Kansas City Community Matters March 2016

Commun ty Matters Kansas City Presbyterian Manor

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

Everyone has a story to tell

Everyone knows fitness is important. How have you taken steps to be fit? What’s your regular fitness routine? If you’ve started a fitness routine late in life, what advice would you have for others?

How do you think you benefit from regular exercise?

If you’ve got a story to share about getting or staying fit, contact Tina Ashford, activity director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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March 2016

Kansas City Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway

Kansas City Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held May 9-13, 2016. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2017 Art is Ageless calendar.

The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Kansas City Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.

Having a creative outlet benefits the mind, body and spirit.

“The exhibit and competition always draw a wide array of impressive artwork from talented seniors,” said Sarah Drew, Art is Ageless coordinator.

“We’re expecting this to be another great year for creativity and variety of works on exhibit.”

Local competition winners will join winners 17 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the systemwide level.

ART IS AGELESS continued on page 2

ENTRY DEADLINE: APRIL 29, 2016

Art is Ageless continued from page 1 Entry forms and information can be picked up at Kansas City Presbyterian Manor, 7850 Freeman, Kansas City, or by contacting Drew at 913-334-3666, ext. 3585, or sdrew@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online.

Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2011). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by April 29, 2016.

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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Kansas City Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Peatric Gates, executive director Tina Ashford, activity director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Tina at tashford@pmma.org.

Telephone: 913-334-3666 Fax: 913-334-2904 Address: 7850 Freeman, Kansas City, KS 66112-2133 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

KansasCityPresbyterianManor.org

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Social workers in the spotlight March is National Social Work Month, when we honor the contributions and dedication of these pivotal team members. We’re fortunate to have two such professionals here at Kansas City Presbyterian Manor. Amber Kelly and Elise Crain share many things in common. Both graduated from KU with their bachelor degrees in social work (Amber in 2011, Elise in 2008) and both went on to obtain their master’s degrees from KU as well (Amber in 2015, Elise in 2013). But the similarities don’t end there. Both previously worked in child welfare before making the move to senior living communities and both started their positions at Presbyterian Manor on Dec. 28.

“It’s hard to believe we didn’t know each other before we started here, right?” said Amber.

While they may have shared the same path in becoming a social worker, both had different reasons for wanting to enter the field.

For Elise, it was a strong desire to help others, which eventually led her to not only pursue a degree in social work, but put her experience to work at home.

“We decided to become foster parents, and we have three foster children at the moment. While I enjoyed working in child welfare, it didn’t leave me with enough time to spend with my own children. I was ready for a change which allowed me to still help people, but also be with my children every evening. Now, I can do that,” said Elise.

“My favorite part about my job is the people I get to interact with. It’s different every day. We deal with a lot of assessments, concerns, coordination of appointments, transportation schedules, just many things that make it all come together. But we’re not just

Elise Crain and Amber Kelly

here for residents. We’re here for staff and resident families as well.”

Amber’s journey into social work also began with a desire to help others, but her story is unique.

“When I was 25, I had cancer, and my brother had cancer before me,” said Amber. “We both worked with social workers at the hospital, so we had hands on experience of the benefits a social worker can bring,” said Amber.

While Amber also worked in child welfare for a time, it was her practicum at the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor that led her back into senior living.

“I love getting to know residents’ personalities. People are very open and nice, and understanding. We aren’t in the medical field, we’re different from nursing, we’re different from dietary.

We’re in the middle of it all bringing the pieces together. We enhance the great service they’re getting from these other areas,” said Amber.

Amber, like Elise, enjoys spending time with her family when she’s not at work.

“I have a five-year-old little guy. He’s my world,” said Amber.

We’re grateful for Amber and Elise, and all social workers who use their care, compassion, and expertise to make our world a better place.

Former Judge brought gentle touch to law and order One might not think that a chemistry degree and a law degree would be a good mix, but for Robert “Bob” Foerschler, it proved to be the perfect unique combination.

