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Berkshire County Arc President Kenneth Singer is honored Friday for his 35 years by state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Gailanne Cariddi.
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Citizen Advocate of the Year Amy Robandt, right, and her close friend Marilyn England.
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Employee of the Year Jose Taveras.
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Berkshire County Arc Celebrates Accomplishments

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc is as much family as support agency.

That was the message on Friday morning as some 200 staff and clients filled the Itam Lodge for the nonprofit organization's 61st annual meeting.

"When it started it was just a job, now it's become a passion ...  I've learned so much from every individual I've worked with, from every staff member, every supervisor and I can't imagine doing anything else for a living," said Barbara Tanski, BC Arc's brain injury site manager for 11 years and this year's recipient of the Carol Craighead Mission Award.

Craighead, who died in 2010, had been involved with BC Arc for more than 40 years, first working in the preschool and later serving on its board of directors for 15 years.

She exemplified BC Arc's mission to assist and support individuals in their quest to identify and realize their their chosen lifestyles. Today, it provides services to more than 600 county residents ranging from advocacy to employment to residential programs.

On Friday, the organization presented awards and plaques to partners and staff who have continued its mission and to the clients whose lives have been made better through it.  

"I feel very much that this isn't a job, this isn't an agency," said Marc Bourassa on being recognized as the Outstanding Residential Services Employee. "This is a culture ... a culture of acceptance, a culture of understanding.

"This is a very, very firm base to work with our individuals ... to leave our mark on the world and not the world leave its mark on us."

For Citizen Advocate of the Year Amy Robandt, it's meant a close friendship with Marilyn England, for whom she became and advocate six years ago, a situation that has continued as she has been promoted to director of family services.


Judy Brunelle, recipient of the Citizenship Award, has found a purpose in making cookies every week and delivering them to local fire departments and biscuits for the dogs at Berkshire Humane Society.

Both Kathy Luscier and Margaret Hendricks were honored with Joan Grant Self-Advocate Awards: Luscier for her involvment at the local and regional level for advocating for herself and others and Hendricks for her more laserlike focus on lobbying for a new large refrigerator for her residential home.

The agency also recognized a number of employees for acheiving years of service, with the longest serving being its President and CEO Kenneth Singer, marking his 35th year with Berkshire County Arc.

Singer joined the agency in 1980 as a program coordinator and was named president in 1994.

Board Chairman Joseph Woitkoski said he'd been on the search committee that had selected Singer, who has since grown the agency both in program offerings and in reputation and quality.

"I can probably say today we chose the right man to lead Berkshire County Arc," he said. "One of his most admirable qualities is to surround himself with qualified staff. ... Ken's achievement over the past 21 years as CEO are absolutely second to none."

State Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, and Gailanne Cariddi, D-Pittsfield, brought resolutions from the city of Pittsfield and the House of Representatives; Mayor Richard Alcombright also read a resolution from his city, thanking Singer for his years working not only with Arc but with other regional and state associations.

"I am as motivated and happy as I was 35 years ago every day when I come to Berkshire County Arc," Singer said. "I love the people we serve and I love our staff ... you guys do a great job and I'm very, very fortunate to have a job like that."

  • Berkshire County Arc Awards
  • Board Award: Michael Ferry, treasurer
  • Employer Special Recognition Award: Marshall's, represented by store manager Joshua Hearne
  • Business Partnership Award: Miss Hall's School, represented by RebeccaTatro
  • Citizen Advocate of the Year: Amy Robandt, with her friend Marilyn England
  • Achievement Awards: Peter Britain, Ryan Phillips, Jay Katz, Leslie Scarlet and Lindsay Blagg
  • Joan Grant Self-Advocate Awards: Kathy Luscier and Margaret Hendricks
  • Carol Craighead Mission Award:  Barbara Tanski
  • Outstanding Vocational Services Employee: Regan Tyler
  • Outstanding Brain Injury Services Employee: Queen Caeser
  • Outstanding Advocacy & Family Support Employee: Hannah Bushway
  • Outstanding Administrative Employee: Bev Tobin
  • Outstanding Residential Services Employee: Marc Bourassa
  • Employee of the Year: Jose Taveras

Service Anniversary Awards (not all recipients were in attendance)

  • 10 Years: Luann Dombrowski, Tami Ellsworth, Cliff Love, Michael Provencher, Goundo Behanzin, Mark Benovellis, Robert Bixler, Michelle Burmer, Christine Castle, Caiety-Ann Curran, Heather Drake, Nell Ketchum, Douglas Miller, Tiffany Scully, Leon Siklossy and Tracy Winters.
  • 15 Years: Mario Malossini, Norman Sanderson and Patricia Hickey.
  • 20 Years: Larry Belanger and Karen Drosehn.
  • 25 Years: Dennis Radford and Michelle Drake
  • 30 Years: Rhodora Higgins
  • 35 Years: Kenneth W. Singer.


 


Tags: annual meeting,   bcarc,   breakfast,   

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BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $2,326 grant, funded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for the purchase of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) device. 
 
The grant specifically covers a device for use inside one of BCC's security vehicles for easy access when traversing the campus.  
 
In total, the Commonwealth awarded more than $165,000 in grant funding to 58 municipalities,
13 public colleges and universities, and nine nonprofits to purchase AEDs for emergency response vehicles. The program is designed to increase access to lifesaving equipment during medical emergencies, when every second matters.  
 
An AED is a medical device used to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. An AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.  
 
"Immediate access to AEDs is vital to someone facing a medical crisis. By expanding availability statewide, we're equipping first responders with the necessary tools to provide lifesaving emergency care for patients," said Governor Maura Healey. "This essential equipment will enhance the medical response for cardiac patients across Massachusetts and improve outcomes during an emergency event."  
 
The funds were awarded through a competitive application process conducted by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).  
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