New Danville - New Danville

Learn – July 2022

Martha Haag— Learning by Immersion

“I’ve lived, learned, worked and grown at New Danville for 15 years,” said Martha Haag, echoing the nonprofit’s tag line. She is a longtime volunteer at New Danville and at Jazzy Junque, the upscale home décor resale store in Conroe that benefits New Danville. “I jumped in head first and my life changed because of it.”

Martha’s roles have included working with the animal therapy program, serving on the board, volunteering at Jazzy Junque and helping with various fundraising events and other activities. “I had never worked with special needs adults before,” Martha said, “but I had worked with kids with special needs. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was immediately smitten. The Wranglers are so sharp and anxious to learn. Sometimes they need an extra pair of hands or an extra set of eyes to help them achieve, but they love learning new things. My friends ask if it requires a lot of patience. No, it doesn’t. It just takes a bit more time.”

Her volunteer experience at New Danville began with the miniature horses. “It is the only thing that I kind of knew something about,” she said. “I don’t sew, paint or cook, so helping with the animals was where I felt I could best fit in. I learned a lot about them and worked alongside John Massey, who became a lifelong friend.”

Spending time creates connections and understanding. She has seen those results in her time at Jazzy Junque. Martha returned to the store as soon as it was possible after the COVID lockdowns. Wednesdays are her days and she proudly proclaims, “We’re an incredible crew! We have a lot of fun and I get a lot of joy out of it. It feels good to be appreciated.” She began with Jazzy Junque before it was the store operation that it is now; then, it was called Jazzy Junque Market. She has learned much about people and friendships during her time there.

“By volunteering, I learned a lot about people and life. It has been nothing but a joy,” she added.

Work – July 2022

Weeds and Grass Grow All Year…Who Ya Gonna Call?

When “the crew” is not assembling pallets, many of them are helping take care of the many tasks required to maintain the 42 acres of New Danville’s campus. Armed with string trimmers, blowers, and various tools, the team, led by staff member Anthony Juneau (AJ), tackles grass and weeds, particularly near the residences and other buildings.

“Adrian does a great job with the big mowing projects on the zero-turn mower,” AJ said, “but there are a lot of things that the crew can do to help out. It is good for New Danville and good for the crew members.”

All the members agree that the additional wages are much appreciated; they all agree that good work is a good thing, too. Crew members shared that they have fun while working and the paychecks are nice; using the blower seems to be the most fun assignment. Justin reminds us that “Paying attention to your job is the most important thing.”

“We avoid the worst of the heat, but we are still able to get a lot done,” AJ said. The crew members all agree that the work is fun; in fact, there is only one thing they don’t like about the job. When questioned what that might be, all replied in unison, “The heat!”

AJ said, “This is a great crew. They work hard – whether assembling pallets or trimming the grounds or blowing the sidewalk – and they have a great attitude. I enjoy the time with them. We work together, laugh together and grow together.”

Grow – July 2022

Help With Growing Pains

For the second time, Steve and Lynne Charbonneau, and Charbonneau Industries, have come to the rescue when space became an issue for New Danville. Growth born through success is a good thing, but it presents challenges to square footage.

A modular building will soon arrive at New Danville, thanks to Charbonneau’s generosity. For the first time in its history, New Danville has a waiting list for Wrangler 2s, those clients who need extra attention and assistance because of their challenges. Wrangler 2s stay together as a group during the day; the donated building will serve as the second classroom for them. Bryan Gill, program manager, has a daughter in that program. “It makes such a tremendous difference for them (Wrangler 2s) to have a place they call their own and that they can come to every day. That consistency brings familiarity and a comfort factor that are very important to them. We have five on the waiting list who will be very happy when the building is on site and ready to be used,” he said.

In November 2021, the Charbonneau Family Building was dedicated. The new building was constructed thanks to the generosity of Steve and Lynne. It serves the pallet-making team that is part of Charbonneau Industries’ “Pallets to Partners” program. More than 5,000 pallets have been assembled by Wranglers through this program. The company uses and sells the pallets. (For more information about purchasing pallets, contact the company.)

A Wrangler’s Tale – July 2022

Where There is Hope, There is Happiness

“Yes, I’m usually happy,” Hope concurred to the assertion that she seems to be so most of the time. “It isn’t hard though. I like people. I think I am easy to get along with. There is no secret…just smile at people.”

Hope started with New Danville’s day program in 2015. “I think my mom and dad learned about New Danville online. I remember my first day; I was excited and happy. The horses were fun.” Though mobility challenges prevent Hope from going out to the pasture any more, she chooses to stay very busy with the multitude of classes that are available. Her all-time favorite class is scrapbooking, followed by sewing and knitting. “I guess I am crafty,” Hope said with a twinkle in her eye.

The commonality of her preferred activities is the chance to create something. One of her paintings was purchased by Troy Ball, the keynote speaker at the 2022 Spring Thing event that benefitted New Danville. She loves to sew and knit, but nothing “has it all” like scrapbooking. She enjoys designing scrapbooks and then writing in them. She makes cards at home, too, when not making artsy things at New Danville.

