Independent Living Services Executive Director Jackie Fliss, Bart McCuin, and Bradley Stiltner accept a donation check from Jeane Love, senior vice president of Centennial Bank in Conway. The donation will be used at ILS’s new facility on Robins Street. An open house will be held for the new building on Feb. 10, 2012.

Angels on High by Farrah

Vibrant Tree by Randy

Two Snowmen by Jamie M.

Poinsettia by Carolyn

Church Bells by an unknown artist

Holiday Angel by an unknown artist

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]]> http://indliving.org/blog/development/holiday-cards-now-available/feed http://indliving.org/blog/development/economic-impact-of-ils-volunteers-in-2010-topped-300000 http://indliving.org/blog/development/economic-impact-of-ils-volunteers-in-2010-topped-300000#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:03:34 +0000 Bobby M. Kelly III http://indliving.org/?p=8329

Last year proved to be our best year yet in regards to volunteerism at Independent Living Services, according to The Economic Impact of Arkansas Volunteers 2010 published by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Community Service and Volunteerism.

Total Hours Served: 14,188

The majority of this time was served at Profiles Enrichment Center, our adult day program.

Number of Volunteers: 68

This figure includes Foster Grandparents, board members, members of the Volunteer Action Committee at Hendrix College, photographers, Special Olympics coaches, civic clubs, and students from the University of Central Arkansas and Central Baptist College.

Total Dollar Value: $313,549

According to the Institute for Economic Advancement at UALR, a dollar value of $20.85 per hour for volunteers’ time was used in this year’s study. Board members’ volunteers were requested to use the dollar value of $100.00 per hour for their volunteers’ time. This $100.00 value is based on an estimated average of hourly professional fees.

How do we compare to others in Conway, Arkansas?

The following organizations in Conway, Arkansas participated in the survey.

Conway Public Schools

Hours Served: 17,775

Number of Volunteers: 1,869

Total Dollar Value: $373,142

St. Joseph’s School

Hours Served: 13,935

Number of Volunteers: 329

Total Dollar Value: $290,545

Faulkner County Library

Hours Served: 3,203

Number of Volunteers: 248

Total Dollar Value: $68,682

First United Methodist Church

Hours Served: 28,500

Number of Volunteers: 700

Total Dollar Value: $752,525

CASA of the 20th Judicial District

Hours Served: 8,847

Number of Volunteers: 133

Total Dollar Value: $255,695

United Way of Central Arkansas

Hours Served: 1,923

Number of Volunteers: 506

Total Dollar Value: $92,017

Bethlehem House

Hours Served: 4,716

Number of Voluneers: 384

Total Dollar Value: $141,070

K-Life Ministries

Hours Served: 11,316

Number of Volunteers: 63

Total Dollar Value: $395,505

The Report

Click here for the full report.

If you think it is time to help your community, now is the time to join the EcoFest team and become a part of something that involves fun, local food, activities, and an exploration of our environment!

An organizational meeting for the 2011 Conway EcoFest will be held Sunday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. at Profiles Enrichment Center, our adult development facility. Profiles Enrichment Center is located at 1105 Deer St.

directions to Profiles Enrichment Center

Lunch will be provided by the Green Cart Deli (GCD) between 12-12:45 for those who RSVP by 7 p.m. Friday through the contact option at www.ConwayEcoFest.com/contact or who call Debbie at 327-2105.

This meeting is geared towards anyone interested in considering assisting with (co)coordinating any small or large aspect of the event (e.g., t-shirts; water stations; kites; donations; art show; artistic designs/layout, murals; public-relations/communication or graphic design; waste issues; cardboard car derby; or assisting with the sections such as a cooking show; energy-efficient eco-homes/businesses; natural resources, energy, recycling, technology, etc.).

“Although EcoFest is not until September 10, 2011, planning now is crucial for coordination, especially given the time of year that EcoFest is held,” commented Debbie Plopper, event co-coordinator. “Time commitments and skill-sets needed vary tremendously, but there is a role for those who are new to this type of event, as well as for those with experience. Many are needed,” she added.

A second meeting for general information and volunteers is planned at the same location on Monday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m; the Green Cart Deli will have food available from 6 to 6:45 p.m.

Conway EcoFest on Facebook |  Conway EcoFest on Twitter

Contact
Debbie Plopper
Conway EcoFest

327-2105
debbiep@conwaycorp.net
www.conwayecofest.com

CARF International to purchase and display consumer artwork

August 6, 2010

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Jackie Fliss selected as a finalist for the Arkansas Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award

December 20, 2010

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Independent Living Services PSA

June 4, 2010

Congratulations to Executive Director Jackie Fliss on being selected as a Nonprofit Executive of the Year finalist for the 2010 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards!

When asked to explain her secret to success Fliss says, “I aim to gather intelligent, talented, caring people and give them the tools, directions and timelines they need to do their jobs and, more importantly, do the right thing. Our employees must have compassion for the consumers and their respective families.”

Florentz Estates

“I also believe that maintaining a strong network with other agencies, developing personal networks, staying in touch with officials in state government, and communicating with community members and businesses has proven to be the key to developing innovative solutions for complex issues.”

Since she took over as Executive Director in 2000, Jackie Fliss has guided Independent Living Services through considerable growth. In the past ten years Independent Living Services has grown from a staff of 85 employees to over 375, a caseload of  70 consumers to over 200 and annual revenues of $2.1 million to $6 .3 million.

