Create a Legacy, 2016

reate a egacy C L LOCAL guide to giving your time

and money 2016

Your Local Guide to Giving Your Time and Money

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CREATE A LEGACY

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“Bluebird Bob”

Grand Valley Audubon Society takes shape

By Melanie Wiseman

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n 1896 Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall of Massachusetts had enough of the slaughter of millions of waterbirds, particularly egrets and other waders, for use in the millinery trade. Their outrage led to the founding of the Audubon Society.

Today, hundreds of Audubon chapters are scattered across the United States for the vital purpose of protecting and preserving wild-

life and their habitats.

For the past 30 years, Bob Wilson, 83, has been a dedicated and tireless volunteer for the Grand Valley Audubon Society. He is humble, yet proud of his service to this community and the legacy he is passing on.

“It gets you out in nature and you can learn so many things,” said Wilson. “Everything in the world is connected, and birds are part of that.”

When Lucy Ela and three other

senior ladies started a birding club in the early 1980s, which evolved into the Grand Valley Audubon Society, they had no idea what a friend they were going to have in Wilson.

Wilson attended one of the Audubon’s monthly community educational programs, and when the request for volunteers was made, he jumped right in.

“I was motivated to be part of the Audubon Society because of my interest in birds, the educational programs they do for District 51, bird banding, and nature field trips for all ages in the community,” said Wilson. “Even on a bad day, volunteering for the Audubon Society is better than sitting at home.”

Wilson’s birding interest While traveling the Western Slope for his career over 35 years, Wilson became more aware of birds and his interest was piqued.

“It really got me interested in nature,” said Wilson. “Birds are very interesting and they are very sensitive to having the right habitat.”

Wilson and his wife Nancy have been on birding trips to the Texas Gulf Coast, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

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Wilson’s role emerges “County Planner, Bennett Boeschenstein, found some money for trails,” said Wilson. “The first section of the Riverfront Trail was the two-mile Audubon Section near Connected Lakes State Park.

It was suggested that some of the land the trail went through be made into a wildlife refuge. The county donated 70 acres. The only catch was the State Division of Mining and Geology invoiced the Audubon Society $600 for each year reclamation work was not being done.

“Even though we got the property free, all the money we were paying out upset me,” said Wilson. “Susie Rittenhouse was on the board and asked me if I would take over the reclamation project. I said, ‘Well I can do that!’”

Being born and raised on a rocky farm in Missouri adjacent to the Ozarks, Wilson found it a natural fit. He led work crews from the criminal justice system and the Western Conservation Corp, who cut down tamarisk and Russian olives, built trails and cleaned up the property a minimum of three mornings a week.

“We had so many rocks on the property, we couldn’t plant any grass,” said Wilson. “The community service workers picked up all those rocks, and we got grants to put down compost and native grass seed.”

A church youth group planted 500 native tree saplings in a single morning. Hundreds of native plants and bushes were also planted. To give the plants a good start, Bob got a grant to put in an underground sprinkler system on the five acres where the planting was done, as well as water rights to the Redlands Canal. The saplings are now self-sustained, towering trees.

“You know you really get attached to something you’re doing when things are growing and looking better all the time,” said Wilson.

“Even those doing community ser-

SPRING 2016

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vice enjoyed what they were doing because they could see results. Tens of thousands of hours were spent on that property.”

New passion and ultimate legacy With the Audubon Section of the Riverfront Trail in good shape, Wilson turned to a new venture.

“I started another passion of mine which I have now given away,” said Wilson. “That’s my legacy.”

Wilson knew there had been a decline in the mountain bluebird due to DDT and habitat destruction.

“The biggest problem is cavity nesting birds depend on dead trees,” said Wilson. “When people discovered chain saws, everyone cut down dead trees, leaving no cavities for them.”

In 1999, he built a shop addition onto his home, and began building nesting boxes for bluebirds, which were placed along Highway 141 through Unaweep Canyon.

“I was too cheap to buy wood, so I discovered that I could get vinyl fence scraps and figured out a way to glue them together to make nesting boxes,” said Wilson. “I got the go-ahead from CDOT to put them along the fence line. I started out with a few dozen boxes and ended up with 60. The majority of nesting boxes from 1999 are still out there and look like new.”

Building the boxes was just the beginning. For 16 years, from late March to September 1, Bob and a handful of Audubon volunteers spent five hours a week monitoring each of the 60 boxes and collecting data. Since disturbing nests is illegal, Wilson’s team did their scientific research through Cornell’s School of Ornithology.

“When you open the box for the first time and see eggs, it’s exciting,” said Wilson. “The study tracks how many boxes were nested, the number of eggs, and how many young hatched out and left the nest.

The birds go through this cycle twice a season, with four to six chicks per clutch of eggs.”

All 60 boxes are cleaned out each

year. Twelve boxes have systems that monitor the temperature of the box every four hours to ensure chicks are not lost because of heat. “Pairing boxes” are scattered throughout the canyon 10 feet apart from the bluebird boxes to give Ash-Throated Flycatchers their own space.

Some ranchers got upset, thinking the boxes were on their property. When Wilson told them a pair of bluebirds can eat 3,000 grasshoppers in one season, they asked for more.

“When I started this project, I discovered there were only two bluebird nesting cavities in Unaweep Canyon,” said Wilson. “Since the project’s inception, we have found that 4,000 mountain bluebirds have hatched and fledged out of those boxes!”

Although he has really enjoyed his bluebird passion, volunteers have dwindled the last few years, and Wilson found himself doing more of the work. He also suffered a stroke in the fall of 2014.