Hope cited several things she likes about New Danville, but what makes the biggest impression are the people. Hope is a people person and “Everyone here is nice. I like it,” she said.

“I wished other people understood my vision (limitations),” she said. She sees better the things that are close up and sometimes people don’t take that into account. But, she keeps smiling and enjoying each day. Where there is Hope, there is happiness…no matter what.

Guest Voices – July 2022

He called out to me from across the campus, me in my office in the classroom building and he in the pasture by the barn. His unmistakable donkey voice let me know that he had something to share, so I traipsed past the flagpoles to where he waited at the white-railed fence. His braying stopped as I got closer as if to say, “Glad you heard me. Thanks for coming over. There’s something I want to talk about.” ~Editor

“You’re the fundraising guy, right?” he asked politely.

“Yes,” I said. I love it when people, and now animals, bring me cool ideas that require funding because it all, ultimately, helps our Wranglers. No matter how the money is spent, it ends up making better experiences for the Wranglers. “Do you have something in mind?”

“Absolutely,” he replied after lapping up some water from the bucket by the fence. “You know we love the Wranglers, and I know I am speaking for all the animals here. I know because we talk about such things when the people aren’t looking. I know they love us, too. They talk to us, brush us — that is my personal favorite part of when they visit – walk around with us and feed us. They’re good company.”

“I agree with everything you said. Where are you going with this,” I asked as a couple more donkeys came over to join the conversation. Their heads bobbed a bit as they walked over, affirming what they overheard. Donkeys are famous for their eavesdropping abilities.

“Not to sound braggadocios, but all of us critters here play important roles for the Wranglers. We overhead some of the people talking the other day…”

“Y’all sure eavesdrop well with those ears,” I interjected.

He smiled as if he were eating cactus. I laughed as he nodded his head again.

“Yes, we do.” His buddies brayed a chuckle in the background. “Anyway, we heard there was an interest in adding a miniature cow, and maybe more chickens, as well as adding new coops and possibly a couple of small satellite barns. The cow would need one, the goats need one and the pastures need some fencing.” He paused to nibble on some hay placed by the Wranglers. “We like the idea. We approve. Let us know how we can help. We’ll smile for photos, mosey over to donors who are on site for tours…whatever you need from us,” he concluded before turning to head back to the grasses with his buddies in tow.

I waved; they flicked their tails. Meeting adjourned. I returned to my office, anxious to share this story.

Contact Dion McInnis at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org if you’d like to help with the additions, or donate here and specify that your gift is for the animal therapy program. Our goal for the changes described above is $20,000. We appreciate your help!

Development Corner – July 2022

Tell Others Why You Believe in New Danville

In the last couple of years, New Danville has benefitted from a few unexpected significant contributions that came as very pleasant surprises. During COVID, a couple made two contributions within a few months totaling $50,000. There is no way to convey the importance of the scale and the timing of those contributions. The generosity of another couple made a record setting possible. We were fortunate to be able to host our Spring Thing (formerly known as Tea on the Lawn) in April. It was our most successful, profitable event ever.

Strategic, planned fundraising is sometimes trumped by movement of philanthropic hearts that understand and appreciate the mission of a nonprofit’s cause. Sometimes that movement comes from the donor’s own discovery process and sometimes it comes from another donor making a connection. If you appreciate what New Danville does and the heart with which it does it, please spread the word: share the Wranglers’ Ballad music video or The Wrangler Gazette newsletter, too. You never know whose heart you may be affecting.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow: Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

The Wrangler Gazette

2022 Barbara Jordan Media Award – Dion McInnis and New Danville’s Monthly Newsletter

June 27, 2022 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities’ (GCPD) winners of the 2022 Barbara Jordan Media Awards (BJMA) for media content created in 2021. The BJMA program was established in 1982 to recognize the respectful, accurate portrayal of people with disabilities by media professionals and students. Working in partnership with the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) College of Liberal Arts Department of Communication and Disability Studies Minor, the GCPD will host the 39th Annual BJMA program highlighting and honoring this year’s winners and their outstanding work.

Newsletter
Dion McInnis, Willis
The Wrangler Gazette posts New Danville’s monthly newsletters

From the CEO – June 2022

Eva Aguirre, president and CEO of New Danville nonprofit

“Somewhere, something incredible is to be known” Carl Sagan

Hard to believe that our Wrangler Gazette is celebrating one year this month! What started as a “let’s see what we can put together,” has turned into a collection of incredible stories about our Wranglers, our staff, and our agency. These are stories that we are proud to tell and stories that we look forward to being known.

Our goal has always been to share inspirational stories as we focus on the four pillars of our mission: Live, Learn, Work, and Grow. Stories that portray our Wranglers as independent and productive; stories that reflect on their abilities rather than their disabilities; and stories that use their stories as “something incredible to be known” rather than as examples of their disabilities.

