Shell Point Life February 2007

February 2007 Vol. 2 Issue 2

Be My Valentine

LOVE IS IN

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Married Couples Find Personal and Professional Satisfaction Together at Shell Point Shell Point enjoys a distinct advantage in being one of the largest organizations in Lee County. With more than 800 employees, it is certainly one of the county’s top employers. As such, Shell Point must be creative in its management style to keep those jobs filled. One strategy that has been effective is to allow married couples to work at Shell Point. “Of course, there are some rules,” explained Karen Anderson, director of human resources, “although married couples are allowed to work together in the same location, one spouse cannot supervise the other, but on the whole, this has worked out well over the years.”

When one employee is happy with their job and their employer, it just makes sense to spread the word to other members of their family. Transportation Manager Dianne Morton agrees. “My husband, Steve, and I both love working at Shell Point,” she said. “We like the island environment and Shell Point is such a

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great company to work for.” I started working at Shell Point first and when the landscape planner position became available, I encouraged him to go for it!”

Some couples actually met at Shell Point and married during their time here, such as Rita and Bob Southern. “Rita is the best benefit I have ever received from my time at Shell Point,” jokes Bob Southern, director of projPhil and Linda Jansen ect development.

In addition to the Mortons and Southerns, there are more than 25 other married couples employed by Shell Point, including: Phil and Linda Jansen (Communications, Information Systems); Mike and Millie Kuehn (Apartment Prep, Resort Services); Dan and Rachael Dula (Information Systems, Arbor Activities); John and Lori Sparks (Apartment Prep, Finance); Jeremy and Francia Rivett (Property Management, Woodlands Housekeeping); Adrienne Bernadel and Romaine Goudette (Property Management, Larsen Pavilion); Collins and Marie Adjei-Bediaico (Palm Grill, Hospitality Services); Carol and Don Young (Finance, Apartment Prep); Joyce and Charlie Grindrod (Apartment Prep); Larry and

O V E R

Shell Point Life | February 2007

Shell Point Life is published monthly for the residents of Shell Point Retirement Community.

Editor Lynn Schneider Assistant Editor Kathy Nordman Art Director Rich Cerrina Graphic Designer Wendy Iverson Staff Contributors Dianne Allen, Robyn Church, Carol Cooper, Jeff Cory, Carole Faux, Karen Anderson, Larry Fose, Gene McGonigle, Teri Kollath, Millie Kuehn, Linda Rakos Randy Woods, Mia Crews, Cindy O’Grady Resident Contributors Bill Saunders, Dave Marano, Harold Greenlee

story continued on page 17

Shell Point’s workforce is made up of more than 800 employees working in over 20 diverse and exciting departments and representing myriad professions.

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When I was a young girl, my favorite holiday was Valentine’s Day – with all of those little cards and tender notes – flowers and candy.

Even today I still like the idea of a holiday that gives us an opportunity to show others how much we care and a chance to affirm our relationships.

This month it gives me pleasure to say Happy Valentine’s Day to you and also to all of the employees that I am honored to work alongside. In fact, this issue of Shell Point Life is dedicated to the employees of Shell Point and is full of stories about these interesting people.

In the pages of our magazine this month, we have highlighted a number of employees who help make life at Shell Point so enjoyable. We were able to learn a lot about some of the staff who work here at Shell Point, and I just wish that we had more pages to be able to shine the light on other employees who make up our 800+ workforce. They are all very special people and every one of them has a unique story. You will find just a few of their stories inside. I hope you enjoy them.

In the meantime, Happy Valentine’s Day!

15101 Shell Point Boulevard • Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-1131 • www.shellpoint.org Shell Point is a non-profit ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc.

THE WINTER ACADEMY The Academy at Shell Point introduces Winter Schedule with Special Programs

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Art Show at Arbor

Flyboys Hit Silver Screen

The art of world-renowned contemporary artist, Timothy R. Botts, will be on display at the Arbor beginning Monday, February 5 through Monday, February 19. All Shell Point residents are encouraged to take full advantage of this special privilege to view this artwork.

More than twenty original works of art will be displayed on the Arbor mezzanine, along with Botts’ inspirational painting that was recently commissioned by The Village Church for the Arbor Chapel. His artistic expression, with simple lines and colorful lettering, gives perspective Tim Botts will present a to an illustration of Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my lecture and light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” This workshop on work is permanently displayed in the Arbor calligraphy Chapel, along with three of his other prints illustrating hymn texts, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” “Amazing Grace,” and “It Is Well with My Soul.”

On Friday, February 16, the Academy will bring another of WGCU Public Media’s Untold Stories: A Wing and a Prayer, to the large screen in our auditorium. Take a trip back to the time when Southwest Florida’s own “wild blue yonder” served as practice flying ground for more than 80,000 bombardiers, fighter pilots, and gunners out of World War I and II Army Airfields in Arcadia, Clewiston, Fort Myers, Naples, and Punta Gorda. Two noted long-time residents of Fort Myers will “step off the screen” to be part of a panel discussion taking A formation of planes wing their way along the Caloosahatchee place after this showing of A River above east Fort Myers to Wing and a Prayer. Oscar the Buckingham Corbin came to Fort Myers as Flexible Gunnery School's range over a Captain for the Buckingham the Gulf of Mexico Gunnery School during WWII (ca 1945). and went on to become mayor Photo courtesy of the Univ. of S. Florida. of Fort Myers. Bill Smith came to the area as a noncommissioned officer for the Fort Myers Beach Air and Sea Rescue and stayed in the area to open a thriving appliance business.

Meet Artist, Timothy Botts, at Academy Residents will also have a rare opportunity to meet Tim, when he makes two presentations through the Academy at Shell Point. On Tuesday, February 13, he will speak about his work and the art of calligraphy. Then the following day, Wednesday, February 14, he will conduct a hands-on workshop, teaching residents to create a calligraphic painting illustrating a word of their choice. Please sign up for these presentations utilizing the form in the Winter Academy brochure.

In addition to these Academy classes, Botts will make a special presentation on Wednesday, February 14, at 7:15 p.m. in The Village Church in a lecture on calligraphy, followed by a workshop illustrating his techniques. See this artist in action, as he demonstrates and enables us to visualize the unseen truth of faith through his artwork.

Islam Unveiled in Series Monday, February 26 will be the third class in this semester’s Islam series, presented by Joyce Ramay, the founding administrator and Curriculum Planner of Hajvery University, in Lahore, Pakistan. Other presenters in the Islam series include Dr. Sue Stranahan, Chaplain and Minister of Spiritual Care, who will discuss maternal aspects of the monotheistic religions. Senior Pastor Ken Nesselroade will present an hisSue Stranahan and Ken toric overview, including a review of Nesselroad are presenters for the Islam series Abraham by Bruce Feiler.

Lenten Season Explored The Lenten season will be enriched by a focus on appreciation for the Music of the Passion by Randy Woods, Minister of Music and Worship, and a visual trip through the Holy Land by Paul Peterson (Rosemont).

The winter semester offers these highlights and so much more! Browse through your Academy brochure to make sure you don’t miss signing up for the classes that interest you. Then check the Weekly Reminder and Shell Point Today on SPTV for reminders of the classes you don’t want to miss.

Medical Lectures

Randy Woods and Paul Peterson give talks relating to the Lenten season. Randy focuses on music appreciation and Paul offers a visual trip through the Holy Land.

Carol Clark, Larsen Pavilion Nurse Practitioner, will provide strategies for managing the normal process of aging in her Carol Clark and Nancy presentation, Spencer will lead Orchestrating Optimism classes on managing aging and chronic pain Along the Way. Dr. Nancy Spencer will share strategies for chronic pain management.

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Shell Point Employment: AN OVERVIEW B

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the Human Resources office received just over 2,500 resumes and applications from candidates interested in working at Shell Point. Of that 2,500, only 13 percent were hired. That low percentage is reflective of a selection process that considers each candidate for a position, not only from the perspective of the related skills they bring, but also (and primarily) focuses on how interested a candidate is in providing quality service each day, particularly in a retirement community environment.

When I was approached with the idea that the February issue of Shell Point Life would focus on employees, I was thrilled. Shell Point has a wonderful team of employees who work hard every day to make sure that resident needs are met, so any opportunity that Administration has to recognize who they are and what they do is an opportunity that is welcomed.

So who are these people who make up the dedicated team that residents benefit from each day? They are parents, grandparents, spouses, brothers, sisters, Boy/Girl Scout leaders, pastors, coaches, motorcycle and fishing enthusiasts, and people with a myriad of interests and talents. Some have lived in Fort Myers all their life; others are transplanted from states with snow, cold, and grey skies for too many months of the year. Many have come from other countries, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. They are as young as 15 years and as old as 91! Some have come out of first, second, or third retirements and bring great knowledge and experience, having worked as police officers, teachers, business executives, managers, and in various other positions prior to coming to Shell Point.

Without this diverse group of people, Shell Point would not be the great organization that it is.

In my ten years at Shell Point, the company has grown from 425 employees to just over 800. During that time, unemployment levels in Southwest Florida have reached record lows, making employment candidates scarce and quality employment candidates a rare commodity. But that hasn’t changed our goal of filling vacant positions with high quality, service-oriented people who strive to meet resident needs. In 2006,

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Finding a Good Fit Searching for just the right candidate may mean some vacancies are open a bit longer than we would like. The long-term impact is that Shell Point hires people who want to be here and stay longer, once they are placed into a position that is a good fit. There is sometimes the perception that if wages were increased, positions would be filled more quickly with “higher quality” people.

There are a number of reasons that theory does not translate well. It is important to remain competitive with wages, and Shell Point does so by gathering wage data on an ongoing basis, evaluating pay structure annually. There is no evidentiary support for the idea that paying more than everyone else enhances recruitment. Most candidates and employees today are looking for an entire package that includes a competitive wage, good benefits, a positive work environment, and a good boss. Numerous studies confirm that the relationship with an employee’s supervisor is the most important factor as to whether or not that person stays with the company.

Shell Point has taken that to heart. In addition to ensuring that Shell Point’s wages and benefits are competitive, efforts have been stepped up to develop managers and supervisors in all operational areas. A management development training program has been started to provide managers and supervisors with the tools to manage consistently and successfully. This program will enhance what is already a great management team at Shell Point.