Greenbrier Apartments

Jackie oversaw the development and construction of Greenbier Apartments and Florentz Estates in 2007. Since its completion, Florentz Estates has become the model for indoor apartment construction for people with intellectual disabilities in Arkansas. Profiles Productions, a recycling facility offering gainful employment to people with intellectual disabilities, was also started during Jackie’s tenure.

Looking over plans for renovations to the Adult Ed building. Director of Profiles Productions Joey Rivers, Rik Sowell, Executive Director Jackie Fliss, and Director of Day Services Kathy Weatherl

Fliss began her career at Easter Seals of Arkansas. Afterward, she worked for seven years as a Certified Public Accountant. During her seven years as a CPA, she explains, “I was never able to forget the feeling of doing something that mattered. So, I returned to Easter Seals of Arkansas.”

After her tenure  at Easter Seals of Arkansas, Fliss worked as the CFO and Director of Children’s Services at Friendship Community Care, winner of the 2009 Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award presented by Arkansas Business.

Fliss is a member of the Conway Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Fliss played a significant role in founding the Sunshine Optimist Club, which is the first Optimist Club composed of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The club is viewed as the pilot for Optimist International on a national and international level.

Jackie has been married to Larry Fliss for 24 years. The two share two sons, Carter and Jackson, ages 22 and 21.

The 2010 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, presented by Centennial Bank and Arkansas Business, will be held February 22 in the Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Log Cabin Democrat

Independent Living Services has purchased the Adult Education Center at 615 E. Robins from Conway Public Schools.

Dr. Greg Murry, school superintendent, said the building was purchased several years ago to also provide a home for the district’s maintenance and food service.

“About 18 months ago, the school district bought the SAS shoe factory to consolidate those services, and once we made that move, we no longer needed the Robins Street building. We were happy to sell to ILS,” Murry said.

As part of the 2012 changes, Sallie Cone Elementary will convert to a Pre-K school, and Adult Ed. will move to the back wing of Sallie Cone.

Adult Ed. will remain at its present location until June 30, 2011.

“We’re not sure where Adult Ed. will be in the intervening time, but we’re looking at a location inside the district’s annex on Lee Street,” Murry said.

The 32,500 square-foot building sold Wednesday for $850,000. After renovations, the total cost is expected to near $1.2 million,” said Jackie Fliss, executive director of Independent Living Services. Financing is provided by Centennial Bank.

Fliss said ILS is now operating at several locations across town in a total of 17,000 square feet.

Board President Cindy Ludford and Executive Director Jackie Fliss

“We are very crowded,” Fliss said.

ILS will renovate the rear of the building for more classrooms and more accessible restrooms.

“We’ll build a commercial grade kitchen so we can prepare our meals instead of having them catered,” Fliss said.

ILS will also have room to park its buses in a locked yard. Currently, they are parked at Conway Apartments, an ILS facility, where the buses sometimes cause accessibility problems for emergency vehicles, Fliss said.

Fliss is entering her 11th year as executive director of ILS.

“One of my goals has been to purchase a building that would bring all our programs together in one place. This certainly fits that need,” she said.

The building will combine Profiles Enrichment Center and Profiles Productions, now located across town from each other.

“We’ll be able to hire more consumers as transportation costs and logistics didn’t allow us to move the workers from the Enrichment Center to Productions and to their homes easily.

“That was a real important part of our wanting a large building,” Fliss said. “They’ll be able to walk a few steps from Profiles and go to work at Productions.

“Because our consumers will have instant access to our case managers, they’ll have better options for services,” Fliss said. “We’re just so excited.”

Independent Living Services was founded in 1970 to provide housing and services for persons with developmental disabilities. It now has more than 375 employees in Central Arkansas and serves 200 consumers.

ILS began as a group home for eight men and was supported by volunteers, including the Junior Auxiliary. It was the first of its kind in the state.

It began with an operating budget of $12,500. Today’s budget is more than $6 million, Fliss said.

Profiles Enrichment Center at Deer and Chestnut streets provides day services for more than 100 adults who receive transportation, lunch and classes in computers, music, art, personal finance, physical, speech and occupational therapy.

Profiles Productions on Jim Lane is an enterprise that employs more than 40 people with disabilities. It has contracts from manufacturers to handle small tasks and last year recycled more than 50 tons of paper.

Following renovation, all these programs will move to the new location.

(Becky Harris can be reached at 505-1234 or by e-mail at becky.harris@thecabin.net)

Are you looking for a way to make an impact on someone’s life this holiday season?  If  you are, then we may have the perfect way for you to achieve that goal.

We serve many individuals with developmental disabilities who either have no family or their family has limited resources and cannot afford to purchase Christmas gifts.

Through contributions to the Consumer Christmas Fund, Independent Living Services is able to provide gifts for those in need.

Past donations have enabled our consumers to receive gifts such as, much needed furniture for their apartments, clothing, household supplies, food, etc.

No matter the size of your donation, your generosity will be greatly appreciated by the individual who receives your gift.

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If you are interested in donating to the Consumer Christmas Fund please contact the Development Office (501.329.8249 x 102 or bobby@indliving.org).

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By Mail

Please make checks payable to “Independent Living Services”

Independent Living Services

P.O. Box 1070

Conway, Arkansas  72033

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