“Last year I told one of the Audubon Society members that I was going to take the boxes down because I just couldn’t keep doing it,” said Wilson. “When Susan Longest, biology professor at CMU, found this out, she cringed at all the valuable data that would be lost. So beginning last summer, CMU students who are here over the summer are going to collect the data that I used to. The boxes are staying up.”

“I will stay on as an educational volunteer, but I feel my passion is in good hands now,” said Wilson.

For more information on becoming a Grand Valley Audubon Society member or volunteer, for a schedule of education programs, or to purchase a copy of “Birds of Western Colorado Plateau and Mesa County,” published by the Grand Valley Audubon Society, visit: www.audubongv.org or call 241-4670. ■

CREATE A LEGACY

“The Grand Valley Audubon Society strives to foster an appreciation for birds and other wildlife, preserve a diversity of habitats, and provide a sustainable, healthy environment through education, research and individual action.”

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Living our legacies

By CJ Golden

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esterday I attended a memorial service. Yet another friend has passed from this realm to another.

More tears, eulogies, nervous laughter and remembrances; and the opportunity to reflect upon this good man’s legacy—one of strength, good humor, courage and the love of his fellow man.

Ed was a brilliant businessman who always saw the best in others. He encouraged us all to be more than we thought we could be and, under his mentorship, many achieved in areas that they thought were, if not impossible, highly improbable.

He loved people. His wit and open heart exhibited that part of him completely.

So went the speeches and stories

that family and friends regaled us with during the service—and they all were true. They touched everyone in the room as we nodded in agreement with each kind word spoken about our dear, departed friend.

When we left the funeral home, the word “legacy” presented itself to me in bold letters. My mind would not let it go and that became the theme of the day for me.

Legacy We discussed that which Ed left.

He left a legacy of love, laughter and kindness. What legacy will I leave when it is my turn to die and my spirit is all that others have of me to hold in their hearts?

Certainly I want to leave a legacy like Ed’s, one of love and laughter and kindness. I want to leave

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a legacy of having lived each day with a positive attitude, and I want to leave a legacy of being a woman who strove to become stronger and more courageous with every day of her life.

But as I sat with another dear friend later that day, discussing our now-deceased parents, I was presented with the legacy that I most want to leave. She was talking about her father who, although certainly not a perfect person, was a man she loved—and still loves— very dearly. She forgives his imperfections. When I asked her why, she simply stated, “Because he made me feel so good when I was with him.”

Ah. There it was. The legacy I am striving to leave. I want people to remember feeling good when they were with me.

And that can happen only if I begin to live that legacy now, while I am still alive.

I can make my kids and grandkids and friends and family members feel good by living my life with joy and gratitude; by reaching for the stars and understanding that even if I fall short of my goals, I will have soared in the attempt; by encouraging them through example and in words to do the same. I can live my desired legacy by simply being fun to be with, through play and song and maybe even my poor banjo skills. And I can live that legacy now with special times and values that I share with each of these peo-

SPRING 2016

ple who are so dear to me.

Hopefully my oldest granddaughter will remember us discussing things as silly as makeup and things as important as friendships. Will my youngest granddaughter remember me as a mentor and cheerleader as she wrote her first book? How about my oldest grandson; will he recall the times we studied his scripts together during rehearsals for his various stage plays? And will my two youngest grandsons remember the secret sign between us for “I love you” and sleeping in the “castle” in my bedroom during sleepovers?

How about my children – will they remember me for forging through adversity and coming out stronger and therefore encouraging them to do the same?

And my husband and my friends – will they recall my joyful times, raucous singing and positive attitude?

These legacies can happen only if I live them now and continue to do so until the end of my days.

We cannot hope to be remembered fondly if we don’t live a life of kindness and joyfulness, being supportive and loving to those around us and displaying the qualities we hope to be eulogized for.

It starts now, folks. Not later. For later might be too late. ■

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SPRING 2016

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Things to keep in mind before leaving a legacy

By Mark Luff, Elder & Phillips, PC

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any individuals are interested in planned giving or legacy giving to a charity or nonprofit. I often hear people ask, “When should I make the gift?” and “What kind of gift should I make?” The answers to these questions depend on the circumstances and goals of each individual. Some individuals may have the financial ability to make gifts during their lifetime. Others may need or choose to make such gifts at a later date, such as upon their death or after the death of a spouse or their children.

The most common type of gift is cash. However, noncash gifts can also be made, such as securities or property. If a security or real estate has increased in value, you should gift it directly to the charity. This will allow you to avoid capital gains tax, and take a deduction for the full value of the gift. If it has depreciated in value, sell it first and then donate the proceeds so you

can take a deduction for the capital loss and claim a deduction for the amount given.

Charitable gifts can be made at a later date by using a will or trust.

You can make a gift with no restrictions on their use, or make a gift for a specific purpose. Residuary legacies allow you to gift the balance of an estate or trust after other bequests are made first.

Contingent legacies allow you to make gifts to charities if named beneficiaries do not survive you.

This allows you to provide for your spouse and children first before a gift to a charity is made. Similar provisions can be used in IRAs or life insurance policies.

If you are considering a gift to a charity, contact your attorney or financial planner. Or speak with the charity’s planned giving director to help guide you through the process to ensure your intentions are followed. ■

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ow many people will this new van hold? We’re about to find out. No, not really, but some generous soul recently donated money to help purchase this van for the St. Mary’s Foster Grandparent Program. The much-needed van will be used to transport volunteers who help out in our community’s elementary schools.

If you’d like to volunteer and get chauffeured around in this comfortable new van, please call 298-9091.

To donate money, please call the St. Mary’s Foundation, which raises funds for essential programs that benefit the community, including cancer survivorship, cardiac rehabilitation, neonatal care, senior programs and more. More information on impact, services and how to make a contribution can be found at www.stmarygj.org/aboutfoundation or by phone at 298-7569.

