Northern Nevada Associates Host Holiday Party
FirstService Residential Northern Nevada hosted its annual holiday event on Saturday, December 3rd, at the Greater Nevada Field in downtown Reno. More than 60 associates and their guests enjoyed an evening of great food, fun games, raffle prizes and comradery. The evening kicked off with the Santa/Elf Hat contest – won by Andrea Bryant who sported a LIVE tree on her head! A special thank you to Callie Froese who coordinated the games, which included knocking over water bottles with a tennis ball tied in stockings to your head, stacking golf balls, and wrapping a box while wearing oven mitts! Maurice Talley acknowledged those associates who completed their CORE curriculum: Rebecca Todriff, Crystal Chambers, RJ Newton, Andrea Bryant and Stephanie Viau.
“With only 40 associates in attendance in 2015, the event is a testament to our growth. It is exciting to know we have even outgrown the event location! Here’s to continued development and success in 2017,” said Melissa Ramsey, vice president Northern Nevada Community and Lifestyle Services.
FirstService Residential Culture Club Participated in Annual Rose Regatta Dragon Boat Festival
On Saturday, October 8, 2016, the FirstService Residential Culture Club participated in the annual Rose Regatta Dragon Boat Festival. A crew of 22 FirstService Residential associates formed a dragon boat team, which competed against 36 other teams throughout the day. The FirstService Residential team took second place in the first heat and won first place in the second heat against two very competitive teams.
The Rose Regatta annual event raises funds for St. Rose Dominican’s R.E.D. Rose Program. Formed in January 2006, the R.E.D. (Responsible Early Detection) program provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, ultrasounds, surgical consultations and biopsies to women and men 49 years old and younger who lack adequate health care coverage or the financial means to obtain them. The 2016 Rose Regatta raised nearly $100,000!
Although there is some discussion about why dragon boating originated, the sport began in China more than 2000 years ago. One theory suggests that the races sprung from superstitious beliefs that the boat racing would ensure prosperous and bountiful crops. Another says that races started as simulated attempts to rescue the body of Qu Yuan (343-278 BC), a patriotic poet. Dragon boating consists of a boat of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a drummer who sits in the bow and the steersperson who paddles from the stern to help the team cross the finish line faster than its competition. Dragon boat racing is considered the purest form of a team sport because it encompasses the elements of power, speed, synchronization and endurance. The Dragon Boat Festival is a national holiday in China.
FirstService Residential associates routinely volunteer for philanthropic endeavors in an effort to live our mission statement and core values. The collective goal is to make a difference. Every day.
“Without a doubt, it’s team work that makes this dream work,” says Maurice Talley, FirstService Residential corporate trainer and Culture Club president. “We look forward to putting together a team for the 2017 event.”
FirstService Residential Hosts Annual Appreciation Event for HOA Board Members in Northern Nevada Company shows appreciation for selfless volunteers
FirstService Residential, the leading community management company in Nevada, held its annual Board Appreciation Night for board members in northern Nevada on Thursday, October 20, 2016. The event recognized board members for generously volunteering their time to serve the communities in which they live. “Serving as a volunteer board member is often a very challenging, and sometimes thankless job,” said Steven Parker, president of FirstService Residential in Nevada. “The countless hours and energy that they dedicate to their communities is definitely something worth commending.”
More than 100 attended the event, which was held at the AAA Four Diamond rated Peppermill Resort in Reno, NV. The evening started with an hors d'oeuvres and cocktail hour, followed by a three-course plated dinner. Comedian Steven Scott, who has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC and Fox, provided entertainment. Following dinner, guests had ample time to mingle. “I would say your board of directors reception at the Peppermill was a real success. I am one who has always gathered significant information in casual gatherings,” said attendee Bob Grant, Treasurer of Dayton Valley Community Association.
“We are proud of the strong relationships that we have built with our board members and their residents throughout the years and it is our pleasure to show our appreciation,” said Parker. “We are honored to be chosen by these board members to assist them in achieving their visions and goals for their communities.”
Many board members were overwhelmed with gratitude and surprised that an event was being held in their honor. Melissa Ramsey, vice president of FirstService Residential Northern Nevada Community and Lifestyle Services stated, “Board Appreciation Night offers a relaxed environment for board members to meet one another, share their stories and enjoy a good laugh. I look forward to this each year.”
FirstService Residential Partners with Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest
Associates from FirstService Residential volunteered at Las Vegas’ Opportunity Village Magical Forest. The annual holiday event held Thursday, December 15, 2016, benefitted over 600 local at-risk elementary students. More than 30 associates from the Las Vegas valley manned activity stations and rides as a part of Cheyenne’s Magical School Bus Tour program. FirstService Residential also sponsored a class of students from Doris Hancock Elementary School, which provided them transportation, admission, and backpack of goodies to take home.
Nicole Caples, a volunteer and associate with FirstService Residential knows first-hand the importance of the many services that Opportunity Village provides. Caples 18-year-old nephew, Brock was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome shortly after he was born and was not expected to live past the age of five. Nicole has been volunteering at Opportunity Village since 1990. “It's very important for people to understand that just because someone has an intellectual disability doesn't mean they don't want the same out of life as people without a disability. They want a purpose in life and Opportunity Village provides this for them,” said Caples.
Founded in 1954, Opportunity Village is a non-profit organization that serves children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The renowned organization provides clients with community employment, training services, arts and social recreational activities. John and Linda Wasserburger, created Cheyenne’s Magical School Bus Tours in loving memory of their 5-year-old granddaughter, Cheyenne Kouba. The event gives children from kindergarten through first grade a field trip visit to the ever popular Magical Forest, where they can ride the Forest Express train and walk through the enchanted forest. The children also learn important life lessons about sharing, tolerance and being kind to all people.
FirstService Residential is a long-time sponsor of this program, which allows 5,000 students in 125 classes from 60 schools to take part in the program. “It is truly a rewarding experience to be able to provide these children with, in some cases, the only holiday magic they may receive this year,” said Maurice Talley, corporate trainer for FirstService Residential in Nevada. “We always aim to make a difference and bring value to the communities we live in.”
Charity Golf Event
On Friday, November 11, 2016, FirstService Residential sponsored a hole in the second annual Foundation Assisting Seniors and the Veterans of Sun City Aliante charity golf tournament. The tournament was held at the Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas where associates Nirvana Hopkins and Heather Dodge played in a foursome with Chris Wood, vice president development and Cameron Clark, business development manager.
The Foundation Assisting Seniors is 501(c)(3) public benefit charitable corporation established in 2002. The foundation stemmed from the noticeable struggle that the elderly have on a daily basis, from transportation to obtaining mobility equipment to everyday household chores and maintenance. Since the establishment, hundreds of volunteers take time to assist the elderly with these issues and have responded to over 75,000 requests. “The ultimate goal of the foundation is to improve the quality of life for seniors by ensuring that they remain as safe and comfortable as possible in their own home as they age,” said M. Favil West, co-founder and president of The Foundation Assisting Seniors
This was the third year that FirstService Associates associated volunteered to support the event. Golf was followed by a luncheon and an awards ceremony recognizing those who dedicate their time to making a difference in the lives of seniors across Nevada.
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