March 2007 CatalystsNEWS Daylight Saving Time Early for 2007 Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time is extended one month and begins for most of the United States at: 2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March The new starts and stop dates were set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. One of the biggest reasons we change our clocks to Daylight Saving Time (DST) is that it saves energy. Energy use and the demand for electricity for lighting our homes is directly connected to when we go to bed and when we get up. Bedtime for most of us is late evening through the year. When we go to bed, we turn off the lights and TV. In the average home, 25 percent of all the electricity we use is for lighting and small appliances, such as TVs, VCRs and stereos. A good percentage of energy consumed by lighting and appliances occurs in the evening when families are home. By moving the clock ahead one hour, we can cut the amount of electricity we consume each day. Studies done in the 1970s by the U.S. Department of Transportation show that we trim the entire country's electricity usage by about one percent EACH DAY with Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time "makes" the sun "set" one hour later and therefore reduces the period NEW Access Card Available A new ACCESS CARD is available through the new payroll system. The Paychex Access Card Program allows employees to deposit their paychecks directly on to this card and use it as a check card or an ATM card. There is a $2.00 monthly maintenance fee. You can also use this card at an ATM for a fee of $1.50 per ATM withdrawal. Need cash early, then use the card to withdrawal your cash at a $3.00 over-the between sunset and bedtime by one hour. This means that less electricity would be used for lighting and appliances late in the day. We also use less electricity because we are home fewer hours during the "longer" days of spring and summer. Most people plan outdoor activities in the extra daylight hours. When we are not at home, we don't turn on the appliances and lights. A poll done by the U.S. Department of Transportation indicated that Americans liked Daylight Saving Time because "there is more light in the evenings / can do more in the evenings." While the amounts of energy saved per household are small...added up they can be very large. In the winter, the afternoon Daylight Saving Time advantage is offset by the morning's need for more lighting. In spring and fall, the advantage is less than one hour. So, Daylight Saving Time saves energy for lighting in all seasons of the year except for the four darkest months of the year (November, December, January and February) when the afternoon advantage is offset by the need for lighting because of late sunrise. A report was released in May 2001 by the California Energy Commission to see if creating an early DST or going to a year-round DST will help with the electricity problems the state faced in 2000-2001-2002. The study concluded that both Winter Daylight Saving Time and Summer-season Double Daylight Saving Time (DDST) would probably save marginal amounts of electricity - around 3,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) a day in winter (one-half of one percent of winter electricity use - 0.5%) and around 1,500 MWh a day during the summer season (one-fifth of one percent of summer-season use - 0.20%). Winter DST would cut winter peak electricity use by around 1,100 megawatts on average, or 3.4 percent. Summer Double DST would cause a smaller (220 MW) and more uncertain drop in the peak, but it could still save hundreds of millions of dollars because it would shift electricity use to low demand (cheaper) morning hours and decrease electricity use during higher demand hours. The model used in the Energy Commission's study is now being used by the U.S. Department of Energy in a larger national study of daylight saving time. It's unknown when that study will be completed. Dr. Kandel, of the Energy Commission, has also published a short paper on the Electricity Savings From Early Daylight Saving Time beginning in March 2007. Information from www.energy.ca.gov Catalysts Anniversaries 11 YEARS Sherie Kainz 7 YEARS Catherine Kahn Evelyn Parchman 5 YEARS Pebbles Dumon 3 YEARS Dawn Garcia 2 YEARS Laura Brooke Linda Ellis-Ross Amy Foisy Rolando Lozano 1 YEAR Beth Castagno Lilly Lo counter cash advance fee. However if you lose or have your card stolen the fee is $15.00 for a replacement card. For more information, please contact your office manager/assistant to request the form. NEWSCatalysts Fresno Welcomes Change Our DSS, soon to be new Mommy, Priscilla Renfro went from our Merced office. Congratulations Martha on your on maternity leave. We wish her a healthy son and will promotion and transfer. Welcome to Fresno! Our miss her while she is gone. We will get everyone a picture Recreation Coordinator Stephanie Morgan was promoted when the little guy arrives in March. Our Case Manager to DSS. Her replacement is one of our coaches Vivian Richard Torrey unfortunately left the company. We are Perez. Congratulations to them both on their promotions. happy though that his replacement is Martha Castaneda A lot of change in Fresno!!! Baby Lilya Marie Resendez Merced Dances the Night Away Welcome on board to our new DSS Michelle Acosta. Congratulations to Lisa Resendez. She is a GRANDMA for the first time. Her son Paul and wife Melissa had a beautiful baby girl, Lilya Marie Resendez 7lbs. 6 oz. Way to go Emanuel (Manny) for winning the safety meeting incentive! The Community Activities Program attended two Valentines Day dances of which they enjoyed! They were the first ones on the dance floors and the last ones to leave. Consumer Catalysts Anniversaries 17 YEARS: David C. ~ Santa Clara 2 YEARS: Beverly B. ~ San Diego Lee Roy B. ~ El Centro Rueben