President and CEO Maryann Hyatt says the agency carries on thanks to state leadership and a community that values its work.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Applause roared through the Country Club of Pittsfield on Thursday as Berkshire County Arc celebrated individuals and staff members who make up the organization.
"You may have noticed all the headlines this year about federal cuts and social services for agencies like ours. It can be distracting and devastating, but we carry on," President and CEO Maryann Hyatt said.
"Fortunately, we live in a great state where leadership understands the value of our work with the most vulnerable population, and we live in a great community where there is such collaboration."
Last year, BCArc celebrated 70 years of enriching the lives of those with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and autism. In the last fiscal year, it supported 196 individuals through live-in programs, 260 individuals through day programs, and 105 families through the Adult Family Care Program.
Board Chair Michael Ferry pointed out that lives depend on the decisions, systems, protocols, and training provided to the 850 staff members, as well as the quality of the facilities and the programming that enables participants to live their lives.
"This kind of human service work comes with a lot of accountability. First and foremost, we are accountable to the people we support and their families, but we are also accountable to many organizations on numerous levels," he said.
"Also, we audit ourselves. Berkshire County Arc teams look at all facets, including our houses, our record keeping, the administration of medicines, and on and on. We are consistently and continuously assessing risk to ensure the health and safety of our individuals served."
He added that there are no shortcuts at Berkshire County Arc: "Lives are on the line."
"Today, we celebrate the successes in the ability to enrich lives," Ferry said.
"You will see that people thrive here. They find friendship, they have work success, they have social success, and they feel proud to be part of the family."
Guest poet Tina Buffi read a piece that details her move into an apartment. Buffi was commended for the leap of independence, which also included a career change, and the self-advocacy she exhibited during the process.
Buffi explained she appreciates the new freedom, "but I know it needs more responsibility," and feels lucky to have her job.
"I realize friends are not free. Friendship is a responsibility. I appreciate my mom, which she couldn’t attend tonight. I hope she can be healthy for many years. She is the best. I appreciate everyone who cares about me and everyone who thinks about me. Everyone who worries about me, I am OK, but thank you for caring," she read.
"I appreciate and understand my responsibility to care for others, to think about others, and to do things for others. I know for sure that it is a two-way street; when one side of the street closes, the other side gets jammed up too. Life is hard, but I also know how great it can be, and I appreciate what I have right now. I appreciate being asked to do this, but I'm happy now that it is over."
State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, a former BCArc employee, pointed out that the organization focuses on the people it serves having full lives.
"And that means living in dignity. That means working with dignity. That means being able to have a complete life, not just home to work, work to home, and work that has meaning to it," she said.
"And when we talk about work, I really want to emphasize this: Berkshire County Arc focuses on its workers and supports the workers every step of the way and as much as possible."
Longtime employees were recognized as part of the ceremony, with tenures as long as 40 years. Farley-Bouvier said "The retention level of this organization, other organizations do not have this, I promise you."
"I’d like you to look around this room. Look at the people at your table. Look at the people at the table next to you, look at the people at the other side of the room, because this, people is what community looks like right here in this room," she said.
The Employer of the Year Award was given to Blue Q and the Innovative Business Partner of the Year to The Notch Insurance Partners. Shiwen "Wendy" Kanel received the Employee of the Year Award.
Individual Awards
Work Achievement Award: Gus Gundlach
Work Achievement Award: Bruce Stiles
Personal Achievement Award: Jill Reed
Personal Achievement Award: Cesar Martinez
Community Achievement Award: Katherine Butler
Community Achievement Award: RosemarieTessier
Staff Awards
Nicole Negri for this year's Carol Craighead Mission Award
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