Harvey, ND

Tim Huseth, executive director, today announced that HAV-IT Services has been awarded the four year CQL Accreditation from The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).  The announcement completes a five-month process for HAV-IT Services and confirms that the organization shares CQL’s vision for person-directed solutions to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and people with mental illness. 

“We are extremely proud to meet the requirements for continued accreditation with CQL,” stated Huseth. “Our organization will continue our role as a leader creating opportunities and building relationships with the community. We feel this is the foundation to improving the quality of life for the people receiving supports and for fostering a stronger community. We look forward to the continued partnership we have had with CQL for the past 20 plus years to offer Personal Choice – Quality Services.”

 James F. Gardner, Ph.D., President and CEO of CQL, stated, “CQL commends HAV-IT Services for its success in increasing the quality of life for the people it supports. CQL Accreditation signifies organizational excellence in promoting a common vision of community participation and quality of life for all people.” 

The accreditation received by HAV-IT Services meets the new standards announced by CQL in May, 2005 as part of its “Quality Measures 2005^®”initiative. The new measures support strategies that enable service providers to develop a fully integrated quality management system.  The Quality Measures 2005^® represent a major break-through in how organizations can evaluate their own effectiveness at providing quality supports for people with disabilities and people with mental illness. 

The Quality Measures 2005^®combine many of CQL’s existing innovative quality management practices into one core document that provides a blueprint for moving an organization forward.  They call for service providers to integrate the assets of the social environment where they are based…an approach CQL has called Community Life^®.

HAV-IT Services is a not-for-profit organization providing support services to approximately 34 people who have disabilities in the Harvey area.

Headquartered in Towson, Maryland, CQL is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the definition, measurement, and improvement of personal and community quality of life for people with disabilities and people with mental illness. Known as the innovators in the human services field, CQL has for almost 40 years challenged “conventional wisdom” while pioneering the concept of “person-directed solutions” for service and support organizations, state and national government agencies, regional systems and networks, and professionals and self-advocates.

Saturday, May 31st was HAV-IT Services 21st Annual Friends and Family picnic.  It was held at JW’s Restaurant and Bowling Alley in Harvey.  There were approximately 125 in attendance, several of which were out of town visitors.  Everyone had a great time.  Thank you for attending!!

Pictured from left to right: Harvey Fire dept table, NDSU Bison table, HACF Board getting the check from the Eagles Club, Kevin Devorak (NDCF).

The Harvey Area Community Foundation held its first annual “Tour of Tables” event on Saturday, April 12th at the Harvey Eagles Club.  A few quotes from the evening were… “when we arrived, the atmosphere in the room was extremely high”; Dave Lautt;   “ the event exceeded my expectations, and I didn’t know what to expect”, Bill Deck;  “I already have my table planned for next year and can’t wait”, Kim Kittelson; “ I am hosting my own table next year”; Mikel Moore.

The HACF, Tour of Tables was a new event and every one of the table hosts did an excellent job of decorating their tables.  The First State Bank decorated in Hornet Pride,  the Lions Club was decked out with Lions material, HAV-IT had enough people attend to fill and decorate two tables, one of Social Capital and one on recycling.    The City of Harvey adorned their table in “Americana”  and Harvey Farmers Elevator created a field of grains, sunflowers, flax, beans and corn, all under glass to eat their meal on.  In the planning stages, the HACF board set a goal of 8 to 10 tables.  When it was all said and done, there was a grand total of 18  decorated tables.  Along with the fantastic flat iron steak dinner provided by the Eagles Club, there was a lot of mingling, bean bag toss for a “mystery prize”, raffles, an auction and viewing all the“decked out”  tables.  Kevin Dvorak from the NDCF spoke on other successful ND Community foundations and what they are doing with their grant dollars. Corbin Zerr and Kelsey Eckart “wowed the crowd”  by reciting  their state qualifying speeches. 

 The HACF was established in 2007 for the purpose of providing a method of receiving funds/donations to benefit projects or non-profits in the Harvey area.  The HACF is affiliated with the North Dakota Community Foundation which is a non profit tax-exempt corporation under the IRS code 501 c3  and North Dakota Law.  The HACF started their fund out with a $10,000 grant received from the Horizons Program and Northwest Area Foundation.  First International Bank and Trust, First State Bank and the National Bank of Harvey each donated $5,000 towards the fund.  By raising the first $25,000, the NDCF matched that with $5,000 for a total of $30,000 to start off the HACF. 

The Tour of Tables was an event to inform people of the HACF and to raise funds for the “foundation”.  These funds stay local and the principle remains in the HACF fund. The board is able to give grants away to projects and non-profit groups from the interest earned.  The event raised $3,000 along with a generous $2,000 gift from the Eagles Club, making a total raised from the night $5,000.  This $5,000 is matched from the NDCF making an entire sum of $10,000 from the Tour of Tables fund raiser.    

The HACF board is made up of Beth Huseth, Steve Wangen, Mark Friedt, Jason Schneider, Jason Grossman, Joel Schimke, Rocky Zastoupil, and Kim Moen.  If you have any questions about the foundation or would like to know more about the Tour of Tables event which is already being planned for next year feel free to contact a board member.