Date: Fri 27-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Family-Life-Center-Counseling

Full Text:

Family Life Center Decides On A Change Of Name And Location

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

The board of directors of the Family Life Center of Newtown, acting at its

annual meeting Monday evening, voted unanimously to change the agency's name

and announced that it will be moving soon.

The agency, which now will be called the Family Counseling Center, Inc, will

move from its location on Glen Road in Sandy Hook to spacious new offices at

123 Mt Pleasant Road, just west of the intersection of Routes 6 and 25, in

August or September.

Board chairman John Martocci said the changes reflect the growth of the

agency.

"The good news is we have grown to (be) a much bigger counseling service," he

said. "And even though we have grown, our overriding mission still is to

provide counseling services to the people of our area who need them,

regardless of their ability to pay."

Mr Martocci said the Family Life Center started the year by receiving

accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and

Children. The accreditation was critical, he said, because it is required by

third party payers (usually insurance companies).

As the agency has grown, it has outgrown the rental space available in the

Glen Road location. About $25,000 will be needed to finance the move, he said,

and this money will come from the efforts of a fund-raising committee which

will be chaired by Alan Clavette..

The agency decided it needed to change its name to Family Counseling Center to

more clearly reflect its purpose and functions.

"Our name has served us well over the years, however there's some confusion in

the community about who we are and what we do," Mr Martocci said. "This

confusion has been caused somewhat by our name. It is our hope and belief that

our new name will more clearly reflect our services."

During the past year the position of clinical director became a full-time

position held by Vickie Santore. The administrative director, Judy Benson,

became a full-time executive director.

The agency has a budget of about $325,000. Revenue includes $45,000 from the

United Way, $15,000 from the town, approximately $25,000 from contributions -

including $6,500 from Trinity Church's outreach program - nearly $200,000

reimbursement for counseling. Special fund-raising events last year raised

nearly $35,000: the Holiday Festival, $29,000; Pizza Night, $4,500; blazer

buttons, $250; golf tournament, $750.

Mr Martocci said the Newtown Rotary Club has agreed to run a golf tournament

on September 22 to benefit the agency.

The following officers were approved for 1997-97: John Martocci, chairman;

Nancy Haas, vice chairman; Mary Tomasiewicz, recording secretary; Glenn

Nanavaty, treasurer.

The following individuals were approved to serve two-year terms, ending June

1999, on the board of directors: James Gaston, Pat Goldman, Nancy Haas, Elaine

McClure, Thomas Murtha, Michael Schwarzchild, Michael Snyder. Returning

directors include Rory Chapdelaine, Maureen Crick, Michael Krukowski, William

Lavery, John Martocci, Glenn Nanavaty, Mary Tomasiewicz and Steven

Tomasiewicz.

The agency also recognized outstanding volunteers during the meeting. They

included Alan and Nancy Martin, Jackie Harris Taback, Judy Pierce, and Jonna

Waicberg, all of whom have served on the board in a variety of positions and

helped with fund-raising drives.

Jonna Waicberg, Diane Hess and Stephanie Gaston, were cited for their success

as co-chairpersons of the annual Holiday Festival. Maureen Crick, Doreen

Kelleher, Elaine McClure and Pat Goldman were honored for orchestrating the

annual pizza night.

Howard Bowles was honored for having volunteered as the center's "handyman"

since 1991.

The HD Award, established in the name of former board member/treasurer H.D.

Bassett in 1990, was presented to Alan Clavette. Mr Clavette joined the board

in 1990 as assistant treasurer and has served on the finance committee since

then, helping with all fund-raisers and chairing the agency's new capital fund

drive.