April 2008

March Employee-of-the-Month:  Gail Akins is a nine-month ASCOG employee providing administrative support for both the public safety and environmental services divisions.  She has worked hard organizing the two divisions and answering the phone at the same time.

ASCOG Trustee Dies:  Loyd Tucker, ASCOG trustee and first vice president, died Tuesday, March 18 in Purcell.  Loyd had represented the McClain County Commissioners on the ASCOG board since 2001.  We will miss his counsel, guidance and his great sense of humor.

Sheri Cathey Retires:  Sheri Cathey retired effective March 21 after working at ASCOG for over 21 years.  She worked in several positions spending the last several years as the administrative assistant in the community and economic development division.  She was heavily involved in several key organizational endeavors.  She and her contributions to the organization will be missed.

New Minority Representative on ASCOG Board:  Larry Jefferson, Lawton, is the new trustee representing Comanche County minorities.

Ken Jones Returns from Thailand:  Ken, ASCOG community and economic development planner, returned March 17 after a month in Thailand (on a Rotary vocational and cultural exchange program) where he learned about aging services, workforce development and community and economic development similarities and differences.  He met with governors, mayors and tribal leaders about their methods of dealing with infrastructure, elder care and providing job opportunities.  The insight he gained from the trip provides a broader picture of how Thailand addresses many ASCOG functions.

South Central Oklahoma Residents and Business Recognized:  Marlow Maloney, Chickasha, and Emmitt Dorsey, Lawton, were recognized as 2008 Outstanding Workforce Investment Alumni at a recent ceremony at the Oklahoma Capitol .  Max and Tom Daughtrey, 4-D Corporation in Duncan, were recognized as 2008 Business Leaders.  The annual alumni celebration recognizes individuals and businesses making contributions to the workforce investment system in South Central Oklahoma.

Carol Kuhlman Departs: Carol was most recently a workforce investment case manager in the Chickasha Workforce Center for the past two years.  Prior to that, she was an ombudsman supervisor for five years.  During her time with ASCOG, she assisted numerous area residents in obtaining the skills necessary to obtain employment and ensured that area residents in long-term care facilities were afforded the quality of life they deserved.  Carol and her contributions to the organization will be missed.

Trustees Approve AAA Providers:  At their March meeting,  ASCOG Board of Trustees approved ten providers to deliver AAA services in the ASCOG area for Program Year 2009.  Total cost for senior services that are provided for under the Older Americans Act for 2009 will be approximately 2.5 million dollars.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren:  Spring 2007 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference will be on April 19-21 at the Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church 1020 NE 42^nd, Oklahoma City.  Theme for this year’s conference is “Issues in Multicultural Grand parenting”.  Although the conference is free, advanced registration is very important.  To register by phone, call Judith Mowery at OKDHS Aging Services Division at 405-521-2281.  Childcare will be provided at no cost.

Fort Sill Industrial Park at Elgin:  BAE Systems announced Friday, March 14, that they would be expanding their NLOS Cannon operations at Elgin to include production of the Paladin Howitzer.   

Bob Martin, ASCOG Deputy Director Training, Workforce Development Division—1990 to 2000: Funeral services were held for Bob on March 18, 2008 in Temple.  He was a long-time educator and administrator in the area’s school systems and an advocate for economically disadvantaged adults and youth in the area while a member of ASCOG.  While at ASCOG, Bob earned the reputation of being the nicest man in South Central Oklahoma.

ASCOG Offices Closed:  ASCOG will be closed Friday, April 4 for a training day.  Offices will open for business Monday, April 7.