Taste of the Foothills Tour 2008: A fun time was had by all!

We woke up to a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a day spent touring local vineyards and olive oil producers in the north valley. While a bit breezy, the temperature didn't require more than a sweater and it warmed up nicely in the afternoon. Fortunately, the wind didn't pick up until just about the time the event was over.

Held on the lawn of our beautiful Joe McGie Center on Hegan Lane in Chico, registration began about 10:30am. As guests arrived, they signed in at the registration table, ably manned by our own Director of Rehab Services, Deb Royat.


After signing in, guests picked up their tote bag and wine glass before moving on to get some delicious goodies donated by Delightfully Delicious and Upper Crust, and sample some fabulous coffee donated by Has Beans Coffee & Tea Company.





After a pleasant interlude of visting, sampling delicious treats and shopping from items produced by WTC's Made in Paradise, it was finally time to board the buses and be on our way!




While guests were on their tour, volunteers were busy preparing for the guests return at 4:00 p.m. In Tents Events generously donated a tent, in which we held our dinner. Here are some photos of the tent going up:







Upon their return, guests were treated to a fabulous Italian dinner provided by Italian Cottage catering. The dinner included lasagna, green salad, garlic bread, and a delicious bread pudding for dessert. Volunteers also served wine to guests, as well as soft drinks and water. Coffee was served with dessert.





Guests were treated to some outstanding flamenco guitar music by classical guitarist Tobin Roye, who is a member of the CSU Chico Music Department faculty. His music lent a wonderful ambiance to the afternoon.


The evening was rounded off by a Chinese raffle with some fabulous raffle prizes donated by local merchants.

Here are some guests filling out their raffle tickets:


Raffle prizes:



Carl Ochsner, WTC's executive director, MC'd the raffle


The feedback we have received from our guests at this event has been positive. While ticket sales were down this year, we hope to have more participating next year as the economy improves.

Thank you to all of our corporate sponsors who donated their services, talents and/or money to make this event possible:

• Deer Creek Broadcasting
• In Tents Events
• Italian Cottage
• Butte Community Bank
• Dahlmeier Insurance
• Graphic Impressions
• Hegan Lane Partnership
• Olde Gold Estate Jewelry
• The Group Real Estate

Thank you also to those merchants who donated items for our raffle and supplies for our snacks:

• Cal Java
• California Harvest Shop
• Chico Sports Club
• Delightfully Delicious
• Gold Country Casino & Hotel
• Golden West Nuts Harvest Shop
• Has Beans Coffee & Tea Company
• Lodestar Olive Oil
• Longs Drugs
• Masa Organics
• Penna Olives
• Safeway Stores
• Sierra Nevada Brewery
• Sports LTD
• TJ Farms
• Upper Crust

Hope to see you all at our Turkey Dinner this fall!

Taste of the Foothills Tour -- April 19, 2008

This year, WTC's Spring Fundraiser, Taste of the Foothills Tour, is going to be happening on Saturday, April 19th from 10:30am to 6:00pm. Tickets are $60 each.

Better hurry and get your tickets, because space is limited on this popular tour! For the past two years, WTC has conducted its Taste of the Foothills Tour. Past tour participants are eagerly awaiting this year’s event; some even booking an entire van in order for their group to travel together.

The tour is an opportunity to highlight a local industry that is increasing in importance and stature; gourmet products crafted from locally grown crops. Guests have been impressed with the quality of the products and the passion of these grower/producers for creating unique and enjoyable products.

Well worth the $60 per ticket price tag, guests will be treated to local wines and olive oils produced by these local growers. Guests can choose from the northern or southern tour, and transportation will be provided.

The northern tour will stop at New Clairvaux Vineyard & Monastery in Vina, the Olive Pit in Corning, and Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. The southern tour will stop at Grey Fox Vineyards, Lodestar Farms Olive Oil, and Quilici Vineyards; all in Oroville.

Both tours begin and end at our Joe McGie Center, 2812 Hegan Lane in Chico. Registration begins at 10:30, with the tours departing at 11:00 a.m. sharp! Tours return at approximately 4:00pm, when a sumptuous Italian dinner will be served, followed by a Chinese raffle, where guests can purchase raffle tickets to place in the jar in front of the prize(s) they wish to win. The dinner and raffle will end at approximately 6:00pm.

Dinner this year will be catered by Italian Cottage, who graciously agreed to cater the dinner at their cost. This kind of support and sponsorship allows WTC to use the revenue from ticket sales to go directly into programs and services.

