Salina Presbyterian Manor
OCTOBER 2020
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Former teacher traveled the world inside and outside the classroom In her independent living townhome at Salina Presbyterian Manor, Gretchen Morgenstern is surrounded by mementos from her travels to six continents and more than 100 countries. “I’ve always wanted to travel,” Gretchen said. “It’s always been exciting for me.” Her first international adventure took her to Europe, but Gretchen traveled even farther from her Kansas home when she taught in Japan from 1958–1960, when she was in her mid-twenties.
Gretchen Morgenstern taught in a US military school in Japan during the late 1950s.
Gretchen was a fourth-grade teacher in Abilene when her father showed her a newspaper advertisement for civilian military teachers. “It provided an opportunity” to travel, Gretchen said. “Even though we lived in American housing, we were able to get to know Japan at that time.” Gretchen taught fourth grade in the American military schools, just as she had in Abilene. She said it’s the age she most enjoyed. The curriculum for American military children was largely the same as in the US, though the students learned about Japanese language and culture once a week from a local person, and they took monthly field trips to learn about traditional Japanese handicrafts and festivals. Gretchen also took classes in Japanese doll making and flower arranging. Living in Japan gave Gretchen plenty of opportunities to travel. She spent Thanksgiving and spring break traveling in the country, and she TEACHER - continued on page 5
Volunteer chaplain led prayer, wrote inspirational columns
“I wanted to be a Mason ever since I was young,” said Art Adams, independent living resident at Salina Presbyterian Manor. His father and brothers were all members of the order, as well as many other people he knew. Art has been a longstanding member of the Masonic chapter in Marysville, Kan. He received his 70-year pin about three years ago. Over the years, Art served as a chaplain for his chapter as well as for the Isis Shriners. In that capacity, he led prayers during meetings and before meals. CHAPLAIN - continued on page 5
Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Opportunity: Support our 40th Annual Soup Supper As with everything else in our world, our 2020 Soup Supper will have a different look this year.
We’ll still have soup and pie, but only for residents and staff. The good news is that you can still participate in support of the Good Samaritan Program by donating online at salinapresbyterianmanor.org/ contribute-now or by mail to 2601 E. Crawford, Salina, KS 67401. The fundraiser will run through October 23. Please consider supporting this great cause! ◆
Fun facts about our community
Combined, our residents have more than 700 years of experience working in the education system. This includes 36 residents who served in the roles of teacher, maintenance worker, secretary, librarian, school nurse, teacher’s aide, superintendent and principal. Many thanks for all the years you spent in service to our youth! ◆
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Online fundraiser October 1 - 23
soup supper
Make an Online donation: salinapresbyterianmanor.org
to: Mail donations rian Manor byte Salina Pres
SALINA Presbyterian Manor
wford 2601 E. Cra 01 74 Salina, KS 6
All proceeds benefit the Good Samaritan Program
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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 | October 2020
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: mmccoy@PMMA.org Christian Gilbert, executive director Melissa McCoy, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Works of two local Art is Ageless® winners to be in PMMA calendar Two winning artists in Salina Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica).
