How to get better gas mileage 12 tips to improve gas mileage Congratulations, Claudia Hutchinson for receiving your Masters degree! 1 Keep your engine tuned up. Incorrect fuel ratio, bad spark plugs and incorrect spark timing can have a big effect on gas mileage. 2 Don't use your air conditioner (A/C) unless you really need it. The A/C compressor puts an extra strain on the engine. 3 Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause more resistance to travel. 4 Avoid stop and go traffic by taking alternative routes or less congested travel times. 5 Ask other people with the same type of car what kind of gas mileage they get, it may alert you to a problem with your car. 6 Use a good engine oil, preferably a synthetic or standard oil treated with a friction reducing oil additive. These have been known to improve fuel economy by as much as 12%. 7 Reduce the weight in your vehicle as much as possible. (Good excuse to get the mother-in-law out of the car....) 8 Use your cruise control whenever possible. 9 Keeping your highway speed at 55 mph can improve you gas mileage by as much as 25%, compared to 75 mph. (Yeah, I know--this one's tough for us too) 10 Avoid trying to increase speed while climbing a hill, your engine is already working hard trying to overcome gravity. 11 Keep your windows closed when possible. Open windows actually reduce gas mileage compared to using the A/C. 12 Remove accessories, such as luggage rack, etc. that lower the aerodynamics of your vehicle. Information from http://www.mpgplus.com. Foundations In the last issue we focused on grants. This time I want to discuss Foundations themselves. There are several different kinds of foundations and it is important to understand those differences when looking for support. In California we have a very large foundation known as the CaliforniaEndowment which was established to improve the access to health care. It isan example of a private foundation which is the most common type. A privatefoundation is an organization established exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious purposes. Another kind of foundation is known as a community foundation. The SanDiego Foundation is one of these. A community foundation is a collection of smaller funds that are given to the foundation to manage, usually by a familythat wants to be philanthropic. But other organizations can open funds in a community foundation as well, including nonprofits. When a nonprofit opens a fund in a community foundation it is usually for a specific purpose that has to do with their mission. The community foundation will invest the money tohopefully grow the fund, but they do not give it out in grants to otherorganizations. The third the kind of foundation is a corporate foundation. Banks and otherorganizations that recognize that it is important to give back to the communityin which they do business do make charitable contributions and grants tononprofit organizations. Banks by law must do a certain amount ofcommunity reinvestment funding. So even if a nonprofit’s money is held by a bank, donors can be educated that a portion of any fees charged to the nonprofit do in fact find their way back to the community. Pet of the Month Gracey, the talented pooch! Meet Gracey, a one year old German Shepard/Greyhound mix. She is the pet of Stephanie Cornelison, Graphic Communications Specialist. Gracey enjoys running with Stephanie, playing with her toys, lounging on her couch cushion and admiring herself in the window. She is full of energy and is always ready to play. Gracey’s favorite treat are bananas. Her hidden talent is that she can peel and eat the entire banana, leaving the whole peel behind when she is finished! providers, siblings, and group home staff. We would like to thank the DJ Hank Hughes for donating his services and doing a great job with our consumers. We want to cordially thank Food Max, Old Town Mortgage, Carl’s Jr., Elk’s Lodge, Hank Hughes, Sossi’s Hair Salon, Taquito’s Mexican Restaurant, Old Fisherman’s Grotto, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Maya Cinema, Novias Rossi’s, Albertson’s & Nob Hill Foods for helping us make our dance successful. The winner of the Staff Safety Meeting Raffle for this month was Cecilia Saucedo. Fresno Welcome to new coaches Vivian Perez, Robbie Goodwin. Welcome back to coach Maricella Palicios. We want to welcome our new SL DSS Eddie Hunter. Lot's of fun activities for the Consumer's in the Spring and Summer! This month was big hat days in Clovis. Also, the Clovis parade and rodeo. We are all working hard as team to get ready for CARF in June. Coalinga The month of April was full of fun for the Coalinga office. They had an Easter egg hunt and barbecue to celebrate Easter. They also participated in the Special Olympics in Fresno where Richard C. brought home a 3rd place ribbon in the 100 meter run. Also, consumer Joey T. placed 1st in the assisted 10-meter walk. Consumers at the Coalinga office finished the month by taking a trip to the Visalia Mall where they had lunch and shopped around. Ukiah Ukiah has finally started to see some sun! There was about 31 days of rain out of 40 days. We are all ready for those great walks and picnics at the lake. New consumers, Eddie R. and Paul S. have recently joined us. We are excited to be involved in helping them achieve their goals. One Katie Landon, and family went to Disneyland, Pismo Beach walking of Eddie’s first activities was coloring eggs and celebrating with an on the sand and playing in the ocean, and relaxing at Angels Camp Easter egg hunt. exploring the caves for a couple of days. They had a much needed vacation. We think she brought the sun back with her!Paul R. recently purchased a new bicycle, just in time for