GCSS Community Events

On Nov. 14, preempted by writing about our Facebook Cause, I decided to do a general article on Associated Content entitled "Join Causes on Facebook," in which I mentioned GCSS' "Support Individuals with Developmental Disabilities" Cause.

I know that some of you have had the chance to read it, but if you haven't, please click the link above when possible. I'm happy to say, however, that 10,233 people have read the article thus far, according to the stats listed on the site. I wrote about more than just GCSS within the article, but I feel that simply including us within it should help draw attention to the Cause.

Evan did make the point one afternoon that Facebook isn't necessarily the most likely place to get direct donations, but if it is a place to help make more people aware of what we're about, then that's just as helpful (in my eyes).

So if you have read the article, then I may be repeating myself, but if you haven't, I certainly encourage you to do so.

Oh, and about the aforementioned customer profiles, those are basically finished, and I'll be submitting them to Sherry Heyl today. There will be more updates as that concept develops.

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

The previous blog entry, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," will also be published in the next issue of GCSS' newsletter. I'm proud to say that this is the first time my writing will be in the newsletter (not to brag or anything)!

There is also a pending interview with Pam Peterson, who is organizing our "Holiday Bazaar," which will take place at the GCSS office on Dec. 14th. So look for a full article in the newsletter coming soon!

Today at the office, we will be having a "pre-Thanksgiving celebration," if you will, featuring delicious food, eclectic (but clean) music, and perhaps dancing (as that's been an essential part of our last few celebrations!). Although I have some idea of what's in store, this crew always tends to have a few surprises up their respective sleeves, so you never know...

In any case, happy early Thanksgiving to everyone once again! When the newsletter is complete, I'll put the word out!

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Well OK, maybe not "Charlie Brown," per se, but with childhood memories of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, that would be my ideal November holiday.

This year's Thanksgiving baskets, developed by the Excitement Committee, are already on their way to consumers in need and their families. Each contains a $10 gift card towards the purchase of a turkey, as well as additional non-perishable food items, as mentioned in the blog titled "Happy Birthday to Chi...and Pre-Thanksgiving Madness!"

In difficult economic times, it is still important to be thankful for those blessings that we have, whether they be food, water, clothing, shelter, loving family, or even less tangible things such as freedom. We would all do well to remember the rights that we sometimes take for granted in the U.S., such as freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Though some might debate the truth of that statement, we have also seen that in some nations, both men and women are often executed or tortured for opposing religious beliefs or taking actions that are considered unethical.

That said, I will personally be spending Thanksgiving in NY, my home state, with my parents and sister. Living in GA, in various programs like this one, has helped me to better appreciate my family, in that they supported my decision to come here and have partly provided me with the funds to do so.

A young woman in her 20's might say that any time she's spent living at home with her parents has been a challenge...I'm sure many of us would agree with her. Nonetheless, when we're apart from our families (assuming they're not abusive or psychotic), we ideally begin to realize how much they love us, and how thankful we are to have them.

In my case, as well, I will admit that sometimes I've gotten very frustrated over some of my limitations, especially in the areas of short term memory, judgment, and emotional control. On the other hand, having spent time around people with other kinds of disabilities (and even other people with brain injuries), I've realized how much I'm capable of and also how I may have misjudged some people that I first saw as "low-functioning."

So, as always, I write this blog not only for myself, but to inspire others at GCSS, as well as the random stranger who just might happen upon our site.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Though I've never attended business school, what I do know about business I've learned simply through experience. This continues to be the case, as the position I now hold requires that I expand my understanding of these concepts.

As I said in a previous entry, I'm now in the process of doing market research for GCSS. Initially, my assignment was to come up with two customer profiles, those being someone with a disability and a family member of someone with a disability.

LaRue suggested that I even create a third customer profile based on someone who doesn't necessarily have a disability or a family member with one, but still wants to help. There are many people who could fit this profile.

In some cases, there are people with disabilities who also want to help, and may have family members with disabilities as well. Or, in other cases, the person may fit into just two of the categories.

In my case, for example, I have a disability (a brain injury), and also want to help others with disabilities. Plus, I have family members with various kinds of disabilities. However, I realize that someone else who fits into all three categories may be completely different from me.

It would be helpful to figure out what sorts of supports the majority of our clients need, just as Microsoft would love to know what people look for in a word processor or a Web browser. Word processors, in theory, make writing documents easier by providing tools such as a spellchecker, clip art, formatting tools, and font styles.

Likewise, there are many clients who need transportation, assistance with cleaning and preparing meals, help with managing finances, and education about safety and social issues. Of course, there are varying degrees with all of these supports.

So, in the end, I have my work cut out for me. But this is a fun project...I'll keep everyone updated on its progress.

