The following news articles pertain
to Orion ISO, Meridian Services, Zenith Serices, and
Orion Associates.
For Orion ISO specific new items, please
check out Orion ISO News.
Orion ISO also regularly publishes Constellation and Training
Times to keep you up to date.
Our Organization Noted for its “Open Environment” Policies
“Kids and Dogs” in the Workplace
August 2008
Orion Associates, Meridian Services and Zenith Services strive to create a work environment that is friendly and welcoming towards its employees and supportive of their personal lives. As a part of that effort, the organization has established an “Open Work Environment" policy (the policy text included below) that allows employees to have their children and pets in the workplace, within certain guidelines.
Headwaters Relief Organization Hosts the "Resilience in the Aftermath of Disaster" Event
July 2008
Headwaters Relief Organization hosted the “Resilience in the Aftermath of Disaster” event at the organization’s offices, on July 31, 2008, to mark the first anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse.
The primary focus of the event was to assist those who have struggled in the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse and other weather-related events, such as the Hugo tornado and flooding in southeastern Minnesota. The event was designed to help and support, not only those who were directly involved in a traumatic event, but those who were indirectly involved, including those who helped others or had a loved one who was involved in an event.
Headwaters Relief Organization Responds to the Flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
June through July 2008
On June 12, 2008, the rain-swollen Cedar River poured over its banks into the homes and businesses of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The resulting devastation was overwhelming. It was estimated that one hundred blocks of Cedar Rapids, including four thousand homes, were under water. The flooding was above 500 year levels, in what the National Weather Service called a “historic hydrological event.”
In response to this disaster, Headwaters Relief Organization called for volunteers and organized six trips with a total of fifty volunteers who gave of their time, energy and enthusiasm to serve the people of Cedar Rapids, from late June through the end of July.
Cheryl Vennerstrom Recognized by More Magazine, on More.com, as an “Inspiring Friend”
June 2008
Cheryl Vennerstrom, Chief Operating Officer, Orion Associates, was recognized by More magazine, on More.com, as an “Inspiring Friend.” Cheryl was nominated by Rebecca Thomley, Chief Executive Officer, Orion Associates.
Orion Associates Receives a “Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award”
April 2008
Orion Associates was one of five Minnesota organizations to receive a “Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award,” presented by the Minnesota Psychological Association.
Rebecca Hage Thomley Receives the Minnesota Psychological Association’s “Community Involvement Award”
April 2008
Rebecca Hage Thomley, Orion Associates’ Chief Executive Officer, received a “Community Involvement Award” from the Minnesota Psychological Association, on April 25, 2008, in recognition of her work in founding and leading the River of Hope project and for her efforts in the creation of the Headwaters Relief Organization.
“A River of Hope” Returns to New Orleans Two Years After Our First Relief Trip
November 2007
Zenith Services volunteers returned to New Orleans with the “A River of Hope” project, over Thanksgiving weekend, November 24-27, 2007 to assist with the ongoing rebuilding efforts in the city. This trip was undertaken on the second anniversary of our first trip to the Ninth Ward and was our ninth large group trip to New Orleans taken since Hurricane Katrina devastated a large part of the Gulf coast.
The Headwaters Volunteer Project Emerges from the “A River of Hope” Project, and Volunteers Assist With the Recovery Efforts in Rushford Minnesota
September 2007
The Headwaters service volunteer project is the newly incorporated service organization of the Orion Associates, Meridian Services, Zenith Services, Orion Intermediary Services Organization family of companies. As a non-profit volunteer organization, Headwaters’ goal will be to continue the work begun by “A River of Hope,” providing a means to bring volunteers to serve at future disasters, in other locations, as the need arises.
Over Labor Day weekend 2007, volunteers experienced in Rushford, Minnesota work that was very similar to our efforts in New Orleans after Katarina; gutting homes, cleaning up debris, and responding to families in need.
The Two Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina: “A River of Hope” Volunteers Make Eighth Trip to New Orleans
September 2007
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans over two years later, yet some areas of New Orleans remain devastated and abandoned. There is still a staggering amount of work that needs to be to be done. The “River of Hope” project volunteers responded to this need by returning to New Orleans for an eighth major relief trip, to assist with the rebuilding efforts, over the weekend of September 14th to 17th.