summer. Now, washing clothes, after a long bike ride is no problem, he and A week later, Glen Bellach, and family went on vacation to the brother Sam purchased a new washer and dryer. No more quartersDisneyland area, enjoying the rides, and the hot tub in the evening, for the laundry mat for these two!trying to relieve their feet from walking all day! Home Office The Home office would like to Wendy is making me do this, but in thank Ericka, Jim and Anna March two days before my 26th Jenkins’ daughter for coming in birthday I ran my first 5k, for the during her spring break to help National Foundation for Autism with the shredding of endless Research (NFAR). It was so much paperwork. Thank you Erica for fun and I am definitely going to do you all your help! You are more races. My ultimate goal is to welcome back to help anytime! run a half marathon in 2007! Santa Clara On April 6, staff celebrated Luat's (D.S.S.) birthday at were so predictable. For instance, whenever the Santa ClaraChevy's. The food was good as usual. Luat is a very picky office has a gathering, 95% of the time Allan (DSS) would eater and always 90% of the time that staff go with him, he bring his infamous veggie platter. They call this “his would order any entree that comes with fish. He is a very USUAL”. There was so much food varying from sloppy joes, health conscious person. Anyhow, when you eat at Chevy's rice and artichoke salad, black eye pea salsa, and so much on your birthday, they give you free dessert of some sort, more.along with a sombrero and some singing. It's really funny how it happened because Luat didn't expect staff to notify On April 22, the CAC activity for this month was a movie and Chevy's of his birthday, so coincidentally, as he got up to lunch at the Mercado in Santa Clara. Groups were divided answer a phone call, Chevy's staff placed the sombrero on into 4. The first two groups ate at World Wrapps and the his head, and he was isolated by them and quickly was other two groups ate at In & Out Burger. Next, they all joined forced to sit down. It was a very good surprise and he together and had dessert at Ben & Jerry's. Finally, the enjoyed every minute of it. groups split up again for the movie. Some watched Ice Age 2, while others watched The Wild. The consumers have For April's staff meeting, the staff decided to have a potluck. good taste in movies. Both movies were good.Everyone brought in a dish of their own. However, somestaff had a difficult time deciding what to bring, while others Board Bulletin In 2004 A- decrease the stigma for individuals who Community Catalysts for their generous Visions, a have mental illness. This program is donation. Your contribution will support service of designed to assist individuals while they those candidates who are dedicating their Scripps-Mercy participate in job readiness and job lives to seek competitive employment.” Behavioral placement activities. This year to help their Speaking for Community Catalysts Jim Health was work continue President and CEO of Jenkins said, “We are proud to be able to chosen as the Community Catalysts, Jim Jenkins support this work which we Catalyst of the presented a $500.00 contribution to Kevin acknowledged as a past Catalyst of the Year. A-Visions Wilson, Sr. of A-Visions at Scripps Mercy Year recipient. It’s all about working is a pre- Hospital. together, Changing Lives – Changing vocational Mr. Wilson said, “On behalf of the A-Vision Communities.” training program, located at Scripps candidates, we graciously thank Mercy Hospital, with a mission to Star of the Month- April 2006 Sharon Johnson Community Catalysts of California was excited to announce that Sharon Johnson the Office Assistant in the Stockton office was se-lected as the Star of the Month for April 2006. Sharon has been a great asset to our company since she was hired in July of 2005. She is the friendly, smiling face as you walk into the Stockton office. She represents our company values, as she is com-passionate, resourceful, respectful and trustworthy. She is willing to go above and beyond her duties and is wonderful and helpful to the consumers and staff that come into the office. Sharon is always pro-fessional and will take on new tasks and projects to expand her job duties. She maintains a positive and professional attitude and always offers to help staff in the different programs. Sharon has demonstrated her commitment to providing the highest quality of services and she is truly a catalyst at heart. Congratulations, Sharon! Consumer Catalyst of the Month- May 2006 Jay Rigdon Community Catalysts of California is proud to announce that Jay Rigdon is our Consumer of the Month for May 2006. Jay has been with Community Catalysts of California for four years and three months. He is currently in our ILS program in Santa Clara has made great progress in his goal. Jay has done really well with his money management goal and has met with staff at all his scheduled meetings times. He has paid off 6 out of 9 outstanding bills and has obtained and managed a new checking and savings account. Jay continues to follow a budget plan and has been paying his bills monthly. He has made tough decisions to assure he is being financial responsible and is aware that at this time he is unable to move to a new apartment. Jay enjoys going out and watching movies on the big screen. He also enjoys going to the gym to pump some iron. Jay has worked at Whole Foods for over 10 years. Community Catalysts of California and the Butterfly Club are very proud of Jay and his achievements in meeting his goals. Way to go!! Community Catalysts of California 6050 Santo Road, Suite 145 Congratulations, Jay! San Diego, CA 92124Phone: 858-569-1055Fax: 858-569-1064www.communitycatalysts.org