One of the benefits we have had in this community for 16 years has been Quality Products Inc., a sheltered workshop, to provide employment for people with disabilities.

During much of this time they were highly successful and provided work for as many as 100 individuals.

Clem McFarland has done a tremendous job as director. He has developed programs, found contracts, and designed the work. His leadership has not only benefited those working for Quality Products, but also the entire community, accomplishing tasks for businesses and manufacturing that were helpful. It's amazing what they have done. These workers were able to perform certain tasks that others would not have had the patience or the accuracy to perform.

Sheltered workshops are something I have been familiar with for a number of years. There was a workshop in the community a few years before Quality Products was established. I was on the board when it first was organized and served sometime as a board member. This workshop constructed and sold wooden pallets. I was not on the board when there was a terrible accident. One of the workers cut off both hands with a saw. As a result of that accident, the workshop was discontinued.

There were people in the community recognizing the need for a Sheltered Workshop and Quality Products was established. Over the years, there have been many individuals who have volunteered in a variety of ways and supported the center. The board has been faithful and has been dedicated to the success of the workshop.

Through the years, Clem has been optimistic about the sheltered workshop. They had contracts, employed several workers and were meeting with success. In recent months he has expressed concern about not having the contracts that they had and not getting new ones. More recently he told me that they might have to shut the workshop down -- something that he did not want to do. Several in the community have been concerned about the workshop.

Last week it was not a surprise to see an article in the Nevada Daily Mail, "Quality Products says closing is imminent unless new options arise," written by Steve Moyer. He said, "Unless the financial situation improves May 31, 2006, will be its last day." By that time the workers at the workshop had received notification and had began to worry about what they were going to do.

During the chamber of commerce luncheon held Friday, Missouri Welding Institute owner Tom Hollands and school director Bryan Hollands made an appeal to those in attendance. They are concerned about their next door neighbor in the Industry Park, Quality Products.

It was not until I read an article in the Sunday Herald-Tribune, "Businessman pleads with community to rally its support for sheltered workshop," that I found out that Tom had addressed the Rotary Club on Thursday. He said many of the same things at both meetings.

WMI had used their marketing resources to send out more than 2,000 letters to manufacturers in a radius from Nevada and to Kansas City and other major population areas. The letters told about the workshop with the effort of trying to get contracts for Quality Products. Tom expressed that with that many letters being sent something should be accomplished.

He was making his appeal in behalf of Clem and the workshop. It often works better for others to make the appeals instead of those being affected.

Tom expressed that it is important to those involved for the workshop to be continued.

He urged others to do what they can do to help retain the workshop.

The efforts that Tom and Brian are putting toward this project demonstrate one person can make a difference. Because they have dedicated themselves toward keeping the plant, others will join in.

Clem expressed appreciation for what Tom is doing. He expressed that Tom really got on the wagon and got moving. Clem remains optimistic by expressing that he hopes that it will be continued. He said that he had promised the customers that he would let them know six months ahead of any closure. That is a reason it has been announced that the workshop will be closed down without more jobs. It is being fair to the customers.

According to Clem there are others making an effort to enable the workshop to get jobs. Perhaps with enough effort success will be achieved and Clem and his group will continued to be in operation.

The chamber has asked Mary Ireland to develop a task force to determine ways the community might support keeping the workshop. She is a former mayor of Nevada and a long time civic leader. She is now in the process of formulating the membership for the task force.

Mary said that we have people who can work, but will not. The workers at the workshop want to work, but are limited on what they can do. It is a shame that the opportunity to work may be taken away from them.

Not having contract or work is not limited to Quality Products, but other workshops are faced with the same problems. Many of the tasks sheltered workshops are doing are being done in other countries.

During Tom's talk he expressed that the workers are concern about what is going to happen to them. An expression he made that stuck with me was, "Look at their faces." This community needs to express congratulations and thanks to Tom and Brian for stepping out and giving leadership on this endeavor. Also, thanks goes to others who are making an effort to keep Quality Products.

Hopefully, there will be a Quality Products Inc. in operation in our community for many years in the future. Looking at the workers faces and seeing their concerns is a motivation to put forth effort to keep the enterprise.

Look at their faces.