GCSS Community Events

by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

In celebration of "Employee Appreciation Week," GCSS held a Culture and Diversity Day today at the office. From 11am-1pm, in the Training Room, employees set up a number of displays honoring their various heritages and cultural identities.

Among the display tables were an Indian table (3rd Prize); a Romanian setup designed by Stefania Matei and Raluca Toma (which one 2nd Prize for Best Table Design); and a Moroccan table designed by Grace Buotto (which won 1st Prize).

A variety of delectable dishes were served for lunch and dessert as well. Prizes were awarded for the best concoctions. The selections included African spinach sauce with rice; "cherry tarts" by Bonnie Kaufman (winner of 1st prize); "sushi candy" made by Chiyoko Rasser (winner of 2nd Prize); and "dairy delights" by Linda Timmons (winner of 3rd prize). Food-related gifts were awarded to each winner.

Diversity Day had its own soundtrack as well, consisting of music from across the world, as well as a few U.S. and Canadian hip-hop and R&B tracks ("Crabbuckit" by K-OS, "A Long Walk" by Jill Scott, "Bowtie" by Outkast and Jazze Pha, and "Feel Good, Inc.," by Gorillaz and De La Soul). Not to mention that a good number of the staff ended up doing "The Electric Slide" (caught on camera...how incriminating!) in the media room.

All in all, it turned out to be a very successful, educational, and fun event. Let's have many more like it!

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Well, OK...it isn't Christmas yet, but we're about to send out our completed November Events Calendar. LaRue is just putting the finishing touches on it today, and we should all see it shortly.

Here's a preview of some of the exciting entertainment, education, and extravaganzas we'll see this month:

Movies at the Starlight Six Drive-In

Though this isn't a "scheduled" event, per se, staff and consumers can pick any night of the week to go to "Atlanta's cheapest theater" and see the movie of their choice. Now playing: Law Abiding Citizen; Pandorum; The Stepfather; Where the Wild Things Are (adapted from the Maurice Sendak book); Zombieland; and Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Clearly, many of these movies are Halloween-themed, so if you can't stomach the horror genre, go to a mainstream theater.

Stone Mountain Christmas

From November all the way through Christmas, Stone Mountain transforms into a winter wonderland, featuring events such as The Polar Express 4-D Experience, "Snow Angel Meet & Greet," and a "Visit with Santa Claus."

Plus, Stone Mountain's signature lasershow transforms into the "Christmas Lasershow," featuring classic and contemporary Christmas songs and a "fireworks finale." The park also offers a chance to accomplish some of your holiday shopping, with hand blown glass ornaments, homemade fudge, toys, and holiday clothing.

More event details will be available on the Community Events e-mail, which should be sent out today.

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Although November isn't quite here yet, our work on the November Community Events Calendar is still in progress. We're still in the process of finding interesting, family-friendly, and (sometimes) free or at least inexpensive events for our staff, clients, and their families to attend.

The finalized calendar will be ready by Wed., Oct. 28. Everyone should receive a mass e-mail around that time with event details, as is the routine.

Just so you know: although Christmas doesn't, of course, hit until December, many Christmas-themed events will be taking place next month up until December 25. Keep an eye out for some of these. A few will require tickets, but many are free as well.

Check back here for the latest!

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If you were one of those GCSS clients or staff that attended yesterday's MENA Job Fair at Skyland Trail, it may be interesting to know...what did you think?

Like at a majority of job fairs, the employers and/or colleges there were not handing out job applications, per se. Though most of the booths had information readily available, the majority of GCSS clients walked out of the fair equally as confused as when they entered.

Of all the job offers there, one of the most suspicious was Primerica Financial Services, a "direct marketer of financial services which uses a large sales force of full-time & part-time representatives, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia," according to Wikipedia: Primerica Financial Services. Primerica is, essentially, a multi-level marketing company, along the lines of ACN, Inc., Amway Global, and The Cobra Group. If you are the type of person that makes an aggressive salesperson and are able to independently acquire customers, then it can be a lucrative job. For many with disabilities, however, particularly mental ones, it seems this sort of position might be extremely difficult. Just an observation.

Additionally, many had expected the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be present, but in their spot sat an empty table (for undisclosed reasons).

