PAA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

May 2013

 

Programs/Staff News

In April the Social Services welcomed Daniel Jarosz as a Homeless Outreach Worker. This part time position has been funded through an additional grant from DFSS. Daniel is responsible for identifying sites used by homeless, establishing initial contacts, and providing referrals to appropriate facilities and community services. He will also help the non-English or limited English individuals to follow through on referrals to the social service agencies to assist with healthcare, housing, disability applications, substance abuse, mental health care, and other services that may be needed for living. Daniel has been volunteering in our Substance Abuse program since September of last year. Daniel’s contact information will be posted soon.

The Career Center will be hosting a free information session on laws enforced by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The session will take place on Tuesday, May 14 from 6 to 8.30 pm at the Copernicus Center located at 5216 W. Lawrence and it will be conducted by Polish speaking representatives from DOL. For more information please call Kasia Rachwal.

New American Initiative Program invites all eligible Permanent Residents to a free CITIZENSHIP WORKSHOP on Saturday, May 18. The workshop will take place at the Wright College located at 4300 N. Narragansett in Chicago. Registration will be held from 9-10.30 am. For complete information please go to our website or call Grazyna, Teresa or Basia.

We still have some openings in our spring tuition CNA classes. If you are interested, please contact Basia Gawronska or Jagoda.

Please consider donating to our Clothing Closet as it is in a GREAT NEED of gently used clothes (for adults and kids), small household items and toys. Thank you!

Our private pay home care program is accepting its first clients. We are asking for your help with spreading the word and we will reward you if you refer a client to PAA.  The reward schedule is set up as follows: if the referred client stays with us for a month the reward is $25, it doubles to $50 if the client is being served for 3 months and finally it becomes $100 after 6 months of service provided. If you know of anybody in need of a home care service, please ask them to call Bogusia.

 

Job Openings

The Learning Center is looking for instructors to teach in our CNA Program next year. The candidate must be the Illinois licensed R.N. and meet the requirements of the Department of Public Health. This is a part time position. EOE. For more information contact Basia Gawronska.

The Social Service Department has an immediate opening for a part-time (10 hrs. a week) Marketing Manager position to promote services offered by the Private Pay Home Care Program. The candidates must be bilingual (Polish/English). This position will be responsible for the overall marketing of PAA’s Private Pay Home Care Services as well as providing education and information to individuals and groups in the community. Please check PAA’s website for the full job description. EOE. The resumes need to be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Staff Birthdates and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday and Sto lat to all who are having their birthday in May:

 

Michal Chybowski, Slawomir Czajkowski, Barbara Haniaczyk, Teresa Glen, Zofia Koscielniak, Teresa Kozlowska, Maria Leja, Iwona Lippert, Barbara Lukaszek, Katarzyna Olender-Misiarz, Jadwiga Morzy, Tomasz Pik, Katarzyna Rachwal, Jadwiga Rozanska, Alicja Szremska, Marzenna Szwarc, Krystyna Wiszowata, Bozena Zdrzalka

Best Birthday Wishes to you!

 

From Gary’s Desk

May of course starts off with our Constitution Day Parade which PAA will be fully engaged in. If you cannot make it, please connect with us on Facebook as I will send pictures and reactions live from the parade.

We are always looking to initiate new partnerships with organizations and other service providers. Early this month, we will meet with the Director of the Polish Studies Program at UIC to explore how we can partner. A special meeting has been set up. We will keep everyone in the loop as plans develop.

We are also moving forward on the transition to the new 401(k) provider. More details will be coming out shortly on this new benefit.

In closing, April for sure was a very busy month for PAA and our Development Team. We have posted the moving talk given by Sigmund Rolat at the Chairman’s Brunch and it can be viewed on our YouTube Channel at:  http://youtu.be/eN4xdyZzNc4  

Have a great month.

 

Development News

Please join us at the Polish Constitution Day Parade on May 4th. Polish American Association will be marching as the 65th organization at this year’s Parade.  All PAA participants will meet at 11:30 pm on Balbo Dr., just west of Lake Shore Drive (Balbo Dr. is 700 South).  For details on the parade, go to http://www.may3parade.org/en/invitation.html. Confirm today that you will be marching with us by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 773-427-6311.
Please show your support for the Polish American Association by bringing your family and colleagues! We look forward to seeing you at the Parade!

 

We received a grant of $10,000 from the Northern Trust Company. The grant will be used to support the program activities in the area of Domestic Violence (80%) and Employment (15%) as well as the general operations of the agency (5%) in FY’14.

 

Reminders & Other

Days off: Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day)

Who is your retirement money with?  Is it with the Federal Government? Is it in your bank, in a shoe box, or could it be that you haven’t started to save for retirement yet?  As you may have known the PAA has a 401(k) plan that is with AXA, the problem with the plan was that it was limited to only full time employees.  Now the PAA will be rolling out a new and improved 401(k) plan with Chicago-Oak Brook Financial as our advisor and John Hancock as the investment vehicle.  The plan is going to be expanded to anyone who works 1,000 hours or more per year.  The PAA in fiscal year 2013-2014 will be providing a match; more details will be coming out about that in June.  The investment choices have grown as well as the performance of the investments.  You will be able to save more because the Polish American Association is going to be paying the fees involved with this account.  The fees include the annual or semi-annual fees on your investment account, the cost of transferring all the assets from AXA to John Hancock, as well as the fees by the Financial Advisor. Next month if you have a deduction for the 401(k), it will not be taken out, it will be frozen per the terms of the agreement for the month of May and the first paycheck in June.  The only fees you will be covering are those if you take out a loan.  Be sure to watch the newsletter for future updates.  If you have any questions, call Pat Madigan at 773-427-6310.

Be prompt in signing your timesheets! They need to be turned in to Basia NO LATER than by the 5th of the following month.

 

Be inspired

You know, if you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything, wouldn’t you, at any time? And you would achieve nothing!
(Margaret Thatcher)