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Oklahomans attend NACAA Conference in Kansas City

    Community Action staff members from across Oklahoma acquired new advocacy strategies while attending the National Association of Community Action Agencies (NACAA) conference last month in Kansas City.

   They had an opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops on topics such as housing, Head Start, and economic development. Featured speakers included Clarence Carter, Director, Office of Community Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Duane Knapp, nationally known branding expert.

Storyboards win awards

    OKACAA received the Best State Association Storyboard Award at the NACAA Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Southwest Oklahoma Community Action’s storyboard was judged the best from Region VI.

Region VI Head Start Annual Conference Oct. 15-19

    The Myriad Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City will be the site for the 2001 Region VI Head Start Association Annual Conference scheduled for Oct. 15-19. The conference theme is: “Logging On To The Future - Developing Our Nation’s Future Through Technology and Partnerships.”

   Over 125 workshop sessions will be presented. For additional information, log on to: www.reg6hsa.org.

CDSA partners with Autry Technical Center to build house

    Community Development Support Association (CDSA) partnered with Autry Technical Center to build an affordable house in Enid.

    Students in the Construction Sciences program built the three bedroom, two bath, 1,200 square foot handicapped accessible house with materials purchased by CDSA. The house was built at the technical center and then moved onto a lot donated by the City of Enid.

    The carpentry, heating, air and plumbing were all done by students. Electrical work was contracted out.

    The program serves a dual purpose. The practical training the students receive in building the house will make them more valuable employees once they graduate from the program, explained CDSA Housing Coordinator Greg Smith. CDSA gets an energy efficient, affordable house which can be sold to an income qualified individual.

    This is the first house completed under the program. CDSA hopes to continue the partnership and have students build a house each school year.

    CDSA used Community Housing Development Organization proceeds from an earlier project to fund construction of the house.

    The house features insulated windows, hardy board siding, central heat and air, and utility room. It is plumbed for both gas and electric appliances.

    The bath off the master bedroom features a roll-in shower.   

Officials recognized at annual banquet

A group of state and federal officials were recognized for their support of Community Action at the OKACAA Annual awards banquet on Sept. 27.

The State Official of the Year Award was presented to Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chair Denise Bode.

    State Senator Angela Zoe Monson (D-Oklahoma City) and Representative M.C. Leist (D-Morris) were named Legislators of the Year.

    U.S. Representative Brad Carson (D-2nd District) was named Congressional Leader of the Year.

Friends of Community Action Awards went to Brenda Williams, Deputy Director, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and the Fannie Mae Partnership Office which was represented by Rex Smitherman, Lorrie Davis and Ramona Farmer.

Service Awards

The following are receiving service awards:

10 years

    Big Five Community Services: Hettie Ashford, Lisa Conway, Don Duke, Kerry Manning, Bill Meyer, Robert Onley, Frances Speers and Lorrie Wright.

    Community Action of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties: Nancy Adams, Levetta Berry, Vanessa Birmingham, Jerome Blue, Sharon Burnett, Raymond Chafey, Kimberly Cowley, Nathan Crawford, Linda Deloney, Demetri Givens, Nettie Gorden, Myra Harris, Bennie Hinton, Don Jackson, Lanell Johnson, Connie Lacy, Lauren Martin, Helen Mewborn, Olivia Purvey, Yvonne Robinson and Brigitte Zimmermann.

    Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency: Diana Carroll, Joni Gibson, Mary Reed, Bill Shields and Clorett Youngblood.

    Community Action Development Corporation: Marie Bigger, Elsie Bosin, Sharon Givens, Margie Jackson, Teena McCuiston, Robert Meador, Dorothy Moore, Araceli Rodriquez, Walda Woodruff and Patty Wright.

     Community Action Resource & Development: Loretta Dean, Joni Gable and Sharla Teel.

    Community Development Support Association: Mary Brooks, Dianne Juhnke and Linda Shipley.

    Cookson Hills Community Action: Dave Budder, Vickie Cherry, Lisa Colburn, Lorena Padgett, Loleta Poppino, Jean Taylor and Dane Trout.

    Deep Fork Community Action: David Brooks.

    Delta Community Action: Ann Dedmon.

    INCA Community Services: LaToy Eldred, Elaine Hogue, Anna Hopson and Judy Webb.

    KI BOIS Community Action: Barbara Barnes, Donna Benson, Michiko Briggs, Teresa Brown, Glenda Corbin, Ronald Davis, Matthew Gentry, Bobbie Gilreath, Kenneth Moore, Rosalind Newby, Shirley Pittman, Tommy Taylor, Sarah Tucker, Jeannetta Weston and Ann Wilson.

    Little Dixie Community Action: Gary Daniel, William Jewell, Barbara Madison, Patricia Nelson, Linda Ridenour, Shirley Routon and Ronald Walker.

    Northeast Oklahoma Community Action: Kimberly Baldwin and Helen Rabbit.

    Opportunities, Inc: Georgia Forthum, Patti Grubbs, Carol McNeill, Russell Morrison and Diana Roscom.

    Southwest Oklahoma Community Action: Aulston D. Ridley.

    Twin Rivers Head Start: Kristi Shivers and Wendy Stacy.

