Rutland Dismas House

Rutland Dismas House 103 Park Avenue Rutland, Vermont (802) 775-5539

News
Spring 2014

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Marlene Burke, President Aaron Ashton, Vice Pres. Susan Stager, Secretary Lynda Greenough, Treasurer Marsha Fonteyn KC Gandee Will Hunter Frank McCaffrey Shawn McMore Kathy Ross Tom Sonneborn John Stager AUCTION COMMITTEE Joe & Carol Barbagallo Diane Carmolli Marianne Stephan Molly Burke Megan Morse, Intern Dismas Staff
SPONSORSHIP MEMBERS Honorary Chair Mayor Christopher Louras Debra & David Baasch Carol & Joe Barbagallo Fred & Christine Bay Terese & Rob Black Geraldine & Bill Burke Marlene Burke Ed & Karen Gartner Martha & Ted Izzi Lillian Jackson Rita W. McCaffrey Valerie Page Sandi Reiber Marcy Tanger Pat Teter Michael & Phyllis Wells Brett Wright Bob & Vicky Young

DISMAS SPEAKER: CHRIS HERREN

Chris Herren, a basketball legend from Fall River, Massachusetts, realized his dreams by playing for the Celtics in the NBA, only to lose it all to addiction before rising again with a new dream. Herrens basketball dreams began as a 62 guard at Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts. A member of the Durfee High School team chronicled in Bill Reynolds book, Fall River Dreams, Herren excelled on the basketball court becoming one of the top Division 1 prospects in the country. His high school highlights include 2,073 career points, Gatorade New England Player of the Year 1993-1994, Boston Globe Massachusetts Player of the Year 1992-1994 and a member of the 1994 McDonalds All American team. Attending Boston College his freshman year, he later transferred to California State University, Fresno to play for legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian. At Fresno State he was named to the All-WAC first team 1996 and 1997 and held school records in both assists and steals. Herrens basketball success concealed a darker side, and his dream soon became a nightmare of addictionfirst alcohol, then cocaine, finally heroin. A chaotic and often uncertain college career plagued by drugs and rehab led to the NBA. In 1999 he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA Draft as the 33rd pick overall. After a year with the Nuggets, Chris was traded to the Boston Celtics where he suffered a season ending injury. Trying to work his way back to the NBA, Herren played overseas until 2003 when he came back to the States. His alcohol and drug use escalated until he was found unconscious with a heroin needle hanging from his arm in the drivers seat of his car. After extensive rehabilitation stays, Chris has been drug-free since June 4, 2008, and alcohol-free since August 1, 2008. Herren has refocused his life and dreams to put his sobriety and family above all else. In June of 2009, Chris launched a basketball player development company, Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren, Inc. Since the summer of 2009 Chris has trained over 200 basketball players including some of the top basketball prospects in New England. Off the court he continues to share his story with audiences in the hopes of reaching just one person and making a difference in their life. Herrens memoir, Basketball Junkie, written with Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds was released in May of 2011 chronicling his struggles with addiction and his journey on and off the basketball court. Chris is also the subject of an ESPN films documentary, Unguarded, directed by Jonathan Hock. The documentary narrated by Chris in his own words and those closest to him, follows Chris as he realizes his dream to play in the NBA for the Boston Celtics only to lose it all to addiction before rising again with a new dream. Chris resides in Portsmouth, RI with his wife and three children. For more information on Chris Herren, Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren or The Herren Project, please visit www.ahoopdream.com or www.theherrenproject.org
SAVE THE DATE!! June 1, 2014 24th Annual Dismas Dinner & Auction Holiday Inn