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SPRING 2016

Avalon Theatre: Buy a paver, leave a legacy

By Priscilla Mangnall

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Avalon Rooftop Terrace

PAVER PROGRAM Become a part of the historic Avalon’s past, present and future!!!

P

lease remember the important work that remains in remodeling the Avalon Theatre in Downtown Grand Junction.

Dedicate a paver on the rooftop terrace: $500 small, $2,000 large or $2,500 for large with corporate logo.

Call us at 778-3088 or visit us at avalontheatrefoundation.org

ecome a part of the Avalon Theatre’s past, present and future as you honor someone or something special, with a Legacy Paver, permanently placed on the theatre’s beautiful Rooftop Terrace.

The Avalon Theatre Foundation Board offers this donor recognition program using the elegant stone pavers on the Theatre’s Rooftop Terrace floor. This terrace area features magnificent views of the entire Grand Valley and downtown Grand Junction, offering an impressive setting for weddings, cocktail parties, dinners, receptions and fundraising events. Catered services from the Two Rivers Convention Center enhance the desirability of this space, available for local and regional rental.

The commemorative pavers will complete the third-level flooring and are limited to first come, first serve. A Legacy Paver offers the option to honor a living or deceased family member, church groups, service clubs, small businesses, alumni groups, informal social groups, non-profit organizations, corporations or a celebration of life memorial.

Generous contributors to the Grand Junction community since 1976, Dan and Kay Carlson, owners of Carlson Memorials, have donated their time, artistic custom engraving and the installation of all the pavers. Every Legacy Paver is designed and engraved according to the purchaser’s wishes, created by

the Carlson’s craftsmen to ensure that the customized paver is an appropriate reflection of the person, family business or group purchasing the paver. The Legacy Paver is also a source or historical record for rooftop visitors and future generations. This perpetual record will remain on the rooftop for the life of the paver.

Currently 45 Legacy Terrace Pavers have been installed, generating over $80,000 for the Avalon Theatre. This program will raise additional funds that can be used for a digital projector, retractable stadium seating and a hearing loop for the Encore Hall. These items were not financially feasible at the time of the theater’s renovation and expansion. Additional future needs include a marquee and ticketing system, as well as point of sale and menu boards for the concession area.

For more information on the Avalon Rooftop Terrace Paver Program, the Buy a Seat or Donor Wall opportunities, contact the Avalon Theatre Foundation at PO Box 2243, Grand Junction, CO 81502 at 778-3088 or by email at info@avalontheatrefoundation.org.

The Avalon Theatre Foundation Board appreciates, and is grateful to, the Grand Junction and neighboring communities that have made a beautiful, state-of-the-art performance center possible—one that any community would take pride in. ■

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Young and restless: Great leap forward for newest Colorado Archaeology Society chapter

CAS-GJ members view a petroglyph panel during an organized field trip.

By Sandy Nelson

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or an organization that deals with really old stuff, the Colorado Archaeology Society’s Grand Junction chapter is young: It turns 1 year old in March.

Doug Van Etten launched the organization after 70 people showed up at an informational meeting to determine local interest; Van Etten expected only about 25 would attend.

Since then the group has been on a tear, holding monthly meetings and organizing a variety of recreational, educational and community service activities. In October, it hosts the annual conference of the Colorado Archaeology Society.

Sharing knowledge In March 2011 Van Etten and his wife, Mary Hertert, moved to Grand Junction from Anchorage, Alaska because the red-rock country of Colorado and Utah provided endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. He works as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker, and she owns Color Creek Fiber Art.

Outside their work hours, the couple didn’t waste time getting involved in the community. Hearing that an earlier chapter of CAS had folded in 2001, they committed to resurrecting the organization.

(They also turned an informal meetup group into Western Slope Adventurers.)

To maintain its membership, the CAS chapter had to have at least 15 dues-paying members. Within a month, nearly three dozen had signed on, and today the chapter has about 150 paid members (annual dues are $32 for individuals, $40 for couples and $15 for members of the state’s other CAS chapters; visit cas-gj.weebly.com to sign up).

CAS-GJ meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month — typically in the city hall council chambers. Meetings feature a presentation by an agency or academic expert on a topic related to archaeology or history.

The meetings are open to the public, but only members can participate in field trips. Besides dues, membership requires only

an interest in the archaeology and history of western Colorado and eastern Utah and a commitment to preserve and protect cultural sites and adhere to wilderness ethics.

In its brief existence, chapter members have visited rock art sites in Delta, Dolores River Canyon, Dominguez Canyon and numerous places in Utah, including Seven Mile Canyon and Kane Creek near Moab and Nine Mile Canyon in the Wellington area.

To be as inclusive as possible, the chapter often plans parallel treks to the same destination to ensure that people of varying fitness levels can take part, Van Etten said. Some hikes are rigorous and others less so.

While many outdoors lovers prefer solitary or small-group outings, participating as a group provides “safety in numbers, more eyeballs— you see things that somebody else didn’t see—and interpretive benefits,” he said.

Members can take classes in the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification—a 38-year-old collaboration between CAS and the state archaeologist’s office that allows hobbyists and professional archaeologists to earn formal, nonacademic recognition for their expertise. And members have

Above: CAS-GJ members rest after a tour of Calamity Camp, a former uranium mining site on the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Right: Alma Evans, Ph.D. explains the details of a petroglyph at Shavano Valley Rock Art Conservation Easement during a field trip.

Photos by Katherine Lopez

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opportunities to be part of regional archaeological projects.

Statewide spotlight Van Etten recently stepped down from the chapter presidency to turn his energies toward coordinating the statewide conference, set for October 7-10, 2016.

