|
 Operation
ABLE of Michigan, an affiliated company of
Spectrum
Human Services Inc., is searching for southeast Michigan’s top
older workers to honor at its annual “Ability is Ageless” Award
Luncheon.
The luncheon, a
memorable and heartwarming event, will be held on May 4 from noon
to 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
This year’s luncheon is also a celebration of the 25th Anniversary
of Operation ABLE, the area’s leading provider of job training and
employment transition assistance for mid-career and older workers.
“We are looking for outstanding older workers, ages 50 and older,
who make everyone’s day better through their hard work and
dedication,” said Mary McDougall, executive director of
Operation ABLE. “We encourage employers to give these
dynamic staff members a chance to receive some well-deserved
recognition.”
Each year approximately 100 mature workers are honored and 500
guests attend the award luncheon, an indication of the value of the
celebration.
THE AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
The easiest way to nominate an employee is to
download the Nomination Form from ABLE's web site at
www.OperationABLE.org and return it by e-mail as an
attachment.
The form can also be requested by calling ABLE at
1-800-922-HIRE.
Every employee who is nominated will receive a
Certificate of Outstanding Service at the luncheon.
A summary of his/her accomplishments will appear in the
program booklet and a photo will be included in the
slide show that is a memorable feature of the event.
A panel of human resource and workforce development
professionals will select nine nominees to receive Most
ABLE Awards, which are presented at the podium by
luncheon emcee Carman Harlan, WDIV Local 4 senior
anchor.
The judges use, in part, these criteria in selecting
nominees for the Most ABLE awards:
-
exemplifies a
positive work ethic
-
contributes in a
special way to the goals of the employer
-
makes a special
contribution to the well being of others through work and/or in
the community
-
developed a
specialized skill or works in a difficult situation
-
acts as a
positive role model for other employees
-
overcame
difficulties to achieve present success
If you
would like your honoree to be considered for one of the
Most ABLE Awards, be sure to include on the Nomination
Form as much information as you can that will show the
judges why he or she is so outstanding.
To be eligible, a nominee must live or work in Michigan,
be 50 years of age or older or have 25 years of service
with a company, and be currently employed. (Sorry,
retirees are not eligible for the award.) There is no
limit to the number of employees a business or
organization can nominate.
To be considered for a Most ABLE Award, the
nomination form must be returned by April 26.
Early sponsors for the luncheon are
AARP Michigan,
CVS
Pharmacy and
Spectrum Human Services, Inc. For information
on how your company/organization can be a sponsor,
download details or contact Mary McDougall at
313.202.1150.
Reservations for the award luncheon are $65 per person.
Download the reservation form and order your tickets
now!
|
 |
Join
Spectrum Human
Services at
the 19th Annual Golf Classic on Friday June
10, Boulder Pointe Golf Club in Oxford.
For ticket or sponsorship information, call
(734) 458-8736 |
Operation
ABLE is pleased to announce that it has recently been funded by
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) to open a Center
for Working Families at the Hannan House in Detroit.
One of 7 grantees in southeast Michigan, these centers bundle
workforce development (assessment, training and placement) with
financial coaching and assisting clients in tapping benefits for
which they are eligible. This model has shown success in other
cities in helping families reach their goals for long-term financial
stability.
Operation ABLE’s target neighborhood is the Woodward Corridor and
North end of Detroit. United Way for Southeast Michigan is a
partner on the initiative in metro Detroit. Operation ABLE is
pleased to be a part of this effort to improve the lives of families
in the area. The program began on March 1, 2011
Throughout Michigan there is rightfully a concern about
retaining the talent of our young people in order to
help our economy grow. But equally important to our
future is full utilization of our experienced
workforce.
Through an informal gathering of organizations (AARP
Michigan,
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce,
The
Luella Hannan Foundation,
TechTown,
Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan and
Operation ABLE of Michigan) committed to finding
opportunities for mature adults, a new initiative has
developed:
Boom the New Economy.
These organizations have recognized that mature workers
are the fastest growing segment of the workforce. As a
community, a region and a nation, our reinvention will,
to a great extent, rely on how the talents of the 50
plus workers are utilized. There are many ways for
tapping this talent: employment, community service,
mentoring within and outside their place of employment
and providing a climate for boomers and beyond to start
new business ventures.
At
Operation ABLE, a Boom the New Economy program called
Encore Plus is in the pilot stage.
Its goal is to help mature adults in transition
consider their options, choose appropriate paths, and
develop plans for moving forward. Other
organizations, like TechTown, are also introducing
programs for this target group. The term Encore was
coined by Marc Freedman, the founder and CEO of Civic
Ventures, in his book “Encore Finding Work That Matters
in the Second Half of Life”.
What all of us realize is that a vibrant multi-age
workforce is what our economy needs: young, middle aged
and older workers coming together as a team to
capitalize on our diversity of skills and experience and
our dreams and goals for the future. Together we
will all help to Boom the New Economy. |