DISMAS STAFF Terese Black Valerie Page Geraldine Burke

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Rutland Dismas House

News

HONORING KEITH TALLON: FATHER JACK HICKEY, OP AWARD

After six years of working in Corrections, Keith Tallon had, in his own words, a transforming experience that taught [him] to deal with offenders in a different way. He was the Casework Supervisor at the Southeast State Farm Correctional Facility in Windsor when he decided to take the Thresholds/Decisions training, taught by Rita and Frank McCaffrey. That program had a tremendous impact on Keith, and he realized that teaching offenders to make decisions was an effective tool to use to balance the cynical view they often held of themselves. Keith, feeling that a positive environment existed to influence offender behavior, brought the Thresholds program into the facility. When he became the Superintendent at Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland in 1993, he again utilized the Thresholds program there, believing that those struggling with incarceration, who often see themselves as failures, could learn to make changes in their thinking and behavior that would affect their actions and decisions. It wasnt always like that. In 1978, Keith was on the list to become a corrections counselor, but was hired instead as an officer, and so began his Department of Corrections (DOC) career in St. Albans, the prison with the highest level of security in the state at the time. Working in that environment, Keith noticed a cynical focus that pervaded the job, affecting the inmates. Three years ago, Keith was working as DOCs Director of Field Services, when he stepped in as District Manager at the Rutland Probation and Parole office, following the sudden death of Mike OMalley. Today, as District Manager of that office, he is an important and engaged partner with Rutland Dismas House, encouraging collaboration of DOC stakeholders to improve the likelihood of success for those reentering the community from prison. Keith describes his job as a balance of internal compassion versus accountability for those under DOC supervision. He works to be a positive role model for his staff in how to treat offenders. Despite having knowledge of the offenses committed, Keith chooses to focus on what a person can become, not what they have done. Keith, whose compassion drives him to understand the circumstances, obstacles and stigmas offenders face, and the importance of DOC collaboration with the community, is the catalyst working directly with the community partners in the interest of those individuals transitioning under DOC supervision. When asked about his personal philosophy, Keith chose to focus on his view of the work of Dismas, and referred to Jesus words in Chapter 25 of the book of Matthew: When the righteous asked the King, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? The King answered and said to them Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.

RSVP VOLUNTEERS: MARY ONEIL SPIRIT OF DISMAS AWARD RECIPIENTS

What do you do when you get 10-15 Mary O Types around one table at one time? You sure get a lot of work done and listen to a lot of chatter and laughter!! Four times a year the members of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Project) come to Dismas, sit around our large dining room table, over flow into our living room, and help us get our mailings of 4000+ pieces stuffed, sealed, stamped, and ready for delivery. We get to listen to them catching up on each others lives since the last mailing they helped with throughout Rutland and chat about the next one coming up. It may be getting Easter Eggs filled for the childrens hunt, city taxes, Rutland Town School notices, or one of many other large mailings that need to be sent out in Rutland. For Dismas, its our newsletters, Dinner Auction invitations, and Annual Appeals. One thing for sure we have learned feed them well, and they will come back! So Geraldine, our Assistant Director oversees the 10:00 coffee break and 12:00 noon lunch while Valerie prepares all the details of the mailing lists, and Terese keeps the table full of envelopes and stuffings so their hands dont get too idle. Oh, and we cannot forget Terry Stevens he gets the table ready, the dishes out, and washes and washes and washes more dishes. He loves these days! It is a team effort and we could not do it without the RSVP volunteers!

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HANNAFORDS GROCERY STORE: LOVING SPOONFUL AWARD RECIPIENTS

For over 10 years now someone on staff has been going to work at 7:30 a.m. on Fridays in order to load up the Dismas van with boxes, bins and crates and head, with Terry Stevens, our faithful volunteer, to the Hannaford Grocery Store on Route 7 South in Rutland. Once there we walk in to collect from them anywhere from 3 -5 grocery carts of food they loaded up as they needed to take it off their shelves but knew it was still very good (and delicious) food that someone could use. Dismas is grateful for being one of those someones. We know that on other days other organizations also receive these donations. Now obviously, 11 residents and staff cannot eat 3-5 grocery carts of bread, cakes, chickens, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, etc. etc. so staff and Terry set out the boxes and bins and begin the sorting process: all extra bread goes for BROC, this for Grace House, that for Turning Point, this for Rutland Mental Health apartments, that for the Dismas residents in the Satellite Apartment, and, selfishly, the best goes to Dismas we are doing the work, anyway! Oh, and often a big tray of cookies or cupcakes for Terrys community at the Bardwell House gets set aside. For which, by the way, on February 19th Dismas received an award from the Bardwell Community due to our generosity which really comes from Hannafords! We just do the delivering! What goes around comes around! We love to network! So the goodness gets spread and many, many hungry people are fed. That is why we cant but not grant our Loving Spoonful Award to Jason Buxton and the Hannaford employees for their thoughtfulness and generosity towards Dismas. They havent been able to come for dinner itself, but their food sure fills in for a dinner when we dont have a cook or on weekends plus for breakfasts and lunches. Thank you and congratulations to the Hannaford Grocery store of Rutland. Jason Buxton, second from left, and some of his faithful employees and all your wonderful employees!