Likewise, we are proud to acknowledge all of our community partners and donors and the impact they have on our mission. A healthy non-profit organization like New Danville strives for a wide network of partnerships to help it achieve its goals. We are proud of our community and look forward to sharing this impact in every newsletter.

Our first year has also come with some amazing news. The Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD), in partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington’s Department of Communication and its College of Liberal Arts minor in disability studies program, put out a statewide call for nominations of outstanding media content for the annual Barbara Jordan Media Awards. The awards spotlight journalists who in 2021 portrayed people with disabilities through a positive, person-centered lens. Winners were selected by a panel of professional journalists, people with disabilities, and disability-service professionals. New Danville submitted Dion McInnis, Development Director, and the Wrangler Gazette for one of the categories. I am very proud to report “something incredible to be known,” our Wrangler Gazette was selected as the 2022 winner in the newsletter category! Not too bad for our first year in print.

We hope that this past year we have kept you informed, enlightened you to understand the wonders of those we serve, and helped you appreciate how you are part of our success. Here’s to many more wonderful stories to come.

Upcoming Events – June 2022

2^nd Annual Play a Round for the Wranglers golf tournament is coming on November 7, 2022, at Woodlands Country Club. Mark your calendar! Information about registration and sponsorships will be shared soon.

Fundraising Factoid
In the mood for shopping? New Danville has a wish list at Amazon that gives you an opportunity to help us fill some specific needs while you’re shopping at the site. Please consider adding an item or two from our list to your cart. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/17IYL2UTXSLVS/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

In the News – June 2022

Shade, water, food and fun at Water Play Day! via Woodlands Online

Times got you in a funk, Bunky? (to coin a phrase) Studies reveal that one of the best ways to feel better, cope with challenges and improve outlook is to help others. New Danville would appreciate your help!

We are looking for volunteers for our upscale home décor resale store, Jazzy Junque, as well as to serve on committees for our main fundraising events, Play a Round for the Wranglers golf tournament and Spring Thing. Our next golf tournament will be on November 7, 2022. Please let us know of your interest by filling out this form. You’ll be improving your day while changing lives. Thank you.

Wranglers’ Ballad
New Danville’s new original song, Wranglers’ Ballad, debuted at the Spring Thing fundraising event. You can watch the music video here.

Live – June 2022

From Nervous to Friendships in Short Order

Jessica was nervous when she first began to live on her own in Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community. “It was kind of like the first day of school,” she said. She said that she felt like she was going to “live in the middle of nowhere” when she saw the rural environment. But the nervousness faded away and the new environment became familiar quickly. Her family learned about New Danville thanks to her sister’s research and they had their eye on it for years before she moved in.

Having a busy life at New Danville has helped. In addition to living on-site, participating in the day program, and having a part-time job here, she likes to keep busy in her off times. She enjoys crafts and baking goodies like muffins, cookies and brownies. “Brownies are best with ice cream. Vanilla ice cream,” she said. As good as the yummies are, they are not the best thing about living at New Danville.

“I have a lot of friends here. I think I am popular. I am usually in a good mood. I think people like that. I am also nosey; I know that. I like to know what is going on. We have ears to listen, right?” she said with a broad smile.

She likes to participate in the many activities put on by the volunteers of Legally Authorized Representatives Alliance (LARA) which include birthday parties for residents and various other social activities. Jessica likes riding her bike around the New Danville campus, though you won’t find her with the animals like many of the other residents. “I’m not into farm animals. I like dogs, though. I like animals.”

“I was nervous moving here. Then I was excited. Now I have many friends and neighbors,” she said. She is also looking forward to the day when New Danville adds new houses, increasing the neighbors that she will have.

Learn – June 2022

On the Job Training…about People

“What strikes me,” Randy McCaffety said, “is that I have learned so much about people, particularly those with special needs. Everyone is different; everyone has ways they want to communicate.”

Randy started with New Danville in November 2021 as a driver. “I learned a lot about the Wrangler 2s and their lives while driving,” he said, “but now, being in the classroom with them all day, I have learned a lot more.” Randy recently stepped in as direct support professional to work with the group of those who need additional support and attention. While temporarily filling the gap, he felt that he grew.

Randy said that he loves to shake things up for the Wrangler 2s. He uses storytelling as an opportunity to improvise during parts of the storybook that he is reading from. “I like to interject jokes and add humor to their day. It is all part of having fun. They learn and grow during fun times, I believe.”

One of the characteristics that has most caught his attention is their innocence. “I think that makes it hard for them in society today.” Another is their desire to communicate. “They’re smart and they find ways to share when they want to get a point across. Even if they can’t verbalize, they find a way.”

“I’ve also learned that some doors are opened for you. Some are knocked down so you can enter. I was sent here for a reason. I am learning more about the reason every day.”

His growth came about because of the growth in New Danville enrollment. With the recent addition of new direct support professionals, he then returned to his other roles. “People growing in different ways at different times is a sign of a committed team,” said Eva Aguirre, President and CEO.