Proactive Recruitment Regardless of how good Shell Point is organizationally, there will always be some recruitment needs, particularly as the community continues to grow. To aid in recruitment efforts, an additional person joined the Human Resources staff last year and is dedicated to ongoing recruitment efforts.

Recruitment is largely a marketing function, and having someone to work closely with candidates daily has had an impact. Shell Point began hosting annual employment open houses in 2005, inviting interested candidates to visit us on-site on a scheduled day, providing tours, and immediate interviews. In December, seasonal employees were hired from outside the country to work as servers and housekeepers, which helped with recruitment challenges in our area.

Shell Point has also begun working closely with several area high schools to develop a recruitment source for students.

Shell Point dining areas are an ideal place for students to pick up hours after school and on weekends, while having the opportunity to develop positive relationships with residents. That is a rewarding experience for both the students and residents.

Employee Retention A natural component of recruitment is employee retention – companies wouldn’t have to recruit if people didn’t leave.

Employee turnover is currently under 30 percent and historically, has hovered right around that percentage for a number of years. While 30 percent may be perceived as high and while ideally turnover could be lower, it is realistic to expect that turnover is going to occur at that rate. In comparison to other organizations similar to ours, both locally and nationally, Shell Point’s turnover is below the norm.

Reasons for employees leaving Shell Point are closely monitored, and the current trend shows people moving out of the area – a sign of housing issues in our area. A percentage of employees also leave due to personal issues, illness, or to care for an aging family member.

Moving Up and Staying Put “Churnover” is most evident in the housekeeping operation and occurs when current employees move into another position or area, resulting from a promotion or transfer to a job that is more suitable to their skills and/or scheduling needs.

Churnover is good because it means employees are being retained rather than lost to another organization. Retention records also provide a glimpse of the longevity that exists, with 20 current employees with 20+ years of service; ten with 25 or more years; and two who have been here for over 30 years! There are also 44 who will celebrate their 5-year milestone during this current fiscal year!

Shell Point Offers Great Benefits From a recruitment and retention standpoint, it is important to offer benefits that support employees’ needs. Shell Point offers a full benefit package, including comprehensive health insurance, dental, paid time off, a tax-deferred savings program (401k), annual health & benefits fair, flu shots at no cost, vision insurance, emergency leave program, medical leave, a turkey at Thanksgiving, Christmas Luncheons, and credit union membership. There is also a medical insurance program for part-time and on-call employees. Shell Point offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides for any employee to use a 24/7 confidential service to assist with life challenges such as difficult relationships, money problems, or legal issues.

Additionally, The Village Church recently hired an Employee Chaplain to offer support to Shell Point employees, as needed. Thanks to this church program,

employees are provided an avenue through which they can deal with difficult times.

Dealing with difficult life issues ultimately helps employees stay at work and focus on their job responsibilities — plus it supports Shell Point’s mission of Caring for, Serving and Satisfying residents and employees. The Village Church also generously created and donates to an employee benevolent program that provides money to employees during unexpected times of need.

Residents Play a Role Residents also play a role in recognizing and supporting employees. An interest-free employee emergency loan program funded by residents has assisted countless staff in covering hurricane repair expenses, unexpected medical expenses, and other emergency needs. The Resident Gift Fund, to which so many residents make generous contributions, ensures a wonderful Christmas gift for employees.

Employees picking up their Christmas gifts from resident volunteers

A group of residents is also working with Habitat for Humanity to develop financial and volunteer support to build homes that will benefit Shell Point employees. Such efforts have a tremendous impact on employees, helping them feeling cared for and satisfied with their decision to remain at Shell Point.

I am so proud to say that I work at Shell Point and I am even prouder that I get to work with such amazing people every day.

Every employee brings a special gift and talent to what they do here — and makes Shell Point a truly special place at which to work and live!

Workers Travel from Jamaica Pilot Program Provides Seasonal Staffing It’s no secret that the employment landscape in Southwest Florida is challenging. The current unemployment rate of 2.4 percent is considered to be “full employment,” meaning that those who are out of work are either in transition from one job to another, or are lacking the necessary employment skills to obtain work.

Combine that with the fact that most businesses are staffing up for the busy winter season, and it makes for a shortage of qualified people to fill the many open positions throughout Lee County.

To combat that challenge, Shell Point has hired 14 seasonal staff from Jamaica to provide service in the dining and housekeeping areas. This process involved petitioning the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and demonstrating that Shell Point has additional staffing needs from December through April, due to increased activity in our service areas. The DOL approved Shell Point’s request and the seasonal staff arrived a week before Christmas. They will stay until April 30, at which time they will no longer be authorized for Stateside work and must return home. Rental apartments were secured and transportation is provided to and from work. Everyone is pleased to have

Annette Ferguson, Deon Dawkins-Scott, Carlene Jackson-Hutchinson, and Pauling Green from Housekeeping

the seasonal staff here — and they are thrilled to be working in the States. A few have already asked if they can return next season! Please welcome them as you would any new employee, and enjoy getting to know them as your paths cross.

Jamaican natives Mickey Walters and Leroy Dixon spent “season” on a special work pass in the Larsen Pavilion kitchen.

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B Y K AT H Y N O R D M A N , C O M M U N I C AT I O N S S P E C I A L I S T

Shell Point’s many employees hail from all over the U.S. and even such far-flung locales as Africa, Portugal, Indonesia, and Thailand. So since we’re getting to know our employees better in this issue, let’s take a quick look at where some of these folks came from.

Rouse

I grew up in the small Iowa town of Waterloo, home to 80,000 others who endured freezing winters and sweltering summers without central air conditioning!

Fortunately, I escaped to Boulder, Colorado, that beautiful little town in the foothills of the Rockies as soon as possible. After years of travel, I found my final “roost” here in the warmth and sunshine of Southwest Florida.

Lots of employees seem to have migrated to Florida from up north. Transplants from Pennsylvania include Linda Rakos, assistant food services director; Tammy Rakos Bernhardt, call center receptionist; and Volunteer Coordinator, Carole Faux, who “blew into town” just before Hurricane Charley from Rogers Ford, PA. Hailing from Allentown are Chaplain Sue Stranahan; Rachael Dula, Activities Leader at the Arbor; and her husband, Dan, who works in Information Services. Carol Bowen in Housekeeping moved to Cape Coral 13 years ago from the Keystone State.

Every day as she crosses the bridge on the way to work, Faux she “takes in the view and 6

Shell Point Life | February 2007

thinks how lucky” she is to be in Florida.

Linda Keller, also nicknamed, “the pool diva,” moved to Fort Myers in 1982 from DuBois, PA. Linda loves the outdoors and since she joined Shell Point in 2003, she maintains two swimming pools, two spas, and 15 water features on The Island, as well as two pools and five water features at The Woodlands.

Eastern states like Massachusetts have also “lost” great employees to Shell Point: Paul Yacovitch, Facility Operations Manager, from Boston; Jeff Callahan, Facility Maintenance Supervisor, of Roxbury; and Darlene Martins from Assonet.

Calling Connecticut “home,” are Joann Prenoveau, Call Center Bindas Secretary, Southington; and Judy Bindas, Pavilion Housekeeping Supervisor, from Hartford.

Midwesterners also play a big role in the makeup of Shell Point employees. The Detroit, Michigan, area was home to Karen Anderson in Human Resources, who came to Florida because her husband is in the golf business. Direct from the Shell Point TV Studio, Scott Rouse took a job transfer from

Michigan to Fort Myers and Mike Davis, Director of Sales, also called Detroit his home turf before coming south. Hailing from Evansville, Indiana, Harry Hales owned Harry’s Transmission Shop and is now employed in Shell Point’s Maintenance Department. Harry plays in a local band called We R Country.

Project Development’s Julie Nipper comes from the farmlands of Pendleton, Indiana, Rita Southern is from Nebraska; and Dianna Pabelick in Hospitality Services moved here from Milwaukee.

Known by some residents as “Sir Walter Raleigh,” part-time bus driver Arlyn Euken is a Nipper familiar face around The Island, and has been with Shell Point since he moved here four years ago from Ohio.

Graphic Designer Wendy Iverson came from the frozen climes of Minneapolis, Minnesota — and Chris Bright from SPTV sometimes thinks about his “Sweet Home, Chicago.”

Jamie Crawford, Larsen Pavilion Housekeeping Lead is from Peoria; and

although Wally Chamberlain has been in Fort Myers since 1972, his family’s roots are in Rockford, Illinois. Wally’s skills as Irrigation Technician have kept him busy since 1996, making Chamberlain sure the thousands of sprinkler heads are working hard, keeping Shell Point’s beautiful landscaping green and fresh. And Donna Dittmer, the “voice” of Shell Point’s main telephone line, is also from the green corn fields of Davenport (Quad Cities), Iowa.

Although you can’t usually hear it in her voice, Lynn Schneider hails from Texas. Over in Resort Services, Dianne Allen carries her melodious southern sound from Raleigh, North Carolina. Millie Kuehn’s Kentucky accent sometimes sneaks out – as does that of Sales Counselor Jan Coay from Owensboro, as well as the Crystal Room’s Debbie Dalrymple, a fellow Kentuckian who has been here at Shell Point for twenty years!

Why so long? She loves the residents and truly believes that working here is “her destiny.” Cindy O’Grady’s Charleston, West Virginia accent can also be heard when she picks up the phone for President Peter Dys, who is yet another Dalrymple native son of Pennsylvania!

Internationally speaking, Dina Joseph, the Larsen Pavilion Kitchen Supervisor, was born in Portugal, but grew up in Connecticut. In August, 2005, Dina married Pierre, who is from Haiti. Pierre and Dina,

along with her parents, are maintaining a two-generation, tri-lingual home in Cape Coral. Dina and her parents are learning to speak Haitian-Creole; Pierre is learning Portuguese; and everyone speaks English.

The country of Haiti has provided many wonderful Julmeus employees to Shell Point, including Joseph Julmeus, Island Laundry Supervisor, and Ginette Sterlin, Hospitality Services, who both came from Saint Marc; and Joseph D’haiti, who works in The Woodlands; as well as Marie Oscar, from Leogane, Haiti.