Other businesses who have generously donated of their time, talent and hard-earned dollars are: Butte Community Bank, Dahlmeier Insurance, Deer Creek Broadcasting, Graphic Impressions, Hegan Lane Partnership, In Tents Events, Olde Gold Estate Jewelry, and The Group Real Estate. Please patronize these businesses to help show how much WTC appreciates their support of our mission.

Tickets cost $60 per person. You can purchase tickets in person in Chico at WTC, 2255 Fair St., or Creekside Cellars, 250 Vallombrosa #500 in Chico; in Paradise at Made in Paradise, 7323 Skyway; or in Oroville at Feather River Opportunity Center, 2905 Lincoln Blvd. You can also send checks to: Taste of the Foothills Tour, 2255 Fair St., Chico 95928. Please indicate whether you want northern or southern tour if you mail in your order, and if you wish to travel together with a group. You can also purchase them online at www.bearmountaingifts.com.

Call 343-7994 ext. 138 if you have any questions. All proceeds benefit the Work Training Center: Serving people with disabilities for nearly 60 years!

We look forward to seeing you on our tasty tour!

Enjoy these pictures from last year:

A Successful "Friends of WTC" Dinner!

Work Training Center held its Friends of WTC dinner on Thursday, February 28, 2008, and it was a rousing success! Over 80 guests attended our event this year, and a good time was had by all.

Beautiful centerpieces, provided by our own Made in Paradise artist studio, provided these beautiful centerpieces for the event:



The evening began with a half hour of socializing and purchasing raffle prize tickets. Guests were invited to put their tickets in front of the prize(s) they wanted to win.





At 6:30, dinner was served. Guests lined up to get platefuls of delicious lasagna, garlic bread, and green salad, prepared and served by the Well Ministry of Rescue. They did a terrific job, and we would highly recommend using their services next time you need a catered meal!



Drinks (soda, coffee and water) were served by our excellent human resources staff.


The program began at 7:00, and included a variety of awards, speeches and presentations. Two board presidents were honored for their service: Former President Carol Linscheid and current President Bob Bracewell; retired board members Hugh Campbell and Kent Rasmussen were honored for their years of service; the Business Partnership Award went to Lou & Lola Lodigiani with Tri-L Mandarins; Employer of the Year was awarded to Surplus City in Oroville; Care Provider of the Year award was presented to Marna Carli of the Alpine Homes; Service Recipient of the Year was presented to Dean Hornbeck; andf Friend of the Year was presented to our own Abe Baily.

WTC was pleased to welcome Alys Walters, one of the founding parents from the early days of WTC. Chico Mayor Andy Holcomb was also in attendance, and said a few words of welcome.


Alys Walters (right), founding parent of WTC


(L to R): Chico Mayor Andy Holcomb; WTC Executive Director Carl Ochsner, and WTC Board President Bob Bracewell.

An excellent speech on "Finding New Friends for WTC" was given by keynote speaker Abe Baily, retired professor from CSU, Chico and WTC's board vice president.


WTC Vice President Abe Baily and his wife

The evening was rounded off with the giving away of the raffle prizes. Much laughter (and groans) were heard, as those who won came up to claim their prizes.

After all the prizes were given out and a few closing remarks from our Executive Director Carl Ochsner, the evening ended about 8pm on a high note. A good time was had by all, and many commented on how much they enjoyed themselves.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year, as we plan to celebrate our 60th Anniversary at our Friends of WTC Dinner 2009!

Friends of Work Training Center Dinner

On Thursday, February 28, 2008, WTC will hold its 7th annual Friends of WTC Dinner at Bear Mountain Production Services's new location at 1618 Nord Avenue in Chico. Tickets are $12.50 apiece. Dinner is being catered by The Well Catering Services and will consist of meat lasagna or eggplant parmigan, garlic bread, green salad, and dessert. Beverages (coffee and soft drinks) will be provided. The evening includs a short program. Special guest this year is Chico Mayor Andy Holcomb. The evening will finish up with a Chinese raffle, where ticket purchasers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes.

New this year is "Take a Friend to Dinner." If you purchase a ticket, you can get a free ticket if you take someone who has never attended a Friends of WTC dinner before. (One free ticket for first-time attendees for each ticket purchased.) We encourage everyone, veterans and newbies, to attend this dinner and learn about WTC.

Bear Mountain Production Services, a division of WTC, offers a flexible workforce able to perform a wide variety of tasks. This includes light industrial assembly, wood and Corian fabrication, bulk mailing, document collating, order fulfillment, and many other services requiring speed and accuracy. Approximately 70 individuals with developmental disabilities are employed at BMPS, under the supervision of qualified and experienced staff. Customer satisfaction is always the top priority. Pick-up and delivery is available throughout the North State with BMPS vehicles. UPS services connect BMPS to customers anywhere.

