Shell Point Life November 2008

November 2008 Vol. 3 Issue 11

My! How Times Have Changed!

HERE’S A LOOK BACK AT HOW MUCH THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN JUST 100 YEARS

Stability and Strength

By Lynn Schneider, Editor As Shell Point has continued

In the article Our Family Tree we

to celebrate its 40th anniver-

meet a number of people who

sary this year we have looked back

chose to move to Shell Point

at the community’s history with

after seeing the quality of life

equal parts of nostalgia and admi-

that their parents or grandpar-

ration. Some residents have actu-

ents enjoyed. And while “second

ally been here long enough to remember

generation” families have become almost

what it was like in the early days, while oth-

commonplace, we have actually had our first

ers have only just moved in and are just get-

“third generation” resident move in this year!

ting to know what Shell Point is all about.

Another story in keeping with our

Our review of the history became especially

theme is Generations of Change. This two-

meaningful this past month as our country

page feature gives a thumbnail sketch of the

endured the tumultuous ride of a tumbling

past two-and-a-half centuries. Meet Amer-

economy. People are looking for certainty in

ica’s Generations from the Pilgrims to Gen-

an uncertain time and times like these un-

eration Z on pages 18 and 19. And family

derscore the importance of Shell Point’s

ties are explored in several stories including

strength and stability.

the story on page 10 about the Creating

In 1908 the average life expectancy was only 47 years.

Only 10% of homes had electricity.

Only 14% of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8% of homes had a telephone.

Coffee cost 15¢ a pound.

One dozen eggs cost 14¢.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed was 10 m.p.h.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in 1908 was 22¢ per hour — the average worker made $200 - $400 per year.

More than 95% of all births took place at home.

It was purely coincidental that the

Memoirs group that meets here at Shell

theme this month was Generations at Shell

Point to help residents in writing their per-

Point; but how fitting to take a closer look at

sonal memoirs and the story Surrounded by

LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

this topic. The cover of this month’s issue

Sisters which is about Lakewood resident

features one of Norman Rockwell’s most fa-

John Zimpel who grew up in a family of 11

mous paintings and it takes on a special

girls. Read his story on page 21.

By the year 2000 the average life expectancy is 76 years.

One dozen eggs costs over two dollars.

The tallest skyscraper in the world is Burj Dubai in Dubai, UAE. The number of mobile phone users in the world has exceeded 3.3 billion, or half of the human population.

The average number of computers per household is 1.5.

There are now roughly 4 million miles of paved roads in America.

Segway — the human transporter, a one-person, battery-powered alternative to the bicycle, debuts.

meaning as we are reminded to give thanks

Thanks for being part of our extended

to God for his many blessings in spite of

Shell Point family. There is room for every-

these trying and uncertain times.

one at the table.

ON THE COVER Norman Rockwell’s famous painting “Freedom From Want” was first used on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in 1943. This iconic illustration epitomized the American dream and family life in the United States. © 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing Co., Indianapolis, IN All rights reserved. www.curtispublishing.com

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Shell Point Life | November 2008

Allan Butterworth

Dr. Bernard King

Our Family Tree

Ida Butterworth

Dorothy Butterworth

Janet Butterworth

Keith Butterworth

Janet Howard

Doris Butterworth

David Howard

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Since Shell Point’s best advertising is word of mouth, it comes as no surprise that, through the past 40 years, satisfied residents have been our number one referral source for future prospective residents. In fact, not only do they convince their friends to move to Shell Point, they also set an example for family members, as well. It is not uncommon to find multiple generations of the same family who have enjoyed living at Shell Point.

Shell Point Life | November 2008

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Our Family Tree Once someone moves into Shell Point and starts getting visits from his or her family members, it doesn’t take long for the entire family to fall in love with the community. Although most parents introduce their children to Shell Point, there have been some instances where the adult children have actually moved into Shell Point first and then introduced their parents to the community. We thought it might be fun to meet some of these second and now, even third, generation families at Shell Point!

Envisioning Shell Point You might say that Joyce Seckinger knew about Shell Point before it even existed. Joyce’s father was Dr. Nathan Bailey

who served as president of The Christian and Missionary Alliance when Shell Point was conceived and founded in the 1960s.

Dr. Bailey is cited as one of the main visionaries responsible for creating the Shell Point concept and for providing tremendous support to the fledgling retirement community among the C&MA constituency.

Joyce remembers hearing him coming home and describing his wonderful vision for the community and his descriptions of the property as he frequently traveled to the site throughout its early days of construction and development.

Joyce and Dahl Seckinger holding a photo of Joyce’s father, Dr. Nathan Bailey.

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When Joyce and her husband Dahl Seckinger (a former C&MA pastor and district superintendent) were ready to retire it was only natural that they choose Shell

Point. As district superintendent, Dahl often traveled with Dr. Bailey to meetings at Shell Point. Dahl also spent four years as pastor of the Village Church at Shell Point.

While at the church, Joyce spent time in Christian education, and they lived in Palm Acres.

Joyce and Dahl moved into the community as residents in March 2007. The building where Joyce and Dahl currently live was under construction when Dr. Bailey died in a tragic car accident in 1969. But Joyce is comforted with the knowledge that although her father didn’t live long enough to see the building to completion, she knows he envisioned the finished project years before the construction had even started. Joyce was very close to her father, so living in the community that was her father’s vision, watching the dream come true, and seeing that his vision lives on in Shell Point is very special to her.

Joyce says in addition to her father’s Shell Point legacy, there are many attributes about the community that attracted the couple to move here. The safe environment, the staff’s compassion and friendliness, the sense of excellence, and the superior medical care all played a role in their choosing to retire at Shell Point. Another common sentiment they share with other residents is the freedom and the sense of relief they have in knowing that their children don’t have to take responsibility for them during their retirement years.

Joyce and Dahl Seckinger have four children, twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who visit Shell Point often; and Joyce’s sister is also planning to move to Shell Point Retirement Community in the future. It’s safe to say this family tradition will live on at Shell Point.

for his mother. Although he had never even seen Shell Point when he started the application process for his mother, he stepped out in faith in July 1969 and moved his mother, Martha Zimmerman, into Tellidora, the only building on the island at that time. Looking out her window, Martha was thrilled to see the river and climbing flowers that made Shell Point such a tropical paradise.

Above: Jim Arter as a young child with his mother Martha Zimmerman.

Right: Jim at his Arbor home in The Woodlands.

A Daily Blessing Just as Joyce’s father inspired her to come to Shell Point, one resident received his inspiration through his mother. Dr. James (Jim) Arter was an only child, and his mom was a single parent back in the day when that was an uncommon occurrence and when times were very hard.

They lived in poverty, yet God kept His hand on them. He was in the Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1946 and then went to Brown University and became a chiropractor. He was in chiropractic practice for more than thirty-eight years and was also a minister for thirty-seven years for many small churches – including twenty-two churches and six denominations.

In October 1986, Jim and Kitty moved into their first unit in Tellidora at Shell Point. Two years later, they moved into a larger Te l l i d o r a two-bedroom unit with a large picture window that captivated the two of them with its magnificent view of the river.

The couple became very active in the community and served as volunteers at the Shell Point Welcome Center for 15 years.

Jim enjoyed giving tours of Shell Point as a resident host with Kitty at his side. Jim was pleased to have the two most important women in his life near and his mother, Martha, lived at Shell Point until she passed away in March 1988.

Jim and Kitty continued to live in Tellidora until August 2005 when they became members of the first group of residents to move into the Arbor assisted living facility where Jim still resides. In March 2007, Jim’s wife, Kitty, moved into the Larsen Pavilion where she currently resides. The couple has been married for more than sixty-two years and Jim sums up his life best when he says, “I am blessed everyday.”

Like Mother Like Daughter Marion Kerr is a young 93 years of age and has been at Shell Point for the past fourteen years. She has three sons scattered about in California, Maryland, and Washington, DC; but her one daughter, Bonnie Camp, lives right here at Shell Point. Marion and her husband were missionaries for The Christian and Missionary Alliance. They spent two years on the China and Tibetan border and then moved to Thailand for fourteen years to work with lepers and help build a school. During the eleven years following their missionary work in Thailand, Marion stayed mostly in the United States while her husband supervised the region from Japan to Australia. Their last assignment was in Hong Kong where Bill traveled in and out of China, building bridges of understanding with the Chinese churches, while Marion taught English at the Cheung Chau Seminary. They returned to the United States for Continued on page 6 Bonnie Camp and Marion Kerr share a love for the Lord and enjoy living at Shell Point.

He met his wife Kitty through the fiancée of an Army buddy who asked her to start writing letters to Jim. After they married, the couple raised two sons in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. His chiropractic office was in the basement of his house where he and Kitty lived until God opened the door to build a house on ten acres just outside of town. This allowed Jim to provide for his mother and step-father by letting them live in the house in town, while he continued to use the basement as his office.

After his step-father passed away, Jim began researching retirement communities

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Our Family Tree Continued from page 5

the final time in 1983; and four years before Marion came to Shell Point, her husband died of a massive heart attack in Jordan. After coming to Shell Point, Marion volunteered for twelve years at Lee Memorial HealthPark in the OB admitting office and also at The Pavilion for many years. Lately, she’s had to scale back on volunteering, but she still remains active. She says she is no artist but likes to paint. Her beautiful cards, however, are proof that an artist lives within. Marion paints flowers and then scans them into a computer to make greeting cards. Look for these beautiful cards (by Merne) in the gift shop.

When asked to describe the best thing about Shell Point, she says it allows her to live independently as long as she can in a beautiful and secure environment. She is also glad everything is taken care of and her children are not responsible for her care.

Marion’s daughter, Bonnie, moved to Shell Point in October 2005. Bonnie and her husband, Norm, were missionaries in the Middle East. They took their first two daughters, ages two and three, with them to Lebanon and gave birth to their third daughter in Beirut. They stayed in Lebanon until the civil war made it too dangerous to stay in 1971. From Lebanon they moved to Jordon and stayed as missionaries there for

ten years. Bonnie and Norm then returned to the United States and spent twenty years of missionary work in the Chicago area with Arabic-speaking people.

Following retirement, the couple chose to move to Shell Point because Bonnie’s mom was already here; but sadly, Norm passed away suddenly before they were able to settle into their new life in the community. Bonnie is thankful to be at Shell Point, and it looks like this missionary has found a new mission field. She became a chaplain in March of this year and is currently an assistant chaplain for The Arbor and Kings Crown.

A Family Tradition Reverend Howard Kinsinger was a pastor for forty-three years with The Christian and Missionary Alliance. He and his wife, Eva, started their first church in 1946 with seven people and served in churches in seven states during their ministry.

Since they had spent their life in ministry, they were not financially prepared for retirement. Eva went to work as a secretary for an electric company in their training department so they could retire to Shell Point.

She worked at the electric company for eleven years, was the oldest employee there, and learned how to use a computer by taking classes for employees. The couple believes all that hard work was well worth it and they now enjoy a variety of interesting

hobbies in their retirement.

Howard loves to carve. He makes an ornament every year using two knives to whittle the wood into shape. In addition to Christmas ornaments, he has made many animals, including birds and ducks, a wooden stool, and kitchen gadgets. He ages the wood by keeping it outside but out of the rain for one year. This prevents the wood from cracking as he carves his beautiful ornaments. In addition to carving, Howard learned the art of caning and caned a chair. He also enjoys crossword puzzles and shared an inside trick for those that struggle with them – stay with crossword puzzles by the same publisher and over time the same definitions will appear in different puzzles.

Howard and Eva also have beautiful orchids that even professional gardeners would envy. One such lavender orchid had nineteen blooms. When asked their secret, they both laughed, they leave them outside out of direct sunshine and rain – that’s it. They both love the community environment, natural beauty, and security at Shell Point. The have two sons, one in Missouri and the other in Utah, and one daughter, Judy. Judy followed in her parent’s footsteps to live at Shell Point.

Judy actually moved to Shell Point a few months earlier than she had planned.

Three years ago her mom had major heart surgery, spent six weeks at Shands hospital in Gainesville, and made a miraculous recovery. Judy came to Florida to be with her mom and dad during this time, but she also got to know the compassion of the Shell Point residents — a book of emails and well wishes for Eva documenting her surgery and recovery, and a welcome home party was the frosting on the cake.

Judy worked in elementary schools for a total of thirty years, working as a teacher for the first three years then as a librarian. She saw a lot of changes during her tenure, including a library system that went from a manual card file system to computer-based system. Judy enjoyed her life as a librarian, but now she has time for even more creative endeavors.

She takes gorgeous nature photographs around Shell Point and then makes greeting Reverend Howard Kinsinger and his wife, Eva, are happy their daughter, Judy, decided to move to Shell Point.