Natives of the Dominican Republic, Francia Rivett works at the Woodlands and Ana Hernandez, Call Center Coordinator, is from Santo Domingo. The Woodlands’ Silbourn Gooden is from Jamaica, and Puerto Rico was home turf for Lydia Negron, whom Oakmont residents love as their housekeeper, as well as Ricardo Leon, a member of the Property Management team since 1972.

Hernandez If there were a competition between employees from far, far away, several come to mind: Collins AdjeiBediaico, whose happy face can be seen in the Palm Grill each day, was born and raised in Ghana, Africa. Before landing in Florida, Collins lived in Germany, Toronto, and New York City. Collins travels to Africa and Toronto often, to visit Adjei-Bediaico

his widespread family members. His lovely Haitian wife, Marie, works in Hospitality Services and has been in the States for 14 years, also making trips back home to her native country. Adding even more miles to a frequent flyer’s stash, Tati Harris, a sixyear Shell Point “vet,” is a server in the Crystal Room, and came all the way from Cirebon, Indonesia. Doi Wongsena, who joined the King’s Crown Dining Room staff five years ago, is from Thailand. Doi settled in Cape Coral, after travel- Wongsena ing extensively in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore. The next time you see Doi at dinner, wish her “god kveld” (good evening), because she is fluent in Norwegian. Doi and her sister still vacation in their beachfront cottage in Thailand, visiting their extended family back home.

Edi Braun who works in the Woodlands is from Peru; and from Canada, Wendy McMasters truly knows the meaning of winter weather!

Another familiar face belongs to Chef Mellie Raposa. Mellie came to the States from her native county of Portugal and recently celebrated her Raposa 20th year working at Shell Point, where she has been delighting diners on The Island with her tasty dishes, and DJ’ing at parties and events in the Larsen Pavilion.

Whew! That is quite a list, and I’ve only touched on a small portion of our Shell Point employee population. But one thing is for certain. No matter where Shell Point’s many employees come from, their varied backgrounds meld into one group of very caring people who have chosen to settle here at Shell Point.

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Adopted Children from China Bring Love to American Families Every mother can remember the moment that she first held her new baby – for several Shell Point staff members that moment occurred halfway around the world. Shell Point employees Mari Butler, a nurse practitioner in the J. Howard Wood Medical Center; Debby Dorr, the employee health nurse in Human Resources; and Larry (Resort Services) and Marj (Pavilion) Fose, all share one thing in common: they adopted children from China.

Alissa Rao Butler At five and a half, Alissa Butler is an outgoing little girl with a mischievous grin. She dances, draws, and loves to play with the cars she received for Christmas.

“She knows what she wants out of life and she’s not afraid to tell us,” said her proud mother, Mari Butler. “I really love that quality in her.”

The Butlers had tried for years to become pregnant and after several failed attempts, decided to try to adopt a child. But the outlook was gloomy. Stories of American adoption led them to believe that it could be years before they might receive a child, if at all.

Then one day at a meeting, Mari ran into an old friend who shared his family’s positive experience with overseas adoption and the Butlers were encouraged to try for themselves.

“Within weeks, we had filled out all the paperwork and then it was just a matter of months before it was filed officially with the Chinese government,” explained Mari.

“After that we waited many more months, almost two years, until one day the phone rang at work and they said we had our baby.”

Mari barely remembers the next six weeks as she and her husband, Michael, prepared to travel to China. “It is all a blur,” she

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recalls. “We arrived in Beijing where we met our travel group. For the next four days we toured several areas of China, including the Great Wall and a jade factory. They wanted us to have some knowledge of the country to be able to share with our child as she was growing up and I could appreciate that, but I couldn’t concentrate because in my heart, all I could think about was getting to my baby girl.”

Finally, the couple arrived in Nanjing, in the Jiangxi Province and checked into their hotel. That evening they were called into a meeting room and there were the nannies all holding the babies. A quiet man with dark hair was holding Alissa.

“When he placed her in my arms, she began to cry,” said Mari. “She had only been around people with dark hair and my blond hair must have seemed so unusual to her. She

was really scared for awhile, but Mike’s hair is dark and she calmed right down with him.

Today, we tell Alissa this story and she just laughs and laughs.”

Once the couples had received their babies, they moved on to the White Swan Hotel, near the American Embassy in Guangzou. This part of the trip was the longest, as they filled out all of the paperwork to make her adoption official and to make her an American citizen.

“That was probably the most stressful part,” admits Mari. “I wasn’t able to really relax until we had the official paperwork declaring her an American citizen.”

Once home in America, the family settled right in.

“Ali attached to us right away,” said Mari. “Children who are raised early on in an orphanage tend to attach right away, whereas children who have been in a foster home tend to be slower in the process, since they have already bonded with a family, even if it was on a temporary basis.”

Looking back, Mari still can’t get over how happy they are and what a difference Alissa has made in their lives.

“When a baby comes, your whole world changes.

She’s the best thing that ever happened to us.”

Lindsay Ann Dorr Debby and Albert Dorr had been married for many years and were living in California, when they saw a news story on national television about abandoned children in China.

A reporter had gone over to China and showed photos of the orphanages and the babies that were being abandoned. More than 350 children a day were being abandoned, most of them little girls.

“My husband and I were an older couple,” said Debby. “He was 53 and I was 43, and we were childless. Our life was very comfortable, but when I heard about these children I thought, well, we can just listen to this story and do nothing about it and allow this to happen, or we can do something about it.

That’s why we went to China.”

Debby and Albert decided to adopt and filled out the paperwork immediately. “At that time people had just started adopting overseas and the process went very quickly. It was about five months from filling out paperwork to hearing that we had a baby.”

“We received a phone call from our liaison who had received a little postage stampsized photo of the baby. It was probably the most exciting day of my life,” she said. “It was unbelievable. I dropped everything and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge just to get that picture.”

About a month later, the couple flew to Hong Kong and then on to Nanjing where the authorities from the adoption agency brought the baby to the couple’s hotel.

Debby remembers it as if it was yesterday. “It was an amazing moment. The nanny handed me this little girl and she latched on to me and didn’t let go. I couldn’t give her to anybody else – she just hung on for the rest of the trip. My arms were so tired afterwards! But it was a joy.”

“Of course, we had a lot of paperwork to do in Nanjing,” she explained. “We were there for a total of nine days doing forms for the Chinese government.”

Today Lindsay is an active 12-year old.

She enjoys singing and has a beautiful voice.

She has sung with the Southwest Florida Symphony Children’s Chorus and she cur-

rently takes private lessons.

She is also very artistic and likes to draw. Lindsay attends Evangelical Christian School where she is in the sixth grade.

“She is aware that she is adopted, but she is just like any other American kid. It doesn’t really matter to her,” said Debby. “We tried to introduce Chinese culture into our lifestyle, but she really isn’t interested. We have found one custom that she enjoys and that is Chinese New Year.”

Looking back, Debbie said, “Albert and I had been married for many years and yet, it felt like something was missing.

Adopting Lindsay fulfilled our lives; now, she is a part of all we do. She was the missing piece.”

Kimberly Rachel Fose Shell Point employees, Larry and Marj Fose, were married in 1983. In the early 1990s the couple wanted to expand their family to include a child. Realizing that adoption in the United States was a difficult and time-consuming process that could take years to achieve, they decided to look overseas.

“We had always been fascinated by the Asian culture, even before we thought about adopting,” explained Larry. “We felt called toward that area, and we had heard so much in the news about the difficulty of adopting in America that we decided to go outside the country.”

“We started our paperwork in April of

1996 and we received the phone call telling us we they had a little girl waiting for us just over a year later.”

“When they faxed the picture, it was of a small girl with a little frown on her face.

When I showed the picture to Marj, I said, ‘we’re going to turn that frown upside down.’

“We were so excited, we boarded an airplane in Rochester, New York and flew to Hong Kong. We spent one night in Hong Kong and then flew to Nanjing, the capital city of the province where our daughter was born, and where we had to apply for her official papers.”

“We spent two nights there and very early on the third day we took off on a bus to Suzhou. When the buses pulled up to the hotel in Suzhou, all the nannies were standing in a line in front of the hotel holding the babies.

All of the mothers on the bus reacted at the same time, crying and pointing to the children,” he said. “It was an emotional moment.”

“When they first handed her to us she started to cry,” said Larry. “I gave her a little stuffed monkey and she got the biggest smile on her face. After that, she didn’t want us to put her down. She would fall asleep in our arms. Marj and I were just so happy.”

Most of the babies, including Kim, were about one year old. Kim was not able to walk or even sit up on her own. The couple later learned that these signs of late development were indications of a mild level of autism.

Today, Kim is 10 years old and attends Villas Elementary where she in the fifth grade. Next year, she will attend Dunbar Middle School. Kim’s favorite thing to do is to play with toys and, according to her proud father, make people happy and laugh. “She enjoys creating skits and putting on little plays with her stuffed toys. She has a vivid imagination,” he added.

“The agency we went through was very supportive and this was a very positive experience. If we could afford it, we would adopt a second child,” said Larry. “They helped us create our family.”

“People tell us all the time that Kim is such a lucky girl that we adopted her,” said Larry. “But, we always tell them, no, it’s the other way around – we are lucky to be her parents.”

Shell Point Life | February 2007

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HAPPENINGS PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO MEET, THINGS TO DO

Mac User Group

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Thursday, February 1 — 1:15 p.m.

Manatee Room/IS Ann Hermann (Turban) will demonstrate the fundamental aspects of the application iTunes: inserting CDs into the computer, organizing them, and burning a custom CD of your favorite songs.

Ann will also explain how to order songs from the music store and assist those with iPods in setting up iTunes. Beginning at 12:20 p.m., there is a class for those who wish to brush up on computer basics. All are welcome.

Craft Show

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Friday, February 2 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Woodlands Commons & Deck Area The Shell Point Crafters have been hard at work making unique and wonderful items, from beading to textiles — and everything in between – to display at this first annual show. You’re invited to browse and buy these wonderful handmade items. Perhaps you will be inspired to join their group and take up a new hobby, or rekindle an existing one.

