Happy Friday,  DVRS Team Supreme! 

In recognition of February being Black History Month, this week’s edition pays special tribute to just a few of the many African Americans that NC DVRS has served or who have served as important team members in our Division’s quest to improve the lives of all North Carolinians with disabilities that request our assistance with empowering them toward a better destiny.      
Most of these success stories come from the chronicles of our archived REACH publications spanning from  1953 through 1972. We will conclude our brief today with a more recent celebration of one of several success stories presented at last year’s NCRA C. Odell Tyndall  Memorial Legislative Breakfast.   Remember to mark your calendars for June 7, 2017 7:00 a.m. for this year’s event.  We will be putting together a program soon and inviting you and our NC Legislators to attend and celebrate your work early that morning in the Legislative Cafeteria,  downtown Raleigh—look for it! 
The first success story featured in this edition comes from the May-June 1954 REACH publication: 

Now….the rest of the story:  Apparently, Clifford, the multi-talented individual he was, applied his talents with lasting zeal as a folk artist in Elkin, NC.    There is a longstanding Clifford Morrison Memorial Art Competition and show and scholarship in his honor, as per these links: 

http://elkintribune.com/news/1642/do-it-for-gladys

https://elkintribune.com/features/community/1931/morrison-art-show-a-success

http://elkintribune.com/news/9089/starmount-student-awarded-morrison-scholarship

September 1, 2017 is the next annual event.

Yet another example of the VR Return on Investment—an investment long ago continues to give dividends as scholarships going on to help educate other young artists!  

Our next amazing success story comes to us from the Nov-Dec 1966: 

The Rest of the Story:  Amazingly,  thanks to historians who had the vision and took the effort to record this oral history,  it does exist!

If you wish to click on the link below, Mr. Hinton tells his story about his accident with the sawmill about 4:50 into the recording here.  He also discusses his rehabilitation of going to school and describes his counselor, and talks about tearing up when he recalls the inspiration he received by others (possibly referencing his counselor).    Class president of his school.  He later majored in Mathematics and Chemistry in college.    The record indicates that he was a Health Services worker, but indicated in the recording that he taught Physics at an institution in Auburn, NY.   Later he learned about prosthetics and orthotics at Duke and then taught about this health science at NYU.  Amazingly, he beat the New York City discriminatory practices against teachers with disabilities—very interesting story, including funny enough-- political maneuvering.   Worth listening to!    Another VR investment paying forward multiples in  returns! 
  
The next story celebrates one of our VR educators in the May-June 1969:

Unfortunately, Mr. Harring is no longer with us, as per below:

Aug. 4, 1927-Feb. 24, 2011
James Lloyd Herring, 83, of 110 Glenn Drive, passed away Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville. 


Another more recent success story from the central part of the state, as presented at the 2016 NCRA C. O’Dell Tyndall Memorial Legislative Breakfast:

S. K., a gentleman who received services from the Division tells his story about how DVRS and his rehabilitation counselor Vickie Winters was there for him. It was a time when he could no longer perform his computer IT work until he received assistance with orthopedic physical restoration and therapy services and additional certifications to help him increase his marketable skills in network storage, which was more suitable to suit his physical requirements and in higher demand.   S. K. has since become successfully employed with a major employer and provider of cloud computing services within North Carolina.  Congratulations to S.K. and to Vickie Winters!  Don’t miss the upcoming 2017 event scheduled for June 7, 2017, where you are bound to hear of current success stories presented in person. 

Check back here on our Events page for the announcements and also be on the lookout for email invitations!

We hope this week’s tribute has again provided you yet another expanded perspective on who we are and the worthwhile work we do for all North Carolinians with disabilities who request our hand in elevating them to higher ground.  Further, we hope this may also spark your interest in pursuing the knowledge that history has in store, beckoning for you to discover, just as we have in preparing this brief for your enjoyment. 

Warm regards,
 Phil

Happy Friday Team VR!     

Valentine’s day often summons thoughts of love, (com)passion, chocolates-- and jewelry.  Today’s special edition has most of those elements as presented through the story of two of NC DVR’s past success stories that are inter-related.  If you wish to round this out and enhance your reading pleasure, consider partaking in the pleasure of savoring some chocolate.  One  rehabilitant’s success created a platform to allow re-investing in the success of another.    This individual was also honored by the Governor of North Carolina at some point in this progression.  Another important point is the lasting power that the investment that NC DVRS made in a young gentleman, Lloyd Collier Sr., who at least sent him to Spencer School of Watchmaking in Spencer, NC.  According to the linked article, this school was heavily utilized by NC DVRS at some point in its past.  

Lloyd Collier Sr., whose story is featured below, used the Spark provided by VR to ignite his sparkling legacy in jewelry that continues today as a successful  jewelry store  in Whiteville, NC with $1.8 Million in annual revenue (14 employees). One of those career employees for 56 years was his son,  Lloyd Collier Jr., who recently passed away March 16, 2016. 

We wish to point out that according to the article below,  Lloyd Collier Sr. was a youth who successfully transitioned into employment through effective introduction to VR services—not a new concept at all but something we continually strive to improve! 
Lloyd Collier Sr.’s  story is followed by another great presentation about another individual named Cedric who became employed by Mr. Collier, who had compassion on his fellow rehabilitant and loaned him $500 at some point to become self-sufficient through the establishment of another jewelry operation in Elizabethtown, NC.  I could not determine that this jewelry store remains in business.  Probably transferred ownership years ago. 

Lloyd Collier’s Success Story from REACH July-August 1954 edition: 

Lloyd Collier’s Recognition by Governor Hodges featured in Nov-Dec 1955 REACH Issue: 

The following success story from the March-April 1956 REACH issue is of a gentleman Cedric, who also became self-sufficient as a  benefactor of VR services, then Lloyd’s success and friendship:  VR’s “spark” lights a spreading fire of success. 

This concludes this special Valentine’s edition.  Don’t forget to remember your loved ones, and perhaps renew your love of this profession.  We hope this has provoked some introspection and an important reminder that you/your team and its (com)passion are the true basis of the “VR Spark” that can ignite a legacy of success!