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Shell Point Life | November 2008

cards to send to family and friends. She also does scissor snipping or Scherenschnitte (share-n-SCHNIT-teh) which means “scissor cuts” in German. It is the art form of paper cutting or scissor snipping a piece of paper into a work of art or intricate design.

Her beautiful art work can be found in the gift shop.

Judy also enjoys making homemade eight-day pickles; and she carries on a tradition that her mother, Eva, started in her building of welcoming new residents with a no-bake lemon chiffon pie. The pie is made from a family recipe, is easy to make, and is delicious. As a bonus, each pie includes the recipe… what a great welcome gift!

Sister Act Helen Armstrong and Betty Linsz first learned about Shell Point when their mother, Zilpha, broke her hip back in 1970 and was brought to Shell Point for rehabilitation. They both remember that at that time Shell Point was in the middle of nowhere down a long dirt road. Betty tried

Helen Armstrong and Betty Linsz.

unsuccessfully to get her dad and mom to move to Shell Point; and although they never lived here, Betty remembered the community and the level of excellence that she had seen.

Betty and her first husband were married for forty-three years, and they had three sons together. He passed away in 1987, while they were living in Florida’s Palm Coast area. She was married to her second husband, Bill, for nine years. They knew each other back in school but didn’t date.

They eventually got married much later in life. Betty and Bill moved to Shell Point in

Janet Howard Becomes Third Generation Resident While many residents of Shell Point have relatives who came before them, Janet Howard recently became a third generation Shell Point resident when she and her husband moved into Eagles Preserve earlier this year.

Janet Howard’s grandparents, Allan and Ida Butterworth, were the first in her family to live at Shell Point. They moved to Sand Dollar in 1975, when they were 80; and her grandmother continued to live at Shell Point until she was 97.

Janet’s father, Dr. Bernard King, worked for The Christian and Missionary Alliance as International Treasurer at their headquarters in New York and was part of the team overseeing the Shell Point Village project. In 1977 he assumed leadership of Shell Point Village at the age of 65 and faced the challenges of bringing the project out of its precarious financial situation. Following his retirement in 1986, he and his wife Dorothy moved in to the community becoming the second generation of that family to live here. Dr. King passed away in 2001, but Dorothy currently resides at the Larsen Pavilion and just celebrated her 96th birthday. Talk about multi-generations at Shell Point – Janet also had two aunts who lived in the community as well. Her aunt, Janet Butterworth, lived at Shell Point until 2003 and her aunt, Doris Butterworth, until 2007.

With this many family members at Shell Point, Janet always knew this was the place for her but is amazed how God opened the door for her to live here.

She and her first husband, Bill, were missionaries with The Christian and Missionary Alliance and spent 40 years training leaders for the church in Indonesia. They lived a very primitive lifestyle in the jungles of Indonesia with monkeys and crocodiles

as neighbors and scorpions and snakes as occasional unwelcome house guests.

Throughout those years, Shell Point became a second home to Janet and Bill when they would periodically return to the US to live as Missionaries in Residence, sponsored by The Village Church. Between 1981 and 2002, Janet and Bill lived in Palm Acres on three separate occasions. In 1997 they lived in Cellana on The Island and really got a taste of living at Shell Point.

Bill passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2002. With the support of Shell Point residents, Janet adjusted to a very different life without her husband, Bill. In 2003 she began work at The Village Church as Minister of Discipleship.

She started a bereavement support group in 2004, where she met her present husband, Dr. David Howard, who previously served with the Latin America Mission, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and was the International Director of World Evangelical Fellowship.

Janet retired in April, and she and David moved into Eagles Preserve. The family legacy will continue as Janet’s sister Margaret and her husband plan to move to Shell Point, as well as one of Janet’s daughters who already has plans to move to Shell Point in the far future.

David and Janet Howard.

Continued on page 8

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Our Family Tree Continued from page 7

1992, but Bill passed away after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Betty is a retired executive secretary and is also the family genealogist. She has many family stories compiled and even wrote a book about her brother Harry, who was killed in World War II, in order to preserve his memory. She gave copies to family members, and the book is in World War II exhibits across the country. Before her eyesight deteriorated, Betty volunteered many hours in the Pavilion’s Alzheimer’s unit. Although she had to give up most of her volunteering activities, she still swims everyday. She also participates in Bible study, the Shell Point Red Hat Society, and occasionally as a substitute volunteer in the train room.

Helen Armstrong is Betty’s older sister.

She lived in Mentor, Ohio, with her husband Vernon on an 85-acre cattle farm for twenty years. They were no strangers to hard work and in addition to the farm, Vernon was a supervisor in a factory and Helen worked in a cafeteria. They were also very involved in 4-H and helped kids as horse advisors. She has fond memories of the annual fair where she would take her ironing board to the barns and hand the clothes to the kids right off the ironing board just before their competition time.

Helen says she followed her sister to Shell Point knowing the excellent care her husband would receive and that she would be taken care of after his passing. They moved to Shell Point in April 1993. Vernon passed away just six weeks later. Helen shortly after became involved in the Vision Enrichment Group and still is. She works in the Train Room and volunteers at the Larsen Pavilion.

These two remarkable women both say they are where they should be. Although they are in their nineties and both have macular degeneration, they continue to live independently. Knowing the sidewalks, feeling safe, and being inspired by others in the community make Shell Point special to each of them. In reality, however, they are two examples of truly inspirational women who make Shell Point special.

A Family Adventure

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Joseph and Dorothy Grapes came to Shell Point in 2002. During Joe’s working years, this adventurous couple crisscrossed the country in a small Volkswagen camper on vacations. He was also a scoutmaster for sixteen years and he retired as a New Jersey postmaster in June 1972. They eventually traded the Volkswagen camper in for a travel trailer and found Indian Creek Campground in 1972, where they enjoyed tennis, shuffleboard, and fishing every winter.

Joesph and Dorothy Grapes and Gayle RIchardson.

This couple was game for anything, and Dorothy’s recounts of some of their boating mishaps are hysterical. One mishap occurred when they started out for a canoe ride. Dorothy slipped, landed hard at one end of the canoe, and tossed Joe right into the water. On another day, they went on a fishing trip in a blowup boat.

Joe caught a catfish and tried to get the hook out by holding the fish against the side of the boat. He wondered why the fish was making a hissing sound until he lifted up the fish and discovered it wasn’t the catfish making that sound at all. The fish’s barb had punched a hole in the boat. Dorothy, a novice swimmer, said she was terrified as they took turns holding their fingers over the hole and rowing back to shore.

It was during this twenty-seven year period of camping fun and frolic that they also found and fell in love with Shell Point.

While they were at the campground, they attended concerts and Easter sunrise services. Joe’s heart problems in 2002 brought an end to their camping adventures, but at the same time, it opened the door to the Shell Point lifestyle.

Joe and Dorothy have been married for an incredible seventy-three years and have two daughters, Barbara and Gayle. Both daughters were married to a Larry – instead of the “other brother Larry” (from the old Bob Newhart show) it was the “other husband Larry.”

Gayle and her husband, Larry, often visited Gayle’s parents while they were living at Indian Creek Campground, and they also came to love Shell Point during that time.

They too enjoyed fishing and canoeing but left the blowup boats to her parents!

After Gayle retired as an executive assistant of a large trucking company and Larry retired as an interior designer-painter, they moved into her parents’ trailer at Indian Creek. They had planned to stay longer at Indian Creek, but Gayle says when Larry began having health problems, he took the steps to make sure she was at Shell Point and would be taken care of before he passed away.

Sadly, Larry passed away just thirteen months after they moved into the community. Dorothy and Joseph are very glad to have their daughter living nearby in Shell Point. Both generations of this kindhearted family appreciate the safety and security of Shell Point, as well as the community’s resort-like lifestyle.

Gayle is very active at Shell Point and volunteers at The Village Church; in the Stamp Ministry; with the grief support group, Journeys into Healing; and with the Women’s Global Outreach. She is also the Cellana Court representative; and, in her spare time for fun and exercise, she line dances. Gayle enjoys being close to her parents and hopes her sister, Barbara, will join them someday. Hmm, sounds like the Shell Point tradition just might also continue in this family!

Extended Family Alice Armstrong understands the benefits of being part of an extended family, and it is through her extended family that she and her daughter, Catherine, came to be at Shell Point. After Alice and Bill Armstrong were married many years ago, they had a single child, Catherine. Bill passed away at an early age, and Alice and Catherine were left alone since Alice did not have any siblings herself.

Bill’s brother, Dick Armstrong, and his wife, Miriam, continued to stay in touch with Alice and Catherine and checked on them routinely to make sure they were doing all right. Alice says since both she and her daughter Catherine are only children, being part of the Armstrong family has been a blessing.

They were living in a small apartment in Boston when Dick invited them to Shell Point and made their travel arrangements for the week of Thanksgiving in 2006. He also scheduled an interview at the Welcome Center during that same week so that they could learn about living at Shell Point. Four months later, Alice and Catherine moved to Shell Point together.

Catherine and Alice Armstrong.

Since Catherine has epilepsy, they are both grateful for the excellent medical care at Shell Point. Alice also loves the friendliness of the other residents and the neighborhood atmosphere of the community.

Catherine loves being at Shell Point, but she still misses the autumn colors and the change of season. She also misses teaching her first and second grade Sunday school class. They stay in contact with their former church, and Alice sends them an extra copy

of Shell Point Life every month so it can be shared among their friends.

A bountiful supply of seashells on their balcony table indicates their enjoyment of the nearby beaches. They both enjoy the gorgeous view from their balcony, the sense of community, and the safety of Shell Point.

Alice says they are very blessed to be at Shell Point and they are very grateful to Dick Armstrong for bringing them to this island paradise.

Shell Point so he would have a place to park his boat. At that time, Ralph also had a seasonal condominium at Compass Point on Sanibel, so the groundwork was already laid when Bruce introduced his dad to Shell Point. Like Bruce, he was immediately drawn to this tropical paradise with its many activities and community lifestyle. Ralph was in the first group to move into the new amenity-packed Arbor assisted living facility in September 2005.

He enjoyed his time there tremendously and was the “official” paper boy, delivering papers to all his neighbors. In 2008, Ralph moved to the Larsen Pavilion, where he enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal every day.

Well into his mid-90s, Ralph spent his final time near his son here at Shell Point, underscorBruce and his father Ralph Findley.

Bruce was introduced ing Bruce’s comment to the Shell Point lifestyle that the Larsen Pavilion by members of the Captiva Chapel by the is “the crown jewel of Shell Point – providSea congregation who were living at Shell ing life care with a talented and caring staff.”

Point. He said he was immediately drawn to the faith-based community and the diversity Multiple Generations of those living in Shell Point. According to There are few places that can offer the Bruce, “It is a special place where both the amenities and lifestyle choices that appeal residents and the staff are held to a higher to multiple generations. As these and so ethical standard, and it shows.” many other residents have discovered, Shell Point has captured this unique lifestyle of reBruce’s parents had been coming from tirement living with a lifecare plan that is Wisconsin to Sanibel for thirty-five years, so second to none, providing the best options he was already familiar with the beautiful for both parents and their retirement-age southwest coast of Florida. At the time children, as well as extended family memBruce found Shell Point, he was living on bers of all kinds. his fifty-four foot boat, traveling back and forth to Wisconsin. It didn’t take long for As Shell Point’s first-class lifecare and him to decide to make Shell Point his home. resort-style lifestyle become well known In November 2002, he signed the contract throughout the families of residents who live and moved into Macoma. Once he settled here, the community will continue to prosinto Shell Point, he down-sized to a forty- per and bless future generations. two foot boat, named White Pelican, which he just sold last year. In June 2004, Bruce Editor’s Note: When we began researching moved into one of Shell Point’s single fam- this article, we discovered numerous family relaily homes located in Palm Acres, and he is tions and many more have emerged still enjoying the benefits and amenities of since this story was written. Tune living in the community. into Shell Point TV- Channel 11 during the month of November for many Meanwhile Bruce’s father, Ralph Find- other profiles of “Generaley, teased his son by saying that he came to tions at Shell Point.”

A Son and His Father While it is very common to find residents who had parents that lived at Shell Point before them, every once in awhile, the opposite occurs and an adult child will move to the community first and then introduce the parent to Shell Point.

Bruce Findley brought his father to Shell Point Retirement Community after he had moved in.

emories Live Again in Creative Writing Class Guides Residents in Writing Memoirs B

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People begin making memories the day they are born. Each day of life involves creating and recalling memories.

Reflecting on past times can conjure memories of pleasure and love and contentment, or tragedy and loss and dissatisfaction.

