Y50 M Key 23 C K GRAY 50 Y M Key 22 C K GRAY 50 Y M Key 21 C K GRAY 50 Y M C Key 20 K GRAY 75 Y M Key 19 C K GRAY 75 Y M Key 18 C K GRAY 75 Y M Key 17 C K GRAY 75 Y M Key 16 C K GRAY STAR Y M Key 15 C K GRAY STAR Y M Key 14 C K GRAY STAR Y M Key 13 C K GRAY STAR Y Part No. K-28-4(D) M C Key 12 K Komori/GATF GRAY The Bridge of Central Mass achusetts P 4 Mann Street, Worcester MA 01602 Y M Key 11 C K Fall 2018 GRAY 1/2/3/4 Y 12 34 Y M Key 10 Exciting News from Alternatives Unlimited and The Bridge of Central Mass. C K We are now “Open Sky Community Services!” GRAY 1/2/3/4 M 12 34 Y We are very pleased to announce that following the affiliation of our two M organizations last summer, we have now come together under one name – Key 9 C Open Sky Community Services. The new name is a dba (doing business as) K of Alternatives and The Bridge. Both organizations have retained their GRAY 501(c)3 status, and donations can be made to either Alternatives, The Bridge 1/2/3/4 C 12 34 or the dba of Open Sky Community Services. Y Last year, the two agencies decided to explore what it might be like if they M Key 8 came together as one. We decided to “affiliate” – to bring the best of both C together — and the affiliation became official on July 1, 2018. K Ken Bates, President & CEO and Dennis Rice, GRAY Since that time, the organizations have operated as one, with the temporary Executive Director Emeritus. 1/2/3/4 K 12 34 name “Alternatives and The Bridge.” Y 281440 - Front 1 Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Lots of people from the agencies participated in a “Branding” process to M Key 7 explore who we are as one, what our goals and purposes are, and how we C would define ourselves to others. A branding task force and visionary group K Recruiting New Team Members: shared information and explored ideas with our branding consultants. GRAY C+M Along this journey, we identified core beliefs we shared: Seeking Y “Rock Stars”! • Both agencies place people at the top of all we do. Humanity first. M Key 6 C • We embrace the idea that the community is a powerful and necessary As part of the strategy to recruit new team members for Open Sky, social media postings have become an area of focus for K partner in helping people live their best lives. And, people coming together Dennis Rice, Mary Ellen Larkin-Root (former the Recruitment team. We know that we have many “rock stars” in our agency and by sharing their stories and perspectives, GRAY form powerful communities. Alternatives Board Chair), Judi Kirk (former we hope to entice more of the same to join us. Below are a few examples of postings. During the month of October, 28% of Bridge Board Chair) and Ken Bates. Y+C people entered our website careers pages via social media – indicating that these efforts are important and effective. • We believe in using best practices and innovative approaches. Y M • We share the goal of helping people to see beyond their circumstances, beyond limitations, beyond stigma. We know that Key 5 C people can see beyond and live beyond what they may have thought was possible. Their possibilities are limitless. K From these beliefs, the choice to become Open Sky Community Services made perfect sense to us, as an expression of GRAY what we offer – limitless possibilities for people who may perceive they have limitations. The sky is the limit. Y+M If you think you may be a rock star Y So, welcome to this inaugural newsletter of Open Sky Community Services … See Beyond, Live Beyond. clinician or direct care worker, visit M C www.openskycs.org/careers Key 4 and see if your dream job awaits. K GRAY Y50 openskycs.org M Key 3 C K GRAY 281440_Open Sky - Fall NL - Front - FB 001 - 11/28/2018 3:06:14 PM - Black Cyan Magenta Yellow - - - - PM PM PM PM 3:06:14 3:06:14 3:06:14 3:06:14 11/28/2018 11/28/2018 11/28/2018 11/28/2018 - - - - 001 001 001 001 FB FB FB FB - - - - Front Front Front Front - - - - NL NL NL NL Fall Fall Fall Fall - - - - Sky Sky Sky Sky 281440_Open 281440_Open 281440_Open 281440_Open 50 Y M Key 2 C K GRAY 50 Y M Key 1 C K GRAY GRAY K C Key 1 M Y 50 GRAY K C Key 2 M Y 50 281440_Open Sky - Fall NL - Back - FB 001 - 11/28/2018 3:06:15 PM - BlackCyanMagentaYellow GRAY