The schedule includes expert presentations about rock art of the Colorado Plateau, Paradox Valley and Shavano Valley and lectures by local archaeologists, Colorado Mesa University Assistant Professor John Seebach and Assistant State Archaeologist Kevin Black. After a screening of The Mystery of Chaco Canyon, the audience will hear what’s being done to protect cultural resources around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from damage due to oil and gas development.

Also on the agenda are demonstrations of flintknapping and geographic information system (GIS) mapping. Outings include a bike tour of archaeological sites.

For the most comprehensive and up-to-date schedule of events, visit the organization’s website at www.meetup.com/GAS-GJ. Email questions about the conference or local chapter activities to CASGJinfo@gmail.com. ■

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CREATE A LEGACY RITA LARSON

Nominated by HopeWest Kids Staff Rita began volunteering for HopeWest in March 2008 and has accumulated a total of 291.50 volunteer hours with the organization. She has designed and sewed bears and pillows for Forget-Me-Not families for eight years, and coordinates with other volunteers to help with the project. She is dedicated to helping families by making them a special keepsake to remind them of their passed loved one. She makes each bear or pillow according to the specifications of the child or family, and often adds special details and personalizes the design. Rita honors each one, expressing dignity and respect for the fabric she receives, and gives the remaining material to the family for safekeeping. When a patient recently died at the Hospice Care Center, his grandchildren were visiting from out of state. In less than 24 hours, Rita accommodated a special order and the children had bears and pillows to take home with them after the funeral for their grandpa. Her work is unique and special. We appreciate her time and thoughtfulness so much.

WYNNE BOULEY Nominated by Diane Barger, Mesa County RSVP Wynne’s passion to serve others is demonstrated through her commitment to volunteering in our valley for many years. She generously shares her passion for life, time and energy with many organizations and the people they serve. Wynne demonstrates her giving spirit every day to help others and strengthen our community. The organizations that have been recipients of Wynne’s commitment to making a difference are many, and include: Community Education Center; AmeriCorps; Strong Families, Safe Kids; United Way; Partners; Friends of the Mesa County Libraries; American Cancer Society; Roice-Hurst Humane Society; Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra; Colorado Welcome Center; Mesa County Concert Association; The Lydia Project; and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since 2011, Wynne has volunteered more than 500 hours through RSVP. Our community is blessed with Wynne and many other volunteers who generously share their time and talents. They truly care about others and make Mesa County a better place to call home.

KAREN HUGHES Nominated by Emily Scanlon, Roice-Hurst Humane Society Karen Hughes began volunteering at Roice-Hurst Humane Society when she moved to Grand Junction in June 2014. Previously an active volunteer with the Denver Dumb Friends League, she called RHHS to set up an appointment to share her ideas. She started creating bio cards for cats in the cat rooms, and started personalizing the RHHS thank you cards that are sent out to donors and other cards sent to pet owners. Karen does her best to make the cards special for each occasion. It’s important to her that each donor knows how important he or she is to the shelter and how much we appreciate them. Karen loves working and being involved with RHHS, because she shares the goal of the staff, board members and other volunteers, which is to see that the animals have an opportunity to be healthy, find a good home, experience security and realize the wonderful feeling of love. Karen is known for her passion for the animals, having a huge heart and always having a smile on her face.

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SPRING 2016

Vote for our 2016 V

The 2016 Volunteer of the Year will be announced at BeaconFest on T we need your help. We are leaving it up to you, dear readers, to vote

Step 1: The easiest way to vote for Volunteer of the Year is on our website.

Go to www.BeaconSeniorNews.com.

Step 2: Click the ad on the home page that reads: “Choose this year’s Volunteer of the Year.”

Step 3: Choose your favorite volunteer from the drop down menu, enter your email

address and submit. The online voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 17.

PAUL BLEE Nominated by Robin Maddox, Grand Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center Paul joined the volunteer ranks of the Grand Junction VA Medical Center in February 2000. Since that time he has logged over 7,000 hours in support of our nation’s heroes. As an active member of The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Paul focuses his efforts on the aging population of the VA’s Community Living Center. Paul and fellow Elks help organize and assist patients with regular outings and excursions. Paul also works events for CLC patients, including the Blue Angels/Thunderbirds Air Show. The work he puts in to help sponsor these events is no small task, considering the community coordination involved.

Recruiting help is another specialty of Paul’s, as three new members joined the ranks this year because of him. Being an Air Force veteran, Paul serves disabled veterans as a volunteer driver, picking up local veterans who have appointments at the VA and returning them home safely. Staff and patients alike have come to treasure Paul’s happy and can-do attitude over the past 16 years. When asked why he volunteers, Paul says, “It’s not a job. It’s a rewarding experience.” No one could have said it better!

MARY GREENMUN Nominated by David Oswalt, Grand Junction Police Department Mary has distinguished herself by contributing an estimated 5,500 volunteer hours to the Grand Junction Police Department over the past 14 years. Since May 10, 2001 she has consistently volunteered four hours a day, two days a week in the evidence unit, where she plays a vital role in the department. Due to increasing needs of the evidence staff, Mary completes tasks that do not get accomplished by the remunerated staff. She has also taken on the responsibilities of another volunteer who has been unable to volunteer due to health reasons. Her research is critical to the prompt returning of evidence to local citizens at the conclusion of court. Mary is dependable and can be counted on each week to help where needed. In addition to the selfless hours Mary has worked, she is also an exceptional cook and will bring in food for the staff to snack on and enjoy.

SPRING 2016

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Volunteer of the Year

Thursday, April 21. With so many wonderful volunteers to choose from, e for this year’s BeaconFest Volunteer of the Year. Here’s how to vote: You can also mail in the published ballot on the back page of this insert.

