Haugh Reflects on Community Services of Starke County Career

Published: July 23, 2015 By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh is wrapping up her four-decade tenure with the local nonprofit organization. She started working at the then-Starke County Council on Aging 41 years ago and is preparing to retire at the end of the month. Haugh says the agency has evolved to meet needs that have arisen in the community.

They include meals on wheels, a food pantry and transportation services, to name a few. Haugh says dedicated volunteers make those offerings possible. She also credits the board members who have been part of the organization for its success and progress. One significant milestone was the construction of the current Community Services of Starke County building on East Culver Road.

“My dear husband found out about the Indiana Department of Commerce Community Focus Fund grant, and he applied for those dollars so we could build this facility,” Haugh said. “We moved in here in 1993. Ten years later we ended up getting another grant to build 12 foot to the north because our services were expanding, we needed more room. We needed some privacy for our clients.”

Haugh says helping others has been the most rewarding part of her job.

“I really love working one-on-one with some of the clients. I just try to show them the respect and the dignity they deserve. We don’t know what shoes they’ve walked in, and they don’t know what shoes we’ve walked in.”

Haugh was the guest of honor at a retirement reception yesterday. Even though she’s retiring from her full-time job, she says various volunteer commitments will keep her busy.

7/22/2015 Joan Haugh's Retirement Open House

Community Services of Starke County Hires New Executive Director

Published: June 4, 2015 By: Mary Perren

Rebecca Anspach

Community Services of Starke County will soon have a new executive director. Joan Haugh is retiring July 31st after 40 years with the nonprofit organization. The board of directors recently hired Becky Anspach of Star City to replace her.

She will start June 15 and assume the director’s duties on Aug. 1. Anspach hold both bachelors and masters degrees from Indiana University. She served as director of donor relations and research development for United Way of Cass County and previously worked as operations manager and human resources director for Bonnell Grain Handling in Star City.

Haugh said in a statement, “Becky will bring new blood, fresh ideas and a passion for the position. I am looking forward to working with Becky and introducing her to the members in the community.”

Community Services Director To Retire

Published: March 16, 2015

By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The long-time director of a local non-profit has decided to retire.

Joan Haugh has been with Community Services of Starke County for the past 40 years. She recently informed the organization’s board of directors that she will leave her duties at the end of July.

Haugh says she wants the agency to be prepared to carry on.

“It’s time for new ideas, new blood,” says Haugh. “You know, that type of thing to sustain the agency, and I want to quit before the good Lord makes me quit.”

Community Services of Starke County offers a range of services to elderly and low-income residents, including: transportation, vouchers, and maintenance help.

The organization’s board will now start the search for a replacement. Haugh says she’s confident her staff is well trained, meaning a focus on budgeting, accounting, and personnel management is likely to be a key focus for any replacement.

Upon her departure, Haugh says she doesn’t plan to be involved in Community Services of Starke County for the sake of the new director.

“In North Judson, I could probably deliver homebound meals because I’m not in the face of the new executive director,” says Haugh. “I want that person to feel free that they can go with their thoughts and ideas without me hovering over them.”

Hopeful that the programs continue, Haugh says none of the services they now provide existed in Starke County 40 years ago.

Given her years of experience, she says she’s learned that people need to put themselves in the other person’s shoes.

Community Services of Starke County Accepts Timely Donation

Published: February 20, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

The Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry will be able to assist even more families in need, thanks to a timely contribution. Ed and Deb Troike were selected as the Starke County winners in the Monsanto Foundation’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program. As the winners, they chose the organization to receive a $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities and the Monsanto Fund.

“We do know the needs of Starke County and feel this is as worthy an organization as we could ask for. So when our name was drawn the first thing I thought of was sending money right here,” Ed Troike said during a brief check presentation ceremony Thursday morning.

Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh had originally planned to use the donation to buy items for the food pantry but says a more urgent need has arisen.

“In the recent week or so we realized we need another freezer. Those cost about $3,800 to buy big freezers. We’ve tried to find a couple used ones unsuccessfully. So I asked Ed and Deb if they would mind if we put that money toward getting a new freezer. I tried to get a grant through USDA, and they want us to revise our bylaws and all that. Anyway, he said we could use that money toward that.”

Haugh adds the freezer will provide a lasting benefit to the food pantry.

“It will enable us to receive more product and keep it on site rather than passing it up. If we don’t take it, we lose it. We served 274 families last month, and they can certainly use any food that we get our hands on.”

Officials from Monsanto and the Starke County Co-Op were also on hand for the check presentation.

1/17/2014 Two Starke County Chamber of Commerce Awards Presented Last Night

By: Ben Haut
Published: January 17th, 2014

The Starke County Chamber of Commerce last night awarded the second annual Business of the Year award and the Henry F. Schricker Award during a ceremony held at the Bass Lake Property Owners Association Building. Dr. Ron May, president of Ancilla College, began the ceremony with an invocation, before Dorothy Osinski, chairman of the membership committee, handed out 10-year consecutive member certificates to 15 members who have been with the Chamber of Commerce for ten years continuously.

This year’s distinction of Business of the Year was given to Osinski Auction Service for serving the community in various ways since 1983, benefiting nonprofit organizations and holding a viable business in the community for many years.

The prestigious Henry F. Schricker Award was given to Joan Haugh after a few words from her son David. Chamber member and former award recipient Ted Hayes presented her with the award, saying it was the first time he’s “had the honor of introducing a saint,” and said Haugh has always displayed service before self.

Haugh was a driving force in creating the local Habitat for Humanity, and was instrumental in the creation of the Starke County Food Pantry. He said Haugh is “the type of person I’d like to be like when I grow up.”

Haugh said it was an honor to receive the award and thanked the Chamber and former award winners, saying her late husband, a former recipient, would be proud.

Joan Haugh Named Schricker Award Winner

By: Anita Goodan

Published: December 30th, 2013

Joan Haugh

The 2013 Henry F. Schricker Award winner was recently announced.

Joan Haugh was selected as this year’s winner. Haugh has been the director of Community Services of Starke County for 30 years and has been involved in many volunteer projects in the county. Some of those volunteer efforts include working with the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Habitat for Humanity, Moving Starke County Forward, Starke United and the Salvation Army. She is active in her church, the SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, and has previously taught CCD classes there as well as marriage preparation classes.

She sees the lack of a homeless shelter in Starke County as a major void in the area. A recent effort to identify those who are homeless resulted in 81 people in desperate need. She worries about these individuals, especially those exposed to the winter elements.

Haugh has the qualities of a true Henry F. Schricker Award winner. The former governor of Indiana and resident of Starke County used as his motto, “service before self,” and Haugh has proved to be a member of the community to look up to in this regard. Her late husband, Mike, was also a Schricker award winner in 2005.

Joan Haugh will be honored during the Starke County Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Jan. 16 at the Bass Lake Community Center. To get your ticket, call the Starke County Chamber office at (574) 772-5548.