Meet, Greet and Eat Social

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Friday, February 2 5:00 p.m. – Woodlands Commons This popular social event welcomes all residents for free snacks and entertainment, and to meet and mingle with VIP guest hosts, as well as new and old friends and neighbors. This week’s guest hosts are Cindy and Bill O’Grady, along with Joanne Myers, while Dot Whiteman (Arbor) shares musical moments on the keyboard.

No reservations required; just join the fun!

The Anchormen

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Saturday, February 3 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Church Auditorium/IS The Anchormen are a nine-member acappella group of mid-shipmen from the Naval Academy. Their wonderful voices have been heard all over the United States, with songs we all love to hear — from military to contemporary tunes. Tickets are free and must be picked up at either Service Desk.

CD Surround Sound Concert

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Sunday, February 4 — 3:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours,” played by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra; and Brahms’ “Symphony #1,” conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini.

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Shell Point Life | October 2006

EVENTS

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PROGRAMS • PARTIES • MOVIES • OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS Sign-up required for this activity. Call Island (454-2282) or Woodlands (454-2054 or 454-2057)

Ding Darling Tram Tour & Photo Show

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Tuesday, February 6 9:00 a.m. Court pickup 12:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $14.00 Experience nature along a four-mile drive, where experienced naturalists can help you spot wildlife most visitors would never see.

It’s not all about wildlife, though. You’ll also hear fascinating tales of the Calusa Indians and the early days of Sanibel and South Florida. Prior to the tour, there is enough time to see the wonderful photos in the Visitors Center, taken by our own naturalist and photographer, Sallie Rich (Tellidora).

Sallie has a keen eye for taking that hard-toget shot of nature and the wildlife that surrounds us. (Maximum enrollment 21)

Presidents and Their First Ladies: Dramatically Speaking

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Wednesday, February 7 — 1:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress/WDL This program is the creation of the veteran acting and writing team of husband and wife, William and Sue Wills. After two decades of operating their own theatrical company in Ocean City, MD, the couple is now entering their second decade of bringing to life the stories of 31 different Presidential couples. Make plans for an enjoyable afternoon, while you listen, learn, and enjoy this presentation of the Ike and Mamie Eisenhower administration.

Photo Club Speech

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Thursday, February 8 – 2:15 p.m.

You’re invited to join members of the Photo Club for a presentation by Lynn Schneider, who will be sharing photography tips. Contact George Bail at 936-1865 for more information.

Shell Point Birding Group

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Friday, February 9 — 1:45 p.m.

Social Center/IS We are delighted to welcome back one of our favorite speakers, Mark “Bird” Westall.

“Bird” is a very knowledgeable and experienced birding guide in this area and will speak on the topic, Why Do They Do That?

He will discuss the behavior of water birds in our area; why it is very efficient for them to behave the way they do; and how the weather, storms, and hurricanes affect them. Plus, he has promised to include his famous osprey calls in his talk and slide presentation.

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Meet, Greet and Eat Social

Friday, February 9 5:00 p.m. – Woodlands Commons All residents are invited for free snacks and entertainment, and to meet and mingle with VIP guest hosts, as well as new and old friends and neighbors. This week’s guest hosts are Sherry Brown and Beth Haely.

Tom Lasier (Lakewood) shares musical moments on the keyboard.

Information Technology Forum

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Saturday, February 10 — 10:00 a.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Steve Minniear, Vice President of Health Care Services, will speak on Health Care Technology at Shell Point, including the recent addition of computers in the Medical Center examination rooms and the touch screens in the halls of the Larsen Pavilion.

He will discuss current, as well as future of health care technology at Shell Point. Steve has over 30 years experience in long term care, and his presentation is a do not miss!

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Saturday DVD Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Saturday, February 10 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL The roguish, yet charming, Captain Jack Sparrow’s (Johnny Depp) idyllic pirate life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa (Geoffery Rush), steals his ship and attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the governor’s beautiful daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightly). Rich in suspense-filled adventure, sword-clashing action, mystery, humor, unforgettable characters, and great special effects, Pirates is a must-see epic on the grandest scale.

Cynthia Sayer in Concert

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Monday, February 12 – 7:15 p.m.

Church Auditorium/IS Cynthia Sayer is an internationallyacclaimed jazz banjoist, who is also known for her vocals and multi-instrumental talents. She tours regularly and is featured in jazz concerts and festivals worldwide.

Cynthia will appear with Karl McVicker (string bass) and Herb Bruce (trombone), presenting a concert to remember.

Your Valentine Wish

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Wednesday, February 14 Cost: $5.00 If you are wondering what to send to that “special someone,” we have the answer! Your loved one will receive a lovely Valentine assortment of candies in a heart-decorated bag, along with two fresh carnations.

The flowers will be tied up with a ribbon and placed in water tubes to stay fresh. This Valentine special delivery is a great way to let someone know you care about them. Place your order with Dianne Allen at 454-2057, before February 9.

Shell Point Open House

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Thursday, February 15 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Shell Point “rolls out the red carpet” for the annual Sales Open House. Thanks for your cooperation, as we open our doors to the public and again play host to many guests who may be thinking about moving to Shell Point. Your added patience during this large event is much appreciated, as we offer them a glimpse of the great lifestyle Shell Point residents get to enjoy year round.

Edison Festival of Lights – Crafts on the River

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Friday, February 16 9:00 a.m. Court pickup 3:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $7.00 (Lunch on your own) Crafts on the River is a large juried craft event presented beside the Caloosahatchee River in Centennial Park. Over 100 crafters

Shell Point Life | February 2007

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HAPPENINGS PLACES

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Frederick Moyer in Concert

Edison Festival of Lights – Crafts on the River (cont.) will transform this riverfront location into a crafter’s extravaganza, featuring quilts, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, pottery, flags, stained glass, and much more! After your shopping desires are met, grab some lunch from the food vendors that will be scattered throughout, and enjoy a picnic in the park.

Meet, Greet and Eat Social

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Friday, February 16 5:00 p.m. – Woodlands Commons All residents are invited for snacks, entertainment, and to meet and mingle with VIP guest hosts, as well as new and old friends and neighbors. Guest hosts are Dr. Douglas Milsap, dentist, and Teri Kollath, while Bobbie Greer (Coquina) plays the keyboard.

Saturday Excursion: Gulf Coast Town Center

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Saturday, February 17 9:00 a.m. Court pickup 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $5.00 (Lunch on your own) This fun shopping excursion has something for everyone. From the new Bass Pro Shop for the outdoor man or lady – to department stores like Belk’s and J.C. Penny’s – to JoAnn Fabrics and Super Target, there is something for every shopper’s taste! For lunch, the Islamorada Fish Company inside the Pro Shop is sure to please everyone’s appetite. Wear comfy shoes and have a great day shopping and dining at this all-new shopping location.

CD Surround Sound Concert

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Sunday, February 18 3:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Enjoy Tchaikovsky’s beloved “Nutcracker Suite,” conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

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Shell Point Life | February 2007

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Wheel of Fortune

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Tuesday, February 20 7:15 p.m.

Church Auditorium/IS Concert pianist Frederick Moyer has established a vital and unique 20-year musical career that has taken him to over 41 countries, appearing as piano soloist with worldrenowned orchestras. If you love piano, you will love this wonderful concert.

Friday, February 23 — 7:15 p.m.

Resident Activity Center/IS Pat and Vanna can’t hear your answers when they spin their Wheel — so why not join the people who will appreciate your ability to solve the puzzle? This is a favorite game of many residents, so get in on the fun and give the Wheel a spin. No cash and prizes, but plenty of laughs are guaranteed!

The Symphony Designer Showcase & Art Gallery

Movie Night: Pride and Prejudice

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Wednesday, February 21 9:00 a.m. Court pickup 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $7.00 (Lunch on your own at Windjammers) Explore what is new in the world of home decorating at The Southwest Florida Symphony Society’s Designer Showcase home at Tarpon Landings in Cape Coral. This exquisitely decorated penthouse suite boasts a rooftop garden, the work of eleven fabulous interior designers, twenty-four magnificent artists, and one brilliant developer.

Windjammer’s Restaurant is our lunch destination on the way home for fresh seafood. Mark your calendar — this event only happens once a year — don’t miss it!

Environmental Issues Group

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Thursday, February 22 2:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Guest speaker Bradley Cornell of the Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Society will discuss the damage that a potential housing development would cause to the environment of the Corkscrew Swamp area. All are welcome.

Meet, Greet and Eat Social

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Friday, February 23 5:00 p.m. – Woodlands Commons Meet and mingle with VIP guest hosts, as well as new and old friends and neighbors. Guest hosts are Paul Yacovitch and his wife, Joyce, and Russ Reider. Tom Lasier (Lakewood) again shares musical moments on the keyboard.

This popular social event welcomes all residents for free snacks and entertainment.

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Monday, February 26 — 7:15 p.m.

Social Center/IS One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride & Prejudice has a glorious new adaptation, starring Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew MacFayden as the handsome Mr. Darcy. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it’s a classic tale of love and misunderstanding, sparkling with romance, wit, and emotional force.

Lakes Regional Park/ Castle Golf – Cookout

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Tuesday, February 27 8:30 a.m. Court pickup 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $15.00 A day in the popular 279-acre Lakes Regional Park features 158 acres of fresh water lakes for swimming, fishing for bass and catfish, or canoeing. The 2.5-mile paved path is available for strolling or biking, and the Fragrance Garden is a unique sensory experience. Castle Golf, a miniature golf course is next door, offering a great way to relax and have a few laughs before enjoying a cookout. Plan on a fun day at the park – take along some sunscreen, your chair, a bathing suit or fishing pole, and an appetite — but leave your golf shoes at home. Don’t we love winter in Florida?

EVENTS

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PROGRAMS • PARTIES • MOVIES • OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS

Library Book Talk

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Tuesday, February 27 3:45 p.m. – Social Center/IS Phyllis Duty (Rosemont) will review The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini — the bestselling novel about a boy growing up in Afghanistan. All are welcome to attend; refreshments will be served.