Ballots must be received by April 18, so plan ahead! Mail your ballot to: BEACON Senior Newspaper, P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 The Volunteer of the Year is someone who goes above and beyond his or her normal duties and responsibilities in order to make a difference in the lives of others. This year, we received nominations for 10 remarkable individuals. Since there are so many deserving and dedicated volunteers in the area, my only advice to you when deciding how to vote is “good luck!”

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values public lands, wilderness and our responsibility as citizens to not just enjoy the land, but to work to protect its health and beauty. We are inspired by her volunteer efforts, ideas and leadership.

GARY HARRINGTON Nominated by Joanie Izinbach, Hilltop Community Resources GED classroom Gary is a dedicated volunteer in my GED classroom.

He comes in for four hours twice a week to give students one-on-one tutoring, mostly in math skills. I get stretched thin when the classroom is crowded and my senior students really look forward to seeing him walk through the door. Helping students receive a high school equivalency is so rewarding. Gary appreciates this and is appreciated by the students as well.

ANN HASLEY BONNIE BALL Nominated by Laura Switzer, HopeWest Bonnie exemplifies the mission, vision and values of HopeWest by volunteering in various capacities and is deeply committed to our organization. She is the “go-to lady” for last-minute assignments and tasks. She is a Patient and Family Support Volunteer, helping people in homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and at the HopeWest Hospice Care Center. Bonnie’s visits can be as short as a single visit or can be ongoing, where she sees patients once or twice weekly. This includes respite, transportation, sewing, companionship and more. Bonnie provides vigil support for patients who are in the final hours of life when no other family or friends can be present. Bonnie schedules herself for three nights a month on our vigil calendar, but she usually takes on more if needed. She is passionate about making sure no one dies alone. Bonnie participates in our volunteer panel to share her experiences with newcomers and she attends monthly trainings to increase her knowledge on how to better serve patients and her community.

Although she lives in Palisade, Bonnie provides care all over the valley.

SHERRY SCHENK Nominated by Janice Shepherd, Great Old Broads for Wilderness Sherry Schenk is the best kind of volunteer. She’s one that motivates the rest of us to volunteer without resorting to lecturing. She is a powerful advocate for public lands and she does that with a quiet and graceful manner that we admire. Because of her calm enthusiasm and quiet action without pressure or expectation, you find yourself willingly drawn into volunteering and lending a hand at whatever level you can. Sherry is the leader of the local chapter of Great Old Broads for Wilderness and has been instrumental in increasing our group’s visibility in the community. She monitors environmental and conservation-related events at the local and national levels to find opportunities for us to participate wherever our talents and inclinations fit, whether it be to speak or write on a public lands issue, to collect native seeds for planting in land restoration projects, to show up at an environmental issue meeting or to attend an event that will educate us. Sherry is selfless in volunteering her time and energy to plan projects and has proposed thoughtful approaches to solve problems. She

Nominated by Joy Thompson, CASA of Mesa County Tougher than a honey badger. That’s one way to describe volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Ann Hasley. Advocating for abused and neglected children requires a degree of mental toughness, a willingness to speak out, and an unwavering determination to make sure that a child’s voice is not only heard, but that their best interests are being served. Ann is a volunteer with a heart for children and a perseverance to fight for the needs of innocent victims in our community. Ann was sworn in as a CASA in 2014 and embarked on her journey as an advocate for three children. Ann visits the children on her case every month and talks with them about their lives – their hopes and dreams. She spends hours talking to teachers, therapists, family members, and anyone else who is involved in the lives of the children. Ann writes monthly court reports with details about which services they need to be safe and healthy. She attends every court hearing, ensuring that the children have a voice within the system. Throughout the journey her case has had many twists and turns, and at times Ann had to stand her ground when there were disagreements about what was best for the children. Ann is truly the perfect CASA volunteer. She’s intelligent and professional. She’s dedicated to the children on her case and to the mission of CASA of Mesa County. She’s as tough as a honey badger with a heart of gold.

JOAN HOEFFLER Nominated by friends Joan volunteers with RSVP during open enrollment and helps with tax preparation. She volunteers intermittently with the GJ Symphony as an usher. She and her husband help during the USPS food drive.

Now that you’ve read all about these amazing volunteers, go online to www.BeaconSeniorNews.com—or fill out the form on the back page of this insert—and cast your vote!

10

CREATE A LEGACY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

SPRING 2016

Legends of the Grand Valley

By Priscilla Mangnall

T

he Legends of the Grand Valley left a bigger legacy to Grand Junction than it had originally intended. With the popularity of the bronze sculpture of Dalton Trumbo that sits in front of the Avalon Theatre at 7th and Main Streets, the committee meetings about the statue and the subsequent events surrounding the 100th Birthday of Trumbo and the reprinting of his locally scandalous “Eclipse” was so much fun (wine and food were usually involved) that they didn’t want to stop there. The Legends of the Grand Valley Sculpture Project

Sculptures L-R: Walter & Preston Walker-2008 William Moyer-2009 Sister Mary Balbina Farrell-2010 John Otto-2011 Photos by Katherine Lopez

was born!

A list was compiled by the new committee of just who should become immortalized in bronze as a Legend of the Grand Valley.

The list grew to dozens of worthy candidates and was narrowed down to a manageable and fiscally realistic five. The five-project goal also made it a reasonable “sell” from the fundraising aspect. Corporations and individuals could opt in for a five-year commitment. It worked well and we were on our way.

Walter Walker, publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, was a shoo-in. He had contributed so much. His likeness, complete with his son Preston as a young boy, sits in front of the old Sentinel building at 634 Main.

