and rec­ognize that we can’t do any of this alone. We have strong relationships with our referral sources and dedicated volun­teers who help at every level of the organization. Our Board of Trustees continues to be ac­tive in developing strategy and setting policy.

There are two other important groups of people – staff and consumers. Our hat goes off to the 143 people who work hard every day in Cincinnati and Memphis to make sure that anyone who needs our assistance has easy, afford­able access. It is because of their sense of pride and desire to achieve outcomes that we just received our re-accred­itation from Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilita­tion Facilities (CARF) for the maximum three-year period – ending November 30, 2012. This important designation as­sures members of our com­munity that we are dedicated to providing quality services that meet or exceed best practices.

Finally, our consumers are why we are putting the final touch­es on our strategic plan. The Board of Trustees approved four primary goals:
1. Long-term organizational sustainability to ensure mis­sion continuity in Cincinnati, Memphis and nationally.
2. Continued commitment to mission.
3. Organizational growth to enable mission enhancement.
4. Ensure safety for employ­ees, consumers, volunteers, and visitors.

The strategic planning focus is mission, mission, mission. Each primary goal has a num­ber of implementation objec­tives that are designed to stay true to our mission and con­tinue growth. It is now up to the team of professionals to determine tactics that will en­sure that we meet the needs of our consumers now and in the future.

Thank you for everything.

Robin L. Usalis
President/CEO

Alfred J. Tuchfarber, Ph.D
Chairman of the Board

“I hope one day to see enough braille presses, libraries, schools, and train­ing centers and teachers to assure all persons the op­portunities they would have had, had they not been blind. This is my greatest purpose in life.” - Helen Keller