NEW CLIENT

Earlier this month I received an e-mail from the Reading Specialist at the Lake Avenue School in the City of Saratoga Springs School District.  She advised that she had been contacted by her principal and wanted to know of our availability for the coming school year.  My e-mail to her stated that we welcomed the opportunity to work with her.  Look forward to further posts on this "new job" in the fall.

SPREADSHEET SCHEDULING

Recently, one of my fellow Rotarians made a suggestion which I have implemented and found very helpful.  That is, on a monthly basis, I have put Casey's schedule on a speadsheet.  This spreadsheet is passed among the membership at our weekly meeting.  The advantage in drawing up and distributing the spreadsheet a month in advance, is that potential volunteer drivers can consult their schedule and volunteer without the possibility of a conflict.
Right now we are working with Casey's August schedule.  The fact that the summer is a slower period for us, coupled with the "new" spreadsheet system, has allowed us to provide services  with minimal hindrance. 

IMPACT

Tradionally, the second and third quarters are the slowest of the four quarters.  As summer nears, the school districts wind down and have many year end activities that don't include The Therapy Dog, Inc.  In the summer there is no school and our services are not used.  In order to lessen the impact of "no school" I sent letters to the superintendents of the Saratoga Springs City School District and the Ballston Spa Central School District, advising of our availability for summer school.  Unfortunately, Saratoga Springs informed me that they wouldn't be using our services this summer and Ballston Spa never extended the courtesy of a response to my inquiry(even though I followed up with an e-mail to the superintendent).

In my last Post I stated that several volunteers had come forward to transport Casey and I to and from jobs.  This has been immensely helpful.  I have extended an invitation to the volunteer drivers to work with Casey and I.  Several have accepted this invitation.

NEW BEGINNING

Today, 6/8/12, was my initial experience using a volunteer driver to transport Casey and I to and from work.  In my previous post I had mentioned Kim(a friend and neighbor) and stated that she had offered to drive us some of the time.  Despite short notice, she was able to take Casey and I to and from our Friday afternoon job at Maplewood Manor.  At this point, Don(his daughter, Tiffany, attends Saratoga Bridges day program in Clifton Park) has volunteered to transport Casey and I to and from the Clifton Park day ptogram on Monday.  We akready have a volunteer to transport us to and from Maplewood Manor on Friday, 6/15.    God has placed it on the hearts of others to come forward and volunteer.  Look forward to future updates.

VOLUNTEERISM-A NARROW ESCAPE

Recently(5/18/12), I took my car off the road and ceased driving.  My feeling was that I posed a hazard to myself and other drivers.  Initially, it appeared that this decision would have a significant impact on The Therapy Dog, Inc.  Presently, I have Medicaid and Medicare.   However, neither Medicaid nor the county(Saratoga)  will pay to transport Casey.  They will pay to transport a service dog(ie. a dog that aids a visually impaired person).  Casey however, is a therapy dog.  Also, the taxicab company will not transport a non-service dog.
Needless to say , this was a depressing and desperate situation.  I, and several others prayed for a solution and thanks be to God, one has presented itself.  When we were at Saratoga Bridges in Clifton Park two weeks ago, I let it be known that I had a problem .  I was approached by Don, who is the parent of a daughter who attends the Saratoga Bridges day program.  Don offered to take Casey and I to and from the day program.  Last week, Kim, a neighbor down the street, was at my house to cut Chester's(my other dog) nails, and I told her of my dilemma.  She generously offered to help out with transportation.  At last week's Rotary Club meeting I described the situation to my fellow Rotarians and sent them a detailed e-mail that evening.  I've already received two offers of assistance.
It appears that what appeared to be a massive problem, is well on the way to evaporating.

500!

Today Casey received Therapy Dogs International's highest certificate, as well as a pin and blue ribbon emblematic of her documented 500 therapy dog visits.

GOLD and CHUCK COLSON

Any day now we'll be receiving notification from TDI advising that Casey has achieved their highest award, the Therapy Dogs International Gold achievement award, recognizing her having made 500 documented therapy dog visits.

Special thanks to the Scotia Rotary Club.  Their generous donation was received this week!

Charles Colson died last week.  What a truly great man!!
"I'll tell you one of the most wonderful things about being a Christian is that I don't ever get up in the morning and wonder if I'm doing anything today or if what I do matters.  I live everyday to the fullest because I can live it through Christ and I know no matter what I do today, and it may just be in my prayer time, I'm going to do something to advance the Kingdom of God.  Now does that make you fulfilled?  You bet it does!  And it gives you joy about living."
                                                           -Chuck Colson

RESTORED(PARTIALLY)

On Friday, 4/20/12, Casey and I made our usual visit to Maplewood Manor.  A couple of weeks ago, Laura, the Activities Director, composed a photo release form and gave me several copies.  Yesterday, I had residents and employees that I had photograped sign the release, which consents to my publishing their photo in this blog.  The process of inserting the photos in "old" posts and new posts will begin immediately

YAHOO!

Today, 4/7/12, I received notification from the Department of the Treasury, that The Therapy Dog, Inc. had been granted 501c3 status effective 11/9/11!  Donations made from that date forward are tax deductible!