Next came William Moyer, whose stunning bronze is located in front of Alpine Bank.

Then we honored the 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s Hospital with a sculpture of Sister Mary Balbina Farrell,

the young nun sent from Leavenworth, Kansas to build a hospital. She rests at 7th and Main.

John Otto fell right in line with the 100th Anniversary of the Colorado National Monument and his monumental bronze can be seen at 2nd and Main.

Operation Foresight celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013 and a three-piece installment was erected at 3rd and Main.

We had reached our goal—so we thought. The Prinster Family came to our committee wanting a piece that honored the contributions of the Prinster Family and the Legacy of City Market. The likeness of all four founding Prinster brothers is located on West Main.

Next came the Enstrom/Simons Family. A stunning memorial honors Enstrom’s World Famous Toffee

makers, Chet and Vernie at 7th and Main.

We have one more in us, and it is now in production. Watch for its unveiling on May 20, 2016.

Want to know the bigger story?

A book commemorating the work of the Legends of the Grand Valley will be published and distributed at the May 20th unveiling. It will give the backstory on each Legend and help you with your self-guided tour of the Legacy that the Legends of the Grand valley have so proudly left to the current and future citizens of Colorado. ■

SPRING 2016

CREATE A LEGACY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

The Legacy Society at HopeWest Together we can secure the future

Dr. Marjorie Keely, a retired Grand Junction physician, is proud of her membership in the Legacy Society.

By Dani Martin

I

magine… it’s midnight and you’ve been up for hours caring for your husband. Nothing seems to relieve his pain or calm him. It’s your own worst nightmare and you’re exhausted. What nurse is just a phone call away in the middle of the night, one who can come to you and ensure that your husband gets exactly what he needs?

This situation is one of life’s scariest, and today’s health care system is not designed for it. HopeWest is.

“I really feel that end-of-life issues are underserved and not talked about,” said Dr. Marjorie Keely, a retired Grand Junction physician, who is proud of her membership in the Legacy Society. “Every cycle of life is important and end of life is a valuable time with family.

There are needs that must be met, patients and families need comfort, and fears must also be addressed.

HopeWest does this, not only on

the medical side, but the emotional and spiritual sides, too, which are all important. That is why I wanted to contribute to this remarkable organization.”

The Legacy Society honors members and friends of HopeWest who share a commitment to its future by providing financial support through wills, lead trusts, remainder trusts, life insurance and annuities.

“Palliative care is not as well funded and I want to support the program because it gives comfort to patients and families. They receive not only nursing care, but also supportive care,” said Keely. “HopeWest provides care in the home, nursing home and the inpatient HopeWest Hospice Care Center, whichever setting the patient prefers.”

Keely adds, “I’m very impressed with the organization. It is well run and professional—we are fortunate to have such a sophisticated hospice, palliative care and grief pro-

gram here on the Western Slope.”

“We hope that, like Dr. Keely, you will consider leaving a gift to HopeWest in your will,” says Debra Horwitz, vice president of development at HopeWest. “No gift is too small and making a commitment to HopeWest will help to ensure that our transformational services are here for anyone in need for years to come. And requests for donor anonymity are respected.”

According to Horwitz, “It was just such a gift that enabled HopeWest to purchase part of the land that now comprises the HopeWest campus. It all started when Marge McKinstry, a resident of Fruita, remembered HopeWest in her will in 2005. Then the Gene and Beverlee Taylor family donated the adjacent land, along with a historic Victorian farmhouse standing

11

on the property. And then more than 2,000 individuals, businesses and foundations came together to raise nearly $13 million.”

Today, the renovated Miller Homestead houses HopeWest Kids grief program and Artful Cup Coffee House. Next door, the Hospice Care Center, which opened in October 2008, offers state-of-the-art hospice care to patients and families throughout the Grand Valley.

The HopeWest campus bustles with activity as staff and volunteers go about their mission—to help patients and families facing serious illness or grief. “And it all started when a single person remembered HopeWest in her will,” says Horwitz.

If you are interested in making a gift, visit HopeWestCO.org or call Horwitz directly at 257-2365. ■

Decide today.

Influence tomorrow.

Create Your Legacy

Join the HopeWest Legacy Society.

Your gift matters – together we can secure the future.

HopeWestCO.org | (970) 257-2365

12

CREATE A LEGACY

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Something to talk about

By Carrie Kellerby

W

APRIL 21, 2016 Two Rivers Convention Center Downtown, Grand Junction • 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Everyone has an extraordinary life story.

A story worth reflecting upon, a story worth sharing.

Share with your family your personal life story, captured on a DVD, that will last for generations.

Heirloom Films Call Rob Wallace

(970) 628-4000 • www.heirloom-films.com

SPRING 2016

riter and historian Emma McCreanor, 82, enjoys a good story, and she knows a lot of them.

She’s been compiling them for the Mesa County historical society for decades. A graduate of Radcliff and a retired high school history teacher, the author of “Mesa County, Colorado: A 100 year history” has worked with the Oral History Program since the 1970s. At that time the program was a shared effort between the Mesa County Library, which originally housed the collection and the Historical Society. Today the program is under the umbrella of the Museum of the West, and includes nearly 3,000 recorded interviews. In addition to the interviews, the archive contains video recordings of the monthly presentations sponsored by this program.

In the fall of 2015 McCreanor and volunteers Maryanne Benoit and Laurie Buniger began compiling a database that indexes all of the museum’s recordings. They are cross-referencing each of the interviews under various subject headings so that they can be more easily located. The project is a large one.

“Even though we’ve been working on the database for four months, we’re just now getting to the letter ‘C’,” McCreanor said.