“Bob’s dad was a lawyer, a judge actually, but he wanted Bob to be a doctor,” said Nancy Foerschler, Bob’s wife. “So Bob got that chemistry degree, but after his father died not long after, Bob decided to pursue his heart’s passion, which was law. He ended up as a work comp judge, which combined the two quite nicely.”

Shortly after graduating from KU with his chemistry degree, Bob was drafted into the Army, and served for three years. Unfortunately, Bob’s father passed during that time. Upon his return to Kansas City, Bob decided to go back to school on the GI Bill, enrolling in law school at UMKC.

Bob met his wife Nancy in 1943 on a blind date, arranged by one of his fraternity brothers and one of her sorority sisters. Bob and Nancy were born three years apart at the same Kansas City hospital, had both attended KU, and were both active in the Kansas City community, but had never met.

They held off on marriage until after he was done with law school, and went on to have two children, a son and daughter. Their son pursued software engineering, and their daughter is a prosecutor in Seattle.

“She was very interested in law,” said Nancy. “She was quite a debater in high school, and I had a feeling then she’d make a great attorney.”

Bob certainly sparked an interest in his

daughter to pursue a law degree, although he was happy not to have to try such emotional cases as she must do as prosecutor.

“There’s a lot of stress involved when you’re an attorney.You get involved in cases that drag on and on. Bob was happy at the chance to be a judge, it was always his ambition. And sure, it’s stressful, too, but it depends on what kind you are. He never tried murder cases, or anything like that. Fridays he’d come home and say it’s ‘hate day,’ the day they have all the divorces. He didn’t like that,” said Nancy. “He was appointed to district judge after his time at the law firm, and he served two years. Well, we’re registered as Republicans, so when he had to run for re-election, we knew he wouldn’t win,” said Nancy. “But then he was appointed as a work comp judge, and that was perfect for him. He got to use his scientific, medical brain, and his law brain.”

It wasn’t until fairly recently that Bob retired, having worked until he was 80. Bob and Nancy have five

Bob Foerschler originally planned to be a doctor but ended up getting his law degree and finally using all his skills as a workman’s comp judge.

grandchildren, and Bob’s always been known as a kind family man, who gave back to his community.

“Bob used to go down on his lunch hour when he was practicing law, and would work at the soup kitchen in Kansas City. He would dry dishes for them at least once a week. He’s a very kind, gentle man that loves his family,” said Nancy. “I’m a lucky woman.”

And we’re lucky to have Bob residing here at Presbyterian Manor. We appreciate his service to his country and community.

Multi-Family Community Garage Sale

Proceeds to Benefit the Good Samaritan Program of Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica Friday, May 6 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Staff and resident families are welcome to donate items. Donation drop off April 1 through April 30. Clothing drop off from April 1 thru April 15. Clothing items must be bagged for drop off. Please call before dropping off larger household items. Drop off times TBA. Contact Sarah Drew for more details at 913-334-366.

KANSAS CITY PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3

Celebrate the Joy of Easter Chaplain Diane Gunsolley Do you remember when preparing for Easter meant a new dress, bonnet and gloves? How about Irving Berlin’s Easter Parade?

In your Easter bonnet With all the frills upon it You'll be the grandest lady In the Easter Parade

Preparing for Easter includes those happy memories of years gone by. It also means looking at the cross and our Savior Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered how he endured the

cross? The Bible gives us the answer in the book of Hebrews: For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12: 2-3 New InternationalVersion (NIV)

Amazing! Jesus made it through by looking ahead to the joy! This Easter, remember that we serve a risen Jesus, and we will be crowned with everlasting joy! That is worth celebrating. Happy Easter!

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MARCH ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Kansas City Kansas Public Library (KCKPL) Mobile Library visits 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. March 3, 17 and 31. Residents, staff and local community are welcome to attend.

St Patrick’s Day Party Thursday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel

Easter Egg Hunt & Continental Breakfast, Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m., meet in the Chapel. Resident and staff families with children 12 years and younger are welcome to attend. Please bring your own basket to hunt eggs.

Library Craft 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 24 in the Chapel

Palm Sunday and Easter Services 11am

By Eagles Nest Church in Chapel