O. ~ Salinas 15 YEARS: 5 YEARS: Laura B. ~ Fresno Rosa A. ~ El Centro Alex L. ~ Santa Clara Noami H. ~ Salinas 12 YEARS: Richard W. ~ Merced Barbara C. ~ Fresno Riley N. ~ Stockton Victor M. ~ Salinas Marilyn G. ~ Fresno 11 YEARS: Tramaine S. ~ Merced Yvonne R. ~ Fresno Gylda G. ~ El Centro Donald P. ~ Stockton Roberto B. ~ Salinas Denise L. ~ El Centro 4 YEARS: 1 YEAR: 10 YEARS: Bonnie H. ~ San Diego Randy R. ~ Salinas Charles P. ~ Fresno 3 YEARS: Nadareh P. ~ Fresno 9 YEARS: Long N. ~ Salinas Marcus O. ~ Fresno Patrick M. ~ Visalia Royce M. ~ San Diego Blia V. ~ Fresno Wayne H. ~ San Diego Aletha R. ~ Stockton Marcus O. ~ Fresno 8 YEARS: Carolyn B. ~ San Diego Omar V. ~ Salinas Jason B. ~ Fresno Yolanda D. ~ Salinas Miguel S. ~ Salinas Michael P. ~ Santa Clara Kimberly T. ~ Salinas Michael H. ~ Santa Clara Randell L. ~ Fresno Modesto Celebrates Modesto consumers and staff enjoyed the Month, Thelma C., with her a get-together on February 19th at the certificate and other "goodies" in newly opened pizza parlor, Figaro's, recognition of all her hard work and owned by our own Jan Todd and accomplishments. Thelma was family. The advisory council celebrated extremely excited about receiving the Marisa E.'s birthday, as well as well-earned title for February, and surprised our February Consumer of could not stop giggling and smiling the rest of the day. We are very proud of her, and she truly deserves the recognition, as she has come a long way during this past year! Way to go, THELMA-LOU!! Several Modesto consumers and staff are making vacation and "camp" plans for the coming months. It's hard to believe that March is already here, although vacation breaks are always welcome, whatever time of the year it is! Thelma C. was Consumer Catalysts of the Month Maria E. celebrates her birthday Salinas Travels February was a busy month for the Salinas office. The The next morning the consumers were up bright and early CAC held an opportunity drawing for Valentines day. The and ready to spend the day at Disneyland. The consumers winners were Susan Pere-$150.00 carpet cleaning gift took lots of pictures with the Disney characters and had a certificate, Arlene Monroe- small basket valued at blast riding all the rides. The consumers were amazed to $110.00 and Pappu Yap (SARC)- large gift basket valued see the Disney parade and all the consumers agreed that at $115.00. We would like to thank Mike Yapp’s carpet their favorite ride was It’s a small world. cleaning, See’s Candies, Chris’ Fishing Trips, El Palomar Restaurant, Black Bear Diner and Monterey Whale Before heading back to Salinas Thursday afternoon the Watching for donating items to make our opportunity staff drove the consumers to Downey, CA to see the drawing such a success. world’s before having lunch and getting back on the road. This month the Salinas office also celebrated two staff birthdays. Happy Birthday Cecilia Saucedo & Vanessa Franklin! oldest February 20-22, 2007 the consumer Advisory Committee operating took a trip to Disneyland. The consumers all had a blast McDonalds. and were excited to see that the weather was beautiful. The Upon arriving in Anaheim the consumers all checked into consumers their hotel rooms and rested for a while before heading checked out Salinas consumer and Goofy at Disneyland out to dinner at the Hometown McDonalds Buffet. After museum dinner the that was Salinas consumers at McDonalds consumers were next door able to walk off their big meals while doing some shopping in the Downtown Disney District. February 2007 ~ Lori KriegerStar of the Month Community Catalysts of California was proud to announce that Lori Krieger was selected as February’s Star of the Month. Lori has been with Community Catalysts of California for over 3 years. Lori is a Direct Service Aide in the Santa Clara office and has held a case load of 11 consumers with little supervision. In three years, she has only missed three days of work. We have received wonderful feedback from all of Lori’s consumers, family members as well as service coordinators on what a wonderful job Lori is doing. She is the most requested skills coach we have, and is never late with paperwork or to a meeting. Lori never even needs a reminder of due dates. Lori is a single mother who continues to give 100% to her job as well as to her daughter. Even in light of her full schedule Lori finds the time to volunteer for the Consumer Advisory Committee. It is not often that you have the chance to work with someone with such heart and dedication for what she does. That is why Lori Krieger is Community Catalysts of California’s star. Congratulations, Lori! March 2007 ~ Debbie CarmichaelConsumer Catalysts of the Month Tammy has been involved with Community Catalysts of California for four and half years in our Supported Living Program. She has been through many trials and some rough times since she came to us. Tammy at first was not willing to fully participate in her program, however since then she has over come a great milestone in her life. Seven months ago, Tammy weighed in at 320 lbs. and today she is a slimming 238 lbs. She has blossomed into one charming, beautiful young lady. Today she is cheerful and more physically active. She is able to get around more easily and can complete her chores independently. Tammy enjoys playing with animals and she also enjoys doing arts and crafts. She has started to learn her alphabet and numbers. Tammy has been practicing writing her name in cursive and remembering her phone number. While relaxing, Tammy watches cartoons. We are all so very proud of Tammy’s accomplishments and look forward to many more. Congratulations Tammy and keep up the good work! Congratulations, Tammy! Community Catalysts of California 6050 Santo Road, Suite 145 San Diego, CA 92124 Phone: 858-569-1055 Fax: 858-569-1064 www.communitycatalystscalifornia.org