Memories are significant and make us who we are. We are affirmed by them, we’re changed by them, we’re moved to laughter and tears by them, and we’re connected by them. If our memory begins to fail, we mourn the loss of it. It’s no wonder that while we can, we find ways to memorialize our memories for ourselves and others.

Writing personal memoirs has become an increasingly popular way for people to capture their personal memories, and a group of residents is learning how to capture Class members work on their writing outside of class, then in class take turns reading to the group to share the stories of their lives by creating memoirs. the progress of the topic they happen to be exploring at that time. The instructor offers helpful critique and Creating Memoirs is a weekly academy members of the class share praise, ask questions, help fill in missing pieces, and discuss suggestions. class taught by Phyllis Bailey-Starmer, a professor of Miami University of Ohio, who touched, and a very therapeutic sense of Memoirs Provide an Outlet spends her winters in Florida with husband community and caring as people get to know Anne Wills, a resident of Tellidora, has Peter. Her class encourages students to use each other through their stories and even the many memories of Shell Point. Her late writing to find their own voice. colloquialisms unique to each of them.” husband Tom and their five children vacaThe class encourages sharing and disAs they share, they find that the memoirs tioned in Florida. Their trips always incussion as a way to recall life stories. The created in the class are as unique as the mem- cluded visits to Shell Point to see Anne’s group has become a very close-knit com- bers. One resident writer has followed her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sutton. munity; and when a memoir is shared, they memories back to family member Jefferson In 1991 Tom and Anne decided to move share praise, ask questions, help fill in miss- Davis. Another relates the experience of los- to Fort Myers to be even closer to Shell Point. ing pieces, and discuss suggestions. ing a home in a fire. One writer organized her And when Tom passed away two years later, Professor Bailey-Starmer explains, “Dur- memories around the various houses where his service was held at Shell Point. ing the weekly two-hour class, sharing stories her family lived while her husband changed In December of 2006 Anne made Shell often leads to a lot of laughing, hearts being jobs from one corner of the US to another.

Point her home. Just a month after moving

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Hank Ivory (Periwinkle), Jane Kennedy (Oakmont), Duke Murray (Oakmont), Marty Gibson (Lakewood), Kay Strong (Harbor Court), Pat Webster (Sand Dollar), Jim Hardy (Sundial) and Barbara Murray (King’s Crown) participate in the Creative Writing class offered through the Academy at Shell Point.

Memoirs in, she started attending the Creating Memoirs class and found the perfect outlet for capturing her memories.

Anne explains, “I always loved to write, but you don’t often get around to it unless you have an incentive. In the class, we’re encouraged to remember that writing is a very personal thing. Everyone has his own style. Some may write memoirs chronologically from birth, while others’ memoirs are collections of simple experiences and remembrances. I wanted to have memoirs to share with my children, so I have begun writing a letter to each of my five children, including memories that stand out and that are special to them and that make them so endearing to me. It’s very satisfying when I share and read my writing to my children about their parents or grandparents, and they say, ‘I never knew that!’”

Anne Wills reads from her personal memoir.

Dr. Emmett Murray (Oakmont), affectionately known as Duke, began writing after his children encouraged him to write about what life was like in his hometown of Lima, Ohio. The encouragement paid off as Duke has already self-published two books of memoirs and sold more than two thousand copies.

Duke is currently working on a third book about his memories as a country doctor in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. He relates, “We certainly couldn’t do anything fancy like heart surgery, but we could wipe out polio!”

Duke’s son, Robb Murray, sends e-mail updates to Duke’s loyal fan base who con-

The first class, How to Write Your Memoirs on a Computer, is a hands-on workshop led by Lucille Peterson (Lakewood) and Marty Gibson (Lakewood), designed to help you write using a helpful technology tool.

The second class, facilitated by resident Ken Masters (Turban), is designed to help residents create and share memoirs as the group itself decides. Additionally, the spring trimester will present an opportunity for growth in a workshop presented by a nationally known memoirs instructor.

Whatever the background, whatever the memories, writing memoirs is a valuable

riting personal memoirs has become an increasingly popular way for people to capture their personal memories. tinue to provide encouragement along his journey. His memoirs are shared over radio interviews, posted podcasts, library book programs, and more. Duke will even share his memoirs during a world-wide story telling festival, called Tellibration, on Saturday, November 22.

Sharing Your Story Academy Manager, Teri Kollath, wants residents to consider joining a memoir writing class. In addition to the Creating Memoirs course, two new classes have been added to the academy roster.

experience for both the writer and the reader. Peter Starmer, who often accompanies his wife to the memoirs class, relates, “Your imagination could not meet the tone and tenor of what is produced from memories of the past.”

Finding Inspiration The Shell Point gift shop sells books written by Shell Point residents, including Duke Murray, and the Shell Point Library holds a compilation of class writing for each trimester, beginning with 2001.

Writers have selected their own pieces for inclusion.

As Professor Bailey-Starmer will tell you, “Journaling is an important element of the memoirs class. You’ll never run out of material to write about this way.”

Shell Point Life | November 2008

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THE HISTORY OF SHELL POINT

CHAPTER NINE – CONFIDENCE RESTORED In last month’s chapter of the Shell Point history, we looked back at the 1970s and the trying financial times that Shell Point endured through God’s grace. This month we begin a new chapter as we meet the man who came to Shell Point in the early 1980s and continues to lead Shell Point today.

As Shell Point Village was struggling under the weight of debt and financial shortfalls in the 1970s, Peter Dys was working in the field of aging services and the nursing home industry in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area. His geriatric interest was initiated in undergraduate school and continued through a master’s in the social work program at West Virginia University, from which he graduated in 1972. Dys presided over the start-up and administration of the Lancaster County Office of Aging in 1974. Through his ambitious yet conservative management of this agency, it grew to a staff of more than 60 employees, providing services to seniors throughout Lancaster with a $3 million annual budget.

ing at Shell Point Village late at night. His first impression of the community occurred as he drove along Shell Point Boulevard. Before him, set against the darkened sky, was the beautifully illuminated cross of The Village Church.

This symbol captured his attention and captivated his interest as he thought about the spiritual values that underscored the community and its service environment.

Dr. Bernard King, Executive Director of Shell Point at that time, immediately impressed Dys as an impassioned leader with an obvious and unconditional commitment to Shell Point. He was impressed by King’s wisdom and obvious fortitude on what were some severe financial management issues. It was also easy to see that the memPeter Dys, President. bers of the board possessed the qualities of character, backAn active and devoted member of The Christian and ground, and dedication necessary for the task at hand. It Missionary Alliance, Peter Dys had been invited in 1979 to serve on the was evident that financial pressure was present. Facility upgrades and General Services Advisory Council for the denomination, which at that modifications, and general maintenance, were lacking due to inadequate time was headed by vice president, Dr. Gordon Cathey. The scope of capital. There was a serious need for maintenance and upkeep. this committee was to review the functions of general services. Dys’ area of expertise was aging services. In this capacity, he became familiar with Shell Point Village was also in trouble due to its mix of apartments and the various Alliance retirement centers and was asked to provide in-serskilled nursing beds with its aging-in-place population. The board vice training to all of the retirement centers at the annual Consultation strongly supported Dr. King’s suggestion to build an assisted living faon Aging meeting. cility, which was not only necessary to maintain industry standards but also to In 1981 Peter Dys was asked to serve as a stave off an overuse of Shell Point’s skilled member of The Christian and Missionnursing facility, The Pavilion. ary Alliance Foundation Board of Directors for Shell Point Village due to his The development of the assisted living fabackground within the denomination, cility provided the tax-exempt, credit-enhis qualifications in the field of geriatric hanced financing that would allow Shell and aging services, and his direct day-toPoint to fold in its existing high-interest day operational experience in the indusdebt and eliminate the downward spiral of try for the aging. self-financing. In addition to the refinancing, other income sources had to be inOriginal sign to the community on Shell Point Boulevard.

Peter Dys arrived for his first board meetcreased.

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Shell Point’s on-site management staff was few in number and did not possess the background and operating skills required for a community of its size and complexity. Particularly lacking was the emphasis on sales and marketing, required to fill a consistently large percentage of apartments which remained vacant. The critical issue to the Village was the annual loss of revenue caused by this excessive apartment inventory.

At the time more than 40 apartments remained vacant.

Previous efforts to market the Village had been primarily limited to the C&MA denomination and select national markets. The local market in Lee County had been left virtually untapped. Also, in keeping with efforts to control costs throughout the community, the apartments, which were now 10 to 15 years old, were not being renovated before they were put back on the market for resale.

Minor improvements, such as new paint and carpet, were made; but overall, the apartments were showing their age. Money had to be spent to renovate the apartments prior to resale. An apartment renovation program and the systematic upkeep of each residence were begun to allow Shell Point to become competitive in the lifestyle market of Lee County. These efforts, plus an aggressive marketing focus, spurred an increase in sales, with revenue from founder’s fees going from $2.6 million in 1984, to $3.6 million in 1985, to more than $4 million in 1986, when the apartments were finally filled.

With the tax-exempt financing in place and the increase in sales, Shell Point’s financial future was secured. Dr. King could now contemplate his retirement, and the board asked Peter Dys to consider accepting the position of administrator of Shell Point Village for one year, under Dr. Bernard King, and then becoming the executive director.

On August 1, 1985, Dr. King warmly welcomed Peter Dys as the new administrator. Peter Dys’s experience in the dealings of Shell Point Village, gained during his time spent on the Board of Directors, provided invaluable background and allowed him to quickly assess the many issues at hand. Dr. King seemed genuinely relieved to have the new administrator on board. As fall approached, he quickly turned a variety of responsibilities over to him.

Plans were finalized for the construction of the assisted living facility, with Peter Dys assuming the leadership responsibility for the final design and architectural work of the building which was completed in late fall of 1985.

Peter Dys immediately rolled up his sleeves and went to work. There was a great deal of work ahead if improvements throughout the Village were to be made. Dys quickly set about putting together a The Island during the mid-1980s. new organizational structure that could handle the current and future needs of the community. A team of qualified and experienced professionals, with expertise in their individual fields, was needed to help guide Shell Point Village into the future. Some strong key staff members were already present at Shell Point, and Dys chose additional individuals who could bring significant expertise in the areas of resident services, health care services, sales and marketing, and financial administration to the team.

Changes began occurring rapidly throughout the community. On the 75acre island, there was still property that could be developed. Dys recognized the importance of making the best possible use of this acreage in light of the population density allowed by the community’s formal development order, as well as the ambiance and lifestyle desired for the residents.

The newly finished King’s Crown had established a new standard of excellence for the community. Soon after its completion, the commitment to quality health care was expanded with plans to renovate The Pavilion. Residents of the Village pulled together like never before to King’s Crown assisted living facility. raise funds for the renovation, bringing in more than $3 million. The facility received a much-needed overhaul to bring it up to the new standard of excellence.

Residents took center stage as feedback programs were implemented. Numerous formally structured advisory systems were put into place to establish and maintain communication regarding issues in food service, activities, health care, and a variety of other services.

The late 1980s became a time of physical renewal for the community. Infrastructure throughout the entire community was in dire need of repair, and a series of improvement projects was launched which included almost every support system within the Village, including roads, bridges, buildings, grounds, and more.

Continued next page

Dr. King Retires

Dr. Bernard King.

In November 1985 Dr. King requested the board’s approval for early retirement. Dr. King had carried an enormous load through many difficult years and was ready to step aside. He expressed complete confidence in Peter Dys and his ability to assume the leadership of the Village; and at the board’s request, Peter Dys accepted the accelerated responsibility of Executive Director and assumed the position in January 1986.

Bridge repair and construction of the perimeter sidewalk were part of the overall improvements.

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Continued from page 13

A new maintenance building was constructed to provide space for the reorganized facility operations department. This building featured offices, warehouse space, an auto repair center, car wash bay, and work space. Tennis courts were constructed on the roof of the building.

tablished in Harbor Court and feature 40 new apartments. The construction of Sundial officially utilized the maximum number of residential units, approved for the island by Lee County. Shell Point had reached its maximum capacity of independent and assisted living units on the island.

By the early 1990s the Village had achieved Conservative fiscal requirements were pruSundial featured 40 new apartments on The Island. what appeared to be a complete metamordently established by management, requirphosis. New residents moving into the coming that the cost of construction be borne munity were unaware of the many positive changes that had taken place by money raised in the presale of the residential apartments. No longer in just a few short years. Sales were brisk as Shell Point established itwould Shell Point construct a building on borrowed funds at the jeopself as a leader in the industry. New programs and innovations were inardy of the fiscal security of the residents. This “pay-as-you-go” philostroduced. The financial tide had been turned, and Shell Point now ophy continued to strengthen Shell Point’s financial stability. generated an annual operating surplus which more than sustained the upkeep, maintenance, and improvements necessary each year. Dys During this time period, several construction projects were taking place brought stability to the financial underpinnings of the organization simultaneously. Shell through his ability to organize and control the assets of the Village.

