Salina Presbyterian Manor
MARCH 2021
Art is Ageless® exhibit, reception features senior and local artists Local senior artists will be celebrated March 3–7 at Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe, as Salina Presbyterian Manor continues the 40th anniversary celebration of the Art is Ageless® program.
Ken Veltman has fully recovered after a bout with sepsis that gave him a new perspective on the joy and peace of the afterlife.
Recently hospitalized resident had ‘preview’ of the afterlife In January, independent living resident Ken Veltman landed in the emergency room with a painful case of sepsis.
“I don’t know how long I had been there, but all of a sudden I had this sensation that I was being lifted off the bed,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is it,’ and said a couple of quick prayers.” Ken found himself in an almost indescribable, but “perfect setting.” “After a time, an angel or spirit — or whatever you want to call it — asked me to go with him,” Ken said. “I was ready. I felt wonderful, and it felt as simple as making a right-hand turn and leaving everything behind.” VELTMAN - continued on page 5
Art is Ageless is a trademarked program of PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America). The program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity. This year, Salina Presbyterian Manor’s exhibit is being hosted at the Salina Arts Center due to the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19. “It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Cathy Boos, marketing director. “The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Salina community.” The first Art is Ageless calendar was published in 1981, featuring art ART - continued on page 6
Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Mary’s Musings... By Mary Bridges, chaplain
I recently heard someone on TV say, “Days pass slowly but the years fly by.” It has been a year filled with change—and losses, too. Many of our usual celebrations have been postponed or canceled. Some have become virtual events, which has enabled us to learn new technology skills. To say it has been a hard year is the understatement of understatements. Thankfully, vaccinations are available now. They don’t just protect us against the virus—they
give us a renewed sense of hope. Hope that we will be able to resume the most important activity of all: spending time with those we love.
The Lord will always guide us
We find ourselves in the midst of the Lenten season. In her book “Fresh Bread,” Joyce Rupp writes, “This can be a time of reflection to find what our lives are really missing, a time of searching, and a time of restoration, followed by renewed perspectives and direction as we prepare to celebrate Easter. Easter fills us with hope and newness of life.”
In times when we have not
These lyrics are from the song “Like a Shepherd” by Bob Dufford, S.J.:
I pray that you rediscover the hope, trust, grace and peace that has been poured into each of our lives.
Like a father feeds his children Like a shepherd leads his flock
Show us where to walk And in times when we have plenty He is our Provider And His mercy never stops … From the morning to the evening ‘til the sunrise again … He is the great “I am.” I pray for each of you that your Lenten journey will be a time of reflection.
Amen. ◆
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Community Matters 785-825-1366 ◆ Fax: 785-825-6554 2601 E. Crawford Salina, KS 67401-3898 SalinaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Salina Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: cboos@PMMA.org Christian Gilbert, executive director Cathy Boos, sales and marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
VELTMAN - continued from page 1
That’s when he sensed another spirit, who said one word: Jody. Ken realized that it wasn’t time to leave his wife Jody behind. He went to sleep and didn’t realize he was still alive until he woke up in the hospital. He stayed in the hospital for four days, and he’s fully recovered with no lingering after effect. “The whole experience was so unreal,” Ken said. “I was in a perfect, perfect world, and I could have said yes and not turned back. But I witnessed how beautiful it can be.”
Ken said his experience has given him a renewed appreciation of everyday life. It also left him without fear of what will happen when his life ends, because he has already experienced the peace that will come. “It was just like going to the movies and seeing a preview of what will be showing next week,” he said. “It makes you appreciate when you go to bed at night that you say a prayer or two for yourself and everyone in the building, because you don’t know what might happen,” he said. “It’s an awakening; it definitely makes a believer out of you.” ◆
Bylli Hoppock
Employee of the Month: Meet Bylli Hoppock Congratulations to Bylli Hoppock, Employee of the Month for February. Bylli has worked for Salina Presbyterian Manor for 2 and 1/2 years as a certified medication aide (CMA) in the assisted living neighborhood, mainly working in the evenings. In her free time, Bylli enjoys reading, playing video games and spending time with her family. When asked what most people would not know about her, she said that if she didn’t enjoy her job so much, she would love to travel all over the world!
Did you know?
