“Consumer-Directed Attendant Care and How it Works”—January 27

“12 Elements of Successful Caregiving”—February 3

“Supported Community Living Services—What are they and How Do They Work?”—February 10

“Iowa Protection and Advocacy”—February 17

“How Do You Benefit from North Star Community Services?”—February 24

For more information or to request additional future topics or a speaker for your organization or congregation, call Donna Davis at North Star Community Services, 319-236-0901 or 888-879-1365.  Further information is also available on-line at www.northstarcs.org.

            North Star Community Services is an Iowa-grown non-profit organization which has provided services to older adults with age-related disabilities and to individuals with a wide variety of disabilities since 1975.  North Star’s home offices are in Waterloo, with branches in Waverly, New Hampton, Charles City, Mason City, Vinton, and Marshalltown. 

Largest Number Ever use North Star Community Services, according to new Annual Report

Contact: Donna Davis, Director of Development and Public Relations, North Star Community Services, 319-236-0901/ 888-879-1365, ext. 304; or Mark Witmer, Executive Director, 319-236-0901 / 888-879-1365, ext. 303.

Last Fiscal year, ending June 30th, 2006, North Star Community Services, a non-profit rehabilitation services agency, served 694 unduplicated individuals with disabilities, a nearly nine percent increase, with only a 3.5% increase in service cost. “We were able to do it because of the additional help provided by individuals, businesses, and foundations helping us with donations of all sizes,” says Mark Witmer, Executive Director.

In-depth figures and features of the work of North Star Community Services are now available in its new Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2006, according to Donna Davis, Director of Development and Public Relations for the non-profit rehabilitation services agency. The organization’s home office is in Waterloo and its branches are in Waverly, New Hampton, Charles City, Mason City, Vinton and Marshalltown. Altogether they served people from 38 counties in Iowa, thanks in part to the agency’s Head Injury Program welcoming individuals from anywhere in the state.

The print version is available by calling North Star at 319-236-0901 (or 888-879-1365), extension 304. A condensed copy will be available online soon at the agency’s website at www.northstarcs.org.

Contact: Colette Ruth, Director of North Star Community Services, Inc. Waverly Center, 319-236-0901.

NORTH STAR IN WAVERLY HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

There was a feeling of Christmas in the air on Tuesday, December 12th, as participants of North Star Community Services’ Adult Day Services program in Waverly presented their first annual Christmas program to over 30 invited family members and guests from the community.

The choir, directed by Ray Dixon and accompanied by Louann Flaherty, had been practicing songs since early October to prepare for the event. The audience enjoyed the many songs and opportunities to sing along. Rex Bunger and Sarah Janssen narrated the program using Rex’s Dynavox computer synthesizer.

The Nativity skit featured Heather Hendricks as Mary, Jeremy Kluiter as Joseph, Alex Janssen as baby Jesus, Roy Witter, Russell Lalk and Lee Dailey as the wise men, Alison Cusick, Janet Schwerin, Sheryl Decker and Shirley Luchtenburg as the angels, Lynn Taylor, Dean Shonka and Tim Gallmeyer as the shepherds.

“Jingle Bell Rock” was the chosen song for a wheelchair dance performed by David Kueker, Sally Fank, Loreli Dilly and Ray Dixon. The performance also featured guest reader, Josh Dilly, who read “T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

Stage managers Windy Jones and Alesha Nordman would like to thank the Janesville United Methodist Church for the use of their costumes for the performance. Plans are already underway for a performance next year, and North Star would welcome volunteers from the community to assist with the planning and coordinating of (continued) the program. If interested, please contact Colette Ruth at North Star Community Services
at 319-352-1425.

North Star Community Services, Inc. is an Iowa-grown non-profit rehabilitation services organization for individuals with disabilities. Offices are located in Waterloo, Waverly, New Hampton, Charles City, Mason City, Vinton and Marshalltown. Donations are always welcome are fully tax-deductible to the full extent of state and federal regulations. For more information, call 319-236-0901 in Waterloo (or 888-879-1365) or go to the agency’s website: www.northstarcs.org.

PHOTOS and captions (click on photo to open it)

#1 From Center front to back: Roy Witter (with crown), Loreli Dilly, and Russell Lalk (with crown) enter as the Wise Men. RaeJean Kueker and Pat Colsch wait in the audience for the play to begin.
#2 From left, Heather Hendricks as Mary, Alex Janssen as Baby Jesus, and Jeremy Kluiter as Joseph are surrounded by Angels Shirley Luchtenburg, Janet Schwerin, and Loreli Dilly, and Alison Cusick. Behind Joseph and to the right are Shepherds Tim Gallmeyer, Dean Shonka, and Lynn Taylor.
#3 Choir members clockwise from front center: Sally Fank, Cody Adams, Russell Lalk, Janet Schwerin, Lee Daily, Loreli Dilly, Lynn Taylor and Shirley Luchtenburg sing as Louann Flaherty plays the piano. To the far left Danny Fuller and Chad Olson join in.
#4 More choristers -- Freddie Fiester and Lacie Vorthman, front row -- join the others at the Christmas program and concert put on by participants, staff, and volunteers at the Adult Day Service of the Waverly branch of North Star Community Services.
#5 Josh Dilly reads “T’was the Night Before Christmas” while Joel Brase and Tim Gallmeyer listen at the Christmas program put on by participants, staff, and volunteers of the Adult Day Service of the Waverly branch of North Star Community Services.
#6 Rex Bunger, right, and Sarah Janssen narrated the program, using Rex’s Dynavox voice synthesizer. Angela Nelson listens in the background at the first annual Christmas program put on by participants, staff, and volunteers of the Adult Day Service of the Waverly branch of North Star Community Services.
#7 Archie Pratt, front, is surprised and happy at a visit from his old friend Duane Hess who came to enjoy the Christmas performance at the Adult Day Service of the Waverly branch of North Star Community Services.
#8 Dancing to “The Jingle Bell Rock” are Ray Dixon and Sally Fank. The “Antler Chorus” sings behind them. The event was part of the first annual Christmas program put on by participants, staff, and volunteers of the Adult Day Service of the Waverly branch of North Star Community Services.