Point once again broke ground on a new buildIn all, Dys was able to pour almost $60 million of income back into the ing—a two-story parkcommunity during the decade between 1986 and 1996 without ining garage that would curring any additional debt. also serve as an approved hurricane shelter for resAs an indicator of its success, Shell Point applied for idents of the community. and received accreditation by the Continuing Care Plus, a new Welcome Accreditation Commission in 1992. This industry Center and guardhouse The Welcome Center. endorsement acclaimed Shell Point as a quality rewere built near the entirement community with a proven history of extrance to the community. Additional construction at the entrance of cellence. This accreditation is the industry’s most the island also included improving the center intersection and roadway. sought-after recognition of excellence.

A stately row of palm trees was planted up the center of the boulevard that leads through the community, creating an attractive landscape feaThe island was growing—booming, in fact. The number of staff inture and a memorable impression for visitors. creased each year, with more than 500 people finding employment within the community. With occupancy rates at an all-time high, the The changes to the community were apparent within the C&MA, as board decided to take advantage of the island’s approved development well as the national retirement industry. Throughout the 1990s, nuorder and added an additional 64 units by building Harbor Court. merous awards were given to Shell Point in recognition of its achievement in serving the senior population. Shell Point was Trends in the sale of units on the island indicated named in the “Top 20 Retirement Communities” by that prospective residents wanted units with New Choices magazine in 1993. In 1995 Contemporary greater square footage. Harbor Court would proLong-Term Care magazine named Shell Point the “Best vide attractive two- and three-bedroom apartRetirement Community,” and it was named one of “The ments with breathtaking views. Harbor Court, World’s Most Beautiful Retirement Communities” by the designed by the architecAssociation of Retirement Resorts International in 1996. tural firm of Burt Hill In 1997 Shell Point was named one of “The Top ConConstruction of Harbor Court.

Kosar Rittelmann Associtinuing Care Retirement Communities in the Southeastern United ates and constructed by States” by Where to Retire magazine.

Wright Construction, was completed in late 1991.

In addition to the physical improvements being made throughout the community, management assumed the task of improving the During that time, the quality of resident services. Dys’s steadfast vision for Shell Point— original sales and marketthe desire to be the best—created an environment that allowed the ing office, the Welcome Center, was located on a portion of property community to flourish. The high quality prevalent in every aspect of the near the boat docks. It was decided that this location would be the best operation was now apparent and began to attract potential residents. site for another new residential building to be called Sundial.

Maximum occupancy rates were achieved and waiting lists filled as individuals expressed an interest in moving to Shell Point. Shell Point had The Welcome Center was torn down at the end of 1994 to make way achieved maximum capacity and the demand for services and amenifor the new Sundial building. In 1995 Shell Point began construction ties continued to grow. It was during this time that a new opportunity of Sundial, which would utilize a similar open-atrium design first esloomed on the horizon.

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A Family Affair Residents Often Discover Shell Point Through Family or Friends People are usually surprised to learn that the age difference between the youngest and the oldest resident at Shell Point is often close to fifty years. This is the result of two main factors; Americans are living longer than ever before with the life expectancy in America increasing one year every seven years, and many people have chosen to retire earlier than the statistical average, resulting in younger retirees. Combine younger retirees with individuals living longer, and you get the picture.

This has created an interesting phenomenon in retirement living; intergenerational retirees. During the past twenty years, Shell Point has begun to experience the reality of multiple generations of retirees from the same family living on the same campus at the same time. It is becoming increasingly common for fathers and mothers and sons and daughters to be experiencing retirement simultaneously.

At Shell Point this reality appeared more than two decades ago. During the time period that he served as the community’s executive director, Dr. Bernard King’s mother-in-law was

residing at Shell Point. Upon his retirement, Dr. King moved into Shell Point as a resident, and the community became the home to two generations at the same time. In the decade following, this situation occurred again and again. According to Mike Davis, Director of Sales for the community, “Members of the Shell Point sales staff have reported a large number of adult children who first learned of Shell Point through their parents and observed first hand the superior lifestyle and lifecare the community offered. Based on these personal observations of the positive experiences of their parents, these individuals subsequently sought information and took up residency for themselves.”

And these relationships extend beyond parents and their adult children. “Shell Point has had numbers of siblings move into the community, as well as many other combinations of family relations,” said Davis. “The Shell Point family tree has numerous branches of extended families, and we just recently welcomed our first ‘third generation’ resident.”

A more recent and intriguing trend is the older prospect making an inquiry at the Welcome Center after learning about Shell Point through the recommendation of an adult son or daughter who is a resident. “I realized times had definitely changed the first time we had a new

The Sales Team back row: Ted Benjamin, Maureen Thompson, Jill Barry Lou Ann Ehlers. Front row: Jan Coay, Mike Davis and Deb Moniz.

resident move into the community because a son or daughter already lived here,” remembers Davis with a chuckle. “Maybe I’ve been here too long, but in the past twenty-three years of my career at Shell Point, it had never occurred to me that we would reach this point! Now it’s almost commonplace.”

Sales professionals in the retirement industry are increasingly becoming blind to age.

“Age has just become a number on a piece of paper,” said Davis. “It has no real significance anymore, and it certainly has nothing to do with the attitudes or expectations of the people who want to live here. I think that is one of the reasons that living at Shell Point is so attractive to so many people.”

Sons, daughters, aunts, cousins, grandparents, fathers, and mothers – they all agree – life at Shell Point is certainly a family affair!

The Browns Discover the True Value of Lifecare Some of Shell Point’s best sales people are its residents, and this was proven again when Nancy Brown of Turban wrote a letter after the 2008 Shell Point Gala held in January this year. In her letter, Nancy and her husband Leighton expressed their appreciation for the complimentary performance of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

“Leighton and I loved the Anniversary Gala. We think it was the very best event

we have been to here,” she wrote. “We had so much fun listening to the music of Glenn Miller. We were about six years old when the war started but knew all of the music.”

“Leighton’s family has lived in Southwest Florida for three generations, and I arrived here 50 years ago. We have watched Shell Point change and grow, and it is absolutely wonderful today!”

Prior to deciding to move to Shell Point, the couple decided to take the Shell Point tour at the suggestion of their son, Charles Brown, an anesthesiologist at Healthpark Medical Center, who happens to live in Palm Acres right outside the entrance gate to the Island at Shell Point. Charles knew a great deal about Shell Point, and he knew his parents would love it once they took a tour.

“The next day following the tour, my younger sister flew down from Charlotte,

North Carolina, to try and stop us,” wrote Nancy. “She thought we were too young!

But when she saw what Shell Point was really like, she wanted to move here too!” The Browns moved to Shell Point in 2004.

Although Nancy and her husband are happy they made the right decision, Nancy related a story that probably told it all.

“We have some Fort Myers friends whose mother almost moved into Tellidora in 1968. The family thought it was too risky to pay $8,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, so she didn’t come. They also thought she might not live long. At that time she was 68. She lived 20 more years!”

Nancy and Leighton have truly recognized the value of Shell Point and the lifecare plan it provides. They enjoy living in their home in the Mid-Rises on The Island and have made a number of friends since moving into the community four years ago.

Nancy and Leighton Brown (Turban)

Shell Point Life | November 2008

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The Spirit of the Shell Point Olympics

November Highlights HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS CLASS Academy favorite, Professor Adrian Kerr, has created a class to launch the Shell Point Olympics on the history of the Olympian games in Greece just for us. Join Professor Kerr on Monday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m. as he discusses the first games that took place in 776 BC in the town of Olympia and have been celebrated every four years for the 1200 years since. The lecture will be extensively illustrated with depictions of events and pictures of the original site. Sign up is required for this class, which you can do at either Service Desk.

SHELL POINT HISTORY WITH PETER DYS Join Shell Point President Peter Dys for a fitting finale to our year-long celebration of Shell Point’s 40th anniversary in the Coffee with A Shell Point President.

This photographic perspective of the history of the community will be accompanied by Peter’s personal recollections as he presents photographs that take you from empty land to one of the nations’s top life care communities on Friday, November 7, at 10:15 a.m. A ticket is required and can be picked up at either Service Desk.

PARKINSON’S PRESENTATION Bring your friends and family to the presentation on Parkinson’s Genetic Research on Tuesday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Auditorium. This program is open to the public as the Academy spotlights the environmental and genetic changes that contribute to the development of Parkinson’s Disease. Adrianna Martinez, RN, BSN, and Clinical Project Manager of the University of Miami Institute for Human Genomics will present state-of-the-art genetic research being done to discover the genetic factors, as well as environmental interaction, that contribute to Parkinson’s disease.

Over 300 athletes have signed up for 38 competitions and it is time for the games to get on their way!

Kick off the Week at the Opening Ceremony November10th at 2:00 pm The Opening Ceremony will be held Monday, November 10, at 2:00 p.m. at the Church Auditorium. The entire community is welcome to come see the presentation of court flags and listen to the powerful and spirited performance of Japanese Taiko Drummers. Fushu Diako has been recognized by the Mayor of Miami and the Consulate General of Japan in Ko Kodaira, for creating a greater understanding of the Japanese culture in our community, and for strengthening the bonds between Don’t miss the Japanese Taiko Drummers Florida and Japan. perform at the Opening Ceremonies.

Olympic Game Days November 11th, 12th, 13th Throughout November 11-13 games will take place in all three Shell Point neighborhoods. The schedule is listed on the next page. Be sure to hop on the Shell Point Olympic bus that will travel between venues so you can cheer on your friends. Each venue will have chairs available for prime viewing.

Closing Ceremony THE LEGACY PRESENTS DAVID JONES Highly regarded economist, educator, and expert on U.S. financial markets David Jones, President/CEO of DMJ Advisors, LLC, and Chairman of Investors’ Security Trust Company will share his views of the current financial crisis in a Legacy Foundation Seminar on Wednesday, November 19, at 10:00 a.m. titled The State of The Economy. Dr. Jones has authored several books including the landmark classic book on Federal Reserve policy, Fed Watching and Interest Rate Projections: A Practical Guide.

Please see your fall semester Academy brochure for information on these and all Academy presentations.

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November 14th at 2:00 pm On November 14 athletes will be presented with medals at the Closing Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. in the Church Auditorium. The ceremony will include a week’s worth of pictures celebrating the efforts of all athletes. The court flag medals will be presented at this time as well.

Athletes: Pre-ordered T-shirts will be distributed on Monday, November 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Resident Activity Center. You may still order a commemorative T-shirt for $10, by calling either Service Desk.

2008 Shell Point Olympics November 10-14

Let the Games Begin!

TAKE A LOOK— Of course, you do not want to miss viewing pictures of your neighbors during their younger athletic days. The pictures will be on display in the Resident Activity Center and The Woodlands Commons.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 8:00 a.m. Mixed Doubles Tennis Woodlands Tennis Court /WDL Draw for partner

8:00 a.m. Ladies’ Doubles Tennis Woodlands Tennis Courts/WDL Draw for partner

9:00 a.m. 5K Bike Race Meet at Village Church/IS Porte Cochere

8:30 a.m. Putt & Chip Competition Shell Point Golf Course Bring own clubs and balls, or they will be provided

8:00 a.m. Men’s Tennis Doubles Woodlands Tennis Court/WDL Draw for partner

10:00 a.m. Word Games Pavilion 3rd Floor Activity Room 3rd floor residents

9:00 a.m. Short or Distance Walk Start and Finish Island Park/IS

10:15 a.m. Model Sailboat Racing Garden Apartment Pond/IS

9:30 a.m. Fishing Competition Lagoon Seawall/IS Must have own equipment

11:15 a.m. Wii Golf Church Hospitality Room/IS

10:00 a.m. Horse Shoe Toss Pavilion 3rd Floor Activity Room 2nd and 3rd floor residents 10:15 a.m. Billiards – 9-Ball Resident Activity Center/IS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13

1:00 p.m. Chess Resident Activity Center/IS 1:00 p.m. Rummikub Arbor Community Room 1:00 p.m. Single Table Tennis Grand Cypress Room/WDL

9:00 a.m. Kayak Endurance Race Kayak Storage/IS Must have own kayak 9:00 a.m. Swimming Relays Woodlands Swimming Pool/WDL Draw for teams 10:00 a.m. Wii Bowling Pavilion 3rd Floor Activity Room 3rd floor residents 10:00 a.m. Ramp Bowling Pavilion 2nd Floor Activity Room 2nd floor residents 10:15 a.m. Tennis Skills Contest Woodlands Tennis Court/WDL

10:30 a.m. Ring Toss Pavilion 3rd Floor Activity Room 2nd and 3rd floor residents

1:15 p.m. Shuffleboard Island Shuffleboard Court/IS

12:30 p.m. Timed Puzzle Contest Arbor 3rd Fl. Discussion/Game Rm.