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Dinner Outing: The Sandy Butler

Wednesday, February 28 Court pickup: 4:45 p.m.

8:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $5.00 (Dinner on your own) This is the only restaurant of its kind in the area. With gourmet fare and a gourmet market, diners may choose from selections of beef, chicken, lamb, and fish, with entrées starting at $16.95 to $31.95. Enjoy a wonderful gourmet-prepared dinner and then shop for those special items you won’t find at your local grocer.

SAVE THE DATES SHOWBOAT, NAPLES DINNER THEATRE Friday, March 9 This 1929 Broadway smash has endured, thanks to the timeless score and powerful story. Songs like “Old Man River” and “Bill” are American classics.

Cost: $49.00 (includes dinner)

LIONEL HAMPTON ORCHESTRA Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts Friday, March 16 Grammy award-winning jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks joins the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra for this unforgettable evening of jazz and swing.

Cost: $52.00

SEEKING PERFORMERS FOR:

The Shell Point Resident & Staff Variety Show Do you have a talent for song, dance, skits, music and more? Then we want you for this first-ever variety show! You can perform by yourself, with a friend, activity group, or as a court. Register for this night of fun and entertainment by calling Elizabeth Brown at 454-2239.

The performance will take place on April 3, and the “salary” is applause and appreciation from the audience.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The following activities are planned by a variety of groups. All Shell Point residents are welcome to attend.

Check your current Weekly Reminder or watch SPTV for locations and/or changes.

Sunday: 9:00 Christian Studies (WDL) 9:15 Christian Life Studies (VC) 10:15 Morning Worship 1:15 Mixer Golf League 3:00 CD Surround (Feb 4 & 18) 6:15 Evening Service

1:45 Recorders 3:45 Library Book Talk (Feb 27) 6:45 Hymn Sing (Feb 6)

Wednesday:

7:45 Men’s Bible Study 8:45 Resident Council (Feb 7) 9:00-12:00 Geraci Travel 9:15 Watercolor Group Monday: 9:45 Ladies’ Bible Study 8:45 Lap Robes (Feb 5 & 19) 10:15 Fishing Club (Feb 28) 9:15 Billiards 11:00 Computer Q & A /WDL (Feb 14) 9:15 Pottery 10:15 Parkinson’s Enrichment Group (Feb 5) 11:15 Computer Q & A /IS (Feb 28) 1:00 Chess 10:15 Great Books (Feb 12, 26) 1:15 Table Tennis 12:00 Mah-jongg 2:15 Huggie Hearts 1:15 New Resident Orientation (Feb 26) 2:15 Knitter’s Anonymous (Feb 21) 1:15 Scrabble 2:30 Jazz ‘n Stuff 1:15 Advanced Table Tennis 3:00 Bible Study (KC) 1:15 Shuffleboard 3:00 Spanish Club 1:15 Tone Chimes 5:45 Village Church Choir Rehearsal 2:00 Beading Club 7:15 Bible Study & Prayer 3:00 Bible Study (ARB) 7:00 Pinochle 7:00 Duplicate Bridge Thursday: 8:00 Men’s Golf League 9:30 Current Events Group Tuesday: 10:00 Bocce Ball 8:15 Women’s Golf League 10:15 Online Investors (Feb 15) 9:15 Stamp Project 10:45 Line Dancing 10:15 Low Vision (Feb 13) 12:00 AARP Tax Aide 12:00 AARP Tax Aide 1:15 SPOT Play Readers (Feb 1, 15) 12:45 Duplicate Bridge 1:15 Mac User Club (Feb 1) 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs Bridge

2:00 Environmental Group (Feb 22) 2:00 Mended Hearts (Feb 22) 2:15 Handwork (Feb 8, 22) 2:15 Photo Club (Feb 8) 2:15 Computer Club (Feb 15) 3:00 Spanish Club 7:00 Trailblazers Bible Study

Friday: 9:15 Stamp Project 10:15 Genealogy (Feb 9) 10:15 Inquiring Minds 11:15 Fit and Healthy 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs Bridge 1:15 Quilters 1:15 Table Tennis 1:30 Vespers (ARB) 1:45 Bird Enthusiasts (Feb 9) 2:15 SP Artists (Feb 16) 2:45 Vespers (KC) 3:15 Couples Ballroom Dancing 3:15 Great Decisions (Feb 2, 16) 6:45 Game Night

Saturday: 8:00 Adopt-a-Road (Feb 17) 9:00 Coffee Social 9:30 Mr. Goodboot (Feb 3, 17) 9:45 Bridge – Supervised Play 10:00 Information Technology (Feb 10) 1:00 Chess 7:00 Duplicate Bridge Shell Point Life | February 2007

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Addressing Parkinson’s Issues in February In an ongoing effort to educate and inform those who suffer with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers, Lee Memorial Health Systems National Parkinson’s Outreach Coordinator, Jeanne Csuy, has implemented a series of meetings and seminars at Shell Point.

Professional Seminar for Dietitians and Nutritionists Thursday, February 22 Woodlands Oak Room – 6 to 8 p.m.

Presented by Jackie Nielsen, MS, RD, CDE Jackie has over 25 years of experience in the field of nutrition and food science. She has been a Registered Dietitian for 19 of those years, working in both hospital settings and private practice. Her expertise is in the fields of diabetes, nutrition support, Parkinson’s disease and allergies, and believes nutrition is the key to maintaining or improving one’s health. She has recently written a chapter in Parkinson’s Disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy for use by Nutrition Professionals entitled Acute/Subacute/Long Term Care/Home Health Care. Please call Jeanne at 3357261 for information and registration.

(Light meal will be provided free of charge; pre-approved for 2 CMEs from the ADA.)

4th Annual Parkinson Symposium Friday, February 23 The Village Church — 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Featuring Dr. Michael Okun, Medical Director of the National Parkinson Foundation; Jackie Nielsen, nutritionist; and John Argue, author of Parkinson’s Disease: The Art of Moving. Please call Jeanne at 335-7261 for information and registration. Cost: $20.00

support groups Cancer Support Program The goal of this resident-led group is to establish a one-on-one mentoring connection between newly diagnosed cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Contact Barbara Maruchi (Lakewood) at 433-9488.

GriefShare Bereavement Group Tuesdays at 2:45 p.m. Village Church Hospitality Room Sponsored by The Village Church and led by facilitator Janet Howard.

The John Argue Method Saturday, February 24 Woodlands Oak Room — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The John Argue Method is an artful approach to movement for people with PD that theoretically addresses the underlying motor control deficits associated with the disease. Through his background in acting, yoga, and Tai Chi, Argue has developed an approach that naturally improves body awareness, increases conscious effort, and eliminates dual tasks. Please call Jeanne at 335-7261 for information and registration.

Cost: $30.00 includes John Argue’s book, The John Argue Method, and lunch.

(Professional training for physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, and exercise physiologists – approved for 6.0 CEUs from FGCU for PT,OT,RT.)

LOW VISION TAKES FIELD TRIP Friday, February 23, 2007 Schepens Institute Symposium Harborside Event Center Members and guests of the Shell Point Low Vision Group are invited to travel to the Schepens Institute Symposium held at the Fort Myers Convention Center. Staff members of The Schepens Institute make annual visits from their facility in Boston, Massachusetts, with new advances and information for persons with low vision. Those interested in joining the group should call resident Colleen Curry at 454-4167 to receive information and make bus reservations for the trip. The first few rows of seating will be reserved for Shell Point residents.

A LOOK AT PARKINSON’S DISEASE Actor Michael J. Fox, former U. S. Attorney General Janet Reno, and heavyweight boxing champion, Mohammed Ali, each have walked their own unique path to fame, seemingly with nothing in common.

Today all three struggle to cope with the devastating effects of a complex brain disorder called Parkinson’s Disease.

Experts say that the disease affects slightly more men than women in the United States, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation estimates that roughly one and a half million Americans currently have Parkinson’s, with almost 50,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

While the average age of onset is 60, Parkinson’s can affect patients less than age 40, and is referred to as Young-onset Parkinson’s. Michael J. Fox was only 30 when he was diagnosed 15 years ago, and Mohammed Ali was 42 when he was diagnosed in 1984.

Named after British doctor James Parkinsons, who first described the condition as “the shaking palsy” in 1817, Parkinson’s Disease has been documented as far back as 5000 B.C. and has no social, ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries. It is a progressive

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neurological disorder in which certain nerve cells die in the part of the brain that controls movement. Normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine, which allows smooth, coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement. The loss of dopamine production in the brain causes the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, such as tremors or shaking, slowness of movement (also called bradykinesia), rigidity or stiffness of limbs and trunk, and postural instability or difficulty with balance and coordination. Other signs of Parkinson’s Disease may include stiff facial expression, shuffling walk, muffled speech, small cramped handwriting, stooped posture, and depression.

Parkinson’s disease does not affect everyone in the same way. Most commonly, early symptoms are often subtle and occur gradually and on one side of the body. Patients may feel tired or notice a general malaise. Some may notice that they speak softly, or that their handwriting becomes cramped or spidery.

Others may experience a tremor in the hand, although a foot or the jaw may be affected first.

One might have difficulty getting out of a

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chair, or experience a frozen shoulder or a foot drag on the affected side. A subtle transformation in facial expressions, resulting in the facial muscles freezing into “the mask,” is a common Parkinson’s symptom. Because most patients experience a gradual increase in symptoms, older patients may attribute these changes to aging. A tremor might be thought to be shakiness; stiffness may be attributed to arthritis; and some may think their stooped posture is a result of old age or osteoporosis. Over time, these symptoms may become more severe.

There is presently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are a number of effective medicines that help to ease the symptoms.

Because most symptoms are caused by the lack of dopamine, the medicines most commonly used will attempt to either replace or mimic dopamine. Medical experts say that the gold standard of present therapy for Parkinson’s Disease is the drug Levodopa, also called Ldopa, and some new ones are currently in drug trials. None of these drugs, unfortunately, are a cure, and while they diminish the symptoms, they do not replace lost nerve cells and do not stop the progression of the disease.

United Way

Where There’s a You, There’s a Way

B Y C I N D Y O ’ G R A D Y, E X E C U T I V E A S S T.

