Archive for May, 2010

This person heard me speak at an event and wrote this note:

“It was a real eye-opener for all of us to hear about the many people you are helping at Spectrum around the state of VT.  We had no idea the Spectrum staff was so large and doing so much around the state. 

The day after you spoke, I met someone who was raving, as he often does, about the help Spectrum is giving his grandson.  He says it is the first time a counselor has gotten this young man to open up, after a long time coming.  After hearing him and listening to you, I can see that many impossible dreams can come true.  Change can happen with heroic efforts like yours and your staff and we are forever thankful.“

From Katy Lesser (who also recently was named the VT Small Businessperson of the Year):

As a business owner, I realize the supreme effort you put in; the endless patience and creativity and guts and willingness to come back to do it all over again every day.  I salute you.

I spotted one of our JOBS counselors, Paul Hayes, in our parking lot, he was standing by his car and another car, I yelled over to him to say hello and ask what he was doing.  He smiled and then I saw one of the young men who live in one of our houses next to him.  I know this boy and he waved to me.  A few minutes later Paul came up to my office, he had dirty hands and explained that he was teaching this young man how to change the oil in his car so he could save money.   I know this is not in Paul’s job description or the job description for anyone at Spectrum, but it is another example of how our staff go beyond the call of duty time and time again to help kids.

Dear Mark,

I was so glad to receive Spectrum’s letter this year.  I have been intending to send a gift for a number of months, to recognize the assistance Spectrum rendered my daughter’s long-time friend.  I am so aware of her potential and her determination to go to college.  Finding Spectrum meant that she found support that she wasn’t able to find from her parents.  

Thank you for making a difference to the future.

Hello Mark,

Please pass along my deepest gratitude to the folks responsible for my son’s new job
in Burlington. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for him, and the support that Spectrum
offers is vital to his evolving success in this job.

Thank you so very much for helping him, as he begins to “find himself” through the
pride he feels in himself for being employed.

Spectrum continues to amaze me for the many ways you help teens like my son who either
no longer want or have their parents’ help.
 
Thank you to all of you,

Dear Mark,

My husband and I are happy to contribute to Spectrum, we have confidence in your good judgment.  As donors we want to acknowledge the partnership we feel with the dedicated people at Spectrum who work so hard for the benefit of so many!

Congressman Peter Welch’s staff sent us a donation of new socks, underwear and a gift card to Old Navy for the kids at Spectrum along with a card with the following notations from some of them:

“Thanks for all that you do for our Vermont kids and teens.  I really admire the dedication to children’s issues and advocacy Spectrum does for Vermont.”

 “Burlington/Vermont/The World is a much better place because of the services you provide.”

 “Thank you for the wonderful work you do on behalf of Vermont youth.  Your tireless efforts make a measurable difference in lives of children every day.  We appreciate your compassion and hard work!”

Read today’s Burlington Free Press for an article on Spectrum’s Innovation Award. The award recognizes our Counseling Program’s rapid referral and assessment program, which reduces wait times for outpatient services, such as treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

Spectrum Program Honored
Burlington Free Press, May 11, 2010
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100511/NEWS02/100511003/-1/HEADLINES/Spectrum-program-honored

Dear Mark,

I was so pleased to hear that Spectrum’s counseling program was selected to receive one of Niatx’s 2010 Innovation Awards for its rapid referral/assessment process with the District Court.  This honor duly recognizes the hard work that your staff does in helping at-risk youth all over the state of Vermont.

I am impressed with the intent of this visionary process, but also with the resulting decreased recidivism rate among those youth who do have dealings with Spectrum.

I applaud Spectrum for pioneering this process.  I thank all of Spectrum’s staff for their dedication and optimism in that regard.  Congratulations.  Keep up the good work.

 Sincerely,

 Bernard Sanders

United States Senator

Andrea Meier, Spectrum’s Counseling Supervisor, received this wonderful thank you from a Burlington Probation Officer.

Hey, I don’t think I tell you guys that work over there enough. You guys do excellent work! Some of the reports and fast responses that are achieved through Spectrum are so far above and beyond what I would ever expect in today’s economy for our line of work. I am very impressed with the professionalism people like Caitlyn Wagner, Jeff Nowlan, and yourself [Andrea Meier] have provided. Always eager to help and looking out for the client’s best interest. I RARELY ever have to ask for reports on my people who see you folks as you are all so quick and concise in letting us know what client is meeting with who and if they have completed. This makes my job 1,000 times easier as I supervise sometimes over 600 offenders and it is often hard to keep track of who sees what treatment provider.

So to all of you over at Spectrum, thank you!

Johnathan L. Teske
Telephone Reporting Service Probation Officer
Burlington Probation and Parole Response Supervision