“After 38 years of service and dedication, Margaret Shultz is taking a permanent vacation.”
These are the opening words of a flyer reporting open house activity slated this week for Margaret Shultz, a veteran employee of the Department of Human Services in St. Joseph and Cass counties. Shultz has been serving as Community Resources Coordinator for the DHS in both counties.
Margaret Shultz in her DHS office in Centreville in mid-December 2008.
The St. Joseph County open house will take place Wednesday (July 11) from 3 to 5 p.m. at DHS headquarters in Centreville at 692 East Main Street.
The Cass County open house is slated for Thursday (July 12) from 3 to 5 p.m. at the DHS office in Cassopolis at 325 M-62.
The flyer notes that “Margaret began her journey with DHS (then known as DSS) on July 13th 1974 and will officially retire on July 13th 2012.” It also reports that she has been “the cornerstone for many community projects:”
- She started the Christmas project in 1975.
- Helped start KeyStone Place homeless shelter.
- She was involved in the start of the (DASAS) domestic assault shelter.
- Emergency Care Network in 1985.
- Habitat for Humanity in 1991.
- She works closely with the St. Joseph County Transportation Authority providing bus tickets for DHS customers.
Looking toward the open houses, Shultz said, “Please come to share memories and stories about the things we’ve shared during my time at DHS. I have lots of mixed emotions about retirement but I will forever treasure the friendship of people with whom I have worked and I am so proud of the wonderful things we have accomplished. These celebrations are less about me and more about the amazing power of teamwork.”
Shultz also said that others in the DHS office will be covering the job until her replacement is hired.