Tickets can be purchased at our main office at 2255 Fair Street, or charged online at http://www.bearmountaingifts.com/.

If you have any questions, or wish further information, call (530) 343-7994 ext. 124. We look forward to seeing you there!

Here are some pictures from the Friends Dinner 2007:


Cameron Wise, Operations Director; and Joline Monson, Transportation Coordinator, at the registration desk.


The buffet line.


Diners enjoying the meal.


Chinese raffle

Carl's Corner: Normalization and WTC Work Services

Dear WTC Staff and Interested Others:

As most of you know, we recently experienced a very troubling incident wherein an irate relative of a Deer Creek Sewing client worker (not the client’s conservator, incidentally) barged in to program areas and staff offices, demanding to know why the client could not routinely leave the work area before the scheduled quitting time.

I believe that our program staff have made it clear to both clients and staff, over the years, that individual program days can be modified, if required to achieve documented and specific medical or programmatic purposes. However, because of our commitment to the principles of normalization in WTC work programs, we cannot and should not allow fluctuations in work schedule based simply on personal preference. Such allowances would be a misuse of the concept of individual choice, and a disservice to the client in the long run.

Client choice must always be given high priority in making service assignments. In fact, individual choice is the paramount consideration at points in the service system where a consumer makes a decision about his or her participation. No one is expected, necessarily, to choose a work-based service from among an array of various options. And, similarly, once he or she selects a vocational training avenue, the consumer should be encouraged to choose from a variety of experiences, consistent with level of vocational development and service availability. However, once having made a choice to participate in a normalized adult-appropriate vocational setting, the client should expect us to provide an experience that approximates, to the greatest degree possible, the employment relationships to be found in regular business and industry, and which will certainly await that person upon his or her eventual arrival in a fully integrated community setting. Adherence to a uniform daily work schedule is a common feature of manufacturing facilities in the local community that employ members of the general public, and it must obviously be a part of the normalized work environment that WTC provides for its trainees as well.

Work Training Center’s four production shops perform real work for real-world businesses who depend on us to produce high quality products in the specified volume, on time, every time. This is not make-believe work activity done for facsimile businesses in a feel-good environment. Moreover, because of frozen reimbursement rates at inadequate levels, the survival of our agency as a whole depends on meeting and exceeding our production output goals. This is serious enterprise for serious purposes, and most of our client workers appreciate the profound respect shown to them by our staff when we communicate normal adult expectations with regard to attendance, punctuality, and attention to task. Many of our service recipients have been treated like overgrown children elsewhere; at home, in care facilities, and in previous programs. Therefore, they greatly appreciate being challenged to perform as capable adults when they enter the doors of a WTC production facility. This is one of the reasons why these employment programs remain so popular.

Unfortunately, there are a great many adults with developmental disabilities in our local region who have become comfortable being treated as “special” people; entitled to extra consideration, lowered levels of challenge, financial support with no obligations attached, and highly accommodated surroundings. For these folks, both WTC and numerous competing agencies have many available options, and these service venues would be logical places to look for appropriate programs.

However, as the only provider of CARF-accredited and Department of Labor certified work centers in our county, WTC will always consider it our duty to make real-world and normalized employment venues available to those individuals with disabilities who wish to be taken seriously as important and contributing adults.

Thank you for the opportunity to present Work Training Center’s official position on this important issue.

Carl R. Ochsner
Executive Director, WTC Inc.

Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to Work Training Center's community blog!

The purpose of this blog is to showcase Work Training Center's programs and services, update the public on special events, and provide a place people can come to for general information and other announcements. We want this blog to be a window into what WTC is all about.

It is our hope and sincere wish that this blog will be helpful and informative, and be a conduit that allows WTC to provide a greater depth of understanding, by both lay people and rehab professionals alike, of the scope of our programs and services and the opportunities we bring to our clients. Through multimedia presentations such as videos and slideshows, coupled with commentary, we wish to provide insight into and education about our well-rounded programs and services to adults with developmental disabilities in Butte County and beyond.

Please feel free to look around. We invite you to explore WTC's websites listed to the right. If you need further information, or would like a tour of our facilities, please give us a call at (530) 343-7994.

Please leave your comments and feedback by clicking on the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. We'd love to hear from you.

Once again, welcome! And thanks for stopping by.