2014 April Newsletter

Serving and Supporting
Spring 2014
Phone 303-757-8008
www.rup.org
...in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers...
Jargon by Jim Vander Kamp
Isn’t it interesting that many professionals often find themselves communicating to each
other in language that is obscure or even unintelligible to the average person? They may
use language that is for “insiders only,” people who are comfortable with abbreviated
terminology or a string of letters that are meaningless to anyone who is not a part of their
particular fraternity.
When I started working with young people many years ago, the question was raised
about the type of “b-mod” program we were using. I must admit, I’m sure my answer was
purposely circuitous so that I could offer a show of learning without really knowing what I was talking about.
Behavior modification, “b-mod,” was a relatively new arena for me, so my response had to at least sound learned
even if I didn’t know what I was talking about.
Of course there have been numerous iterations on this theme over the years. To conduct an educational enterprise
outside of the classroom means you are now doing “community referenced education.” continued on page 3
The Gym on Broadway
Helps Build Skills for Monaco House Boys
Some of the boys at Monaco House have had the opportunity to become more active in
the community by going to The Gym on Broadway! Chris Williamson, the owner and head
personal trainer of The Gym, has generously donated his time, facility, and energy to help
our guys stay active.
During a personal training session, staff member Brianna Makowka learned Chris had
extensive experience working with children with Autism. Chris
offered to work with the kids of Monaco House on a weekly basis, and they have now been
working out for two months!
At The Gym, Chris focuses to improve balance, hand-eye-coordination, strength training and
nutrition. The boys enjoy using the elliptical, participating in obstacle courses and even
bonding with Chris and his dog Sam. The tools and skills learned at The Gym have
transferred over to activities at the house. Best of all the boys have grown in their social skills
and improved their overall health. We really appreciate Chris and The Gym and look forward
to more fun!
The mission of Roundup Fellowship is to serve people with developmental disabilities,
recognizing their worth, affirming their ability to contribute, and striving to promote dignity in all relationships.
In Honor and in Memory Gifts
In Honor Of:
Jacob A. Borja,
Corporal US Marine Corps. -Isaac Borja
Neil Kelly - Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Foster
- Mr. Harry Krosky
- Ms. Rosina Kovar
- Mr. Bill Evers
Lucie Laurence &
Stephan Martin
- Ms. Sarah Brennan
Laura Murray
- Ms. Betsy Boudreau
Nancy Plahuta - Mrs. Barbara Plahuta
- Ms. Rita Farrell
Mary Stam
- Mr. Ken Pals
Peter Vallegos
- Ms. Linda Ford
In Memory Of:
Deanne K. Borja
Joyce Barnes Ron Sturm
- Mr. Isaac Borja
- Mr. and Mrs. John Soper
- Mr. and Mrs. Dennis & Betty Coit
- Ms. Judith Sturm
- Ms. Danni Danko Holloway
Program Wish List
Fortune Circle House
* Dining room chairs, bedroom furniture and dryer
* Bicycles
Community Participation Program
* Funds for arts and crafts supplies
* Funds for/or activities and recreation passes
Monaco House
* Funds for kitchen remodel
* Soft sculpted foam-tough style for backyard play area
Personal Care Alternatives Program
* Gift card to JCP, Macy’s or like stores for housewares
Meade House
* Bicycles
* Funds for outings and activities
St. Paul House
* Funds for outings and activities
Nycholle Archuleta accepts a donation from Pete Lilienthal, Grand
Knight of Grand Knights of Columbus Council 14715. Thank you
Grand Knights of Columbus for supporting us for so many years!
Volunteer Opportunities
With six homes, two administrative offices, a school,
a day program and our Personal Care Alternatives
program it seems that we can always use extra hands
with a variety of talents and expertise. If you can help
or know of a business group looking for a community
project please get plugged in with Roundup and call
303-353-8312. A few of our projects are listed below.
Denver
Fence repair and landscape maintenance
Caulking and deep cleaning bathroom tiles
Outdoor lighting for walkways
Colorado Springs
Classrooms painted
Fence repair
Staircase work
Kitchen flooring replaced
Landscaping maintenance
Estate Plans and Planned Gifts
Roundup School
* 100 plastic chairs (no fabric)
* Commerical vacuum cleaner
Planned gifts are a critical component of Roundup
Fellowship’s fundraising efforts. Recognizing this,
Roundup has partnered with the Barnabas Foundation to
assist our donors with their planned giving decisions. As
part of Roundup Fellowship’s membership with Barnabas
Foundation Roundup supporters are given free access to
Barnabas Foundation’s attorneys to assist with will and
estate planning. Contact Barnabas to set up your appointment at 888-448-3040 or www.barnabasfoundation.com.
Quivas House
* Funds for outings and activities
* New kitchen chairs
You can also visit our website at www.rup.org for estate
planning resources and easy to use tools. For questions
please call Danni at 303-353-8312.