1:30 p.m. Basketball Free Throw Pavilion 2nd Floor Activity Room 2nd and 3rd floor residents

11:15 a.m. Wii Boxing Church Hospitality Room/IS

1:00 p.m. Doubles Table Tennis Grand Cypress Room/WDL Draw for Partner

2:15 p.m. Wii Tennis Church Hospitality Room/IS

1:00 p.m. Mah-Jongg Social Center/IS

2:15 p.m. Name That Tune Contest King’s Crown Community Room

1:00 p.m. Memory Olympics Arbor Community Room

3:00 Pinochle Sabal Room/WDL

1:15 p.m. Scrabble Tournament King’s Crown Community Room

3:00 Connect Four Pavilion 3rd Floor Activity Room 3rd floor residents

2:15 p.m. Wii Bowling Church Hospitality Room/IS

1:00 p.m. Friendly Duplicate Bridge Social Center/ IS Arrive at 12:30, Sign-up with partner 1:15 p.m. Mind Olympics King’s Crown Community Room 2:15 p.m. Bocce Ball Woodlands Bocce Court

10:15 a.m. Spelling Bee Church Auditorium/IS

2:30 p.m. Throw for Distance Pavilion 2nd Floor Activity Room 2nd floor residents

Join in the spirit of the Olympic Games!

Come out as a spectator and cheer others on!

Generations A Look at America’s Greatest Generations America’s greatest generations have a common thread running through them.

They were all born of suffering, tragedy, or war. From the depths of human despair, the greatest generations pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and left a legacy to the generations that followed.

The landing of the Pilgrims.

Pilgrims and Puritans Pilgrims and Puritans escaped persecution from the Church of England by coming to America and birthed a new nation. There were some basic differences, however, between the two: the Pilgrims were pragmatic while the Puritans were scholars. The Pilgrims focused on the land and carved out settlements, while the Puritans formed the first free school offered to all children, established the first American college, Harvard, and wrote and published some of the first books in America. They both played a large part in shaping the moral character of America, while insuring freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Our Founding Fathers

fledgling union during the American Revolutionary War.

helped the United States take giant leaps forward to modernization.

American Industrial Revolution

The First World War

The American Industrial Revolution began just fourteen years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1793, giving birth to manufacturing and factories, creating a major shift in the lifestyles of the American people. It would not be a time without war, however, including the War of 1812 and the war with the Cherokee Nation in 1838.

While the cotton gin changed a generation during the time of its invention. The telegraph was invented by Samuel Morse in 1837 during the Industrial Revolution, but it was credited with starting the Information Age.

The Civil War The Civil War followed the Industrial Revolution and was a momentous event for the United States. The outcome was critical to the survival of a united country. This generation lived through four bloody years of war. In the end, President Abe Lincoln united the country and freed four million slaves, but his assassination cut short his legacy.

The American Revolution occurred during the last half of the 18th century in which the thirteen colonies of North America united, declared their independence in 1776, stood up to the tyrannical rule of The signing of the Britain, and defended their Declaration of Independence.

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The Age of Invention Following the Civil War, there was a great age of inventors, including Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and the Wright Brothers. With American ingenuity at its best, these inventors

World War I created many elements found in the 20th Century and also helped shape the 21st Century. Two super powers were birthed out of the war – the United States of America and the Soviet Union. The economic boom of the Roaring Twenties followed World War I, but it was short lived. On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed creating the Great Depression, which FDR signing the Social lasted until the early Security Act of 1935.

1940s. This generation was marked by the ravages of human suffering, including hunger, depression, and a sense of hopelessness. Giving him a landslide victory in 1932, Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal changed the role of government in individual lives, created work relief programs, and implemented banking regulations. The Great Depression generation endured so many hardships the majority became frugal savers, while others worked voraciously to create a better life.

World War II World War II gave birth to what is often referred to as this modern day’s greatest generation. America entered the war on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The United States mobilized mil-

s of CHANGE Baby Boomers The Baby Boomer generation that followed was also not spared the tragedy of war, first with the Korean War and then the Vietnam War. This generation was also marked by the counter-culture revolution, the civil rights movement, and the Cold War. What sets this generation apart from others is the sheer size of it. Over seventy- six million children were born from 1946 to 1964. It was so large and spanned almost twenty years so it is also often divided into two parts. The first boomers were connected to and affected by the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and The famous photo taken in Martin Luther King, Jr., civil Times Square in New York City. unrest, political unrest, space lions of men for combat and women for civil exploration, anti-war protests, defense work at home until it ended with the riots, and social and drug excollapse of Germany May 8, 1945, and the perimentation. The second half defeat of Japan August 15, 1945. There were of the boomers were affected over 400,000 largely by Watergate, the end American deaths of the Vietnam War, the Cold and over seventy War, gas shortages with long million deaths in gas lines, and high inflation. total – a large While the first half of this part of them generation was free-spirited civilian deaths – and social, the second half attributed to this was more cynical with a genwar. This generaeral distrust of the governtion went into ment. The Boomers also gave the largest and birth to Generation X (1965most costly war 1976) and Generation Y in history in (1977-1998).

Rosie the Riveter terms of the Generation X number of countries involved, the resources Generation X has often been referred to used, and the lives lost. They took the best economic, industrial, and scientific abilities as the ignored generation, living in the shadof the American people into the war and ows of the Boomers. They became the first ‘“latchkey” kid generation, with single parchanged the world forever.

When the war ended, many soldiers left ents or working moms. The end of the Cold the service and went into the private work World, Operation Desert Storm, assassinaforce to rebuild America. This generation tion attempts on the Pope and President also gave birth to America’s middle class and Ronald Reagan, the Challenger Space Shutsuburban lifestyle – a direct result of the GI tle explosion, the first woman appointed to Bill, giving veterans educational benefits and the Supreme Court, the first woman in space, and the advent of the computer age and low cost mortgages.

technology also marked Generation X. This generation has a strong sense of independence, adaptability, and are often outspoken or streetwise loners. Since many grew up during a time of layoffs and economic downturns, a new entrepreneurial spirit emerged, as well as advances in the Internet world, including Amazon, Google, and YouTube.

Generation Y Generation Y is second in size to the boomers and grew up with technology imbedded in its culture and doting parents with high expectations.

They were affected by both Operation Desert Storm and the second Gulf War in Iraq and witnessed the rise of violence and terrorism, including the Oklahoma City bombing, World Trade Center bombing, and school shootings.

This generation is more team-oriented and socially-minded than their predecessors, and may drastically change the landscape of America in the future.

The Newest Generation The beginning of Generation Z varies widely with some sources marking it between 1995 and 2000. Regardless, this current generation is definitely the Internet generation and the Now generation reflecting the culture of immediate response with the World Wide Web, instant and text messaging, cell phones, and portable media players. Using 1995 as the beginning, the oldest in this generation was six-years-old on September 11, 2001.

This generation is growing up in a time of economic uncertainty, the Iraq war, and terrorism, so only time will tell what legacy they will leave behind to future generations.

Shell Point Life | November 2008

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Avoid an Election Day Slow Down

Voting Tips to Save You Time B Y

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Some of you may have forgotten dicate your party affiliation and what disthe rules or perhaps only vote in the tricts you are allowed to vote in. You can use General Election every four years and aren’t this as proof of signature, but it, alone, will sure if your voter information is up-to-date. not allow you to vote.

In my recent experience as a Voter SysYou can also save time by making sure tem Specialist at our Village Church polling your current address is listed on your VRIC. location for Precinct 83 during the If it is not, contact the Lee County August Primary, I observed several Elections Office at (239) 533voter situations that caused 6918 between the hours of slow-downs and realized we 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. could all benefit from reviewMonday thru Friday and get ing basic rules. it corrected, or you will Remember, the goal is to have to visit me and fill out avoid having to come see me at a form. If you moved from the System Specialist desk for independent living to assisted special assistance and to instead living, or even changed aparthead directly to the ballot table, ments within your building, Your Voter I.D. Card saving you time and increasing that will require that extra trip is not the Only Item the precinct’s efficiency. to see me. These are little to Bring with You You must have current things, but annoying things. photo and signature identifiThis year it appears that cation. Even if they are on different documany absentee ballots were sent out, even ments, you must have both. Should you not to those who did not request them. Do have either, you may still vote. We try to NOT throw them away. If you don’t care to never turn anyone away from this important vote absentee, please bring your unopened right, but you will have to visit me and go ballot in its envelope to the church and surthrough a rather lengthy procedure, called a render it. You will still have to make a short Provisional Ballot. Most people want to stop at my table to do this, but then you can vote, but they want to get in and get out; so move quickly to the ballot table and proplease bring your proper identification. ceed as usual. If you have been issued an abSome people only brought their Voter Regsentee ballot and you don’t surrender it, you istration Identification Card (VRIC) to the definitely will be spending time with me fillPrimary. The only thing this card does is ining out a Provisional Ballot and more time

Take action in advance to avoid election day slow downs, or you will need to take time to visit the Voter System Specialist Desk to address the following scenarios: The voter’s current address isn’t in the register.

The voter’s name has changed.

• The voter’s name is not in the register.

• The voter’s signature doesn’t match register.

• The voter’s right to vote is challenged.

• The voter does not have proper ID. • The voter requests new Voter ID Card.

• The voter requests assistance • The voter wants to remove family member • The voter wants to turn in an Absentee Ballot instead of voting in person – not accepted at poll. Must be delivered to Lee County Elections Office.

• Voter wants to change party affiliation.* • Voter wants to register to vote.* • •

*

These actions are not permitted on Election Day.

with the Assistant Clerk voting that ballot.

If you didn’t vote in August, you may want to go online to www.leeelections.com to see the new voting machine and how to mark your ballot. Remember, this is going to be an extremely busy election, and again, you want to get in and get out with as little hassle as possible.

You can see how many things can turn your voting experience into a lengthy visit at Precinct 83. Perhaps my “musings” will help make your trip to the polls this November a pleasant experience. Our right to vote should never be taken lightly.

Hopefully I won’t see you at my desk!

A Time to Celebrate the Larsen Pavilion Resident Generosity Leads to Bakeless Bake Sale Success B

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Americans have always had the reputation of being the most generous people when it comes to a need.

Personally, I think Shell Point is the epitome of this American trait. We have many residents who are well-endowed financially and many who are not. However, financial status seemed to have made no difference for those who gave to the 2008 Larsen Pavilion Auxiliary Bakeless Bake Sale. Whether your contribution was $25 or $1,000, you all gave freely. For that, we thank you!

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Shell Point Life | November 2008

You may have read the article by Sherry Brown in the October issue of Shell Point Life. The items she discussed that the Auxiliary voted to pay for totaled $29,055. The article I wrote for that same issue listed several of the things our money pays for in addition to these special requests by the Larsen Pavilion staff. Then there’s the money we spend for certifications and education for our

nursing staff. When you add it all up, it’s AUXILIARY amazing we have a Bakeless fund drive only once a year! We will, of course, accept donations all year long.

Our theme this year was Celebrate the Larsen Pavilion. And you wonderful residents have done just that!

We’ve almost reached our goal! We’ll be celebrating very soon! Thank you all!

LARSEN PAVILION

Bake

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Surrounded

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Sisters He says one of the best things about having sisters was that he never had to do any dishes. But an important lesson he learned from both his parents and his older John Zimpel (third from right) was one of eleven children, including one brother, sisters was to save money. He never got into Filby (second from left), and nine sisters. In birth order, his sisters are Lucille, Beatrice, debt – a rare concept these days.

Leona, Adele, Isabel, Lauretta, Edith, and twins, Harriet and Henrietta.

