Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
APRIL 2022
Len Scotto, “Mandarin Duck”
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor announces Art is Ageless® winners Lawrence Presbyterian Manor recently hosted a reception for the winning artists in the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Desi Flerlage, executive director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.” Alice Kalb participated in the groundbreaking for the first Presbyterian Manor.
PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 73-year history of serving seniors in Kansas and Missouri. PMMA’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. Through the many decades, PMMA® remained true to the spirit of Alice’s
Founder’s Day – continued on page 2
Winners in the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless juried competition were: Best of Show professional: Len Scotto, “Mandarin Duck” Best of Show amateur: Marsha Fowler, “Quilt – Machine Embroidery” People’s Choice amateur: Wendy Rose, “Baby Giraffe Dreams” People’s Choice professional: Len Scotto, “Mandarin Duck” Judge’s Choice amateur: Wendy Rose, “Baby Giraffe Dreams”
Art is Ageless – continued on page 3
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at LawrencePresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Founder’s Day – continued from page 1 vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values. Each Founder’s Day, staff members re-commit to live our mission by signing the “WE PROMISE” board that lists the pillars of the mission: respecting that seniors retain their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; assisting residents with specific needs; providing compassionate service; serving as a trusted resource; and advocating for seniors.
“Our nearly 2,000 employees view what they do as a calling,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, as well as its heritage. I believe Alice would be very proud.” Alice Kalb’s dream has turned into a network of 15 senior living communities and two hospices across Kansas and Missouri. A
new senior living community is under development in Colorado Springs. PMMA remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. For more information about Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, contact Chris Phelps, marketing director, at 785-841-4262 or cphelps@pmma.org. u
Meet our energetic new activities assistant Rouba Sawaf When Rouba Sawaf isn’t helping Lawrence Presbyterian Manor residents stay healthy with dancing, exercise and activities, there’s a good chance you’ll find her at her other fulltime hobby spot. “I love the gym,” Rouba said. “I go to the gym at 5:30 a.m., and I do some of the power active classes. Then I come to my job, and then I will go to the gym after work, around 4:30 p.m. and spend two hours. I love everything I can do in the gym. In the morning, it’s power, in the afternoon intervals and blast and Zumba. I love it.” As much as she loves sports, exercising and time at the gym, she said she does try to take a day off every now and then. After her morning workout, Rouba is ready to energize residents with a host of activities designed to keep them active, mobile and ready for their day.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022
“I do the exercise classes here,” she said. “We play chicken foot, Jeopardy, checkers, cards, a lot of parties, and I’m doing the Zumba class. It’s about seven songs. We begin with a warm up and cool down at the end, with five songs in between. That’s not easy, but they love it. There are a lot of people there. The music is there. It’s something new and nice. They know the music. I chose older music, but it’s very active, and they want to be active. And they are doing something, and they like it.” Before coming to Lawrence, Rouba worked for more than four years at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan. When her son moved to attend college at KU, she decided to make the move with him. He’s studying computer science, and she’s enjoying life in Lawrence. “My home is very close to work —
Rouba Sawaf
four minutes of driving,” Rouba said. “And I can walk in less than 15 minutes. When the weather is nice, I will walk.” She’s also finding herself at home in her new role at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. “Everybody is kind and nice,” Rouba said. “I love everybody.” u
Art is Ageless – continued from page 1 Judge’s Choice professional: Don Kelly, “Tree of Life” Christmas amateur: Marilou Cavin, “Twinkling Santas” Drawing amateur: Patrick Rapp, “Up Next” Fiber Arts amateur: Ellie Unruh, “COVID Weaving Challenge” Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Glenna Coldsmith, “Untitled Rock” Needlework amateur: Rick Prosser, “My Comfort Zone” Painting amateur: Wendy Rose, “Baby Giraffe Dreams” Photography amateur: Michel Watkins, “Green Sea Turtles” Quilting amateur: Vernis Flottman, “My Traditional Option” Sculpture/3-D amateur: Tom Adamson, “Untitled #1” Fiber Arts professional: Kathy Bourgeois, “Carp Banner” Mixed Media professional: Don Kelly, “Tree of Life” Painting professional: Barbara Hall, “Beth’s Tulips” Photography professional: Len Scotto, “Mandarin Duck” Sculpture/3-D professional: Reta Caldwell, “Toad” Local competition winners will join
winners from 14 other Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica communities to be judged at the masterpiece level. Winning entries at the masterpiece level are selected for publication in PMMA’s annual Art is Ageless calendar and note cards. Art is Ageless is a copyrighted program of PMMA Marsha Fowler, “Quilt – Machine Embroidery” (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®). For the seniors to express their creativity competition, works must have been through its annual competition, as completed in the past five years. well as art classes, musical and Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an dramatic events, educational extension of PMMA’s wellness opportunities and current events programs, which focus on mental, discussions throughout the year. physical, social and spiritual health. For more information about PMMA’s Art is Ageless program Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, encourages Lawrence Presbyterian contact Chris Phelps at 785-841Manor residents and other area 4262, or cphelps@pmma.org. u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 785-841-4262 ◆ Fax: 785-841-0923 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: cphelps@pmma.org. Desi Flerlage, executive director Christopher Phelps, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Listening By Dinah Dutta, chaplain
I shared before that I enjoy listening and learning from the life-faith experiences of our Manor family, both residents and staff. I am also encouraged by how listening can draw us close to each other and develop relationships that are similar to our relationship with God. Steve Garnaas-Holmes, a writer, said “unfolding light daily reflections” encourage us to listen to God’s voice and experience the love, joy, peace and wholeness in our lives in spite of all the chaos around us. He writes, Listen for the One amid the others, the one who awakens something lovely in you. If you don’t turn from this clanging world to listen you won’t hear him. Listen for the voice that calls you Beloved, the voice that calls you to love. Listen to the voice that speaks of Creation’s wholeness, that beckons you to completion.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022
A voice that leads you toward others, not your own rising above and away. Listen to the song of the immense flowering within you, the risk and passion you can dance to. You will hear it in stillness, not in frenzy, in silence, not in noise. You will hear it from those who are belittled, not those who are honored by this besotted world. The Beloved will not speak of success, but death and resurrection. Listen for one who speaks with hope and delight, listen to him. Listen to him. I invite you to take time to listen to nature as it unfolds: the bird’s singing, the dead trees coming back to life. Most importantly, take time to listen to each other, show compassion, love each other and build a strong Manor community many, including myself, call our family. Blessings to you as we continue to live in hope, joy, and peace. u