Marilyn Meehan

Jul 10, 2013

Dear Marilyn,

It was 1997 and the top song was Elton John’s Candle in the Wind, the top movie was Titanic, the top TV show was E.R., but one of the most important happenings of 1997 was that I was teaching a Graduate class at Temple University and had the honor to teach two outstanding to be Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. I knew talent when I saw it and ensured that bright eyed Marilyn Meizenzahl and Laura Fekete completed their senior internships in SPIN’s Adult Day program. More than that, there was no doubt that we were going to find positions in the department for both of them!  Thank goodness we did! SPIN has been reaping the benefits because since 1997, Marilyn Meehan has been sharing her incredible gifts and talents with everyone and changing lives along the way!

Marilyn, from the day you entered our SPIN doors, you have been creating and engaging people in a life of possibilities. You have always seen the strength in people regardless of their ability or disability. Your quiet yet passionate leadership demonstrates your daily commitment to SPIN’s Pillars – an example to all of us. I remember based upon your Green Thumb and love of horticulture how you supported people to develop hobbies in their leisure time and you implemented beautiful gardens at Norcom and in the community.  You found ways for people to have a voice and show their relevance in the community.

Quickly, we saw that you had the patience of a saint! When SPIN was asked to provide a program we fondly refer to as OBRA, The Ombudsman Reconciliation Act, it was a perfect fit for you! Your caring and dedicated support for the people with an Intellectual disability living in a nursing home enabled them to not only have visitors who know about their special needs but also you have been the critical link between the nursing home and supporting the person to become more fully involved in meaningful activities in their community.  Your clinical assessment and advocation has supported people who have been inappropriately placed in nursing homes to live in the community! What an incredible outcome!
  
This has been quite a challenging year for the OBRA program.  Over the past year the OBRA program lost its funding and we needed to meet with state and local officials to present the critical necessity of this program. While waiting for a response from the state, your position was transitioned but your positive attitude was mainstay.  Your strong advocation was an integral reason for the reinstatement of partial funding for the program. Other organizations who participated in the OBRA program chose not to continue the services and SPIN was provided the opportunity to increase its involvement to provide the full caseload of service. As the full time Therapeutic Recreation Specialist you are leading the successful quality service delivery and continuing to develop trusting partnerships with the many stakeholders in this program.

As Laura Colon, your supervisor describes in her nomination letter, “You became a ‘road warrior’ working from home on your notes and having the people you support as your motivation. You made up for many of the units that were lost in the months when OBRA services were suspended, working hard to make it up to each person who had temporarily lost their services, ensuring the highest level of customer service excellence!”

Along this challenging journey of the OBRA program, we had the privilege of spending time with one of the local leaders who was the champion for the OBRA program, Kathy Sykes, the Director of Intellectual Disability Services for the City of Philadelphia. Kathy listened to the staff concerns and ensured that OBRA funding was reinstated. You and many others were grateful that Kathy took the time to listen and support people. When you heard of Kathy’s retirement, you made sure that you and someone supported in the OBRA program attended her luncheon to personally thank Kathy and let her know how much her help meant to everyone.

Marilyn, your ongoing commitment to the mission of SPIN and the daily demonstration of SPIN’s Pillars places you as a top role model for all. Your whatever it takes attitude and incredible work ethic makes you an NCC Team favorite.  On behalf of the SPIN Corporate Board, SPIN Management team, your fellow colleagues, and most importantly, the countless individuals you have supported in the OBRA program, we are so very proud of you and congratulate you on this most deserving Employee of the Month Award for May, 2013. We thank you for your outstanding people first, professionalism, high performance and productivity results that have and continue to support a life of possibilities from 1997 through today and most importantly into tomorrow!

With deep recognition and appreciation,

Judith Dotzman
Executive Director