    United Community Action: Rhonda Bristol, Bud Boss, Rhonda Mizer, Kim Rice, Demetra Robinson and Edna Spears.

    Washita Valley Community Action: Sue Hart and Gayla Robertson.

15 Years

    Big Five Community Services: George Breeden, Geraldine Burns, Paul Cartledge and Tonya Willoughby.

    Community Action of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties: Hildreth Langoc, Gloria Love, Tamara McAlvain, Gwendolyn Murray, Phelix Scott and Pauline Shannon.

    Central Oklahoma Community Action: Bernice Brown, Sheri Cooper, Julie Grabow and Cheryl Jackson.

    Community Action Development Corporation: Marie Bigger, Theresa Dobbs, Ruby Elix, Mary Smith and Lynda Vaughn.

    Community Action Resource & Development: Lowanna Curlee and Bill Sturdivant.

    Cookson Hills Community Action: Zelma Byrd, Brian Drywater, Georgia Ewert, Gail Harris, Terry Hearn, Leslie Diane Musgrove, Rachel Parris, Margaret Sanders and Velma Silcox.

    Delta Community Action: Juanita Young.

    INCA Community Services: Joyce Smith.

    KI BOIS Community Action: Deanne Booth, Debra Restine, Diana Sorrels, Donna Sumpter and Dorothy Young.

    Little Dixie Community Action: Sandra Carper, Barney Harless and Pat Triplett.

    Southwest Oklahoma Community Action: Patricia Goodlow.

    United Community Action: Rebecca Autaubo, Connie Hall and Mary Scott.

    Washita Valley Community Action: Dolores Bowens, Barbara Hines and Peggy Sayers.

20 Years

Big Five Community Services: Lou Von Agers, Mary Eddings, Madonna Edwards and Paul Sparks.                  

    Community Action of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties: Erma Eddington, Margo Gordon, Rose Mandala, Tarleace Robinson, Sondra Tucker and Irene West.

    Community Action Development Corporation: Gwen Geimausaddle, Brent Morey and Janet Palmer.

    Community Action Resource & Development: Ellen Goedecke and Barbara Hankins.

    Cookson Hills Community Action: Della Ennis and Nellie McCutcheon.

    Deep Fork Community Action: Nancy Tuck.

    Delta Community Action: Marilynn Edwards.

    KI BOIS Community Action: John Jones and Lynn Johnson.                                              

    Opportunities, Inc.: Dorothy Standley and Beverly Tomlinson.

    Southwest Oklahoma Community Action: Mary Garcia and Linda Tarpley.

    United Community Action: Reva Ricco.

    Washita Valley Community Action: Juanita Brown, Charlene Filsmyer and Nina Lee.        

25 Years

    Big Five Community Services: Jessie Wright.

    Central Oklahoma Community Action: Melva Stevenson.

    Deep Fork Community Action: Adine Byrd.

    Delta Community Action: Edna Keele, Karen Nichols and Chad Payne.

    Great Plains Improvement Foundation: Jackie Green.

    INCA Community Services: Virginia Pack.

    KI BOIS Community Action: Donna Carolan and Ruby Nelson.

    Little Dixie Community Action: Gail Landreth and Brenda Needham.

    Northeast Oklahoma Community Action: Paula Barnes.

    Twin Rivers Head Start: Laura Burton.

    United Community Action: Ronda Brothers, Norma Sandy Pope and Barbara Scheirman.

    Washita Valley Community Action: Carolyn Burnett.

30 Years

    Community Action of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties: Opal Barrientez, Joycelyn Brown, Carolyn Shaw and Linda Tease.

    Community Action Development Corporation: Tonabel Fuller and Carrie Sheffield.

    Community Action Resource &  Development: Ozella Virgil.

    Cookson Hills Community Action: Lucille Ford.

    Delta Community Action: Jessie Rae Stone.

    Little Dixie Community Action: Weedia Pond.

    United Community Action: Doretha Meeks.  

35 Years

    Community Action Resource & Development: Georgene Zachary.

    Cookson Hills Community Action: Jean McCollum.

    INCA Community Services: Bill Buck.                                     

Northeast Oklahoma Community Action: Beryl Van Dyke.                                     

Washita Valley Community Action: Bonnie Bailey and Mollie Robert.

  Pair get scholarships

    A pair of Certified Community Action Professional Scholarships were presented to Ingrid Gifford from Southwest Oklahoma Community Action and Edward Alexander from Great Plains Improvement Foundation during the OKACAA annual conference awards banquet.

Head Start awards presented at banquet

    Head Start Awards were announced during the OKACAA Annual Awards Banquet last month.

    Butch Miles from Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency received the Parent of the Year award. The Phyllis Jones Scholarship was presented to Cody Wainscott from Twin Rivers Head Start. Trina Reeves from Opportunities, Inc. received the Goodie Wickland Scholarship. The Volunteer of the Year Award went to JoLynne Shields from Little Dixie Community Action.

    Brenda Summers from Big Five Community Services received the staff education scholarship. The Support Staff of the Year award goes to Shelly Eller from Opportunities, Inc. Central Oklahoma Community Action’s Velma Taylor was named Teacher of the Year.