Duck Becomes a Symbol of Hope for Anna....

Duck has much to be grateful for. President Martoni from CCAC's  Boyce Campus has awarded Duck with a certificate for his successful completion of the epoch making "Duck Therapy Program". Duck has graduated with a perfect grade point average of 4.0.

While contemplating the next move after release from the Point State Park Prison in Pittsburgh, Duck has already been applying his education and training and providing therapy to a young girl from Dallas, Texas called "Anna".

Like many people in our area and around the world, Anna suffers from health problems. Those of you with lung problems know that even at 80 or 90 Lung Capacity, breathing is diminished and take away from a persons happiness.

When Anna found out about Duck, her eyes lit up and she became full of hope. She must have told her family she was in terrible need of Duck Therapy as her family took her seriously and all boarded a plane for Pittsburgh.

Anna's illness is rare and chronic and leaves her open to many infections according to the Friday October 18th article on page 2 of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. But, this did not deter her from coming to see the Duck.

As it turns out like me, Anna has a thing for ducks and started collecting little rubber ducks when she was five years old.  She owns up to 200 of these bright and cheerful creatures. As stated in the article, "Who can frown and be sad when given a rubber ducky?"

As you can see Duck is helping Anna and others by lifting their spirits and filling them with cheerfulness. With joy and happiness Anna returns to Dallas with fond memories of Duck and the great fun she had with her family in our city of Pittsburgh.

While time is running out, feel free to say good-bye to Duck tonight and tomorrow. Duck has not divulged his future plans upon release, but father Duck is taking him back under his wings as they duck out of our fine city.

Good-bye Duck!

Wish you well Duck!

 

 

 

 

It is already October 17, 2013 and The Giant Rubber Duck, affectionately called, “Duck” will be leaving the waters of Pittsburgh soon.

 

It has been gray and rainy for days, I must go to say farewell before the fowl weather and heavy rains kick in, pardon the pun.

 

 

I always used to say on these days, "Good duck weather". But now that I know Duck, I try to restrain my tongue and consider his feelings. It is the kind thing to do.

 

After a quick peek, Duck turned his back on me when he saw me coming. “Why visit me now?” Quacks Duck.

 

But, when I pulled out the big luscious pear from my pocket that my friend Olga sent for Duck, he perked up a bit.

 

I told him I have been researching new homes for him so he can transition well on October 20^th, when he gets out of jail.

 

One option was Young’s Funny Farm.  He could join up with other Duck Therapists and meet new clients through the farm.

 

http://www.youngsfunnyfarm.org/therapy-ducks

 

They highly value therapy ducks and had this to say on their web site:

 

The ducks have a “magical” touch with people as they stroke the soft feathers.  They bring big smiles to all they visit.  

If that doesn’t appeal to duck, we can have him head up the next annual hospice fundraiser.  He can start planning now.

 

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120816/cb01/208160308/Rubber-ducks-annual-hospice-fundraiser-sale

 

Duck's spirits picked up a bit after our visit.  I was joined by many other visitors that wanted to wish Duck well today.

 

I brought him to pear to symbolize what a good pair of friends we have become and to always remember I am here for him as his counselor and will support his career choices.  I plan to monitor Duck after job placement to help buoy his spirits and to be his career coach. Good-bye for now Duck. We love you!!!

 

 

Rubber Duck desires "Duck Therapy" training program after career assessment....

           Blog 5:  Potential Employment and Career Testing

Poor Rubber Duck is running out of things to think about, so in the meantime the University of Pittsburgh's, Sigma Tau Delta honorary society donated some of the banned books they collected for Duck's reading pleasure.

Thanks to Aziz from Linked In and Louis Chandler, from the Monroeville Historical Society for additional suggestions for employment for the Rubber Duck.

Louis suggested that he sit on the river and catch all of the stinkbugs.

Aziz suggested adding a company logo on Duck as an advertisement. After thinking about this, I thought it would be a nice way to advertise the Kennywood Amusement Park in Pittsburgh.


                           Additional Ideas for Employment

• August Wilson Center                    Fundraiser
• Pittsburgh Audubon Eagles            Scarecrow
• Old Allegheny County Jail             Mentor
• State Unemployment Call Center   Cheerleader
• Pittsburgh Film Office                    Quacking for Stars
• River Rescue Crew Member            Escort - lost ducks

Special thanks to Niana Dightman from CareerLink for kindly setting up assessment testing for Duck.