In addition to the construction of the database to facilitate research, McCreanor and her team are also getting ready to bring the archives—much of which is on tape—into the 21st century by converting it to digital format. The museum has ordered the technology that will digitize the tapes and create transcripts through voice recognition software. Of course, all of the transcripts will have to be checked by a human for accuracy.

When that time comes, the Palisade Historical Society has volunteered

their services for transcript editing, and the team is hoping to recruit others for that daunting task as well.

Many of the recorded interviews in the archives are firsthand accounts of events that took place on the Western Slope. Others are personal memoirs of average citizens remembering what it was like to live in a certain time and place.

There are private stories about working, farming, homemaking and family, but also personal responses to historical events such as reactions to the news of Pearl Harbor, for example. The recordings cover the entire geographical area of the Western Slope of Colorado and into Eastern Utah and historically from the 1880s to the present. Because of the age of some of the tapes, the quality of the recordings varies, and some are more fragile than others.

The concern over the delicate condition of some of the tape recordings will hopefully dissipate once everything is digitized. Then the tapes will be preserved for posterity, without risk of deterioration or being forever lost.

Despite the slow, tedious nature of the database creation, McCreanor is pleased that the new index “will just make everything easier to find.”

This is another reason why getting them cross-referenced and up to date in a digital format is crucial. As volunteer Laurie Buniger illustrated, “So many of us go through life and forget to ask the questions of the people who are right in front of us.

Time passes and these questions rise up, but the people are no longer there for us to ask.” This repository is a resource to help answer some of those curious questions about the past. The hope is that, once the project is complete, the recordings could be made available for access online.

Benoit, who has also been working on the database project with

SPRING 2016

CREATE A LEGACY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

13

“So many of us go through life and forget to ask the questions of the people who are right in front of us. Time passes and these questions rise up, but the people are no longer there for us to ask.”

McCreanor, said she became involved because her grandmother, Susie Mendicelli, had made a recording in the 1970s about what it was like to be from an emigrant Italian family living in Grand Junction. When Benoit and her sister came to the museum to listen to some of her grandmother’s contemporaries’ recordings, she realized that she would have to get involved in the program. “I didn’t want this stuff to just end, or for the stories to be forgotten,” she said.

Currently the resources in the archives are available to anyone who wants to go to the museum and research a topic. There is no fee for access to the material. There are also staff members available for research guidance, to answer questions, or to make referrals to additional source material in other archives. The collection is for in-house use only, but many things can be photocopied or reproduced for a small fee. In addition to the Oral History archives, there is also a huge collection of maps, photographs, books and other resources in the Lloyd library, which is one of the largest archives of its type in Colorado.

The Oral History Program is not just about the distant past, however. The program is continuously building its recorded archives by capturing the present. At noon on the third Thursday of each month, the museum presents its ongoing Oral History Program presentation at the Whitman Building, 248 S. 4th Street. Many who come to the talks bring their lunches and enjoy the coffee and baked goods that the museum and its volunteers provide. Recent presenters include Bob Weiss of Sundrop grocery and Chris Joiner on the BLM’s Christmas tree cutting program. Last month

Dave Moon presented the history of Moon Farm. Upcoming events include March’s presentation from the Bureau of Reclamations, which will be about the Blue Mesa and how the reservoir system works.

April’s history of the Botanical Gardens will be presented by Doug Sorter, and in May, Yvonne Peterson is scheduled to give a presentation about the history of Mack. All of the presentations, which are free and open to the public, are also videotaped for preservation in the Oral History Program’s archives.

“While there’s a lot of interesting stories in the archives,” Buniger said, “ I get the biggest kick just sitting next to Emma. She knew a lot of the people on the tapes personally, or knew their kids. She always has some little memory to add to the story.” Emma certainly has some favorites; most are wild tales from the old west, involving outlaws, murderers, and the audacities of a bygone era. They all are brought to life by the meticulous work and preservation of McCreanor and the volunteers of the Oral History Program.

The Oral History Program’s archives are located in the Lloyd Library on the second floor of the Museum of the West at 462 Grand Avenue, and are available during regular museum hours. If you have something to talk about, or questions about the program or the presentations, please contact Emma McCreanor. She is always open to specific research questions or proposals for recording sessions.

She can be contacted at 242-0925, or call the Museum of the West at 242-0971 for more information about the Lloyd Library, museum programs, or volunteer opportunities. ■

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14

CREATE A LEGACY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Body of evidence Donating your body will boost generations of knowledge

By Sandy Nelson

T

The most personal and enduring of all gifts are closest to home.

Really close.

By signing up as an organ donor, one person can keep many others alive. By donating an entire body, an individual can make incalculable contributions to scientific and medical knowledge that benefits all of humanity.

The Forensic Investigation Research Station (FIRS) at Colorado Mesa University deals in the latter option. The research and teaching laboratory—housed in an unimposing building on Hookless Road— accepts donated bodies; forensic anthropology students use these donations to study how the human body decomposes when exposed to light, heat, altitude and other natural elements.

The findings, according to director Melissa Connor, Ph.D., help crime scene investigators establish time of death, among other things.

This knowledge helps police officers, coroners, medical examiners

and lawyers do their jobs.

“Our students also gain firsthand experience in … death investigation,” she said. “I can’t say enough about how critical such exposure is to students in the beginning of their careers. This is groundbreaking research and has implications for generations to come.”

The CMU lab—called FIRS for short—is the sixth facility of its kind in the U.S. Because it’s the only high-elevation research center, students can learn how altitude affects decomposition.

Since it opened in 2012, FIRS has received a steady stream of donations—but never so many that it’s overwhelmed. The need for research material is ongoing.

