MONTANA ASSOCIATION FOR REHABILITATION - CHAPTER

Billings Chapter Our local chapter of MAR is a diverse bunch of rehabilitation professionals, whom we try to gather monthly for a meeting or event.  We meet at different locations each month, usually a restaurant, on the third Wednesday of the month.  Typically, we have a guest speaker come to the meeting to tell us about programs or developments related to rehabilitation in the community, and CRC education credit is available.  Meeting locations, times, and speakers are e-mailed to all of the members as the plans solidify each month. President:  Brandi Taylor btaylor@mt.gov  655-7670 Secretary/Treasurer:   Education/Social Committee:  Chuck Leggate, Pandora Palmer, Terry Blackwell

Bozeman Chapter Information coming soon.

Butte Chapter The Butte chapter of MAR meets monthly eight months of the year, and typically takes the summer months off. We are fortunate to have a wealth of professionals at the local level and professionals within the region that are willing to come and speak with our group. We meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at various locations in the community, we communicate via email, and our meetings are usually attended by eight to ten of our fourteen members. We stay in communication with pertinent events and other state MAR information via the internet. For more information contact Miles Finlen at 406-723-4033

Miles City Chapter The Miles City Chapter of MAR met on Friday, February 24th for a luncheon meeting.  We had 8 individuals in attendance which is slightly less than we usually have.  We had representatives from LIFT (independent living) Adult Probation and Parole, Job Service, Career Development Workforce Center, VR and Eastern Montana Industries.  Ron Nemec Economic Development coordinator for the Miles City Job Service Office gave us some insight into the growth Miles City is currently seeing.  Ron also provided information on several proposed programs of study that the local college, Miles Community College is trying to implement.  The heavy equipment operator training would provide for a well-trained work force for San Jel.  San Jel works on oil field sites and would like to move their headquarters to Miles City.  The group also discussed the need for more qualified workers and the fact that many new jobs only require short training such as what is offered at a community college.  We will meet again in May. Submitted by Rhonda Shumway, Miles City MAR Chapter President

Helena Chapter Information to be submitted soon.

Kalispell Chapter President: Roberta Smith Vice President: Shannon Willhite Treasurer: Claudette Vance Secretary: Chanda Hermanson It was decided that MAR meetings will be held the third Monday of each month during the lunch hour. Locations, yet to be determined. Our next gathering will be an exception. We will be meeting the evening of December 18 at Claudette's home for our Christmas get together. We will be holding a White Elephant gift exchange and it will be BYOB.

Missoula Chapter President – Jeanne Stone Secretary – Jane Parsons Treasurer – Hal Pulling

Great Falls Chapter The Great Falls Chapter meets once a month, in the meeting room at Penny's Gourmet to Go.  The 27 people who attend chapter meetings are representative of many agencies and individuals working to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Speakers are scheduled to give presentations and share information.  Recent speakers have included a HR recruiter from a local company and Disability Services Coordinator at MSU College of Technology. This group prepares awesome food and the Christmas pot luck and ornament exchange is the highlight of the local MAR events. Contact person: Chapter President Brenda Lee Johnson bjohnson2@mt.gov Secretary - Jill Keough jkeough@mt.gov