Although they do various testing, she recommended the Myers Briggs Personality Test. Tests show that the Rubber Duck loves being with people and helping them.  Seems like Duck has an interest in helping others in areas of stress reduction and mental health.

Niana suggested that I use my connection with CCAC to see if they could funnel some of the dislocated worker funds or Trade Act funding to help the Rubber Duck to enroll in a training program.

Since there are currently no Duck Therapy programs on the approved college provider list, we will go together and approach President Martoni from CCAC's Boyce Campus for help to customize a program for the Rubber Duck.

From Counselor Dightman's session the Rubber Duck knows that it would be most successful if it does something it likes and is good at.

Turns out his father Mr. Hofman was pretty smart in exposing Rubber Duck to crowds of people.


Rubber Duck likes making people happy and is good at it.  The only thing is that Rubber Duck is looking for a little more autonomy and is hoping that a quick week long training in Duck Therapy is possible. Duck wants to be more than a pretty face.  Duck wants to contribute to society.

I heard through the grapevine that Daddy Hofman is coming to visit his Duckling and to coach Rubber Duck about future career choices. We wonder what is in store for the Duck.

 

Call to Employers: The Rubber Duck needs a job....

Blog 4:  The Pittsburgh Rubber Duck Seeks Employment


So, far no employers have made job offers to the Rubber Duck whose sentence at Point State Park ends on October 20.

With a loss of esteem it would be nice if  someone from the PA CareerLink could volunteer its services to help. I used to call on Employers in Westmoreland County, but I noticed that the CareerLink has an Allegheny County location with Account Representatives that could volunteer their services:

PA CareerLink® Pittsburgh/Allegheny County
425 6th Avenue, 22nd Floor
Pittsburgh PA 15219

Maybe someone can yell out the window with a megaphone to counsel the poor duck.....

Potential opportunities for Duck:

• Just Ducky Tours - Mascot
• Sandcastle Waterpark - Buoy
• Visit Pittsburgh- Greeter
• Venture Outdoors (North Shore) - Paddleboard and Kayak Instructor

Ducky would also be interested in retraining opportunities...Quack, Quack!!

Rubber Duck Allies with Ex-Prison Counselor

 

Blog Number 3:        The Rubber Duck Exhibits Exemplary 

                                          Behavior – No Bail Needed!    

 

Then newly incarcerated Rubber Duck began to think about

re-employment opportunities now that raising monies for bail is a non-issue. 
 

In a remarkable turn of events, The Rubber Duck bonded on Friday night with an unforeseen ally.  She used to visit the Greensburg State Prison and instructed incarcerated ones with the program called, “Project Reconnect”.  This program enables those inmates with little time left to serve to get counseling on how to reconnect with employers once out of prison.

 

Since incarceration, The Rubber Duck has been a model inmate in the waters at Pittsburgh’s Point State Park. Due to 24 hour security and surveillance we don’t expect The Rubber Duck to swim away anytime soon to nearby Rivers Casino.  Guards are currently documenting daily behavior in the prison log. Besides lacking proper ID to document its age for entry, The Rubber Duck cannot fit through the door since it is 40 feet high.

 

One dark spot against this usually pristine bird is that The Rubber Duck will not release its legal name or social security number and that the Rubber Duck did not obtain proper documentation to navigate through the Ohio River to Pittsburgh.

 

It is thought at this point that it should have obtained an International Visa. The Judge in the case gave The Rubber Duck leeway for instinctively following Daddy to the International Art Show in Pittsburgh. At this point in time, its father, Florentijn Hofman is not fully cooperating with authorities; however he did say that The Rubber Duck was born in Pittsburgh. No name or social security has been disclosed by him.

 

Counselor Hand noted The Rubber Duck’s otherwise squeaky clean background and cheerful demeanor and told the Judge, “Whenever people come in contact with it, they start singing and quacking." Notable too is that her first pet as a child was a young fluffy yellow duck.  This led to the immediate bonding of The Rubber Duck and Counselor Hand. 

 

The counselor is poised to fill out the on-line documents for unemployment and plans to act as a mouthpiece if needed for questioning by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; State Unemployment Compensation System (SCSC).

 

Lastly, Counselor Hand is working closely with the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board known as TRWIB for leads about contacting local employers with potential job opportunities for The Rubber Duck upon release from incarceration October 20, 2013.

 

To date, no employers have stepped forward with job offers.  We have opened the discussion to the public for ideas about possible future employment.