GSI HONORS VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers and community leaders met at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, September 23, 2011 to recognize all who participate in GSI's volunteer program. Awards were presented to this year's outstanding volunteers as well as individuals and businesses who have dramatically assisted GSI in recent months.

Diane Ryan was named the Volunteer of the Year for the Guardianship Program. Ryan has served as guardian for six clients, showing compassion and diligence in meeting each client's needs.

Rachel Gentry was named the Volunteer of the Year for the Money Management Program. Gentry advocates on behalf of her client and provides her GSI case manager the necessary information so that the client's needs are met.

Marge Oslick was awarded the President's Award and Judy Rodriguez was named Individual Friend of the Agency. Oslick visits two to three times a week, takes her client to doctor appointments, shopping, and home for holiday meals. Rodriguez faithfully attends and actively participates in board and committee meetings, helps with special projects, assists with planning events, and solicits business contributions for GSI.

Awards were also presented to CALAB and American Hospice for Corporate Friend of the Agency. Sandy Flores accepted the award for American Hospice and Molly Bishop represented CALAB during the award presentations.

Dyann McCully was honored with the Ad Litem of the Year award. McCully, a partner at Bakutis, McCully & Sawyer, was commended for her compassion and professional guidance when serving as the attorney for GSI's clients.

It is with pride that the entire GSI community salutes its fine volunteers.

Guardianship Services, Inc.   (GSI)   is in the business of making prudent decisions for people who can no longer  formulate or communicate decisions for themselves. Through GSI's Guardianship Program, case managers and volunteers obtain community services, health treatment, housing, and benefits, thus enabling these clients to function as normally as possible, considering their limitations. The Money Management Program is a less restrictive alternative to guardianship. This program's case managers and volunteers monitor the financial affairs of  the clients, making sure that all limited resources are strictly utilized for their benefit.

The entire staff of GSI takes its responsibilities seriously. Our goal is to provide clients with as much autonomy as possible while protecting them from mistreatment or neglect. This is a delicate balancing act.

GSI serves as a last resort. All other alternatives have been tried. No friends or family members are available or suitable to assist these clients. Our involvement takes a client from a world of loneliness, despair, illness, and exploitation to a world of hope.

Thanks to a generous contribution from the Amon G. Carter Foundation, GSI has updated the publications it distributes to the general public. Completion of a new brochure, newsletter, and annual report are important steps in satisfying the conditions set forth in GSI's strategic plan. Most notably, the publications are intended to increase community awareness about the agency.

If you would like copies of any of these publications, either electronically or to serve as handouts, please contact Marnie Stites at 817-921-0499, extension 105, or mstites@guardianshipservices.org.

GSI's 2010 annual report can be viewed here. 

GSI's 2010 990 is available here for your review.

Money Management Education students, staff and friends celebrated on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 with a dinner and awards ceremony. Education Director Teresa Rabold proudly honored each and every student and boasted about their achievements.