TMI EMPLOYEE NEWS ~ SPRING 2016
NAME OUR EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER
TMI needs a name for its employee newsletter! We would love your input. If you have a suggestion and would like to be a part of this contest, please email your newsletter name idea to gingerc@tmi-inc.org.  The winner will receive a $25 Target gift card. Please feel free to also email me any ideas for stories/tips you would like to see in the employee newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you. The winner will be announced at TMI's April 26 All Staff meeting.

Thank you!
TAKE IT TO THE MAX!
We are pleased to announce the winners of TMI's friendly competition "Take it to the Max!" Each quarter our programs set benchmarks they would like to achieve. Program winners for the 3rd quarter of this fiscal year were Community Living Services, Integrated Work and Supported Employment. While all of TMI's employees work very hard, we would like to congratulate these programs on not only meeting, but exceeding their benchmarks. Look for goodies in your program areas as a thank you! 
TMI Staff Representative
TMI's current Staff Representative to our Board of Directors, Brent Ramsey, has done an amazing job for the two terms he has served. He is currently in his last quarter of his second term, so he won't be eligible to serve again for the next term. Please keep in mind anyone you would like to nominate for this position in June. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Brent at brentr@tmi-inc.org with any staff questions or concerns.

Thanks, Brent, for representing all of us at Board meetings. Job well done!
HIGH FIVE!
We would like to congratulate the following employees on their promotions during the 3rd quarter of this fiscal year:

Aurora Chavez ~ Division Manager
Melinda Lara ~ Community Outreach & Resource Specialist
Esther Morales ~ Associate Division Manager
Christina Romero ~ Associate Division Manager

Congratulations!
Smart Shopping (excerpted from Kaiser)
When you make healthy choices at the grocery store, it's easier to keep making them every day at home. Arm yourself with these smart shopping tricks to avoid supermarket temptations.
Before you go

Plan your meals first. 
List what you will eat and drink for each meal over the next week. If you are using recipes, check to see which ingredients you have already and what you need to buy.

Stock up on healthy sides and snacks. 
Smart snacks like nuts and fresh or frozen fruit are quick and easy. And don't forget lots of vegetables that you can snack on raw, or steam, roast, or stir-fry. Whole grains, such as brown rice, bulgur, and quinoa also make deliciously healthy sides.

Organize your list by food type. 
Organizing your grocery list by food types not only makes it easier to shop efficiently, it also makes it easier to skip the junk food aisles.

For example, you could organize your list like this:

  • fresh fruits and vegetables
  • breads and whole grains
  • canned goods
  • frozen foods
  • meat, fish, and poultry
  • dairy and eggs
What's in store?

Avoid the bakery section. 
To boost sales, stores make sure shoppers can smell the cakes and cookies in their bakery section. They may be fresh, but they're full of sugar, fat, and empty calories. Head for the pre-packaged whole-grain breads instead.

Don't shop hungry. 
If your stomach is growling, you are more likely to buy unhealthy foods (and too much of them). Shop after a meal, or eat a small healthy snack before you go.

Look high and low. 
Tempting items are often placed at eye level on the supermarket shelves. Check out the items higher and lower on the shelves, which can be better choices and less expensive, too.

Stick to the edges. 
Try to shop around the outside aisles of the grocery store, where the fresh produce, dairy, and meat are usually found. Go down the other aisles only if you need a specific item from your list.

EXCITING CHANGES COMING TO TMI's WEBSITE
We have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on TMI's updated website. Changes to look for include a historical newsletter and media section, and a more vibrant look and feel. With the new website will also come an end to lengthy scrolling for TMI's newsletters. We will have the ability to shorten articles by linking stories to TMI's new website. If you have a client success story you would like to share in an upcoming "Transforming Lives" newsletter, please touch base with me at gingerc@tmi-inc.org. Look for an announcement soon that our new website is live!              
TMI 35th Anniversary Butterfly Gala
Be sure to get your tickets by May 1 to save $15! TICKETS Please contact Jane Moore at  janem@tmi-inc.org  with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at this very special event to celebrate TMI!