Rebecca Hage Thomley Chosen as “A Woman to Watch”
July 2007
The Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal chose Rebecca Thomley, Chief Executive Officer of Orion Associates and its affiliated companies, as “A Woman to Watch” in their July 2007 “Women in Business” issue. She was honored at a luncheon sponsored by the publication at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2007.
Our Fifth Annual Celebration of Cultural
Diversity
March 2007
Our organization's consumers and employees gathered together,
once again, as Orion Associates, Meridian Services and
Zenith Services held its Fifth Annual Celebration of Cultural
Diversity, on March 12th, at the Maple Grove Community
Center, in Maple Grove.
“A River of Hope” Construction
Crews Return to New Orleans
March 2007
“A River of Hope” volunteers returned to
New Orleans over the weekend of March 3rd through the
6th, to assist with the ongoing rebuilding efforts in
the city. This was our seventh trip to New Orleans since
Hurricane Katrina devastated a large part of the Gulf
coast. While our organization was well represented by
nine of our employees, the majority of thirty-two volunteers
were building professionals who worked on rebuilding
a number of community structures in the Ninth Ward. Fourteen
of the volunteers were returning to New Orleans and eight
were volunteering for the first time. The businesses
and educational institution represented included Glacier
Plumbing, of Cedar, Minnesota, Tech
Builders, Pratt
Homes, and Dunwoody
Institute.
“Groove Thing” Opens at
the Mall of America
January 2007
We would like to announce that “Groove Thing,” a
new attraction in the Park at the Mall of America, is our
organization’s latest project!
“Groove Thing” is a video entertainment system
that utilizes high tech video equipment. Customers can
select from a wide variety of music videos and our staff
record them with their larger than life heads superimposed
on dancing bodies. The experience is a lot of fun for everyone
and the customers get to take home a hilarious DVD.
“A River of Hope” Opens
a Free Mental Health Resources Center
January 2007
“A River of Hope” has opened a free Mental
Health Resource Center in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans,
in January, to meet the needs of residents recovering from
the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The center is staffed
by volunteer social workers from Minnesota as well as national
mental health professionals.
A Year After Our First Trip, “A
River of Hope” Returns to New Orleans to Help with
Hurricane Katrina Clean Up and Rebuilding
November 2006
The “River of Hope” volunteers returned to
New Orleans for a sixth time, over the weekend of November
18th through the 21st, to continue to assist with the ongoing
clean up and rebuilding efforts in the city. This was the
largest of the “River of Hope” trips, and included
sixty-seven volunteers.
As the Deadline Approaches, “A
River of Hope” Returns to New Orleans to Help
with Hurricane Katrina Clean Up
August 2006
Our “River of Hope” volunteers returned to
New Orleans in early August to continue to assist with
the clean up and rebuilding efforts in the Ninth Ward,
east New Orleans, and Saint Bernard’s Parish. This
was the organization’s fifth trip to the region.
“A River of Hope” Relief Project:
Orion Associates, Meridian Services and Zenith Services
Employees Return to New Orleans to Help with Hurricane
Katrina Clean Up Over Fathers’ Day Weekend
June 2006
Joined by general contractors, plumbers, and electricians,
our “River of Hope” volunteers traveled to
New Orleans over Father’s Day weekend to assist
with the clean up and rebuilding efforts in the Ninth
Ward and Saint Bernard’s Parish. This was our organization’s
fourth trip to the region.
“A River
of Hope” Relief Project: The Work Continues
June 2006
Long after the flood has subsided, the
work continues. A River of Hope Relief Project
is well defined in the following article, written by Beth
Schoeppler.
Bringing
A River of Hope *
(Adobe PDF Format - 295kb)
*Requires Adobe Reader. 
Orion Associates,
Meridian Services, and Zenith Services are Awarded
Another Three-Year CARF Accreditation!
March 2006
We are pleased to announce that CARF,
the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission, has reaccredited
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and Zenith Services
for another three years!
“A River of Hope” Relief
Project: Our Organization is Joined by Community Volunteers
and United States Senator Mark Dayton as We Return to
New Orleans for a Third Time to Help with Hurricane Katrina
Clean Up
March 2006
Orion Associates, Meridian Services Zenith Services employees returned to New Orleans over the weekend of March 24th through 28th to assist with the clean up and rebuilding efforts in the Ninth Ward and St. Bernard’s Parish. This time, we were joined by volunteer contractors, plumbers, roofers and electricians, as well as by United States Senator Mark Dayton.
