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Lispbeth Ella Anne Gets (photo, middle) passed away on December 22, 2024 in Waxhaw, North Carolina, at the age of 93. Her impact on our community was enduring.
Lis may best be remembered as an educator with a career spanning 25 years in Alachua County. She served as principal of the Monarch Center and Assistant Principal of Sidney Lanier following her tenure at Buchholz High School. Lis was a strong advocate for students, especially in the area of special education, her area of expertise.
With passion and dedication, Lis was strongly committed to making our community a better place to live. She was an active board member for the Gainesville Orchestra and for the Council of Exceptional Students. Moreover, she served for many, many years in volunteer and board leadership positions with The Arc of Alachua County. She was instrumental in assisting Arc Leadership in bringing her talented son Malcolm (in photo, on left) to Gainesville for Arc Gala III, the organization's most successful Gala event ever.
The Arc of Alachua County has lost one of its greatest and most loving advocates, and grieves with her friends and family members over her passing. The world is a sadder place without Lis in it.
Lis leaves behind a loving family of four children: Erick (Polly) Gets, Alison Bailey, Malcom (Dominic) Gets and Adrienne Gets; three grandchildren: Ryan (Emily) Gets, Patrick Bailey and Selena Page; and two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Bailey Gets.
Lis was predeceased by her loving husband of over 70 years, Terence, (in photo, on right) and her son-in-law, Michael Bailey.
A 'Celebration of Life' for Lis will take place on Saturday, April 12th at 1 p.m. at The Gainesville Garden Club, 1350 NW 75th St.
We urge all of you who loved Lis to attend the service and take joy in the wonderful memories with which she left us.
It was a hugely successful 27th Annual Bob Rose Golf Scramble on Friday, April 4th. We were once again blessed with perfect weather, bright sunshine, warm temperatures and cloudless blue skies. I always know that if we get great weather we will have a ‘perfect’ event because of our awesome golfers, donors, sponsors, volunteers, vendors and friends.
The Arc thanks everyone who was involved with the scramble for contributing to an event that was flawless. Big ‘shout outs’ go out to specific people and groups for their assistance, including:
To all our event and hole sponsors who provide financial support, golfers, food and drink, volunteers and incredibly generous goodwill, The Arc thanks you:
The Arc reports that there are no employees or clients currently testing positive for COVID. The Arc continues to have success battling COVID among its clients and employees. Members of The Arc's Safety & Supervision Committee kept Day Program open over the past month, and will keep Day Program open next month from May 1 - May 31, 2025.
The Arc is in great need of Board Certified Behavior Analysts and/or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts. The Arc is also aggressively recruiting DSPs, Behavior Techs and Maintenance Specialists. The Arc currently has 35 DSP vacancies, down significantly from the high of 75 in July 2022.
The lead copy on The Arc's website reflects the need for candidates to fill vacancies in the following mission-critical positions: Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Behavior Techs and Maintenance Specialists. Weekly social media messaging on the need for qualified people to fill these positions goes out on all Arc social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
A New Employee Training Session began on Monday, April 7, 2025, with sixteen (16) new employees in attendance.
The Arc continues in its attempts to add new clients to its group homes, including one added the week of April 21, 2025. The Parker Road Group Home is set to reopen in May, 2025. Members of both the Safety & Supervision Committee and Transitions Committee continue to work closely with Arc Leadership to identify potential new clients for our residential vacancies.
The Arc also is working to increase the daily Day Program attendance to 125.
Contact Anthony Bowman in The Arc's HR Department at abowman@arcalachua.org or at 352-334-4060 ext. 114
If you have more questions or want more details on positions available at The Arc of Alachua County, please contact Anthony Bowman, at 352-334-4060 ext. 114 or at abowman@arcalachua.org.
The 2024 Annual Meeting brought a throng of guests to The Village on October 22nd in celebration of The Arc’s 58th anniversary of service to people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
The standing room only audience was enthralled by the song stylings of Arc Employee Patricia Williams (photo below) who sang Hero and Lean On Me. When finished, Patricia got a standing ovation.
Arc CEO Mark A. Swain and Arc Board President Cathy Costello led guests through the evening’s program.
The Arc announced a number of very special winners of individual awards including:
The Arc thanks all of its incredibly generous individual, table & event sponsors for bringing this annual extravaganza to fruition:
The PWS-USA Florida Chapter's Spring Meeting at The Arc on Saturday, April 20th was a huge success.
The event was blessed with great weather, caring volunteers, generous benefactors and, most importantly, families dedicated to advocating and supporting people with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). The event was a huge success due to the plans, preparations and partnership between PWS-USA's Florida Chapter and The Arc.
The Arc thanks Desiree Giuliano and Michelle Torbert from PWS-USA Florida Chapter for their experience, support and helpfulness throughout the entire planning process. It was a pleasure working with them, and the wonderful parents, advocates and young people who I grew to know as strong advocates and good friends. A huge 'shout out' goes out to Dr. Miller and Dr. Tan for their riveting and cutting-edge presentation on PWS, PWS Treatment and Nutrition for People with PWS.
Many of the attendees were families and friends impacted by PWS throughout Florida and beyond. All of these 'new faces' got to see what a great PWS Program looks like, under the leadership of incredibly passionate and intelligent experts like Dr. Miller, Dr. Tan, Mark A. Swain and dedicated Arc employees and behavior analysts.
Most of all, I thank our Arc clients with PWS and those families who traveled from far away and who were unfamiliar with The Arc, who got to learn about our programs, services and group homes dedicated to supporting people with PWS. Everyone had an incredible time and were comforted by the knowledge that The Arc of Alachua County is here to help people with PWS when needed.