His older sisters set an example and went to work very early in life. John followed uring the early decades of the also worked hard, ran the household, cared in their footsteps and entered into the worklast century, it was not uncom- for many of the neighboring families when force at a young age as an apprentice for mon for a family to have a large they were in need, grew a large garden, and Kearney and Trecker, a manufacturing comnumber of children; and grow- canned food from the garden. Their garden pany in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, ing up, resident John Zimpel and his only was a necessity and provided food for the his apprenticeship was interrupted by World brother Filby found themselves surrounded family during the Depression. John also re- War II. He served in the 28th Infantry Diviby sisters. members growing up without running water sion on the front lines of five European camJohn is one of eleven children, includ- and never having any money. paigns from 1945 to 1947 and ing one brother, Filby, and nine sisters. In His family was like many other received a bronze medal. John rebirth order his sisters are Lucille, Beatrice, large families that were comturned to Kearney and Trecker after Leona, Adele, Isabel, Lauretta, Edith, and monplace during the Depression. the war and worked as a facilities twins, Harriet and Henrietta. Lauretta, The children often worked on engineer for forty-two years. One of Edith, and Henrietta are John’s only living the family farm and hunted or the highlights of his career was sisters today. He says he occasionally gets to went to wherever work could be when he designed a factory in Kensee Lauretta when she visits her grand- found to help support the family. tucky for the company. daughter in Sarasota, but Edith and HenriSince his dad was a carpenHe and his wife, Shirley, have John Zimpel etta are no longer able to travel. ter and the tools were readily seven children – five girls and two (Lakewood) He is number nine in birth order – be- available, John started woodboys. Their two sons learned tween Edith and the twins. Since a couple working at a very young age and even made plenty of lessons of their own from their of years separate most of the siblings, his his own toys and games. He also attended a five sisters. John and Shirley moved to childhood wasn’t filled with all of them very small school where he was the captain Florida in 1982 and to Lakewood in The growing up together in the same house. of all the sports and the class president. Woodlands at Shell Point in 2002. You John says there were usually two to three sis- John spent a lot of time during his child- can tell John still enjoys the fruits of his ters living in the house at the same time hood at the house of his oldest sister Lucille woodcarving talents. There are a variety over the span of his childhood. who worked in the cafeteria of a lumber of sculptures in his home, including a John was born in McGrath, Minnesota, company and was like a second mom to beautiful carving of a bald eagle. He also to John and Minerva Zimpel. His dad was a him. He also spent some of the time at enjoys participating in the Lakewood rescarpenter, built barns, and traveled by train Beatrice’s house during the summers while ident garden and has his own personal hobo style to different job sites. His mother his parents worked. tabletop garden.

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November Concerts in the News— Big Brass Sounds and Classically Elegant Music Come to the Shell Point Stage B

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This month, Shell Point will host two prominent concerts. Single tickets are available for purchase so treat yourself or give as a gift to a family member, visiting guest, or friendly neighbor.

The Canadian Brass Having just celebrated its 35th season, the Canadian Brass has a long history of recording classical repertoire. The group’s roots sprang in Toronto, Ontario, in 1970. Since then, their imagination and con-

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summate musicianship eventually elevated the art of the brass quintet to what it is today.

They started with the very limited base of traditional works for brass, but the Canadian Brass set out to create their own musical world by transcribing, arranging, and commissioning more than 200 works.

Millions of viewers have seen Canadian Brass on The Tonight Show, Today, and Entertainment Tonight. They appeared as quest artists on Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops, Beverly Sill’s, Music Around the World, and many PBS specials.

The quintet has developed a unique character and rapport with audiences that proved so successful that it is been emulated by many other ensembles. The Washington Post writes, “These are the men who put brass music on the map. With their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity, and humor, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestras around the world. Canadian brass is the world’s leading brass ensemble.”

If there is one concert not to miss this year… The Canadian Brass is it!

The Canadian Brass will perform on Thursday, November 13 in the Church Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are avaliable for $35.

Cellist and Piano Duo Evan Drachman with Richard Dowling will perform on Thursday, November 20 at the Grand Cypress Room at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are available for $23.

Concerts & Conversation Cellist Evan Drachman combines artistic talent with great personal warmth. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Evan studied at the Peabody Conservatory, the New England Conservatory, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Mr. Drachman has appeared regularly as a soloist with orchestras across the United States, and he played recitals in India, Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, and Canada.

Pianist, Richard Dowling appears regularly across the United States in solo recitals and concerts with orchestras. He has been acclaimed by audiences for his elegant and exciting style of playing which earns him frequent return engagements. He has been seen on PBS television and heard on the NPR radio program Performance Today.

Only a handful of tickets remain for this concert, so don’t delay. Purchase your tickets today.

FINAL DAYS TO SAVE $50, ACT BY NOV. 12 The first Fine and Performing Arts concert is fast approaching. This is the final two weeks to purchase your series tickets and save $50.00 SO DON’T DELAY… secure your tickets for Canadian Brass, Chanticleer, Butch Thompson, Cherish the Ladies and Peter Richard Conte.

November Dining Events Thanksgiving Dining on Thursday, November 27 Holiday dining options at Shell Point are numerous and sure to meet your needs. Thanksgiving Day dining on Thursday, November 27, will offer a variety of traditional choices ranging from a bountiful buffet, full waited service, and even a complete home cooked dinner for eight people ready for you to take home and serve to your guests.

You can start out the day with a casual breakfast at the Island Café where you may order a complete cooked-to-order breakfast hot off the grill, or choose to relax over a cup of freshly brewed coffee and pastries. And if you just want a light lunch instead of the traditional Thanksgiving meal, the Island Café staff will be there to serve you from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

James Beck, Guest Services Manager; Ethel Hubbard, Hospitality Operations Manager; and all of the Hospitality Services staff will have a festive traditional Thanksgiving buffet menu available for you in the Crystal Room. The carved-to-order roast turkey with dressing, baked ham, salmon and many other holiday favorites will be ready and waiting.

Other choices include a variety of vegeta-

bles, a very extensive salad bar, and a large selection of holiday desserts on the dessert buffet table. The Crystal Room will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m..

Seating at the Crystal Room is based on the availability of tables. Reservations are taken only for the Social Center and can accommodate parties of 6 or more. The same menu will be available in both locations. Friday, November 21st, is the deadline for reservations in the Social Center. Call 454-2199 or see a dining room hostess to make reservations. The buffet price is $18.95. You may use your Passport Dining Plan, charge to your apartment, credit card or pay cash. Please note that the Crystal Room will be closed for dinner.

For full, waited service in a smaller more formal setting, you may want to dine at the Palm Grill. Manager Tom Irwin and Chef Joel Bachhuber will be serving Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Menu options include the traditional turkey dinner with all of the trimmings, bacon wrapped filet mignon, clove studded ham or wild Atlantic salmon. Dinners will include soup or salad and dessert. Prices range from $20.95 to

Enjoy the Palm Grill To Go

BY TOM

IRWIN, WOODLANDS DINING MANAGER

If you have had a long day and don’t feel like cooking; why not call the Palm Grill for some carry out!

We have something for everyone from New York Strips, hearthealthy Wild Salmon, to good old-fashioned Cheeseburgers and French Fries. Everything from the menu is available for carry out. Just call ahead and we will have it ready for you to pick up. Call 454-2059 to find out the daily special and to place your order.

The Palm Grill is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday. Dinner is served from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday. Leave the cooking to us!

$24.95. The Palm Grill does not accept reservations.

If you would like to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared for you and ready to serve in your own home, the Crystal Room is offering our annual Family Feast meal for Thanksgiving. The meal is fully cooked and ready for immediate service. The standard feast consists of a whole roasted turkey, dressing, whipped potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and vegetable for $45.95. A deluxe feast is also available. It includes a pumpkin pie and a dozen dinner rolls in addition to the turkey, dressing and vegetables.

The price for the deluxe feast is $49.50. One “Family Feast” will generously serve 8 people.

Orders must be placed by Monday, November 24, and will be ready for pickup at the Crystal Room on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day Dining Hours Island Café: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Crystal Room: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Closed for dinner Palm Grill: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Promenade Café: Closed

Sweets at the Café Promenade Sandwich Shop Now Serving Ice Cream and Cookies

BY TOM

IRWIN, WOODLANDS DINING MANAGER

If you have already had lunch but are looking for something sweet, why not stop by the Café Promenade for some ice cream or homemade cookies? Served up

by Catalina, the Café Promenade features eight different ice cream flavors — chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee, butter pecan, cookies and cream, chocolate mint and sherbet— plus assorted toppings served, which you can have in a cup or cone. We also feature an assortment of freshly baked homemade cookies. The Café Promenade is open from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tempt your sweet tooth with a quick stop at the Café Promenade!

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To include a listing for an upcoming event or activity, please contact Mary Franklin, Resort Services Manager, at 454-2152 or email: maryfranklin@shellpoint.org

Men’s Basketball FGCU vs. Ave Maria

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Wednesday, November 5 5:30 p.m. Island court pickup 5:40 p.m. Woodlands pickup 5:50 p.m. Eagles Preserve pickup 9:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $20.00 (snacks on your own) College sports season is here! Join us for this exhibition game between FGCU and Ave Maria. The action will be fast and furious at Alico Arena as these rivals compete for victory in their first meeting of the 2008-2009 season. College sports action is full of surprises and is always a crowd pleaser.

Go Eagles! Or, if you prefer…Go Ave Maria! Either way, let’s go!

Mac User Group

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Thursday, November 6 1:15 p.m.

Manatee Room/IS Many of you have made computer generated presentations using slides, music, and graphic effects. The Apple Keynote program is well suited to these kinds of programs. Ann Hermann will demonstrate Keynote versatility with a program featuring some of the Shell Point Habitat Projects. Come and learn about Keynote and Habitat!

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Meet & Greet

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Thursday, November 6 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Palm Grill/WDL Hosted by Shell Point management, Meet & Greets are a great way to get to know friends and neighbors. Enjoy an offering of hors d’oeuvres while resident pianist Pat Specht plays.

Make plans to enjoy dinner with friends at the Palm Grill afterward.

Craft Bazaar

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Friday, November 7 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Woodlands Commons/WDL Join friends and neighbors for this annual event! There are even more great items to view this year as crafters from all over Shell Point will be displaying their new, handmade goods for sale. You won’t want to miss seeing, and buying, the amazing offerings.

Bring a friend and enjoy lunch at The Café Promenade or The Palm Grill.

EVENTS

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PROGRAMS • PARTIES • MOVIES • OUTINGS • EXCURSIONS

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Information Forum Presents: Sanibel to Siberia Meet Local Sculputer Who Created WWII Pilots Memorial

Saturday, November 8 10:00 a.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL World War II history and a local artist’s bronze sculptures are the subject of a short documentary film. From 1942-1945, Alaska played a pivotal role in a top-secret part of the Lend-Lease Program. In 2006, a monument to commemorate this historic endeavor was dedicated in Fairbanks, Alaska, the point at which American pilots turned over almost 8,000 warplanes to Soviet pilots to fly them across Siberia to the warfronts. Sanibel sculptor R.T. Wallen created the 10-foot high bronze pilots for the Alaska-Siberia WWII Memorial in Fairbanks. The artist will be on hand to introduce the film and provide additional comments.

Saturday DVD: Leatherheads (2008)

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Saturday, November 8 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL Academy Award winners George Clooney and Renée Zellweger team up in this funfilled comedy set against the beginnings of professional football.

Dodge Connelly (Clooney), captain of a struggling squad of barroom brawlers, has only one hope to save his team: recruit college superstar Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski, The Office). But when a feisty reporter (Zellweger) starts snooping around, she turns the two teammates into instant rivals and kicks off a wild competition filled with hilarious screwball antics!

Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.

—Henry David Thoreau

Shell Point Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Monday, November 10 2:00 p.m.

Church Auditorium/IS The entire community is welcome to come see the presentation of court flags and listen to the powerful and spirited performance of Japanese Taiko Drummers as we celebrate the kick off of the Shell Point Olympics.

Shell Point Olympics Game Week

11-13 Throughout Nov. 11-13 games will take place in all three Shell Point neighborhoods. See page 18 for your daily Olympic events schedule. Be sure to hop on the Shell Point Olympic bus that will travel between venues so you can cheer on your friends. Each venue will have chairs available for prime viewing.

Veteran’s Day Lunch

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Tuesday, November 11 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Crystal Dining Room/IS Thank a special veteran by taking them to lunch! Enjoy delicious food and great service in the Crystal Room and welcome back one of Shell Point’s favorite performers.

Dan Klimoski will play jazz favorites, patriotic tunes and requests.

Fall Dance 2008

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Tuesday, November 11 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress/WDL Cost: $20.00 Let’s celebrate autumn and the return of friends and neighbors by dancing the night away! The very talented Kelly & Shelly will be filling the room with tunes from the 50’s & 60’s, as well as 70’s classic rock, disco, blues, contemporary standards and party favorites. Bring your special someone, your neighbor, friend, or come alone and meet someone new. Light refreshments will be served.

