Monica Downs ~ Office Manager

On April 22, 2011, a small group of Council staff and friends met at Amici’s Restaurant for a special celebration to honor Monica Downs, office manager of the Council.

It is not an easy task to keep the gears oiled and the engine quietly purring behind the scenes, so that an organization can run smoothly and steadily advance over difficult roads. It’s a thankless, unglamorous job-and absolutely vital to the harmonious continuance of day-to-day operations. At the Council on Developmental Disabilities, Monica Downs has been the humble mechanic that has seen to it for thirty years that the Council keeps chugging ahead.

Monica Downs is the picture of quiet unpretentiousness. But don’t be fooled by her mild manner. She is fiercely loyal to the Council, and as protective of all things in its domain as a Fort Knox guard. Many people who have had a relationship with the Council for years have never encountered Monica. Of course, as she unassumingly goes about her daily tasks, Monica inevitably is taken for granted by people who simple depend on her to be there. How many problems never grow big because Monica eliminates them while they are little and unknown to most of us? As Council gatekeeper, how much communication has she assisted, complaints has she fielded, information has she disseminated? Equipment keeps working, supplier are ever-present, bills are paid, and everyone has the supreme luxury of not thinking about it. except for one person. Let’s raise our coffee cups to Monica. And thank her for thinking about the cups and the coffee too.

“It is the mission of The Council to initiate positive change on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities.”