Now, this isn't to say that the trip was completely worthless; for some, it was just a chance to get used to talking to employers and handing out resumes. Part of getting a job, after all, is being able to pitch oneself successfully, and this was a major part of coming to the fair. So even those who didn't find anything that they were looking for hopefully had a chance to talk to some interesting people.

Also, a representative from Skyland Trail, where the event was held, had a booth with information as well. Some clients had the opportunity to speak with her, gave her resumes, and received contact info. in order to possibly apply for a job there.

FedEx Kinko's, as well, had their own booth; two representatives explained the benefits, for someone with a disability, of working for them. Again, however, people were unable to apply for a job directly at the fair.

Perhaps the reason that no applications were available is that most major companies now do their hiring online. If paper applications were filled out, then they would most likely get lost in the system.

So...people are still looking. Good luck to you all.

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On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Metropolitan Employment Networking Association (MENA) and Skyland Trail (an adult mental health care association) will be hosting their "2009 Career Expo" at Skyland Trail, where people with disabilities and mental illness can find appropriate jobs.

The fair takes place from 10am-2pm. According to Education and Employment Services Counselor Heidi Jones, employers at the fair will include the IRS; Goodwill Industries; Benefits Navigator (a program of Shepherd Center); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Primerica Financial Services, and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Canine Assistants will also be doing a demonstration.

Lunch will be available for purchase on site from 12:30pm-1:15pm for $5.00 per person; it includes salad bar, hot line, and beverage.

Jones also notes that parking is limited, so carpooling and using MARTA transportation is encouraged! Limited additional parking will also be available at the Hampton Inn.

Granted, the job market is difficult for everyone right now, not just those with disabilities, so many job fairs tend to be extremely crowded. One such job fair, held Aug. 15 at Atlanta's Turner Field, had an incredibly large turnout, such that it was difficult to get the attention of any one employer.

If you plan on attending this job fair, it's first come, first serve, so have plenty of resume copies ready, and go in with a confident attitude!

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In keeping with October's Halloween theme, there are events a-plenty going on this week involving ghosts, ghouls, and gremlins.

Starting on Thursday, the 15th, and running until Halloween is the Tour of Southern Ghosts at Stone Mountain Park. The tour features a cast of six different storytellers each night, and as a result, guests can return on subsequent nights and hear an entirely new set of fearsome folktales.

Also starting Oct. 15th is Disney on Ice Presents "Celebrations" at Philips Arena, a winter-themed show featuring everyone's favorite Disney characters, including (of course) Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a "Halloween Haunt" with Disney villains, a "Very Merry Unbirthday Party," and a "Royal Ball" featuring the Disney princesses. The show is appropriate for all ages, so anyone is welcome.

At 5 PM on the same day, former President Jimmy Carter and David Rubel, author of If I Had a Hammer: Building Homes and Hope with Habitat for Humanity, will be hosting a book-signing event at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum on Freedom Pkwy. Books will be available for $19.99.

On the 16th, Little Five Points hosts its two-day annual "Halloween Festival and Parade." On day one, from 6-10 PM, the Spook Show Mon-Stars will be performing classic punk songs, like the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Pop" or "Banned in D.C." by Bad Brains (actually, no one's listed any specifics, but they might take requests!). Following the musical performance is Prof. Morte's Silver Scream Spook Show, the screening of a classic horror film such as Nosferatu or the 1931 Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff.

On the 17th, from noon to 5 PM, children's activities will take place in Findley Plaza (at the intersection of Euclid Ave. and Moreland Ave.), as well as face painting, Tarot reading, and Henna tattooing. The Halloween parade itself starts at 4 PM, followed by a "Parade Awards Presentation" at 6 PM on the Findley Plaza stage.

In addition on the 17th, Historic Downtown Lawrenceville Square will be hosting its "2nd Annual Rock 'n' Rib Fest, featuring food and beverages made by McCray's Tavern on the Square, Texas Roadhouse, Pig Pit Crew, and California Dreaming Restaurant and Bar. Competitive BBQ cooking teams from McCray's, Spiced Right Smokehouse Barbecue, and others will be facing off in a Rib Cook-Off, with plaques given for "Easiest to fall off bone," "Best rib sauce," and "Best overall rib."

So, there's no shortage of activities this week, and hopefully the trend will continue! New developments will be posted as they arise.

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