Wichita Community Matters August 2015

Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor

August 2015

Downsize & donate Future Westerly residents raise funds for Good Sam Program Downsizing from a house to an apartment is a monumental task.

And the sales team for the Westerly Residences at Wichita Presbyterian Manor wanted to help their future residents with the task before they move later this year.

The solution? One big garage sale, held in July at the United Methodist Church At the Well. But unlike most moving sales, this one was also a charitable affair. The residents donated their proceeds to the Good Samaritan Program at Wichita Presbyterian Manor – a total of $1,766.20, according to Samantha Skaggs, marketing assistant for The Westerly.

Community wedding day

Jill Coleman, director of sales for The Westerly, said the sale served another purpose, too. It helped the new residents begin to bond as a community and to share in what can sometimes be a bittersweet transition.

The room was decorated like a wedding reception that had wedding photos of residents on display. And there isn’t a wedding without cake! Resident Ella Leslie and friend and fellow resident Ruth Lichty, both pictured above, made a four-layer wedding cake and a groom’s cake.

“Any time you see your items go out the door in a stranger’s hands, it tugs on your heart. They’re one step closer to a new life at The Westerly,” Coleman said. “But they weren’t doing it alone; they were doing it with their future neighbors. It was a supportive thing.”

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Residents say ‘I do’ to perfect event On June 18, Wichita Presbyterian Manor residents were treated to the ultimate wedding when the community hosted “Your Perfect Wedding Day.”

The cake featured a topper that also was used in Ella’s sister Mary’s wedding in 1963. Ella made that wedding cake as well, and the same topper was used again for Mary’s daughter’s wedding in 1988 and at Mary’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Residents enjoyed the locally made cake, nuts, mints and punch while activity assistants read wedding day and engagement stories residents had shared.

Chaplain Greg Schmidt also read a vow that everyone could participate in.

The activity was well attended by residents in all levels of living. Thanks to everyone for helping celebrate the special occasion!

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Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Dawn Veh, executive director Jill Coleman, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, awatson@pmma.org.

Telephone: 316-942-7456 Fax: 316-941-3806 Address: 4700 W. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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Community Matters August 2015

How has music been important to you? In an upcoming issue of Community Matters we will be focusing on music and its role in making our lives better. If you’ve got a story about what music has meant to you, contact Life Enrichment Director Amy Watson, and your story may be selected for an upcoming Community Matters newsletter.

Above: Evelen Calderwood at Karg Art Glass.

Left: Marketing Director Amy Watson.

Seniors experience adventure in learning The Wichita Presbyterian Manor bus was recently used to take a group of seniors on an adventure to Kechi, Kan., for a fundraising event.

The trip started at the Shepherd’s Center of West Wichita and traveled to the Karg Art Glass Gallery in Kechi, Kan., for its first stop. While there, the attendees entered to win a beautiful piece of art glass, enjoyed wine, cheese and crackers, and viewed the art pieces for sale at the gallery. The trip continued on to the Kechi Playhouse where everyone enjoyed the play “Till Beth Do Us Part.” Before the play began, there was a drawing to see who won the art glass piece.

The Shepherd’s Center offers Adventures in Learning sessions each spring and fall. More than 40 different topics are offered, eight each Thursday morning in two time periods and four in the afternoon. There is a Coffee Café for refreshment and a luncheon is followed by an entertaining program. The registration fee is $40 for all six Thursdays. The fall session starts Oct. 1. To learn more about the organization or how to participate in their programs, visit shepherdscenterww.org or call 316-721-2208.

Resident shares love of learning with others Whether you’re interested in brushing up on classical mythology, studying museum masterpieces of the Louvre or reading about the stars and universe, there’s a good chance Wichita Presbyterian Manor resident Hubert McNamee has a DVD you can borrow on the topic.

Hubert McNamee Hubert has his own personal collection of DVDs from “The Great Courses” in a variety of topics he’s been interested in over the years. He’s happy to share them with anyone who shares his passion for learning, too.

“I’m pretty eclectic with learning,” said Hubert. “When I was in grade school, it was far too easy. There were just a couple of us competing for grades and the rest were left to the dust. I got to high school and goofed off a lot.

I didn’t do well, but I graduated.”

After graduating in 1947, Hubert wasn’t sure what he wanted to do so he enlisted and served in the military for three years. After he got out, he tried a variety of jobs before he moved back to his hometown in Missouri with his wife and two kids. “I wanted to get into government service – I could retire at 55 and have job security,” said Hubert. “So I applied for government jobs – the post office and weather service. Weather service came through.”

After several job promotions and relocations, Hubert and his family moved to Wichita and he went back to school and got a business degree from Kansas Newman in 1976.

SALE, continued from page 1

About one-third of The Westerly’s 90 households donated items to the one-day sale, Coleman said, and turnout was good. “In a way it’s the first introduction for many of them to participate in the mission of their new home,” Coleman said.

The Good Samaritan Program helps bridge the gap for residents who have outlived their financial resources through no fault of

“By that time, I was hooked, so I went off to WSU and enrolled in a graduate program.”

He got his master’s in communications from WSU in 1979 and found himself moving his family again – this time to Detroit, Mich., for a job in the weather office.

“I think warning people about severe weather was the ultimate feel-good part of the job, even though you did call wolf a lot of times,” said Hubert. “We did not have the sophisticated equipment they have today. We were flying by the seat of our pants and we’d think, ‘I better put out a warning in case something bad happens,’ and you felt good about it when you were right.”

After retiring at the age of 55, Hubert and wife traveled for several years until she passed away in 1993. Seven years later, he met Mary Lee at a senior dance at a recreation center and they’ve been together for 19 years. Hubert has also continued to educate others about weather while he’s been living at Presbyterian Manor.

“Almost everybody watches the weather, and I know almost everyone has questions about weather but they can’t talk to the TV,” said Hubert. “So I put on a program and gave a synopsis about what we know about weather and answered a bunch of questions. We had a good turnout.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the weather – or anything from Shakespeare to ancient history and American history – call Hubert to borrow a DVD from his collection.

their own. One in four residents in the assisted living and health care neighborhoods throughout the Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica network are supported in some way through the Good Samaritan Program, which equates to more than $4 million a year worth of unreimbursed care.

Charter residents of The Westerly will begin moving in later this year, Coleman said. The all-new independent living residences, now

under construction on the Wichita Presbyterian Manor campus, offer fine features and finishes, a wealth of new amenities in retirement living, and a unique health care benefit.

Westerly charter members JoLin Gardner, left, and Marilyn Lytle, and Samantha Skaggs, Westerly sales team.

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Construction and service training Construction is progressing on 90 new independent living apartments in The Westerly Residences at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.

Rick Cumberland, senior vice president management services and operations for Greystone Communities, leads a session about Greystone’s Pinnacle Service standards for key employees at Wichita Presbyterian Manor in early July.

Dave Keaton, vice president of operations management services for Greystone Communities including Aberdeen Heights, and Sue Plasterr, corporate vice president for operations management services for Greystone Communities focusing on health services, lead a session on the importance of first impressions for key employees at Wichita Presbyterian Manor in July.

Wichita Presbyterian Manor employees introduce themselves and share their roles in the community with representatives of Greystone Communities during a service excellence training session in early July.

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Community Matters August 2015