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Shell Point Photo Club Photographic Field Trip to Six Mile Cypress Swamp Sanctuary

Thursday, November 13 2:15 p.m. Meet at the Manatee Room/IS 2:30 p.m. Departure 5:00 p.m. Approximate return Volunteers will provide transportation.

Bring your camera on a two and a half hour photographic field trip to beautiful Six Mile Cypress Swamp Sanctuary in Fort Myers. Explore the sanctuary as you stroll along the winding boardwalk. You’ll discover wild life, ponds, and rest areas to observe and enjoy the thickly-wooded natural area.

All residents are welcome. For additional information call George Bail at 936-1865.

Shell Point Olympics Closing Ceremony

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Friday, November 14 2:00 p.m.

Church Auditorium/IS The entire community is invited to see the athletes be presented with medals. The ceremony will include a week’s worth of pictures celebrating the efforts of all athletes.

The court flag medals will also be presented.

Fleamasters

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Saturday, November 15 9:00 a.m. Island court pickup 9:10 a.m. Woodlands pickup 9:20 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup 2:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $8.00 (lunch on your own) Let’s go shopping! Spend the day at browsing at Fleamasters Fleamarket. With over 900 stores, there’s plenty to see and do.

From paintings to pets to electric bikes, Fleamasters has a million items you won’t find in ordinary stores. A really great place for Florida souvenirs, home decor, gifts, antiques and collectibles, beachwear, jewelry, fruit, and much more. There are snack bars and coffee shops available for all hungry shoppers. Be prepared for a of-a-kind shopping experience.

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HAPPENINGS PLACES

TO GO,

Lunch & Shopping— Mimi’s Cafe and You Look Mahvalous

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Monday, November 17 10:15 a.m. Island court pickup 10:25 a.m. Woodlands pickup 10:35 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup 2:30 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $20.00 (lunch, beverage, dessert, gratuity, and tax included.)

Trendy Mimi’s Café and fashion jewelry boutique You Look Mahvalous have teamed up to offer a lunch and shopping outing package for Shell Point residents.

First head to Mimi’s Café for lunch where our meal will include our choice of one of the three entrees, beverage, and Mimi’s signature bread pudding for dessert. Meal, sales tax, and gratuity are included in the registration fee. For menu options contact Bev Rademacher, Program Coordinator in Resort Services at 4542239, or come to the Resident Activities Center. After lunch enjoy a little shopping at the funky and fabulous You Look Mahvalous. Grab a friend and take advantage of this special two-for-one outing!

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cation known as Timmy’s nook. Come learn the history of Timmy’s Nook and about the sunset phenomena known as “the green flash.” Lunch entrée prices range between $7.00 and $15.00 and recent reviews give this restaurant a definite thumbs up.

Organ Concert with Tom Hoehn Beach Day

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Tuesday, November 18 8:30 a.m. Island court pickup 8:40 a.m. Woodlands pickup 8:50 a.m. Eagles Preserve pickup 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $15.00 (includes picnic lunch) Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson Relax with us on our monthly beach retreat to Delnor Wiggens State Park in Naples. Did you know that there is shade at our beach destination? Did you know there are very nice bathrooms and a rinsing shower station at our beach location? We set up a lovely picnic lunch and take care of the details while you enjoy your day amongst friends, shells, sunshine (or shade) and surf. Bring all personal beach supplies.

“If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation.”

Friday, November 21 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Woodlands Commons Organist Tom Hoehn returns to Shell Point for two entertaining performances on our own Allen Theater Organ. Tom is an unusually talented organist. He has played in baseball parks, large theaters, churches and choral groups. His concert will delight you with a mix of show tunes, standards and semi-classical music. Many times during a performance, he will turn around to the audience and ask for requests.

After getting a few suggestions, he will proceed to weave them into a five to ten minute medley. Join us for one, or both, of these performances—you won’t be disappointed!

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— Chinese Proverb

Maple Sugar Serenaders

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Monday, November 17 3:30 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL This long-touring husband and wife duet bring their sweet music back to Shell Point all the way from Putney, Vermont. Their show features beautiful singing, and fine instrumental playing on the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Expect to hear classics from the 30’s-50’s, lively swing songs, enchanting fiddle tunes from the green mountains, and a dose of Vermont humor. Pure 100% Vermont Maple Sugar will be available for sale at the show!

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Visit the Salon for a Mary Kay Makeover!

Shell Point Life | November 2008

Beach Cat Lunch Outing to The Green Flash Restaurant on Captiva Island

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Thursday, November 20 10:00 a.m. Board at the Macoma Dock 2:00 p.m. Approximate return Cost: $39.00 (includes fare and captain gratuity, lunch on your own) Once again we will take off with Captains Brian and Jim on the 41-foot long catamaran to enjoy a fabulous boating excursion with lunch at a waterfront destination. The Green Flash is Captiva Island’s newest waterfront restaurant built at the historic lo-

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Monday, November 24 Makeovers by appointment Island Salon Sign up in the Island Salon for a 1-on-1 consultation and makeover with Joanne Tarantino, independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay. Your complimentary consultation will last about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Space is limited so sign up today! Have your hair styled after your make up and you’re ready for a nice lunch or a night out!

Sign-up required for this activity. Call Island (454-2282) or Woodlands (454-2054)

Movie Night: Romeo and Juliet (1968)

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Monday, November 24 7:15 p.m.

Manatee Room/IS Our year-long celebration of Shell Point’s 40th Anniversary continues with this Academy Award winner for Best Cinematography. Director Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved version of one of the most well-known love stories in the English language—Romeo Montague (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet Capulet (Olivia Hussey) fall in love against the wishes of their feuding families. Driven by their passion, the young lovers defy their destiny

and elope, only to suffer the ultimate tragedy.

Library Book Talk

Walking up and down stairs

Walking required

Special event bus will be running

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Tuesday, November 25 2:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL The Library Book Talk series is returning to the Social Center on the Island. Dr. Russell May (Junonia) will tell the story of a medical missionary in Africa. The book to be discussed was authored by Gregg Lewis and is entitled, “Miracle at Tenwek: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury.” Refreshments will be served, and the entire community is welcome.

Boating attire

Mark Your Calendar: Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Concert Tuesday, December 2 Festivities begin at 5:45 p.m. at Administration Courtyard/IS Tree Lighting at 6:15 p.m.

Concert in Village Church at 7:15 p.m

Holiday Shopping Event Monday, December 8 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDL USPS on site from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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 10:15 Morning Worship 1:15 Mixed Golf League 3:00 CD Surround (Nov 2, 16) 6:15 Evening Service

MONDAY 8:45 Lap Robes (Nov 3, 17) 9:15 Billiards 9:15 Pottery 10:15 Virtual Bowling 10:30 Disciple Men’s Bible Study 12:00 Mah-Jongg (Sabal Rm, WDL) 1:15 Table Tennis 1:15 Scrabble 1:15 Shuffleboard 1:15 Tone Chimes 2:00 Beading Club 7:00 Pinochle 7:00 Duplicate Bridge

1:30 Stamp Project (Sabal Rm/WDL) 1:45 The Rollicking Recorderists 6:45 Hymn Sing (Nov 4)

WEDNESDAY 7:45 Men’s Bible Study 9:00-12:00 Geraci Travel 9:15 Model Yacht Club Mtg (Nov 5) 9:15 Watercolor Group 9:45 Ladies’ Bible Study 10:15 Model Yacht Club (Garden Apt Pond) 11:00 Computer Q & A (Nov 26 Sabal Rm/WDL) 11:15 Computer Q & A (Nov 12 Osprey Rm/IS) 1:00 Chess 1:15 Table Tennis 2:15 Knitter’s Anonymous (Nov 19) 2:30 Jazz ‘N Stuff 3:00 Bible Study (King’s Crown) 5:45 Village Church Choir Rehearsal 7:15 Bible Study & Prayer

TUESDAY 8:30 Women’s Golf League 9:15 Painting Class 9:15 Stamp Project (Stamp Rm/IS) 10:15 Trim & Healthy 12:45 Intro to Duplicate Bridge 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs’ Bridge

THURSDAY 8:00 Men’s Golf League 9:00 Paddler’s Club/IS 9:30 Current Events Group 10:15 Online Investors (Nov 20) 1:15 Mac User (Nov 6)

1:15 Mah-Jongg (Library Lounge, RAC) 1:15 SPOT Play Readers (Nov 6, 20) 2:15 Handwork Group (Nov 13) 2:15 Photo Club (Nov 13) 2:15 Computer Club (Nov 20) 7:00 Trailblazers Bible Study

FRIDAY 8:00 Intrepid Bike Riders (Nov 14, 28) 9:15 Stamp Project (Stamp Rm/IS) 10:15 Inquiring Minds 10:15 Genealogy (Nov 14) 1:00 Mixed Progressive Pairs’ Bridge 1:15 Quilters 1:15 Table Tennis 1:30 Vespers (Arbor) 2:00 Diabetes Group Appt. (Nov 7) 2:45 Vespers (KC) 3:15 Great Decisions (Nov 7, 21) 6:45 Game Night

SATURDAY 8:00 Adopt-a-Road (Nov 15) 9:00 Coffee Social 9:45 Bridge Supervised Play 10:00 Information Forum (Nov 8) 10:15 Model Yacht Club (Garden Apt Pond) 1:00 Chess 7:00 Duplicate Bridge

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Employee Christmas Gift How Can We Thank Our Employees For All That They Have Done For Us? B

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The holiday season is upon us and we have a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciate from Shell Point employees. They work hard year-round to make our lives a little bit easier – and through the Employee Christmas Fund we can return the favor, and give a little bit back. It’s a time to recognize not only those whom we see every day, but also those who work so diligently behind the scenes to help us have a more comfortable life. Would you like to show your appreciation?

safely and got settled in. One of our residents was in a wheelchair and had to be on oxygen continuously. I got him down to the Oakmont lobby but had trouble getting him on the bus. One of the employees, whom I had never seen before, came up and said with a kind smile, “Here, let me give you a hand.” Once we got the resident to the shelter, he unexpectedly ran out of oxygen and started to turn blue. Two more employees saw it happen and immediately dropped everything to get him on a full tank, thus saving his life.

ing out the trash. When Carol dialed 2190, six employees came out immediately and took care of the problem in the face of a very angry opossum mother. Now, that is what I call going out of the way to help a lady in distress – or should I say two ladies in distress!

Several years ago a few residents got together and raised money, mainly by word of mouth, to give to the employees at Christmastime, since there was – and still is – a notipping policy. The Residents’ Council recognized the potential to increase the gifts significantly by promoting the program through Shell Point Life, SPTV, The Weekly Reminder, and even last minute reminders posted on bulletin boards and in elevators.

Christmas Gift boxes are also strategically placed throughout the community to serve as convenient drop boxes for contributions.

Why am I, and my committee members, so enthusiastic about the Employee Christmas Fund? Perhaps a couple of personal experiences can help explain.

My next story may be a little less dramatic, but it is also a personal one: I was returning to my apartment after a trying bike ride. I was hot, tired and couldn’t get my helmet off. I became increasingly frustrated as stuff fell out of my basket while I was trying to open the screen door and the front door so I could get myself and my bike inside. Lo and behold, one of the staff members came by and saw me struggling. She was on her way to clean one of the other apartments, saw my frustration, and without a word, held the doors open for me, gave me a smile, and was on her way. Now, I doubt that this kind gesture was in her job description.

If you were here for Hurricane Charley, you had to be impressed with how many behind-the-scenes employees – those that we never see otherwise – left their families home to fend for themselves so they could help us get to the hurricane shelter and make us feel as comfortable as possible during the storm. I was a court representative at the time, and was responsible for making sure that residents arrived at the shelter

Here is a true story related to me by a certain Carol on the Island: One early morning several months ago, Carol left her apartment for five minutes to empty the trash. In so doing, she left the screen door ajar. Later that day she heard a scratching sound coming from her bedroom. To Carol’s surprise, an opossum was nursing two of her babies right under her bed! Apparently, they had entered her apartment while Carol was tak-

These stories are just three examples of why I feel passionate about the Employee Christmas Fund. Christmas is the perfect time to express our thanks and help make their lives a little happier, as they do for us all year-round.

Last year employees who worked full time for the whole year received $435. The others received a pro-rated amount, based on the number of hours worked. We are hoping to top it this year, especially since these good folks are faced with the substantially higher costs of food and essentials.

On December 1st, volunteers will pass out the cash gifts. It is so gratifying to see the smiling faces and hear their heartfelt thanks as they receive their Christmas gifts.

To assist you in choosing an appropriate amount to contribute, we recently mailed helpful guidelines. If you did not receive these items, please contact any one of our committee members: Chuck Durrell at 4824062, Myrtle Hearn at 699-7684, Betty Mueller at 267-6593 or Herb Wilcox at 2183181 . We sincerely hope that each resident feels as strongly as the committee does about giving generously to the Employee Christmas Fund.