DISMAS IS GIVING BACK!

There is a lot happening for us at Dismas and we are excited! One effort we are putting out there is to give back to the community by getting involved in more activities, fundraisers, and volunteering opportunities. Five of us ran in the Gobble Wobble 5K run the Rutland High School sponsored to raise money for the Community Cupboard last fall. Then five of us helped one night to package food at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church when they were working towards a 20,000 meals goal. Most recently seven of us made up two bowling teams for the Mentor Connector Bowling event to raise money to support their organization. The residents are realizing how much fun these activities are and how good it feels to give back when so many people in the Rutland area and beyond generously give to us. If you know of any more opportunities where people or organizations could use some muscle power or energetic, fun people, please call us at Dismas (775-5539) and let us know!

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DISMAS ROCs!! - THANKS TO THE BOWSE HEALTH TRUST

The long awaited news came December 3, 2013. It is with great pleasure that the James T. Bowse Health Trust announces that it will fund the Dismas Residential Outreach Coordinator program for $29,400 for Year 1. Whew. Now we could breathe a bit easier. However, there was and is still a lot of work ahead for us. This Residential Outreach Coordinator (ROC) position is allowing Dismas House to professionalize residential support and outreach during hours that administrative staff are not present, from 9:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m. weekday nights and throughout weekends. The ROC will assure residents compliance to critical house rules prohibiting drug or alcohol use, vioJosh Ferguson, center, gets to deal with the goofiness lent behavior, and sexual activity as well as releand the seriousness of the Dismas Residents vant Department of Corrections expectations such as violating curfew or physical boundary limitations. The ROC will also work with community resources and supports to significantly enhance prisoner residents involvement in healthy activities such as sober hiking, biking, fishing, snowshoeing, and encourage residents to take advantage of opportunities to work out at The Gymnasium and the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center as well as go bowling and other community building activities. Joshua Ferguson has accepted the position as the first ROC to get us started. He is a good listener with the residents as well as offers suggestions for them to help them move beyond their day to day struggles. He has encouraged and joined in on various giving back opportunities as well. I have asked Joshua to write a brief reflection on his first 1 months with the Dismas Community.

JOSHUAS THOUGHTS ON THE DISMAS ROC POSITION

Restoration and reconciliation are yet to be the common most motifs with which society measures the practice of law and justice. Nevertheless, upcoming leaders and collaborative organizations, such as Rutland Dismas, serve the greater community with the guiding principle of reconciliation; restoring a sense of vitality and concern for certain citizens who, by archaic canon, have been (re-)defined as: criminals, convicts, offenders, etc. Restoration is an essential element to community health, healing and progress -- whether on an individual, personal level or the broader level of social justice and public health. Community is a feeling of we, a larger sense of family and connection to those living around us. So, when we emerge with a sphere of concern for the health, the well-being and the betterment of every member of our greater community, we then foster a haven of service, compassion and collaboration. Helping to forge new pathways of community health, the Bowse Health Trust has awarded Rutland Dismas this grant to support added outreach, health/fitness and oversight. During the first month of serving as the ROC (January, 2014), I have seen a growing interest among Dismas Residents to embrace new opportunities for active engagement in health and fitness - which the Bowse Health Trust along with dedicated supporters of Dismas have made possible. Along with the outside activities, residents have joined with the ROC to begin re-designing and re-vitalizing a Dismas Fitness Space in the basement of the office/barn at Dismas. Ultimately, the theme of the new fitness space will be bright, clear-blue skies and sunshine. White-clouds will also be seen floating on the walls, including empowering quotes selected by the residents and friends of Dismas. Walking into the space will be walking in on a summer day. Profound gratitude is extended to the Bowse Health Trust, dedicated supporters and those who believe in the mission of Dismas. On behalf of the residents benefiting from Dismas - those of the past, and those of the future: WE thank you for believing in RESTORATION. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ANNUAL APPEAL RAFFLE WINNERS!!! 1st Prize - Romantic Get-Away at the Antique Mansion B&B: Jennifer Wagner 2nd Prize - $50 Gift certificate to Roots The Restaurant: Barbara & Howard Hanson 3rd Prize - One Dozen Red Roses Arranged: Barry Cohen

A special Thanks to The Antique Mansion B&B, Roots The Restaurant, and Hawleys Florist for their generous gift donations.