When the donated body is reduced to a skeleton, students recover and clean these remains and add them to the lab’s skeletal collection.

Data collected during and after decomposition is added to a national database, where they contribute to scientific knowledge about skeletal identification.

“People become donors for many

SPRING 2016

reasons,” Connor said. “Some like the idea of becoming postmortem teachers and making a contribution to research and education after their death. Many like the idea that, particularly within our 75-mile pickup area, arrangements may be simpler and less expensive for their families than a traditional funeral.”

Families pay nothing to donate a loved one’s body if the donor lives within 75 miles of Grand Junction.

If donors live outside that radius, the estate is responsible for making arrangements to deliver the body, typically with the help of a funeral home.

Once prospective donors have authorized the use of their remains by signing a donation form, they should make sure family members know about it, Connor stressed.

They shouldn’t rely on a will to express their desires, because wills are often read after a funeral, and by then it’s too late.

The estate representative or physician can arrange for the body’s transfer after death, though FIRS won’t challenge a family member who’s unwilling to respect a relative’s last wishes.

The lab doesn’t accept the bodies of people who have diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis and other antibiotic-resistant infections.

People who want to be buried or cremated after death can still support the lab’s work with a financial donation, Connor said. “People have donated not just their bodies, but cash. Some families have stated in the obituary of a donor that in lieu of flowers, donations to FIRS are appreciated.”

The CMU Foundation accepts these contributions and deposits them in an account used to support student research and other special purchases.

People interested in donating their bodies to science can find forms online at www.colorado mesa.edu/firs, or they can contact Connor at 248-1219 or mconnor@ coloradomesa.edu. ■

SPRING 2016

CREATE A LEGACY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Targeted philanthropy:

Support causes that align with your values and priorities

By Sandy Nelson

J

udging by the numbers, Americans are generous people. The Giving Institute reports that charitable donations exceeded $358 billion in 2014 — more than in any of the peak years before the recession.

If your budget has room for philanthropy, you’ll find no shortage of potential causes and organizations to support. The tone of most fundraising solicitations is urgent, and it can be hard to decide where the need is most pressing.

You can take a scattershot approach and give directly to a few groups that provide services you consider important, whether it’s hospice care, sheltering homeless and abused animals, or conducting research into breakthrough medical treatments. Or you can delegate the distribution of funds to an organization like the Western Colorado Community Foundation or United Way. But you don’t need to be affluent to help people meet their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

If you have time or energy to spare, most nonprofits train volunteers.

Local food banks accept nonperishable food, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach distributes donated clothing and home furnishings, and Habitat for Humanity relies on volunteers to help families build their own homes.

When deciding where to direct your financial giving, consider how effectively the organization will use your gift and what matters most to you.

Mission matchmaking: Research the target organization’s mission and consider how well it aligns with your own passions and prior-

ities. GuideStar offers an online database at GuideStar.org with information about the mission and performance of nearly 2 million U.S. charities and nonprofits, including some that operate locally.

How money is spent: Ask for a copy of the group’s Internal Revenue Service Form 990 and see how much of the money it raises goes to administrative and fundraising costs and CEO salaries and how much goes directly to programs and services. According to Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), “The most efficient charities spend at least 75 percent of their budgets on programs and services, with the remaining 25 percent spent on administrative and fundraising costs.”

It urges donors to favor groups with “reasonable” CEO compensation — about 3 percent of expenses.

The exponential effect: Donations that attract matching funds magnify the impact of your gift, so ask if your target organization has community partners pledged to match financial contributions. In this way, even a modest donation can snowball into something significant.

Know the needs: People happily clear their cupboards and closets of food, clothing and toys during special drives because they assume these are what disadvantaged people need most. While relief

15

When deciding where to direct your financial giving, consider how effectively the organization will use your gift and what matters most to you.

organizations appreciate such generous gestures and often ask for in-kind donations in emergencies, cash donations allow the organization to more efficiently direct help where it’s most essential.

Charity begins at home: Giving locally lets you see the

results of your gift up close and circulates more money and resources in your own community. Ask if your donation goes to a national organization or stays at home solving local problems.

Think creatively: While many nonprofits exist to relieve suffering, others help people become self-sufficient by supporting their efforts to turn an idea or talent into a sustainable business. The Business Incubator Center, for example, offers affordable rental space, free or lowcost classes and workshops, and business loan financing through the Business Loan Fund of Mesa County. ■

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Enjoy the area’s largest boomer & senior fair...

GRAND JUNCTION

Two ways to VOTE for our 2016 volunteer of the year!

Vo lu

nt

ee 201 ro 5 ft he

Ye ar

April 21, 2016 | 9 am-3 pm | Two Rivers Convention Center

Richard Parrish was nominated by Community Food Bank and was voted the BEACON’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year.

Vote for your favorite volunteer of the year!

With so many wonderful volunteers to choose from, we at the BEACON need your help! All nominees are fetured in this month’s issue of te BEACON with a short description of why they were nominated.

Winner will be announced at BeaconFest, Thursday April 21, 2016 at 12:50 p.m. Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main Street Grand Junction.

Mail in your vote to: PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

or vote online on our website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Either way works, just remember to vote early and vote often!

1. Read about each volunteer on pages 8 & 9 2. Choose your favorite volunteer

❒ Rita Larson ❒ Wynne Bouley ❒ Karen Hughes ❒ Paul Blee

❒ Mary Greenmun ❒ Bonnie Ball ❒ Sherry Schnek ❒ Gary Harrington

❒ Ann Hasley ❒ Joan Hoeffler

3. Cast your vote! You can vote online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com or mail this official ballot to: PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

PLEASE AVE ALL BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY APRIL 18, 2016