“A River of Hope” Relief
Project: Orion Associates, Meridian Services and Zenith
Services Employees Return to New Orleans to Help with
Hurricane Katrina Clean Up Over the Martin Luther King,
Junior Weekend
January 2006
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and
Zenith Services sent twenty-five employees and volunteers
to New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, over the Martin Luther
King, Junior holiday weekend, January 13 to 16, 2006,
to help with ongoing Hurricane Katrina clean up efforts.
Marya Hage Recognized as a Minnesota
Trendsetter
January 2006
Marya Hage, our organization’s
founder, was recognized as a Minnesota Trendsetter in
the January 2006 edition of Minnesota Monthly’s
semi-annual profile of the regions leading companies
and their key executives.
“A River of Hope” Relief
Project: Orion Associates, Meridian Services and Zenith
Services Send Employees to New Orleans to Help with Hurricane
Katrina Clean Up Over Thanksgiving Weekend
November 2005
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and
Zenith Services sent thirty-five employees and volunteers
to New Orleans’ Ninth Ward to help with clean up efforts
after Hurricane Katrina, over Thanksgiving weekend, November
25 to 28, 2005.
Our Fourth Annual Celebration of Cultural
Diversity!
November 2005
On Thursday, November 3rd, Orion Associates,
Meridian Services, and Zenith Services hosted its fourth
annual Celebration of Cultural Diversity at the Maple
Grove Community Center, in Maple Grove.
Rebecca Hage Thomley’s
Work with the American Red Cross Inspires the Founding
of “A River of Hope”
October 2005
Dr. Rebecca Hage Thomley has been a volunteer
with the American Red Cross for over twelve years. In
her most recent assignment, she was sent to New Orleans
following Hurricane Katrina to work as a psychologist.
Our Third Annual Celebration of Cultural
Diversity!
February 2005
On Wednesday, February 16th, Orion Associates,
Meridian Services, and Zenith Services hosted its third
annual Celebration of Cultural Diversity. Once again,
the celebration was held at the Maple Grove Community
Center, in Maple Grove.
Our Organization Celebrates its Twenty-Fifth
Anniversary
January 2005
January 2005 marks our organization’s
twenty-fifth anniversary! Marya Hage founded Meridian
Services, the company that began our organization, in
1980, as one of the first Semi-Independent Living Skills
(SILS) providers in Minnesota.
Our Metropolitan Office Holds
an Open House!
May, 2004
Our Metropolitan Office held an Open
House on May 19, 2004 to celebrate the move to our
new location.
Our Metropolitan Office Moves
to Golden Valley
November, 2003
We are excited about the many ways
our new location allows us to improve our services.
To read more about our new ammenities, click here.
Our Second
Annual Celebration of Cultural Diversity!
October, 2003
On Wednesday, October 22nd,
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and Zenith Services
hosted a Celebration of Cultural Diversity at the Maple
Grove Community Center, in Maple Grove.
Orion Associates,
Meridian Services, and Zenith Services are Awarded
a Three-Year CARF Accreditation!
March, 2003
CARF has announced that Orion
Associates, Meridian Services, and Zenith Services have
been accredited for a period of three years for its Personal
and Social Services (Vocational Services), Family Services
(In-Home Services), and Community Living Services (Residential
Services and SILS).
Our First Annual Celebration of
Cultural Diversity!
July, 2002
On Wednesday, July 31, 2002,
Orion Associates, Meridian Services, and Zenith Services
hosted a Celebration of Cultural Diversity.
Members of the Organizations’ Top
Administration Complete a Graduate Program and Receive
Master of Arts Degrees in Organizational Management
May, 2002
We are pleased to announce
that Rebecca Thomley, our organization’s Chief
Executive Officer, Stephen Hage, our Chief Administrative
Officer, Cheryl Vennerstrom, our Chief Operating Officer,
and Leann Thompson, our senior Program Administrator,
completed their studies in a graduate program at Concordia
University, Saint Paul, Minnesota, and received Master
of Arts degrees in Organizational Management.
Orion Associates Hosts a Leadership
Symposium “Building Community Through Leadership”
February, 2002
In February 2002, Orion Associates
hosted a leadership symposium entitled, Building
Community Through Leadership.
Marya Hage, our Organization’s
Founder, Serves at the Pentagon after 9/11
September, 2001
Following the September 11th
terrorist attack on New York and Washington, Marya Hage
was called to serve at the Pentagon, and was there from
September 16th to September 29th.
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