In an effort to continue to provide our clients with services designed to help them live stable and healthy lives, Vail Place will implement a tobacco-free policy at all of our Twin Cities locations. The policy, which will go into effect on April 1, will prohibit...
"I just want to give a huge thanks. I have learned so much and have grown in my mental abilities for the better. Of course life will still be difficult at times. Now though, I am more equipped to tolerate these oncoming obstacles I figure!"...
Once the snow melts, and as Vail Place transforms to a totally tobacco-free environment on April 1, Hopkins members plan to hop on plans to transform their Clubhouse patio. The patio can offer so many more opportunities – programmatic, social, recreational – if refurbished and...
Did you happen to catch the recent video promoting the Services for Services Auction? If not check it out here. This award-worthy video – engaging, goofy, and just a hoot – was a production of the Hopkins Clubhouse Audio/Visual Team. It’s a testament to Clubhouse community, creativity, and commitment! Two years ago members and staff at a Clubhouse Training in Greenville, South Carolina were inspired by that Clubhouse’s focus on video production in their work day. They decided to bring some of that creative energy back to our Clubhouse community … with amazing results!
The A/V Team has produced videos covering just about everything touching our Clubhouse community and all of Vail Place-
• An overview of our programs for new members
• Tobacco Independence videos to cover the transition to our new Tobacco Free policy
• Week-at-a-glance (WAAG) videos to cover … well, what’s happening during the week … at a glance
• Thank-you videos to donors (like the personal thank you videos that went to every person who donated to GiveMN last November – a real hit!)
• Agency training events
• A member mental health recovery story
• Promotions for upcoming events
Where does this creativity come from?
Stories of Humor, Hope and Healing - Mental Health Recovery on Stage On Tuesday, February 19th from 6:30 pm-7: 30 pm Vail Place members from the Theater Arts Program will once again perform at the History Theatre in St. Paul. Scenes, monologues, poetry, song, and movement will...
BIDDING IS NOW LIVE! Follow this link to bid online now through next Tuesday night. Bid for creative services...
Vail Place is proud to wrap up another successful year of the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program. In 2018 our ROSS service coordinators - Katy Molinare at Hamilton House in St. Louis Park and Kayle Dietrich at Dow Towers in Hopkins - served 71...
Last August, a small group of supporters and members, our Vail Place superheroes, ran 200 miles and raised $5,000 to support Vail Place. Named after the legendary Scandinavian king, Ragnar is a relay race in which 12 runners take turns running three- to nine-mile segments on a path from St. Paul...
Do you have a minivan you're willing to donate? Our little white minivan died at the Dr. Vail Hour fundraiser! We need a minivan to go grocery shopping for the Clubhouses and to take members to the grocery store and smaller group outings and excursions. A mini...
In both his professional and personal life, HR Coordinator John Fournelle has a fondness for stories. As he prepares to celebrate his two-year work anniversary at Vail Place in November, John said one of his favorite parts of the job is the opportunity he has to interact with Clubhouse members and learn their stories. “It’s not an ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ kind of environment here at all,” said John. “We are all part of Vail Place and I value the fact that I get to know so many people here.”
In his role as HR coordinator, John has “16 mega areas” for which he’s responsible including payroll, benefits, training, onboarding and more. Across the agency, John said Vail Place is on target to have 70 employees by year’s end, so managing data is a major task. John has also been instrumental in new initiatives at Vail Place, like the current Tobacco Free program and the organization’s Diversity Council.
John spends most of his time at Vail Place’s administrative offices in Hopkins, as well as at the Hopkins Clubhouse, but he also frequently travels to the Uptown Clubhouse and Vail House in Dinkytown, a 23-bed residential group housing facility formerly known as Cabrini Transitional Housing. “It’s really important for me as HR Coordinator to not only meet with managers onsite regularly but for the people there to know who I am and how they can work with me as needed,” he said.