TO THE

PRESIDENT

For many years Shell Point residents have been an important part of the United Way Campaign of Lee County, earning recognition as leaders in supporting this vital community service. Sponsored by the Shell Point Residents’ Council, the Shell Point United Way Campaign for 2007 runs from January 15 through March 1, 2007, with a goal set at $40,000. At a meeting on January 3, United Way representative Kay Timms presented a plaque of excellence to incoming Chair, Mr. Dick Rockstroh, and outgo-

Butterfly Trip Recently Shell Point residents took a trip to The Butterfly House at the SanibelCaptiva Nature Center. There they enjoyed a slide show on the wonders of the birth of a butterfly and visited the butterfly house. Residents also visited the Native Plant Nursery, walked the nature trail, shopped at the Gift Store, and even rocked on the front porch. This proved to be an entertaining and informative outing.

ing Chair, Dr. Ted Rodgers, to recognize Shell Point residents for their significant contributions to this important organization that helps so many people in Lee County.

Celebrating 50 years this year, the United Way works with 67 partner agencies that help serve over 300,000 people for those in need in our community. On behalf of the local United Way and the many individuals it serves through its agencies, we thank you for your generous support.

Turn, Turn, Turn A vacation proved to be the “turning point” for Shell Point’s Woodshop Supervisor, Bill Sullivan. A retired paramedic, Bill’s home hobby was woodworking, but a woodturning display in a gallery at Arrowmont School of Fine Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, really caught his attention. One artist’s work piqued his interest and since she lives in Fort Myers, he called her. Through her mentoring skills, he eventually became a professional woodturner.

A member of the American Association of Woodturners, and the founding president of Woodturners of Southwest Florida, Bill and his wife, Patty, have traveled all over the country to demonstrate his skills. His woodturned and sculpted art has been displayed at art shows, woodturning symposiums and galleries – and his current work is displayed and sold at Wild Child Gallery in Matlacha. Bill was honored in January with a Best of Show Award at the 18th Annual Southwest Woodcarving Exposition, held at Harborside Convention Center in Fort Myers, continuing the ongoing recognition he has earned in his field of art.

Last year when Bill saw an employment ad for Woodshop Supervisor at Shell Point, he knew that this part-time job would be the perfect position. He was right – he joined the staff last April, and has since brought his experience with woodturning to the shop, allowing him to share his skills with the residents. Bill’s very first female student in the woodshop is a resident who soon will be learning to turn a wooden bowl. “They all have wonderful skills to teach me, and I can share my love of woodturning with them, as well,” he said. “In fact, this is the perfect job for me!”

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Dr. Sue Stranahan Earns Certification RECOGNIZED AS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN B

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Shell Point is pleased to recognize and congratulate Dr. Susan Stranahan for completing curriculum requirements to become a Professional Certified Chaplain (PCC) with the Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association (HCMA). Her writing project to achieve this certification was entitled, “Spiritual Assessment Screening Tool” for seniors, which is being published.

Achievement of professional certification with the HCMA is no easy task. Sue had to complete 1,600 hours of Clinical Pastoral Training, which is designed to

Sue makes visits to the residents and enjoys spending time getting to know them.

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your need is the greatest! It has been our joy to see her share herself with so many others with such positive impact in their lives. She is a true blessing.”

Sue also enjoys working with the Larsen Pavilion Auxiliary, where she supervises the Spiritual Life Committee and aids in developing programs for special occasions, such as the Good Friday Service in the Larsen Pavilion Chapel. She has also developed a series of Vesper Services, which are presented several times a week on the Memory Care Unit. A number of residents also assist in these presentations.

Prior to coming to Shell Point, Sue held the position of Professor of Nursing Education at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. She has achieved a number of academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in Health Services Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters Degree in Ministerial Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Sue also spent 17 years in Zaire, Africa, as an educator and community health care provider.

Sue will officially receive her award of professional certification from HCMA in May 2007. Thank you, Sue, for all you do at Shell Point, and congratulations on yet another well deserved achievement in your certification as a Professional Healthcare Chaplain. We are blessed to have you here!

develop a professional qualified Chaplain who has demonstrated competency in providing pastoral care ministry to hospitalized patients, convalescent home residents, hospice patients, their families, and health care personnel.

The HCMA is a nonsectarian, nonprofit faith mission organization that recruits, trains, certifies, places, and oversees Chaplains in healthcare facilities and hospice programs worldwide.

Sue has been with Shell Point since 2002, where she serves in a dual role as a non-denominational Chaplain of our licensed facilities — the Larsen Pavilion, King’s Crown and Arbor Assisted Living Facilities, and as Minister of Spiritual Care on the pastoral staff team of The Village Church. In her Chaplain role, Sue visits residents to provide compassionate and spiritual support, while recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or gender.

As Steve Minniear, Vice President of Healthcare Services, notes, ““Having Dr. Stranahan assigned to the Larsen Pavilion as our Chaplain has been a tremendous gift to both our residents and our staff. Sue brings a quiet, caring, and compassionate style of relating to others, while engaging them in a true ministry of the moment. She can quickly assist and encourage you where

Married Couples Find Personal and Professional Satisfaction Together at Shell Point continued from page 2 Marj Fose (Resort Services, Larsen Pavilion); Yvener Deliscar and Genese Denis (Property Management, Larsen Pavilion); Marie Desmaret and Yves Montinat (Property Management, Woodlands Housekeeping); Frances and Bob Brandon (Larsen Pavilion, Woodlands Housekeeping); Sue and Richard Eskew (Home Health, Property Management); Joanne and Steve Prenoveau (Call Millie and Mike Kuehn Center, Specialty Maintenance); Danny and Penny Tyler (Apartment Prep, Home Health); and

St.Pierre and Ruth Jean Baptiste (Hospitality Services, Larsen Pavilion Hospitality Services).

Plus, Robbie Sue and Gary Myers (Arbor, Hospitality); Menel Delices a n d Wi s l i n e Menard (Arbor, King’s Crown); Ronie and Dan Beaubrun (LarRobbie Sue and Gary Myers sen Pavilion); Ken and Elaine Nesselroade (Village Church, Larsen Pavilion); and Randy and Karen Woods (Village Church, Larsen Pavilion).

And the Shell Point Golf Club is really a place for love, with four part-time couples working there: James and Jane Haessly; Buddy and Rosemary Miller; Ann and (L) Bob and Ann Mitchell Bob Mitchell; and and (R) Buddy and Ron and Vannette Rosemary Miller Packard. So if someone makes the remark that Shell Point is like one big, happy family – these couples can prove it!

Shell Point Life | February 2007

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Meet the Salon Team of Professionals at Shell Point B Y

“The Music Room”

Arbor Artist’s Work Shines at Alliance for the Arts The work of Arbor resident, Dorothy Causey, has been described as both representational and abstract glimpses of place, making the viewer think and wonder. This renowned Shell Point artist is being honored with an exhibit to be hung at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. The Opening Reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 16, and her works will be on display there through Saturday, March 3. Working mostly in oil on canvas, Dorothy’s work is being shown in this retrospective exhibit, which honors a lifetime of contributions to Lee County art.

Dorothy Causey (Arbor) at her drafting table in her art room.

Dorothy was honored with the Lee County Alliance for the Arts “Angels of the Arts” Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, which recognizes local individuals and organizations in Lee County for past and present, personal and professional contributions and support, for all the arts in Lee County. The Lee County Alliance for the Arts is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1975 to foster arts and culture and is located on a 10-acre campus at the corner of McGregor & Colonial Boulevards in Fort Myers. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

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The salon team comes to Shell Point with a wide range of professional experience. What a wonderful convenience to have such talented and friendly people right here in your own neighborhood, ready to be of service. The team is current in their continuing education, keeping abreast of new trends and techniques – and have years of experience to also provide classic or traditional styles and techniques.

Jim Hines joined the Island Salon almost one year ago. Jim worked at a popular resort on Captiva for many years and has resided in Florida for the past 35 years.

Kim Turnbull is available for appointments in the Island Salon and also enjoys working with residents in the Larsen Pavilion Salon one day a week.

Jacki Meredith is the professional primarily serving the Larsen Pavilion Salon, but is also available one day a week in the Arbor Salon.

Gail Johnson is the Salon esthetician and massage therapist. Gail is doing fabulous work providing facials, skin and body treatments, and massage therapy.

Brandi Rump is the nail technician, providing nail care in the Island Salon, and is a bubbly and friendly person who really enjoys her work.

Diane Biochini is the salon assistant in the Larsen Pavilion Salon and has worked at Shell Point for the past six years.

Diane brings fun and a great deal of understanding and compassion to Pavilion residents.

Linda Campbell is a stylist in the Arbor Salon, who rejoined our team a year ago, as she missed the residents at Shell Point.

Corinne Johnson has been providing excellent nail care since the opening of the Island Salon.

Nancy Hoit, stylist in the Arbor Salon, has been sharing her talents with the residents of Shell Point for about six years.

Becky Foster joined the team a year ago and is available for appointments in the Arbor Salon.

Save 20%

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20% OFF Any Services

at any Shell Point Salon (NEW

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Don’t Miss the 2007 Shell Point Open

THE EIGHTS HAVE IT!

Saturday, March 24 7:00 a.m. -Noon

Shell Point Golf Club Join us for the fifth annual Shell Point Open! Enjoy 18 holes of challenging championship golf with your foursome. You’ll also get a complimentary continental break- Patrick Nolan FOX-4 fast and lunch, as well as a honorary chance at fabulous prizes, emcee including a brand new car from Galloway Ford.

Watch your mailbox for an upcoming brochure or call (239) 454-2197.

Sponsored by Morgan Stanley–the Jason Scoggins/David Moreland Group.

Cheryl Cooper celebrated her 8th anniversary at Shell Point on January 15, with 8 men in their 80s who don’t miss a day of weight training at The Island Health Club.

(L-R) Robert Isbell, Robert Owens, Gerald Harris (in black shirt), Kenneth Rohde, Cheryl Cooper (instructor), Paul Myatt, Harvey Stahle, and Arnie Shareski, (not pictured Norman Bunting.)

