Author Jim Collins once said, “Great vision without great people is irrelevant.” This is in part why we are taking the time to feature the people who make our mission possible every single day.
This month, we are delighted to showcase Steve Deorocki, our fifth interviewee, and recently retired Chairman of Turning Point’s Board of Directors.
Furnishing Support
Steve has served Turning Point, Inc. for 27 years; however, his affiliation with the organization goes back even further.
As the original owner of Zeke’s Furniture Showroom in Amesbury, Massachusetts, Steve delivered office furniture to the original Turning Point offices, as well as home furnishings to its many programs. Through these encounters, Steve witnessed firsthand the good work Turning Point was doing in the community.
Back then, he explains, the organization was experiencing significant growth, so he found himself constantly selling furniture to TPI to help accommodate the various programs and services throughout the Merrimack Valley and North Shore.
An Historic Shuttering Opens New Doors
In the wake of state hospital closures, such as Danvers State Hospital in 1992, residents needed to be relocated to residential facilities or group homes.
This proved a positive development as, unlike the all too often notorious reputations of those hospitals, Turning Point’s programs are characterized by compassionate care.
As Steve attests: “If there is anything TPI should be really, really proud of, it’s the bond between residents and staff. You can’t manufacture the devotion and love between our residents and the people who take care of them. Our staff is their family that they see every day.”
Steve has consistently observed this powerful bond at Turning Point’s special events, such as the annual party celebrating residents, their families, guardians, and staff. Amid the dancing, food, and revelry, the sincere connection is always evident; however, Steve has also witnessed these bonds beyond the walls of Turning Point’s parties and properties.
While recently accompanying his daughter to an appointment, Steve encountered a resident in the waiting room who remembered him from a Turning Point-hosted mini golf tournament, specifically recalling Steve’s Turning Point-branded ballcap.
What followed was a heartfelt and authentic exchange and, as Steve believes, it is these moments of recognition and connection in the wider world beyond the program that are demonstrative of the strength of its staff and resident pride.
Navigating Change with Compassionate Commitment
On the order of staff, Steve explains that, unlike other non-profits, the number one challenge Turning Point faces is not always money. “We’re very well managed, in that respect,” he said.
However, staffing can prove problematic, often forcing the organization to spend a significant amount of money on temporary or overtime help to maintain its high standard of care.
Further complicating that already considerable challenge is the unavoidable fact that much of Turning Point’s resident population is aging, which requires retrofitting homes for age-related issues. Naturally, this requires the right resources.
A way to bridge the gap between staffing, on-the-ground challenges, and fiscal shortages resonates in Turning Point’s current call for board members. The organization is in need of support from talented individuals who can turn a strategic eye to these current, unique issues, while raising the funds or increasing staffing necessary to address them.
Citing his own rewarding experience as a board member, Steve shares, “For everything I’ve contributed, I’ve gotten back ten-fold.”
If you are interested in joining Turning Point’s board of directors, we invite you to contact Turning Point’s President & CEO Alan Klein. Of course, there are other ways to help our organization realize its vision to provide exceptional services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
