PAA Monthly Newsletter - December 2016

A note from the Executive Director

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

November brought us some more private funding for the programs. Ecolab renewed our grant to expand the coding classes offering. This time it will be done under the umbrella of the Learning Center. Bank of America will again fund our Benefits Access program so we can continue assisting the clients who are in the greatest financial need. We have been busy with preparing our Annual Appeal ask. Every year, during the holiday season the letters go out to our past donors asking them for a year end gift to PAA. Additionally, this year we are reaching out to our adult education students in hopes they can contribute, too. December, as hectic as it can be, forces us to reflect on what is truly important in life. The upcoming holiday season allows for some extra time to spend with our families and friends. This is the great opportunity to recharge and find a motivation to keep up with the burdens of everyday life. I wish you and your loved ones the greatest time as you celebrate Christmas and then the beginning of the new year. I hope 2017 brings us prosperity and joy. And even if we are faced with a challenge here and there, which is almost inevitable, I hope we will have strength and perseverance to overcome it.

HR Update

Just another friendly reminder regarding holidays:
This year, given that Fridays are Furlough Days, we will observe the upcoming holidays as follows:
During the week of Christmas, we will be off Thursday, December 22, and Monday, December 26.
We will also be off Monday January 2, 2017

Staff Birthdates and Anniversaries

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

Agnieszka Dabrowiecka, Jonie Desuyo, Adam Kusz, Olena Malanii, Natalia Niziolek, Julia E. Nowicka, Paulina Szwarc, Maria J. Zebrowski, and Jack W. Zurowski

Program News

Registration for ESL and ABE classes is ongoing. Please contact Mira Krolikowska ext. 409, Kasia Koptilin ext. 405, or our Southside location (773)767-7773 for more information.

The citizenship classes have started, however, registration is ongoing. For more information or to enroll please contact Janina at ext. 400.

Registration for CNA courses is ongoing. Please contact Basia Gawronska ext. 403, or Jadwiga Branicka ext. 401 for more information.

LIHEAP: The Energy Assistance Program started September 1st and will be ongoing until May 2017, or until funds are exhausted. October is a priority month for seniors over 60, individuals on disability, and families with children under the age of 5. To schedule an appointment please contact Paulina at ext. 300, or Malgosia in the Southside office (773) 767-7773.

Job seekers who are Cook County residents are welcome to visit the employment services at the Polish American Association and enroll in job placement assistance programs. For more information about PAA’s employment services please call Mirella at ext. 412.
Individuals interested in enrolling in WIOA job placement assistance program should attend the program orientation. Orientations are held every Tuesday: 11am – 12noon in Polish and 1pm – 2pm in English. For more information please call Magda at ext. 423.

The computer lab is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.

Registration for a paid Intermediate QuickBooks has started. The class will meet on Saturdays 10am-2pm from 1/14/17-2/25/17. Basic computer literacy, Intermediate MSWord and Basic Excel, Intro to QuickBooks classes will be offered in Spring 2017. For more information call Bianka at ext. 418

We are looking for a part-time (16 hours per week) lab tutor to assist clients in the Resource Room. The lab tutor will provide support with computer software available in the lab and assist with online job searches. Qualifications: skilled with MSOffice and Internet searches; positive, friendly and professional attitude, bilingual English/Polish preferred. Hours: Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm or TBD. For more information call Bianka at ext. 418

A new client report to capture program performance numbers and clients’ achievements in programs has been developed and we are now ready to start collecting data. All staff is requested to complete the new fields in the database retroactively to July 1, 2016. Please enter all data by January 31, 2017. Your cooperation is appreciated as we need a complete set of data to run the reports for the current fiscal year.

Development News

As we begin this season of celebration, we must not forget the community members we serve year-round. Most of these families lack the resources, financial or emotional, to fully participate in the festivities. The staff who serve them and endeavor to improve the quality of their lives, knows firsthand how important are acts of generosity, large and small, to a struggling family.

And while it was a difficult year for every member of the PAA family because of the furlough, each of us can try to give something of ourselves.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” - John Holmes

In November we were awarded a grant for a high school coding course from Ecolab with the help of Barbara Gawronska. Thank you Barbara! We also received another year of funding from the Bank of America to underwrite our Accessing Benefits program in the Supportive Services Department. Thanks and appreciation to the generous folks at Bank of America!

During December we will be asking friends and patrons to support our programs as we edge closer to the State’s budget process. No one knows if State funds will be authorized or held hostage. We are trying to be prepared for every contingency; which is why we need everyone’s help in raising funds. If you know of someone who supports our mission, send us their name and contact information and we will ask them for a gift.

Happy Holidays everyone!
Looking forward to 2017!

Reminders & Other

  • Timesheets are due on Thursday, December 8, 2016
  • Timesheets are also due on Wednesday, December 21, 2016
  • Travel vouchers are due on December 12, 2016