“I was absolutely blown away by the quality of artworks submitted to the Art is Ageless More than 160 entries were competition,” received for this year’s masterpiece said Melissa competition. The winners are McCoy, featured in the Art is Ageless director of “Marvelous Marbles” by Marie Robinson calendar, pull-out postcards and marketing and greeting cards. admissions at Salina “The Hay Barn,” a sculpture/3-D Presbyterian entry and “Christmas Candles,” Manor. a Christmas entry, both by Stan “These artists Lauer, and “Marvelous Marbles,” are such an a mixed media/crafts entry by Marie Robinson, will appear in the inspiration and calendar when it is released this fall. a testament to the agelessness “Walnut, Maple, Cherry Keepsake of art. I cannot Box,” a mixed media/crafts entry wait for the by William Andrews, “Fancy Fish,” calendar to be a painting by Dixie Lee Haddock, released.” “The Farm,” a painting by Julia Stanley, and “Crooked House Night Art is Ageless is unique in Light,” a sculpture/3-D entry by that it is open Bob Wygal, will be featured on exclusively the pull-out postcards in the 2021 to people age calendar. 65 and older. In addition, “Still Life – a la Started in 1980, “Christmas Candles” by Stan Lauer Cucina,” a drawing by Cary the program Brinegar, “Santa’s List,” a Christmas is an extension of PMMA’s entry by Phyllis Johnson, “Bunnies,” wellness programs, which a drawing by Joyce Roe, and “Daisy focus on mental, physical, Garden,” a painting by Mary social and spiritual health. Tanking, will appear on Art is Residents and friends of Ageless greeting cards. PMMA’s Art is Ageless program prove that art, Works by local winners are in any form, is an ageless automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with ambition. ◆ winning art from 15 other PMMA “The Hay Barn” by Stan Lauer communities. Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Mary’s Musings By Mary Bridges, chaplain
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt I seem to have lost my sense of time since we encountered a worldaltering virus. We’ve missed so many special occasions, holidays, and time with family and friends that you could be reading it in the 13th month of 2020. Did you know Ethiopia’s calendar has 13 months? The 13th month is called Pagume, and comes from the Greek word epagomene, which means “days forgotten when a year is calculated.” None of us had any idea how a novel virus would change almost every aspect of our lives. It has been a time of struggle for everyone, but each person’s circumstances are different. There have been times at work where I just wanted to throw up my hands and say “enough!” Without exception, what has gotten me through the difficult days are our residents. Their assurance that we will persevere has inspired me. When I took disaster training following a tornado in Hoisington,
we learned that when amusing or inspirational signs appeared in the rubble, it was the beginning of healing and hope. At chapel, I asked each floor to come up with a unique motto, slogan or saying. I’m sharing these below so you may also feel a sense of hope, courage and positivity if you are having a difficult day. Blessings to each of you. First Floor Tower residents: Encouragers of anxious hearts. Blossoms come out of darkness into the light. Second Floor West Tower residents: We are the biggest; Striving to be the best!
Second Floor East Tower residents: Love, laughter, smiles, and humor required. Third Floor East Tower residents: Good friends, a great third floor. Life does not get any better. Fourth Floor Tower residents: Together we are number one. We can overcome!
Fifth Floor Tower residents: Where there’s a will, There is a way! Sixth Floor Tower residents: We are the top of the Kingdom and tallest in our world. ◆
COVID-19 updates continue As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, SalinaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. If there is a COVID-19 outbreak (positive COVID-19 test) at your community, your leadership team will contact employees, residents and their designated family representatives via telephone, email or mail with information about the outbreak and the recommendations of the local health department. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | October 2020
September Employee of the Month: Pat Piper Congratulations to Activities Assistant Pat Piper, Salina Presbyterian Manor’s September Employee of the Month. “I love working at my job,” Pat said. “I have an amazing leader that makes my job great.” Pat has worked at Presbyterian Manor for 35 years. She and her husband, Loren, have five children who range in age from 35 to 58.
They have 22 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In her spare time, Pat enjoys doing yard work and spending time with her grandchildren. Many thanks to Pat for her dedicated service to our residents. ◆ Right: Pat Piper, Salina Presbyterian Manor’s September Employee of the Month.
He also wrote chaplain columns for the Shrine newsletter. Art recently shared some of his writing with Presbyterian Manor. One of his columns is reprinted below:
If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
Just up the road is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting. One horse is blind. His owner has chosen not to put him down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. This alone is pretty amazing.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. God watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. At other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way. ◆
TEACHER - continued from page 1
“It’s just fascinating to me to go where there’s a different culture,” Gretchen said. “And Hong Kong was not like it is today—it was an independent country.”
She eventually earned a master’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota and taught in different communities, including Tucson, Ariz.
After her second year of teaching, Gretchen’s friends moved to another military school in Germany, so she returned to teaching fourth grade in Abilene.
Gretchen continued to travel, and she enjoyed sharing what she learned with her students. ◆
CHAPLAIN - continued from page 1
and another teacher friend would take short trips “nearly every other weekend.” The winter break was long enough that she could join tours to other parts of Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam and India. Hong Kong was her favorite place outside Japan.
barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure the blind friend isn’t too far behind.
Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2601 E. Crawford Salina, KS 67401-3898 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight As part of Salina Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing customer service initiative, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight.
The graphic below highlights some of the survey results. All scores are
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given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between July 2019 and June 2020, Salina Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in safety and security, cleanliness, activities and demonstrating dignity and respect.
COMMUNITY MATTERS | October 2020
We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. ◆