K C Key 3 M Y50 GRAY K Key 4 C M Y Y+M GRAY K C Key 5 M Y Y+C GRAY K C Key 6 M Y C+M GRAY K C Key 7 M 281440 - Back 1 Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Y 34 12 1/2/3/4 K GRAY K C Key 8 M Y 34 12 1/2/3/4 C GRAY K C Key 9 M Y 34 12 1/2/3/4 M GRAY K C Key 10 M Y 34 12 1/2/3/4 Y GRAY K C Key 11 M Y P GRAY Komori/GATF K Key 12 C M Part No. K-28-4(D) Y STAR GRAY K C Key 13 Managing Change Valley Bag Toss – M For individuals we serve, learning how to manage change Y Raising Fun & Funds STAR is a critical skill – one we work hard to model and teach. GRAY Over the past year, many of our individuals and staff have It was a beautiful, fun-filled day and record-setting year for experienced multiple changes due to the launch of a new K the 5th Annual Valley Bag Toss. Spearheaded by Open Sky model by the Department of Mental Health called ACCS C Key 14 Board Member Molly Hollibaugh, the community cornhole M (Adult Community Clinical Services), which replaced CBFS tournament saw 122 participants and dozens of spectators Y (Community-Based Flexible Supports). This new model gathered at the Whitin Mill to raise more than $20,000 in STAR promises to offer significant improvements benefiting the support of Open Sky’s health and wellness initiatives. GRAY individuals served, but the necessity of adding more clinical Five years ago Molly was K staff and requiring licensure for more of the program an Alternatives Board C leaders has presented some challenges and resulted in Key 15 Member whose family had M many changes. The Bag Toss was started to introduce a Y a long history of support In addition, bringing together two agencies with different new audience to the important work being STAR for the agency. Her goal in cultures and approaches has not been easy. Efforts are done by Alternatives and to provide an GRAY creating the Bag Toss underway to develop new approaches that combine the K was to introduce a new opportunity for people of all abilities to best of both or offer completely new ways of doing things. C audience to the important Key 16 come together around a common interest. This process takes time. M work being done by Y We also feel compassion for and understand that people Alternatives and to provide 75 who worked with Dennis Rice as Executive Director of Dennis Rice with long-time Alternatives employee Pat Stafford. an opportunity for people GRAY Alternatives have experienced a sense of sadness and loss of all abilities to come together around a common interest. K on the occasion of his retirement. As the co-founder of She suspected that the popularity of cornhole would help to We are so thankful for the support of our 16 corporate and C Key 17 Alternatives and its leader for over 40 years, Dennis What is most important to know is that our mission of draw community members new to the organization and individual sponsors, led by Presenting Sponsor Flexible M represents the face and heart of Alternatives. His energy, serving people has not changed. At the very heart of what that planning a high-energy event would keep them coming Fundamentals and Featured Sponsors Koopman Lumber & Y passion and commitment to community inclusion and arts we do, both agencies have the same goal. We want to back. Her plan worked perfectly. Hardware and Zentangle. Their generosity and the contrib- 75 and culture are legendary and are not going away. Dennis provide the best possible supports, treatment and skill- utions of all of the Bag Toss participants will reap benefits Each year has seen a high rate of return by previous teams GRAY has agreed to stay on with the new organization for a period building to help people see beyond perceived limitations to for the people we serve throughout the coming year. and an increase in participation by new community members. K of time to help with transition, training and ValleyCAST live their best lives. Just as impressive has been the growing percentage of See you next year on September 14 on the Dennis H. Rice C Key 18 among other things. His new title is Senior Advisor and teams that include a team member served by Alternatives or Community Plaza at the Whitin Mill for the 6th Annual M Executive Director Emeritus.