Evans House
* Wheelchair scale with digital readout
* Heavy duty folding wheelchair
Roundup Fellowship partners with
A La Source Ministry
Angeline Habonimana from A La Source and
Alexandrine Mwendezi, Quivas House employee
Roundup Fellowship was recently invited to partner with a non-profit
organization that serves people who are refugees, new to the Denver
area. Run by Pastor Joseph Nsabimbona and his wife, Angeline
Habonimana, the agency - A La Source Refugee Ministry - serves
newcomers to our country. Joseph and his wife have a personal
connection to refugees. They escaped the genocide in their home
country of Burundi a number of years ago. They know what it is like
to be in a new country as a refugee. In our partnership, Roundup Fellowship will be invititing local refugees to come
to Roundup as a training site for employment. With the support of A La Source, individuals will be able to train to
become a housekeeper or a direct care counselor. The opportunity will provide Roundup a new source for
employees. Roundup will be a supportive job site for newcomers to the United States who are often fearful and
unaccustomed to our culture.
It will be wonderful to see how our staff can make an impact on the lives of new Americans in our city. These
refugees often have emotional and physical disabilities from the trauma they have experienced in their war torn
homelands. Like the individuals we support in our residential programs, refugees have the need for dignity, respect
and an opportunity to give back to their community. Roundup continues to serve “the least of these” with this newest
opportunity.
Roundup Fellowship operates 6 intensively staffed teaching homes for 30 children/teens and 12 adults, a school/
day treatment for 28 children, a day program for 45 adults, supported-living apartments for 2 adults, and a
transitional program for individuals aging out of publicly funded programming. Roundup Fellowship’s programs
and services are funded through governmental sources, not fees, and supported through corporate donations,
individuals and grants. Colorado ranks 47th in the country in its expenditures for services for people who have
developmental disabilities. Consequently, Roundup Fellowship relies on our community to help meet the needs
that go beyond what government funding provides to people who have developmental disabilities.
Please consider making a donation and or volunteering your time to Roundup Fellowship.
Jargon by Jim Vander Kamp continued from coverTo move people through the social services system,
what is most highly prized is offering them “seamless
transitions” from one service or service provider to
another. People won’t even notice that they are being
shuttled from here to there if the transitions seamlessly
eliminate all bumps along the way. When we take on
a new child who has gone through some exceptional
abuse or other emotional shock, we must offer “trauma
informed” care which will demonstrate that we are fully
aware of the person’s condition and can provide an
appropriate remedy. By merely using the right terms,
people will put their trust in us to do the right thing in
response to an extreme situation because we must
know what we are talking about. (Whether we really do
or not). As much as I believe it is vital for us to be in the
know regarding new therapies or methods of relating to
a damaged child, I think there are a few things that we
simply must not lose sight of. It is of utmost importance
that we are able to humanize situations by asserting
timeless values that transcend all trauma and the
missing elements that were never brought to bear as
they should have in someone’s life. What I am referring
to are things like kindness, compassion, caring and
respect, things that bring ultimate meaning to a
person’s life. As much as I want our staff to be up on
the jargon of the day, I hope they never lose sight of
the fact that they can touch someone’s life by listening
to them, assuring them they will be safe from what has
happened before. If we can empathically draw in, if we
can demonstrate genuine caring when someone is in
turmoil, that will go a long way toward calming a
traumatized individual and giving them hope that life
can get better.
Touching a person’s inner soul takes more than a Phd.
and sophisticated training. It takes more than
regression therapy or a Primal Scream. It takes
someone who can connect with someone heart to
heart. This is not jargon; this is the reality that we try to
practice at Roundup each and every day.
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Staff Spotlight: The Divine Ms. Rose
Almost 4 years ago, Kate Rose joined our Community Participation
Program staff. When asked what she likes most about this job, Kate said
she enjoys the outings, the challenges, the team she works with and the
office staff. “Bowling is always fun. I love to take the guys to a little museum
in Idaho Springs. After we go to the museum, we watch the rafters go by
on the river and wave to them. We have several volunteer activities we do.
We do a Meals on Wheels route on Mondays, pick up trash at the parks on
Thursdays, and sometimes decorate meal bags for Project Angel Heart. On
Wednesdays we do Friendship Group. Twice a month, we do a swimming
group at Easter Seals warm water pool. This is a great job—challenging, different, and rewarding in love and
friendship. The clients are a welcoming committee each day when I arrive. I have to let them know, “One at a time,
please. They make me feel like a princess.”
One of Kate’s tasks with our Community Participation Program is recycling. During the week, we see Kate and some
of the program participants collecting paper, cardboard, cans, plastic, glass and aluminum to take for recycling.
According to Kate’s boss, Kate is an even keeled person who does not get rattled. She is flexible and does anything
asked of her. She has a consistency that is important to our clients. And her sense of humor is awesome.
Kate met her husband, Larry, in the alley behind her home when she was taking out the trash. Kate and Larry
married in 2001. Larry was diagnosed with M.S. in 1978. After getting M.S., he lost his job, his home and ended up
moving in with his sister. He eventually moved to a home in Denver across the alley from Kate and the rest is
history. Kate has 3 grown sons. One lives in Highlands Ranch with his fiancée and 3 children. One lives in Washington State and is in the Army. He has a wife and 2 small children ages 3 & 6. Her youngest son lives in Denver, works
part-time, and attends Metro State University for Computer Science. Kate and Larry have 2 cats, Jackson and
Barbie. Larry finds the cats very entertaining. Kate holds a Masters of Divinity Degree and is also a yoga instructor.

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