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Anyone who has been in business for a reasonable amount of time (and that term is highly subjective) likely knows what a Customer Profile is. Even if you know what that means, it bears repeating: "Description of a customer group or type of customer based on various demographic, psychographic and/or geographic characteristics," according to Answers.com.

Although I'm familiar with the concept and understand it in theory, this is the first time I've been assigned the task of creating a customer profile for a company. Specifically, I was asked to come up with two different CPs for people that GCSS serve. In my mind, this would include not only the clients themselves, but their family members and/or legal guardians.

For part of my research, I thought about getting in touch with some people from other disability support programs I've been involved with. This way, in my mind, I can create a more tangible customer, even if that customer happens to be a fictitious one.

Luckily, I still happen to be in touch with some folks at the Atlanta JCC (Jewish Community Center), as well as a couple of the day programs I used to work with. I believe part of the information I seek may come from some of these people. Plus, I'll simply observe my surroundings, and find out more about the families of people with various disabilities.

More on this as it develops!

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by Eric Pudalov

This afternoon, we dropped by Top Spice, the great Thai and Malaysian restaurant in Decatur, to celebrate Chiyoko Rasser's birthday.

The "birthday party" was quite entertaining, and included lots of laughter and merciless poking fun of one another (it's OK...it was equal opportunity). Though there was no cake or singing of "Happy Birthday," it was quite the party nonetheless.

In Other News...

Though November is already in full swing, it's worth mentioning that the Bowling Fundraiser, sponsored by the Excitement Committee, took place on October 17. All who attended had a wonderful time.

GCSS is also taking up a collection of non-perishable food donations until November 17, for those families we serve who are less fortunate. Items donated thus far include: Mott's applesauce (small containers), golden corn, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, bottled water, mixed vegetables, Bush's Grillin' Beans, canned pineapple chunks, and elbow macaroni.

So, more of those items are always welcome, or if you come up with your own non-perishable alternatives, please bring them by. It's much appreciated!

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Having noticed that most, if not all, of you are on Facebook, I've begun the task of adding you as friends. Once we are "Facebook friends," I'm hoping that you'll join the Facebook Cause "Support Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

As I stated in my earlier entry, we have only raised a small amount of money thus far. Despite my bragging about my tech abilities, at first I couldn't figure out how to donate money myself. But with a little problem solving, I was able to bypass that, and donated a small amount.

So, as I recruit more people to the Cause, I'm hoping that some people will be willing to donate any money at all (if even just a few dollars). I realize that the economy is still down, and that everyone is trying to save money. But in the long run, this will benefit our organization, and in turn, you!

I also thought I should mention that not long ago, I was a client of another organization, and I still occasionally keep in touch with some of the people I worked with there. A few are on Facebook, and I thought I'd recruit them as well.

I realize not everyone has money to donate, but again, I'm just trying to promote awareness and get our name out there. So the first step is for you to join!

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Although I already posted about this under "GCSS Announcements," just in case everybody missed that one, I wanted to clarify some things about Twitter.

The other day, I created a Twitter account for GCSS, as I said in an earlier e-mail. If you haven't been able to access it, try this link: Twitter: GCSSCommunity

Even if you aren't a Twitter member, you should be able to see the News Feed as it gets updated. Since the account is brand new, "GCSSCommunity" doesn't have a whole lot of friends, but I'm working at making more people aware of the Twitter account as well as the Facebook page.

I'm often asked how to use Twitter by those who are completely unfamiliar with it. While I won't go into all of the finer nuances here, people refer to it as "micro-blogging," because you sign up for an account, and each time you post an announcement or what-have-you, it's required to be 140 characters or less.

For example, if you want to tell everyone on your friends list about a local coffee shop, you can post a link to the coffee shop's website, and then write a brief description of it in the space allowed. In a way, it's very similar to personal ads or movie blurbs in the paper.

Though GCSS' account is relatively new, we already have 6 followers and counting. That may not sound like much, but you and I can certainly recruit members whenever possible!

I promise to do my part in this by keeping it updated frequently, and seeking out people who would find us interesting.

So drop by Twitter...let's check ourselves out.

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Are you all familiar with "Causes" on Facebook? If so, you can skip the next paragraph. If not, read on:

"Causes," in a nutshell, are groups based on issues that people care about on Facebook. Among them are subjects like "Tibetan Freedom Movement," "Think Autism," and "Save Darfur." So it may come as no surprise that there is one called "Support Individuals with Developmental Disabilities," created by GCSS' own Evan Pearson.

Though this Cause has existed for awhile and has a number of members, it seems that it's been inactive as of late. Therefore, I'm working on attracting more people to the cause, as well as keeping it updated more frequently. At present, it has 551 members, which is great, but most are inactive or have only contributed once or twice at best.