Men’s Golfing Association Grows Once upon a time at the Shell Point Golf Club, a group of golfing enthusiasts, after a pleasant round of golf, relaxed at the Pro Shop and the discussion turned to forming an organized men’s golf association.

At that time (several years ago), the back nine holes of the Shell Point Golf Course was not fully developed, so their vision looked to the future and energized the efforts to form the present Shell Point Men’s Golfing Association (SPMGA). The encouragement and support of the golf staff played a significant role in this formative process.

On June 21, 2003, a group of 17 golfers gathered to form the association. Rich Meyer (Rosemont) was elected chairman of the organization period, and Erhart Becker (Turban) headed a sub-committee to nominate and elect officers and SPMGA committee chairman. The resulting officers are: Dale Cue (Lakewood), President; Harry Powell (Rosemont), Vice President; and Dave Brannin (Rosemont), Secretary/Treasurer.

Committee chairmen include: Dave Marano (Lakewood), Rules/Tournaments/Prizes; Bruce “Baldy” Avery (Parkwood), Handicaps/ Scoring/Publicity; Earl Thorwall (Rosemont), Membership/Social; Larry Malinconico (Oakmont), Greens/Liaison; and Rich Meyer (Rosemont), Nine Hole Representative.

Thus, we were up and running.

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(Standing L-R) Don Low, Don Remington, Ron Campbell, Dave Marano, Earl Thorwall, Don Wilson, and Mike Mongoven, director of golf. (Sitting L-R) Larry Malinconico, Rich Meyer, and Jim Carpenter, golf professional.

The organization is guided by a Board of Directors, consisting of ten volunteer members, who meet regularly with the golf staff.

The efforts of these organizers became very fruitful, evidenced by the present SPMGA. The membership is steadily increasing. It includes residents from Shell Point, as well as non-resident golfers, attracted by our excellent facilities. The association now has over ninety members. A number of our members have elected to play nine holes each tournament day, and 25 members are presently active in this group.

The SPMGA sponsors two association events: The President’s Cup, an 18-hole medal (stroke) play contest; and the “Old Pals” Tournament, a two-man team that allows members to select their choice of partner and play (better ball of two). In 2006, the “Old Pals” winners were: Mailinconico/Marinin for 18 Hole; and Meyer/Thorwall for 9 Hole.

All golfers and “wannabe” golfers are invited to join. SPMGA participants must be members of the Shell Point Golf Club. For information and rates, call 433-9790.

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villagechurch W

ORSHIP,

DISCIPLESHIP, FELLOWSHIP

Life in a Mid Eastern Culture

Women’s Ministries Winter Session Bible Studies

to communicate. Through Women’s Ministries of The open doors of friendship and Village Church features a hospitality, serving alongside fascinating presentation with the local pastor, their minBonnie Camp (Cellana), on istries of Theological Wednesday, February 21, at Education by Extension 10:15 a.m. in The Village became effective.

Church Hospitality Room.

The Camps also served in Bonnie, is the daughter of Amman, Jordan, in similar Marian Kerr (Coquina). ministries. Having already Beirut, Lebanon, often experienced Mideastern culcalled the “Pearl of the Middle ture and mastering the lanEast,” is the gateway to three guage, their transition to continents and is a fascinating Bonnie Camp (Cellana) February 21 at 10:15 in Jordan was much easier. city that blends many cultures The VC Hospitality Room After returning to the United and faiths.

States in 1985, the family lived in the In 1971, it was to this intriguing city Chicago area and continued sharing the that Bonnie and her late husband, love of Christ through friendship and love Norman Camp, along with their two chilwith many Muslim friends. Now Bonnie’s dren, went to serve under the auspices of desire is to promote understanding of the the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

Muslim people within the Christian comThey experienced many facets of the culmunity. ture, but also saw the Lebanese as warm, All Shell Point residents are invited to family-oriented, and hospitable people. attend this informative and challenging After grappling with the difficult sounds presentation. of the Arabic language, they soon learned

All women are invited to participate in a Bible Study series, Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — The Patriarchs. The study takes place on Tuesdays, at 10:15 a.m., and affords small group discussion opportunities, an excellent video presentation of each lesson with Beth Moore, and the joy of fellowship. The narratives include four generations and embrace multiple characters, including lessons focusing on the life of Jacob, grandson of Abraham.

Looking deeply into the lives of these early men of God, Jacob is seen as a man who pursued his true love, Rachel, and one who met family crises with courage and strength.

Later the focus shifts to his beloved son, Joseph. In these stories, we learn how God accomplished His purposes in the lives of the Patriarchs and is an enlightening study relevant to our lives today.

Plan to join with many other women to share this enriching study. Newcomers and guests are always welcome. Study guides for this Beth Moore series are $15 and are available in The Village Church office.

SONGS OF GLADNESS

The Village Church Welcomes Guest Soloist, Sylvia McNair Sunday, February 4 • 10:15 a.m.

The Village Church is pleased to welcome guest soloist, Sylvia McNair, to the Morning Worship and Communion Service on Sunday, February 4. After years of performing the great sacred works of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mahler in concert halls around the world, Sylvia McNair will share her love of sacred music, as she performs songs of gladness. Selections will include Malotte’s beautiful setting of “The Lord’s Prayer” and Dvorák’s setting of Psalm 145, “I Will Sing New Songs.” The Village Church Choir will sing Craig Courtney’s anthem, “Be Not Afraid,” a contemporary setting of Isaiah 43:1-4. This

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anthem’s flowing melody will be introduced

by Sylvia and then resounded by the choir.

A two-time Grammy Award winner, Sylvia is internationally known for the sheer beauty of her voice and exquisite musicality.

New York music critic Rex Reed sums up the experience of hearing Sylvia perform: “I could get used to this kind of ecstasy.”

Sylvia McNair has produced over 70 recordings, ranging from Mozart arias with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields, to CDs with Andre Previn of music by Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. Her repertoire has embraced classical and cabaret, opera, sacred classics

and Broadway musicals.

The Morning Service will also include Pastor Ken Nesselroade’s sermon from the book of Daniel. This week’s message comes from the prophetic chapters and will focus on the sovereign hand of God in the affairs of nations. The Worship Service is open to all Shell Point residents, neighbors, and friends, and will be broadcast live at 10:15 a.m. on Shell Point’s Channel 12. Please join us for this special worship and communion service.

Shell Point Welcomes Employee Chaplain promise they make to the residents is fulfilled The Village Church, in conjunction through the hands of the employees.” with Shell Point, recently introduced a new Chaplain Don has an office at The chaplaincy to benefit the more than 800 perVillage Church, but often finds sons of all walks of life that are himself behind the lines with staff employed here.

— whether it is serving meals in “Here at Shell Point, our core the employee cafeteria, or mowing values are Caring, Serving, and grass out on the driving range. “I Satisfying both our residents and can meet people in my office, off our employees,” said Peter Dys, campus, in a restaurant, at their president. “Hiring an employee home or office, on the job or after chaplain was one way to reach out Don Steenhoek, work. When an employee does to our employee population to meet employee chaplain seek me out in the office for a their needs both emotionally and meeting, I try to listen carefully to spiritually. I am pleased that this the presenting problem and seek to help initiative is underway and it is an example of them determine the underlying cause.” our sincere desire to serve and care for our Good communication is often the key to employee population.” many of the problems employees may be “I am thankful for the vision of The having at home or work. “You don’t help Village Church and Shell Point for the forepeople by telling them things; you help peosight to create this position for the benefit of ple by helping them discover things for the employees,” said Chaplain Don. “I hope themselves,” he said. “My counseling style is that I will be able to bring a sense of comfort eclectic. I pick and choose a little of this and and support to those who are hurting in some that – and my counseling is certainly based way. I plan to continue to develop resources on biblical values. Spiritual issues are introfor employees and their families to handle the duced when they are brought to the forefront stresses of modern day life.” by the employee.”

Most of Don’s day Ken Nessleroade, pastor of The Village is spent with the Church explains, “We live in a fallen world employees — attendwith people who have real problems and ing staff meetings, need real solutions. Our goal is to be here for doing ad hoc or strucemployees when they really need us. To be tured counseling, viswilling to get our hands dirty if need be and iting hospitalized Don spends a day in help them with any situation that they may employees, or visiting the employee cafeteria find themselves in. Socially, emotionally, employees’ homes, spiritually – people are hurting and we want dealing with family and marriage issues. “I to help.” think Shell Point understands that the

Village Church Season of Praise

God & Country The annual God & Country Celebration at The Village Church gives us an opportunity to recognize the men and women who serve our country, as we thank God for his blessing on our nation. Our guest speaker is Dr. Dennis Swanberg, affectionately know to his national TV audiences as “The Swan.”

Dr. Swanberg is a seasoned and solid communicator, whose sly wit delivers lifeenriching truths to the heart on wings of

laughter. The Swan has been called America’s Minister of Encouragement, because of his constant work at lifting hearts and leading people to a richer life through his one-of-a-kind humor. Join us for this light-hearted patriotic celebration on Sunday, February 18, at 6:15 p.m. and Monday, February 19, at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are just $5 and available at The Village Church office during regular business hours, or at the door the evening of the concerts.

BIRDING PROFILES:

The Great Blue Heron

BY BILL SAUNDERS (TURBAN) The Great Blue Heron is the largest and heaviest of the wading birds, standing four feet tall with a six foot wingspan. It is also the most vocal, calling frequently in flight. In all ways this bird seems to assume a position of superiority; for example, in a rookery of mixed flocks, it will usually be nesting above other birds. Although many Great Blue Herons migrate north as far as Canada, because of the consistent supply of food available to them, many remain in South Florida throughout the year to nest.

This heron is a walking predator.

Generally solitary and nocturnal, it stalks its prey, moving very slowly through shallow fresh-water or brackish marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, or mangroves. The Great Blue has excellent hearing and vision, which enables it to hunt for food at night. It enjoys a diverse menu of fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, other birds, and a wide range of insects.

The Great Blue Heron can easily be identified by its size, long neck, blue-gray wings and back, and distinctively marked white head, with a black strip extending above the eyes.

