ABLE eNews - April 20, 2007

April 20, 2007

Also in this issue: Woodward Memories and Visions coming May 23 - Save the date!


NEAL SHINE: Newspaperman, Teacher, Friend, Champion
	Neal Shine, retired publisher of the Detroit Free Press and a former chair of Operation ABLE of Michigan's Board of Directors, passed away on April 3 of respiratory failure as he fought a resurgence of cancer. He was 76 and is survived by his wife, six children, sixteen grandchildren, and two brothers. He is also survived by an incredible number of Detroiters whose lives he touched both on the job and in the community.
A champion of fairness ... humble ... passionate ... persuasive ... inspirational ... irreplaceable ... ageless ... a cool guy ... story teller ... a soft touch. These are just a few of the ways Neal has been described by colleagues and friends in recent weeks. He started at the Free Press as a copyboy in 1950, and after a stint in the U.S. Army between 1953 and 1955, he returned as a city desk reporter. Over the next 34 years Neal served as city editor, managing editor, senior managing editor, and columnist before retiring for the first time in 1989. Retirement lasted only 9 months. He returned in 1990 as publisher and served in that capacity for 5 more years until his retirement "for the last time" in 1995, although continuing to teach journalism at Oakland University for the next ten years. During this period, Neal served for four years on the board of Operation ABLE of Michigan, including two years as Chairman. In 1990 Operation ABLE began hosting the annual "Ability is Ageless" Luncheon to recognize the important role mid-career and older workers are playing in their work places and in the community. Until 1991, from the nominations received from employers each year, a panel of human resource and workforce development professionals selected ten people for special recognition. Nine received Most ABLE Awards. The top award was named The Neal Shine Award. In 2002 the award was renamed The Neal Shine Lifetime Achievement Award and is presented by the Board of Directors to an individual in the community who has played a prominent role as mentor, motivator and role model and who has made a truly remarkable impact on the quality of our lives. "Mentor, motivator, role model, and friend is how we at Operation ABLE will remember Neal Shine," said Mary McDougal, ABLE's president who has been with the agency since its founding in 1986. "Neal touched the lives of countless thousands of people throughout the Detroit community," said McDougall. "We all miss him but will forever be inspired by his kindness, thoughtfulness, and dedication." These words of Ron Dzwondowski, the editor of the Free Press, that appear the newspaper's tribute to Neal, best summarizes the feelings of the many people whose lives he touched: "Neal Shine will not have to be remembered. He simply will never be forgotten."
"WOODWARD: THE AVENUE OF MEMORIES & VISION" PLANNED FOR JUNE 12 ABLE'S annual spring event celebrates the old and the new of Woodward Avenue
Mark June 12 in your calendars and PDAs! On June 12, from 6 to 9 p.m., Operation ABLE will host “Woodward: The Avenue of Memories & Vision” at the Detroit Historical Museum, an opportunity for ABLE and its supporters to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Woodward Avenue, present a select group of community leaders with ABLE Exemplar Awards for their accomplishments, and raise funds for the ABLE program The evening will include a strolling dinner through the museum’s exhibits, including the recently opened “Detroit: The Reel Story,” showcasing the rich history of the city’s many movie houses. Other highlights include a silent auction, a raffle, and musical entertainment. "Detroiters have many fond memories of Detroit's Main Street," says Mary McDougall, president of Operation ABLE and herself a lifelong city resident. "And we are all excited to witness and be part of the resurgence of Woodward that we see all around us." Exemplar Awards will be presented to several individuals who are playing key roles in the revitalization Woodward Avenue. The complete roster of honorees will be announced shortly. Tickets for "Woodward: The Avenue of Memories & Visions" are $100 each and will be available soon. To raise additional funds this year, the event will also feature a 50/50 raffle. Raffle tickets can be purchased by those who are not able to attend the June 12 function for $50 each and can be ordered through Operation ABLE's web site at www.OperationABLE.org in the next few weeks. One half of the ticket sale revenue will go to one lucky ticket holder, and the other half will go to support the important services of Operation ABLE. Details - and the growing pot - will be on ABLE's web site soon. The drawing will be held at 8:30 p.m. that evening The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize. The AT&T Foundation, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, Kelly Services, Henry Ford Health System, BERLINE, the Detroit Media Partnership, Comerica, Nemeth Burwell, St. Joseph's Healthcare, CVS/pharmacy, and MGM Grand Detroit Casino are among the companies that will be recognized at this event for the generous support they have provided to Operation ABLE this past year. Other sponsors will be announced in the coming weeks. CLICK HERE for information on how you or your company can become a sponsor of this event, or call Bill Yagerlener, Director of Development and Marketing at 313-832-0922, ext. 229. Join us on May 23 for this celebration ... and help us raise much-needed funds in support of Operation ABLE's mission of Linking Experience, Learning and Jobs! ABLE eNews is published by Operation ABLE of Michigan 4750 Woodward Avenue - Suite 201 Detroit, MI 48201 1-800-922-HIRE To be removed from future mailings, CLICK HERE Visit Our Web Site: www.OperationABLE.org