Natick News and Notes

By John HarlowNovember 3, 2009

Disability Employment Awareness Month
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) J.A. "Yogi" Mangual was the guest speaker during the Disability Employment Awareness Month program. Mangual, a former Natick Soldier Systems Center commander spoke of how his employer, the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind is p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Team Building
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Town Hall Meeting
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Natick Garrison held a town hall meeting on Oct. 13. At the meeting Ted Good of the Northeast Region (NERO) Installation Support Team (RIST) team chief spoke to the community about the changes being made at the regional level. During his presentation, he showed the key players at NERO for the Natick Garrison Community.

The Garrison leadership recognized 15 people with different awards ranging from length of service awards to the achievement medal for civilian service. Sixteen new employees were also welcomed to the Natick community.

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On Oct. 23, the Garrison staff participated in a team building training exercise in the Fenway Park section of Boston. Teams worked on communication skills, time management and the ability to improvise. At the end of the event, Lt. Col. Kari K. Otto, the Garrison Commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Mittie Smith along with the newest and longest tenured employees of Natick cut a cake to celebrate the third birthday of Installation Management Command.

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Ret. Brig. Gen. J.A. "Yogi" Mangual, a former Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) commander returned as the guest speaker for the National Disability Employment Awareness Month program. The general spoke of the theme for this year which is expectation + opportunity = full participation.

Mangual currently serves as executive vice president and president of Puerto Rico Operations for the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind.

Seeing a person who has a disability become a contributing member of the work force makes the retired generals job worth going to.

"It is indescribable," said Mangual. "One person comes to mind that is 67 years-old and blind and had never had a job until we had provided him one. When he received his first paycheck, he was in tears because he didn't want to cash it because it was the very first time he had the chance to bring a paycheck home. It brought tears to my eyes and continue to strive to be able to provide that opportunity to others."