The heron’s long S-shaped neck enables it to generate incredible speed when striking its prey. A veterinarian once told me that he always wore safety glasses when treating the heron, because it could easily mistake the movement of the pupil of his eye as prey.

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AARP Tax Aides CAROLE FAUX, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

‘Tis the Season for Resident Shows B

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There are so many talented residents at Shell Point we just have to showcase their work. The following resident groups do a wonderful job with their many unique and diversified talents, as well as, planning and executing their own shows. It takes time, commitment, and dedication to make these shows as successful as they are, and the volunteers don’t hesitate to do so.

Craft Show The first annual Craft Show will be held on Friday, February 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Woodlands Commons. This show is comprised of 24 vendors selling handmade crafts including beadwork, shells, jackets, handbags, note papers, carvings, jewelry and textiles. Stop by The Woodlands to see — and purchase — all the wonderful items made. Viewing the various skills displayed in the show may even inspire you to join an art group and take up a new hobby — or rekindle an old one.

Art Show Coming up in March is the ever-popular Shell Point Art Show, which will be held in the Social Center on Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 4. Resident artist Marguerite Yates-Jobes writes, “All are invited to come and feast their eyes on the vibrant cadmium yellows and reds, and the cool violets and cerulean blues of our paintings.

There will be originals and reproductions for viewing and also for sale. As always, there will be exquisite pottery pieces, jewelry, stained glass, woodworking, and other examples of our creativity.” Please call Marguerite at 437-4484, if you wish to participate in the Art Show.

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Quilt Show Also in March, the Shell Point Quilters will host the 21st Annual Quilt Show in the Social Center on Saturday, March 24, through Monday, March 26. This show is always a popular outing for residents, who love to view the many beautiful handmade quilts and hangings. The quilters have spent many “labor of love” hours making their magnificent creations, so this is a show you won’t want to miss. In addition to handmade new creations on display in the show, some residents will be sharing their treasured family heirloom quilts for your viewing pleasure.

Photo Contest The final show of the season is the sixth Annual Shell Point Photo Contest, sponsored by the Shell Point Photographic Club. This show will kick off in the Resident Activity Center on Monday, April 2, at 7:15 p.m. with the Grand Opening Ceremonies. Ribbons will be awarded at that time. The Photo Show display will continue through Friday, April 14.

Entry forms and rules will be available at both The Woodlands and Island Service Desks, and entries for the contest will be accepted from February 15 through March 15. Photos sizes may be 4x6, 5x7, or 8x10, and will be matted by the Photo Club volunteers. When filling out your entry forms, be advised that both the rules and the categories have changed; please review carefully before entering.

What a fantastic way to spend your time, feasting your eyes on all the creative endeavors so lovingly made by our Shell Point residents. They inspire me to pick up pen and palette and see just what kind of creativity I can spark within myself! I hope they do the same for you!

Did you know that volunteer Ted Rodgers (Palm Acres) has been providing the AARP Tax Aide Program to Shell Point residents for the last ten years?

Ted said that he “inherited” this volunteer job from Bob Savage (Nautilus). What a wonderful volunteer service Ted is providing to all Shell Point residents, as well as employees, free of charge.

As you know, taxes can be a daunting thing to figure out — and Ted and his trained volunteers are here to help you do just that! The AARP Tax Aide volunteers will be available in the Osprey Room/IS to assist you in filling out the necessary forms and calculate the correct figures, each Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., starting February 1 and continuing through April 12.

Please make sure to take all the financial report forms for the 2006 tax year, as well as your 2005 tax return.

The Annual Consultation on Aging Meeting Shell Point is one of four retirement communities owned and operated by The Christian & Missionary Alliance. Recently, the four leaders of these communities met here at Shell Point as part of the C&MA Consultation on Aging.

(L-R) Deborah Sprague, executive director of Chapel

Pointe

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Carlisle,

Pennsylvania; Peter Dys, president of Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida; Bill Anderson, executive director of the Alliance Community for Retirement Living in DeLand, Florida; and Dirk DeWolfe, the Executive Administrator of Town & Country Manor in Santa Ana, California.

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ESTATE PLANNING FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Speaker: Grace Gutierrez, Attorney, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, PA

Benefits of Florida residency for your estate plan How to avoid probate Essentials of Living Trusts Durable Powers of Attorney & Health Care Directives Make the most of your philanthropy Register for this seminar via the Academy at Shell Point catalog.

Using Your IRA to Leave a Legacy As a teen, Bill was intrigued by an uncle who worked as a trader on the New York Stock Exchange and taught him the value of money and how to pick stocks. As Bill matured he continued buying stocks and they went up in value. It was no surprise that he majored in business and corporate finance at college and took a job as a financial analyst after graduation.

The knowledge his uncle had shared served him well and he quickly became the company’s highest producer. While Bill’s clients’ portfolios were growing, his was, too. He had invested most of his money in an IRA, so when he retired, the IRA was the most significant asset in his estate.

At age 72, Bill realized he needed to do some estate planning. His CPA was concerned at the large imbalance in Bill’s estate, with an IRA much larger than any of his other assets. Based on his age and the increased value, his required distribution was nearly $100,000. The CPA suggested

Bill do some “asset balancing” to minimize future tax problems.

At the encouragement of his financial advisors, Bill met with a gift planner at his favorite charity to discuss charitable gift options and his estate planning objectives.

Bill found he could achieve his tax objectives by making annual charitable gifts up to $100,000 from his IRA. The benefit was that these gifts could be made tax-free and would help rebalance his overall estate.

Because of his income level, there would be additional income tax benefits, as well.

The $100,000 IRA gift turned out to be a good decision for Bill because it helped him achieve his tax planning goals and enabled him to make a lasting gift to his favorite charity. Have you thought of doing the same? For more information on the benefits of making an IRA gift, please contact Jeff Cory in the Legacy Foundation at 466-8484. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.

Valentine’s Day Dining at Shell Point B Y L I N D A R A K O S , A S S I S TA N T H O S P I TA L I T Y S E RV I C E S D I R E C T O R

Are you looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? As you probably know, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner on Wednesday, February 14, and Hospitality Services has several suggestions for dining enjoyment right here at Shell Point.

The Crystal Room on The Island will offer an extensive selection of items on the buffet for dinner, including baked salmon with Hollandaise sauce, beef tips over noodles, and oven roasted chicken with gravy, while roast tenderloin of beef with Béarnaise sauce will be hand carved to order. The Valentine’s dessert buffet will be a chocolate lover’s delight, featuring chocolate mousse tarts and melted chocolate for dipping assorted fresh fruits and cakes. Plus all ladies will receive a Valentine flower on this special day that’s dedicated to love. This Valentine din-

ner menu is available from 4 – 7 p.m., at the price of $12.97. For more information, call the Crystal Room at 454-2199.

For dining at the Woodlands’ Palm Grill, Chef Joel has planned a wide array of menu options for your selection. Appetizers include jumbo lump crab cakes, shrimp cock-

tail, and lobster bisque, a Grill tradition. A sampling of entrée selections include rack of lamb ($25.95), mahi mahi Punta Rassa ($18.95), salmon picatta ($16.95), and a grilled New York strip steak with a shrimp and scallop skewer Béarnaise ($24.95). All Valentine’s dinner entrees will include a Cupid’s salad and dessert. A rich chocolate mousse with fresh berries makes the perfect finale to one of these delicious meals. This delightful menu will be served from 4 – 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, February 14. For more information or reservations, call 454-2059.

Diners may use the Passport Dining Plan Card, charge to your apartment or a credit card, or pay cash at either location.

Renew your commitment to love, with a very special dining experience right here at Shell Point.

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“Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade.” — Rudyard Kipling

It’s Not Easy Being BY

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ike a garden, the landscape at Shell Point requires constant planting, pruning, weeding, and watering. These are just some of the tasks that the Grounds Department faces every day as they work toward their goals of maintaining and improving the landscape for the pleasure of all who come here.

Staff Responsibilities Achieving these goals is a challenge when you consider the scope of Shell

Point’s property. The Grounds Department is responsible for all aspects of the landscape on The Island, The Woodlands, Eagles Preserve, twenty-four homes in Palm Acres, and the landscaped berm surrounding the golf course. With a staff of fourteen fulltime employees, the department ensures the highest standards. An outside contractor provides lawn mowing services.

The staff is responsible for landscape design, annual flowers, fertilizing, pruning, planting, irrigation, weed control,

equipment repair, and plant pest control. In addition, these employees police the property for ground trash and clean up leaf litter and other debris. These activities require a diverse set of skills, experience, and horticultural knowledge, and the staff possesses all of these traits. There are several staff members in the department with an excess of five years of Shell Point experience. Four members of the team have studied and passed an exam to become certified.

Furthermore, two team members have been tested and licensed by the State of Florida to perform pesticide applications.

Horticultural training is an ongoing, continuous improvement process within the department.

Because these staff responsibilities require specialized skills, some of the team has been divided by the tasks they perform. The irrigation team is Wally Chamberlain and Joe Ortiz. They work to ensure that we are using Florida’s water resources in a responsible manner. Doug Sharer, a Florida Certified Horticultural Professional, and Albert Rodriguez are members of the Integrated Pest Management team. They scout the property to ensure that weeds and plant pests are controlled. The balance of the staff is lead by team leader Ed McCoy, who is responsible for the seasonal job of nursery work — planting

and pruning, as well as leaf debris clean up.

As “honorary” members of the Shell Point Grounds Department, Sand Dollar residents Gus and Jackie Ormrod have worked diligently to ensure that the Shell Point beach is spotless.

Plant Nursery The improvement of horticultural knowledge has allowed the department to expand the Plant Nursery to now include the propagation and rehabilitation of plants. These skills allow staff to create new plants from cuttings of existing plants, thus saving Shell Point money. By maintaining a sufficient quantity of healthy plant stock, staff can better respond to landscape issues and concerns.

“The Garden Place” In another exciting development, Shell Point has taken top honors — a Grand Award in the Green Star Award Program — which recognizes excellence in landscape maintenance by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) in the 2006 Green Star Awards competition.

The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence.

The Shell Point Grounds Team is working hard to make Shell Point the “Garden Place” of Southwest Florida.