If we all want to help this Cause to grow, you can assist in several ways:

1. Join using your Facebook account (assuming you have one)
2. Donate money to the Cause (if even just a few dollars)
3. Invite your other Facebook friends to join
4. Invite other people to join Facebook who might be interested

Granted, not everyone is going to donate money, and some people will be more active than others, but as we all know, that's the nature of the business. However, it seems that the more frequently a cause is updated, and the more awareness is created, the more active members become.

Please let me know if you have a Facebook account, so I can add you as a friend, for one, and hopefully get you to join the cause as well. In the long run, it will greatly benefit our jobs, as well as the clients we serve (if even in an indirect way).

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by Eric Pudalov

As both clients and staff can tell you from experience, working together isn't always easy. All of us, at times, get frustrated, and we all go through misunderstandings.

So what is the best option when a situation begins to get out of hand? That can vary from day-to-day, and person-to-person, but there are almost always options.

Some may feel that a "disciplinarian" approach is best, using a "what I say goes" type of strategy. While this may work in some cases, particularly with people that basically need a lesson in manners, in others it may compound the problem. There are times when the discipline will simply make the other person angrier and more aggressive.

Another option is to calmly (but firmly) reason with the person (no matter what their age), and hopefully get them under control. If you have ever done police work (or even just watched CSI: Miami), you may have noticed that this is often the first approach if someone isn't combative. On the other hand, if the person is already physically violent, it is understandable if he needs to be restrained.

I don't mean to be a hypocrite in giving this kind of advice...as some of you who have worked with me know, I can have a quick temper at times. This is probably the first time I've said this on the blog, but this is partly due to my traumatic brain injury, which affects the emotions. I often feel as though I'm on an "emotional roller-coaster," anxious one minute, then angry the next, and then, surprisingly, calm a few minutes later.

I work with a therapist now who has been helping me learn techniques to deal with these sorts of situations. One of the things that I sometimes do is to massage my hands when I begin to feel tense (but before I explode). I also do slow breathing techniques with my eyes closed, or if the situation permits, I go and exercise. If I'm in an inescapable situation (such as driving), I can still do the breathing techniques with my eyes open.

Unfortunately, in the past, I will admit that my anxiety and temper have cost me jobs and relationships. But thankfully, I don't regret that. They have been helpful experiences in the long run, and have given me lessons that I can one day pass on to others.

It can be difficult sometimes to teach these sorts of techniques to others, of course, especially if they're not ready or willing to learn. However, it's almost necessary if we're all to get along as a group.

I will blog more about these sorts of things as they develop. If anyone has feedback, it's always welcome.

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by Eric Pudalov, Community Events Coordinator

Hoping that everyone who celebrated Halloween had a happy one, you may note that November is now in full swing (not that it necessarily feels any different).

This week in GCSS' Community Events, a good number of things are going on. Today, Marietta is featuring its "Scarecrows on the Square." Tomorrow, the 3rd, will be the final day of this display. So, if you haven't yet had the opportunity to drop by and see this spectacle, do so now! For more information, see this site: Marietta's Scarecrows on the Square.

Tuesday also marks the opening of the Atlanta Botanical Garden's "Holidays in the Garden," featuring such activities as the "Holiday Puppet Shows" and "The Botanical Express" (beginning Nov. 7).

Then, this Friday, A Christmas Carol, the animated feature starring Jim Carrey as the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge (as well as a host of others), premieres. Theaters in the Atlanta-Metro area that will be showing the film include: Regal Hollywood Stadium 24, Regal Perimeter Pointe 10, and Regal Medlock Crossing Stadium 18. More information on showings will be available after the premiere.

One of the few available online reviews comes from "Guy Who Reviews Movies and Also Watches Them, yet another member of Blogger who...well, does exactly what his blog entails. The movie is rated PG "for scary sequences and images," but will likely be appropriate for most of GCSS' clients.

A film that I most definitely recommend seeing is Where the Wild Things Are, adapted from the book by Maurice Sendak. The picture was directed by the amazing Spike Jonze, director of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, as well as incredible music videos for artists such as the Beastie Boys, Weezer, and Björk. As in just about all of his work, Jonze creates a magical world of creatures, otherworldly sights and sounds, and childhood memories.

Whether you personally will enjoy it or not remains to be seen...but it looks as though it's one of the better films out at the moment.

Finally, this Saturday, Fulton County residents (and students) have the option of attending the "Fulton County Free Saturday" at the High Museum of Art. If you already happen to be an art enthusiast (and a Fulton resident), you may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

We are currently in the process of developing a Facebook group for GCSS...it currently exists as a "Cause," and although we have a reasonable number of members, our Cause needs to be updated more frequently if it is to benefit us. Therefore, look for more news on this ongoing project.

All that said, there's plenty more to come. Keep coming back for more updates!

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