RESTORATION

Today(4/1) was a beginning of sorts.  After my recent conversation with Rebecca(Children's librarian at Burnt Hills-Balston Lake Community Library), I began reinstalling some of my photographs to the blog.  You may be familiar with the 4 photographs(that were previously on the blog).  The photos are in the "2010 Going Full Bore" posting.

RESURRECTION

Things are looking up.  You will note Rebecca's(she's the chidren's libraian at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Community Library) 3/22 comment.  I have also obtained releases that can be used at two of the facilities we service.  Unfortunately, there ts a "no photos" policy at some of the other locations.

A big thank you to the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club for the generous donation they made earlier this month.

Casey recently(3/12) celebrated her13th birthday with a steak.  She'll be retiring, either later this year or some time next year.

Limited photo restoration begins this weekend.

REBOUND

Today, 2/16/02, I began the process of assembling waivers or releases that will allow photographs to be publised on the blog.  Tomorrow, I anticipate distributing some of these documents and discussing with the directors at each facility, whether or not modifications will be needed for that particular facility.  Of course, if any changes are necessary they will be made.  Hopefully, I will be able to re-post most or all of the photos

DONE

As of 8:38 am. today, the only photographs of people remaining on this blog are of me, employees at Maplewood Manor, and deceased former residents of Maplewood Manor.

A GRINDING HALT

At 2:30 today(2/14/12) I received a phonecall from the assistant director at the Saratoga Bridges day treatment facility in Clifton Park.  He advised that he had recently viewed this blog and that it was illegal of me to post photographs of consumers on the blog without their guardian's consent.  I advised him that I was unaware of this and he stated that it was part of the public health law.  At his request I advised that I would take down the photos either later today or tomorrow.
I immediately called Fred Ratto,the Regional Resource Development Specialist at  Southern Adirondack Independent Living.  Unfortunately, Fred could not give me a definitive opinion and didn't have an attorney there that could speak to me.  Fred suggested contacting my service coordinator,  I called him at 3:50, but could only leave a recorded message.
More as this situation developes.
I just had a call(4:20) from my service coordinator and he confirmed what the assistant director had told me.  However, he was going to see if anything could be done in this case.  I will wait until tomorrow morning, hoping the service coordinator comes up with good news(but I really don't think so).

FINALLY!

In November of 2011 I had stated that once the IRS approved my application  for The Therapy Dog,Inc to have 501c3 status, donations would be tax deductible.  The good news is that although it's now 3 months later, on Monday morning, 1/30/12, I submitted the application for 501c3 status.    My attorney advises that unfortunately, the IRS is woefully slow processing these applications and it may be three months before I receive approval.

3/27/12 letter from the IRS granting 501c3 status to The Therapy Dog, Inc. retroactive to 11/09/11

2012-THE NONJUDGMENTAL ONE

2012 Maplewood Manor.  Ellie, Lauren, Zoe, and Dominick with Casey

By now, you've probably figured out that "TheNonjudgmental One" referred to in the title of this post is  none other than Casey.  You may wonder about the origin of that evaluation.  All I can do is assure you of the accuracy of my appraisal.  About the only requirement that Casey has is that the person be alive.  I can tell you what I think and I realize that you may be sceptical.  That was the motivation for providing such a variety of photographs.  I encourage you look at these photographs and make your own determination.

 During the 2011-12 school year, Casey and I were "reunited" with the Division Street Elementary School.  We had a very good relationship with the school librarian and we had worked at the school for several years.  Unfortunately, when the librarian went on maternity leave during the summer of 2011, Casey and I got "lost in the shuffle." Although I contacted the substitute librarian and she promised to get back to me,  when she did I got an unexpected surprise, she advised by e-mail, that they weren't doing the program this year.  I didn't like that decision, but I could do nothing about it, so I accepted it.

 Several months went by during the fall of 2011.  We were available and I heard that the Geyser Road Elementary School would be interested in the therapy dog program.  I called the principal at Division Street to get the name of the principal at Geyser Road and got a very pleasant surprise.  She asked where I had been and when I told her there was no program this year, she said "That's news to me."  Long story short- I received a call within a couple of days and Casey and I are now back at Division Street(2days a week!).  We are working with students in the special education classes and with students in the general curriculum.











 


"Casey's Wall" in the office of The Therapy Dog, Inc,

 




Maplewood Manor 2012. Pat(the receptionist) and Greer(a main office worker) with Casey

Bob, Ricky, Wayne, and Melanie with Casey(Next Step 2012)



 







  

















2011 WRONG FLOOR?

In early 2011 Casey and I were at Wesley Nursing Home.  Our usual assignment there is the 3rd and 4th floors.  We had just finished making our rounds on the 3rd floor and stepped into the elevator.  I pressed the "Up" button for the 4th floor and after the elevator went one floor we got out.  I never looked and assumed that we were on the 4th floor.  Lo and behold!  We were on the 2nd floor!
At the first room we went to, I met a woman patient and asked her if I could pray for her.  She consented and shortly after I started to pray for her she began to weep.  When I finished praying for her, I asked her why she was crying, she told me that no one had ever prayed for her before.