Bicyclists representing Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. rolled onto The Arc's main campus as part of the 2024 Gear Up Florida/Ability Experience Friendship Visit. This 'client-favorite' event brings together Arc clients, employees, visitors and community VIPs for a day of food, fellowship and fun. The Gainesville stop was just one of many for these bicyclists who bike nearly 1,000 miles from Miami to Tallahassee in the month of May to help raise money and awareness for people with developmental disabilities.
The May 21st visit included a police escort by Santa Fe College's Police Department, a photo shoot, a client autograph session, a luncheon catered by David’s BBQ, and a dance led by Mr. October DJ, Michael Davis.
After leaving The Arc, bicyclists enjoyed an afternoon of swimming and relaxation at the gorgeous Gainesville Health & Fitness Center, dinner from Satchel’s Pizza, and bedding down at Trinity United Methodist Church. The bikers headed off early the next morning for their next stop - Jacksonville.
The Arc of Alachua County thanks all of our vendors, sponsors, clients, employees, and bicyclists representing Gear Up Florida/The Ability Experience for a fabulous event.
We look forward to seeing you all in May 2025!
ATTENTION: The Arc of Alachua County offers shredding drop off service two (2) days per week: Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Alachua County residents can drop off their shredding at our main campus across from Santa Fe College on any Monday or Wednesday of the week from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. This expanded drop off service will be offered each week on Monday and Wednesday only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Arc's main campus at 3303 NW 83rd St.
The fee for shredding will remain $0.32/lb. Residents are reminded, however, that we no longer offer 'Free Shred Wednesdays' on any Wednesday of the month. The Arc also asks that visitors who bring their shredding into The Arc on a Monday or a Wednesday to park in one of the VISITOR spots at the front of the building and to walk into the front lobby where they can ask for assistance from a member of our Gone4Ever (G4E) shredding crew. Do not, under any circumstances, drive to the back of our campus with your shredding without communicating to the people in our front lobby of your intention to drop off your shredding!
ALERT: The Arc asks for the cooperation of all residents dropping off their paper for shredding on Mondays & Wednesdays to remove all non-paper material. The Arc's Gone4Ever (G4E) Shredding Program has seen an abundance of non-paper material in the boxes, bags and containers people are using to transport their papers. Over the past few weeks, our shred team has seen hand lotion, shoes, sweaters, shirts, diapers, electronic devices and other 'non-paper' material in containers, bags and boxes that are supposed to contain paper only. Please remember that our drop off shredding service on Mondays & Wednesdays is for PAPER ONLY! Leave all other non-paper material at home, or find another vendor to handle it.
Leaders from Audacy/WSKY Radio, 97.3 FM, along with Arc clients and leaders celebrated Earth Day 2024 by planting a Southern Magnolia Tree in The Arc's Garden at the main campus.
Service project volunteers heard remarks from SKY Radio Legend Bob Rose and Arc Development & PR Director, Mark Johnson. After their remarks, the volunteers were put to work planting the Magnolia Tree; a tree symbolizing caring, comfort and hospitality.
The dedication was a sweet, simple and successful Earth Day event, one that highlights the very 'special relationship' between The Arc and our great friends at Audacy!
Hear our latest radio spot featuring CEO/President Mark Swain.
LiveScan provides fingerprinting, screening and photo capture services by appointment only at our main campus, 3303 NW 83rd St. (across from Santa Fe College), every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
LiveScan appointments can be scheduled from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
LiveScan does not accept walk-ins at this time.
Each LiveScan guest will be greeted by The Arc receptionist. Upon entering the lobby, he or she will tell our receptionist at the main desk that he/she is here for his/her LiveScan fingerprinting. The LiveScan guest will then be seated in our front lobby until The Arc's LiveScan staff member escorts him/her into the building and to his/her appointment.
LiveScan fingerprints are done quickly, locally and reasonably, so please call The Arc’s Front Desk at 352-334-4050 ext. 2 to schedule yours.
LiveScan information is easy to find, just click the LEARN MORE button below.
The Arc of Alachua County is a community based organization committed to providing a continuum of exemplary services, supports, and advocacy to assure that people with developmental disabilities can enjoy respect and dignity and be full participants in the community.
The Arc of Alachua County is a community based organization committed to providing a continuum of exemplary services, supports, and advocacy to assure that people with developmental disabilities can enjoy respect and dignity and be full participants in the community.
The Arc has a rich history spanning 60 years and marked by accomplishment. We continue to carry out the mission and vision of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their parents and siblings.
Over the last 60 years, The Arc has grown and adapted to the changes that people with disabilities face across their life span. Through the decades, The Arc has seen several name changes, advocated for the passage of state and federal legislation on behalf of people with disabilities and established a broad network of state and local chapters that range from small voluntary groups to large, professional organizations.
Although much has changed for those that we serve, we always try to raise awareness, supporters, and always help improve the lives of the intellectually and developmentally disabled.
I am sure it is no surprise to you, but people always want to know what we have been up to around The Arc and at our events. Our followers on facebook get to see quite a few or our pictures, but the rest of you are left in the dark.
Well even though everyone should be our fans on facebook, we still decided to put up a gallery of images to show some of the highlights from the major events we have had this year.
Every year we hold several events we consider picture worthy. But dont worry, you will probably see some other, "non event" pictures sneak in as well. If you have a good picture you would like to share, stop by The Arc and let us scan it and share it as well.
We hope to keep the new gallery up to date throughout the year, so check back and enjoy.
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