Did you know that independent living resident Amy Hoffman helped decode Japanese messages for the United States Signal Corps during World War II? She was in the division that decoded the address to which the message was sent. Amy was actually aware the war ended even before President Truman had been notified. ◆
Bylli is working on her prerequisite classes, and she is hoping to start the nursing program at Hutchinson Community College by this time next year. We are so thankful to have Bylli on our team! Please congratulate her when you see her. ◆
Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2601 E. Crawford Salina, KS 67401-3898 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
ART - continued from page 1
ACTIVE - continued from page 3
from Presbyterian Manor community residents. Since then, the program has expanded to include a juried art competition open to all seniors age 65 and older.
Channel 1960 weekly activities schedule:
The Art is Ageless exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 3–7 and feature works from local artists. The public is welcome to visit Salina Art Center to view the exhibit of acrylics, oils, photography and various other mediums, ranging from amateur to professional levels. Winning pieces at the community level move on to a masterpiece level judging to determine which pieces are featured in the annual calendar and note cards. In addition to the exhibit, Salina Presbyterian Manor will honor the local senior artists who entered artwork in the exhibit during a private reception from 2–4 p.m. March 7. Many thanks to everyone who served as a judge for this year’s Art is Ageless competition: Darren Morawitz, local artist; Barbara Walker, silver needles expert; Kayla Borell, education coordinator, Salina Art Center; Neil Ward, department chair of art & design, Kansas Wesleyan University; Lori Wright, associate professor of art & design, Kansas Wesleyan University. For more information about Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org. For more about Salina Presbyterian Manor, visit SalinaPresbyterianManor.org or contact Cathy Boos at 785-825-1366 or cboos@pmma.org. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021
Exercise class: 10 a.m., daily Yoga chair exercise: 3 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday Catholic mass: 9 a.m., Thursday Music for memories: 1 p.m., Friday Virtual church service: 3 p.m., Sunday Check your activity calendar for other activities and events! —Lacey Buhrle, life enrichment director ◆
PEOPLE GIVING TO PEOPLE
An update on how gifts are changing lives in PMMA communities
IN HER LIFETIME A donor's story
Recently, a longtime friend of PMMA, we’ll call her Agnes, was concerned about burdening her sister with financial decisions and responsibilities when she passes. In order to eliminate the burden for her sister, Agnes wanted to get all of her affairs in order now, but also wanted to accomplish her wishes of helping others. After sharing her thoughts with her advisor and visiting with PMMA’s regional development director, Patti Christen, Agnes was able to spare her sister the task and put her gift to work now.
Agnes made a gift from her donor advised fund for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Program - a program she has supported and appreciated for more than 30 years. She wanted to see the gift in action while she was living. Thanks to Agnes, so many residents have the assurance of the PMMA mission of quality senior services guided by Christian values.
“I’m so thankful for the blessings I have received in my lifetime. It’s my obligation to share it with others. And, I’m so glad my sister doesn’t have to worry about this when I die,” said Agnes, 84. (not her real name to ensure her anonymity)
Spring 2021
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BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE by Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA
“It is better to give than to receive.” Why does this old saying still ring true? Isn’t it because the gift giver takes pleasure in seeing their gift in action? That pleasure may cause a donor to give too much. Sometimes donors give too little, cheating themselves out of the pleasure of giving because they fear running out of money and don’t know their true capacity to give or their giving options.
In the old days, frugal folks made gifts from items at hand, like a quilt from fabric scraps or a dress from flour sacks. Today, a knowledgeable, trusted advisor can help you develop a gift giving budget and help you explore alternative methods for your charitable giving. You may find your ability to give during life may be more than you think! Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA
If you were taught to never touch your invested assets you may be surprised to learn there are strategies to help maximize your donations by using those investments. For example, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-advantaged way for those over 70
½ to
donate IRA dollars directly to charity and avoid taxation on the IRA withdrawal. Or, you might benefit from donating appreciated non-retirement assets, like stocks and mutual funds and when you transfer those assets directly to a charity, neither you nor the charity pay capital gains taxes on the appreciation.
Seeking advice on a charitable budget and/or utilizing one of the strategies above may help you increase your gift giving ability and your pleasure in seeing your donations in action. Plus, if you budget your donations correctly, you won’t need to revert to giving or wearing a flour sack dress or shirt!
The information in this article is not presented as personal financial or legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for obtaining advice specific to your situation. Please seek advice from a trusted financial, tax or legal advisor. Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA is a Vice President & Relationship Officer with Central Trust Company in Lawrence, Kansas. Contact Barbara at 785-865-1065 or Barbara.Braa@centralbank.net.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 316-685-1100
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DEVELOPMENT@PMMA.ORG