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The Employee Christmas Fund is an easy way for you to express your thankfulness — help make their lives a little happier — as they do for you all year-round.

‘Tis the Season to Deck the Halls Annual Holiday Events Planned with a New Twist Tree Lighting and Holiday Concert The annual Holiday Shopping and Tree Lighting event has long been a favorite tradition of many Shell Point residents. Resort Services is proud to announce that this year, we have expanded this wonderful program to two afternoons and evenings designed to get you in the Holiday spirit. This year’s Tree Lighting event will take place on Tuesday, December 2. The event will begin at 5:45 p.m. with holiday cookies and punch.

Music will be provided by Shell Point’s own Dan Philgreen (SPTV) in the Amphitheater.

At 6:15, Shell Point’s longest-lived resident will arrive to light the giant floating Christmas tree in the lagoon. Music and refreshments will be available until 6:45 at which time everyone will head over to the

Village Church Auditorium for a special Christmas concert by the Shell Point Singers beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Annual Holiday Shopping Event with On-site Gift Wrap and Shipping Service!

The Holiday Shopping event will be held on in the Grand Cypress Room of The Woodlands Commons on Monday, December 8 from 1:00-6:00 p.m., and this year we have expanded the event to bring you more vendors and enhanced service. After shopping for family and friends (and don’t forget yourself), volunteers will be on hand to offer gift wrapping. Plus, a U.S. Postal Service Mobile Retail Unit will be on-site from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

to ship all of your holiday packages and other items! The USPS mobile unit provides all of the services of a regular post office including registered mail and insurance. They will have Christmas stamps for sale and can help you pack and ship all of your Christmas mail.

This event is designed to be your one-stop holiday shopping and shipping place!

We hope you enjoy taking advantage of this new annual tradition.

Resort Services Guide to Christmas Postage & Mailing Shell Point Life is published monthly for the residents of Shell Point Retirement Community.

Editor Lynn Schneider Assistant Editor Rochelle Cherniawski Art Director Rich Cerrina Graphic Designer Wendy Iverson Contributors Gene McGonigle, Teri Kollath, Linda Rakos, Robyn Church, Rachael Dula, Carol Cooper, Tom Frackenpohl, Jessica Clark, Mary Franklin, Bev Rademacher, Ted Yeatts, Linda Hicks, Jason Powers, Chuck Durrell, Sue Taylor, Paula Watson, Phil Steen, Peggy Holton, Nita DeWeese Do you have story ideas or photos to share?

Contact Rochelle Cherniawski, communications specialist, by calling 239-454-2055 or e-mail: rochellecherniawski@shellpoint.org.

Or submit suggestions in writing to Rochelle at the Shell Point Welcome Center.

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.

With the holidays approaching the Service Desks have compiled a helpful mailing reference guide with important dates for your holiday mailing needs. The Service desks post First Class, Priority, Media/Book rate, and Certified mailings.

Priority boxes and insulated mail pouches are available in assorted sizes for your needs.

Christmas and Hanukkah stamps are now available at both Service Desks.

The USPS Mobile Retail Unit will be at the Woodlands for the Holiday Shopping event on Monday, December 8, from 2:006:00 p.m. All residents are invited to take advantage of this unique and convenient way to fulfill all your holiday mailing and shipping needs.

Remember: Tape the opening of your package to reinforce all seams with 2′′ wide packaging tape. Cord, string or twine are not permitted. Place a strip of clear tape over your label to prevent address from smearing. To ensure the safety of mail handlers, place tape over envelope staples.

The Shell Point UPS office will expand

their hours for the first two weeks in December to accommodate your holiday shipping needs.

Contact Gene McGonigle at the Resident Activity Center Service Desk 4542282 or Sue Earnhardt at the Woodlands Service Desk 454-2054 with questions.

Last suggested date for mailing International airmail ..............December 5 Canada/Mexico airmail ........December 11 Military APO/FPO zip 093 ......December 4 All other APO/FPO zips ......December 11 Easy Postage Reference Guide: 1st Class mail .....................42¢ per ounce 1st Class mail add’l ounce ..................17¢ Canada/Mexico .................72¢ per ounce All other countries .............................94¢ Postcards .............................................27¢

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Customer Appreciation Month

Join The Salon as We Celebrate YOU! B

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What our customers have to say: “It’s always a pleasure to be in the inviting and attractive salon that we are privileged to have here at Shell Point.

Thank you for all you do!”

“I am delighted that we have such a great salon that fits all my needs and then some!”

“I am so thankful the Island Salon is available. The staff is very pleasant and the service is excellent.”

“I love coming to the Salon – it is fun!”

“Both my husband and I use the salon and the total environment is wonderful and the service superb! The relaxed environment contributes to an enjoyable experience.”

“As an employee I appreciate the convenience and value of the Shell Point Salon. It is a great benefit to be able to get my hair done right after work and at such a reasonable price.”

Salon Fall Savings

Wear your Olympic T-shirt to your November appointment and receive 10% off. (exp. 11/30/08)

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Instead of the typical salon title, “A Better You,” this month I would like to say to all Shell Point that you have made “A Better Us.” I speak on behalf of all the salon staff when I say that we have great respect and admiration for all the wonderful people we have come to know here in this beautiful community you call home. We truly thank you for the opportunity to care, serve and satisfy YOU. Customer Appreciation

don’t carry – just ask. We do our best to accommodate all special requests. Each and every customer is valued; as is their individual preferences and style.

Anniversary Specials

November is also special as it is our 3rd anniversary! To celebrate our third year, and show our appreciation we are offering a number of specials during Generations at the Salon November.

In addition to the coupon specials below, everyone is also invited to enter a raffle — with a winner drawn every week to receive 33% off any salon service! Our Grand Prize Raffle winner will be drawn at the end of the month and will receive a gift certificate for $33.

The Salons will also have Judy and Eva Kinsinger. After first tasty treats all month! trying other area salons, we agree

During November, we are celebrating YOU with customer appreciation specials.

I am very proud to say that 99.8% of our customers surveyed responded with a positive rating regarding the salon staff and the services they provide. The salon staff that the care and service we receive New Customers appreciate and enjoy right here at Shell Point is…the best.

We like to tell our friends…If your Always Welcome each of you! It is not style is not BECOMING; you should If you are not yet a uncommon for me to BE COMING to the Shell Point Salon.

Salon customer, we invite receive salon comyou to stop by and say ment cards with words such as thankful, superb, delightful, kind “hello.” We would love the opportunity to and FUN! Believe me; the feeling is mutual. meet you! We have something special for new customers scheduling appointments in Quality Products November!

Your salons at Shell Point only use high Consultations are always complimenquality professional products for all services. tary and we always offer a discount of 20% We never use no-name bargain products to our new customers. We even offer a 20% from discount suppliers. Quality products referral discount to your friend if you are reare an important tool in creating quality re- ferred to us by one of our happy, satisfied sults! If you prefer a specific product line we customers!

Salon Fall Savings

Salon Fall Savings

Salon Fall Savings

45-min. Hot Oil Deep Conditioning Treatment for Healthy Shiny Hair – $9.

Retail Special: Buy 2 Matrix /Redken Products – Get the Third FREE of equal or lesser value.

Christmas

Style not included. (exp. 11/30/08)

(exp. 11/30/08)

Gift Certificates are now available!

Purchases can be made by phone, or at the Holiday Shopping Event December 8th.

Alliance Development Fund Remains Secure B Y T I M O T H Y A. S T E P H E N S O N , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R , T H E L E G A C Y F O U N D AT I O N

In these turbulent economic times, I am always happy for good news.

The following letter was recently sent to investors and friends of Alliance Development Fund. If you are an ADF investor, you can rejoice. If you would like to know more about Alliance Development Fund, please contact me or check out their website at www.adf-inc.com. The following letter is reproduced with permission from ADF:

September 30, 2008 Dear Fellow Investors and Friends of ADF: A few weeks ago I wrote about the current financial markets crisis and the fact that ADF has not experienced a significant negative impact on its key financial measures. This remains true today as our cash flows and liquid reserves for investor withdrawals and loanable funds, our capital ratios, and reserves for possible loan losses remain strong.

As fiduciaries of your investments, we are carefully monitoring developments and making adjustments as considered necessary to maintain adequate liquidity and protection for all aspects of our ministry. We will also continue to represent you in fulfilling our purpose by prudently lending to C&MA churches and ministries where lives are being transformed.

I believe it is important for you to know that ADF provides first mortgage loans only to churches with 20 percent equity and demonstrable cash flow to repay the loan. These policies have served us well over our 30-year history by helping to ensure safe, responsible lending. These loans currently comprise a portfolio of nearly 500 that are spread across the United States (with very few exceptions for loans made directly to the C&MA for overseas projects) and are therefore less susceptible to any individual local economy. There are no residential mortgages and no “sub-prime” (no documents, no money down, no proof of income, etc.) loans.

I also want to reiterate that ADF is not a bank. It is a ministry to Alliance people and churches. ADF follows many of the financial industry’s most responsible practices and continues to be an excellent choice for preserving principal and providing consistent income as part of your diversified savings and investment portfolio.

In these difficult economic times, please be assured of our unwavering commitment to keeping ADF strong and to safeguarding your investments while accomplishing our mission. Thank you for your continued confidence and ongoing support for seeing churches built, lives transformed, and the Kingdom advanced.

Your prayers are very much appreciated.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me or one of our ADF team members if you have questions, concerns, or comments. They are encouraged and most welcome.

Sincerely,

Lawrence L. McCooey, CPA, PFS, President

PR E SE N T S

The Credit Crisis

The State of the Economy Wednesday, November 19 10:00 a.m.

Grand Cypress Room/WDLS This past spring, David Jones, President and CEO of DMJ Advisors, LLC and Chairman of the Board of Investors’ Security Trust Company Fort Myers, shared his views on the credit crisis of 2007-2008 and the Feds reaction to the market.

We are pleased to announce that once again David Jones will return on Wednesday, November 19, and will present his view of our current credit crisis and the outlook that the future holds for the economy and our money. This is a seminar that you won’t want to miss.

Please sign up for this David Jones Academy presentation at either service desk.

You can call 454-2282 for the Island or 4542054 for the Woodlands.

Great Giving The IRS has Made a Great Giving Opportunity Available On Friday, October 3, Congress approved and the President signed legislation that includes the immediate and retroactive extension of the popular Pension Protection Act of 2006 provision, which allows taxpayers over 70 1/2 to make tax-free distributions from their traditional and Roth IRAs directly to charity in 2008 and 2009.

For more information on how to take advantage of this tax-wise giving strategy, please contact Timothy Stephenson at The Legacy Foundation at 466-8484.

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A Nook Overlooking Nature Addition of Gazebo Provides Outdoor Relaxation B

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Richard and Suzanne Nelson (Lakewood) enjoy a quiet moment in the nature overlook.

While traveling Shell Point Boulevard, you have undoubtedly seen the new addition just down from the Woodlands.

This little structure is the “nature overlook”

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located approximately halfway between The days to build. Each singe piece of wood was Island and the Country Inns and Suites. It is custom cut out of rough sawn cedar, which positioned over the water spillway that makes up the majority of the structure, and leaves the Woodlands wetlands. serves a dual purpose. Cedar is a deterrent to The construction of the nature overlook bugs and it is also a wood weathers well in was made possible through a generous donaSouthwest Florida. tion from Delores (Dee) and Jerry Horne, The decking is made of a composite maresidents of Harbor Court. However, gaining terial, helping to maintain the permanence necessary approvals to build the nature overof the nature overlook. Atop the overlook look along Shell Point Boulevard proved to is a distinctive “red barn” colored, standing be a challenge. The site of the gazebo-like seam aluminum roof. The color was chosen structure is situated on land that Shell Point to help it stand out from the Shell Point donated to the state of Florida. It was no neighborhoods. small task getting the permitThe purpose of the ting approval to build. The new resting place is to proState Parks and Recreation vide shade for folks utilizDepartments, the Southwest ing the bike path. It is also Florida Water Management a great place to meditate and Lee County Department and enjoy nature. Surprisof Plans and Construction all ingly, when sitting at this had to sign off before the little niche on the side of structural footers could be the road, one will see a vaplaced. The approval process riety of water birds and a took almost two years! myriad of fish. Even snook Once the approvals were can be seen feeding under signed, and access was granted, Snowy White Egrets and other the mangroves at certain the structure took just ninety times of the tides. birds are commonly sighted.

Women’s Ministries

Exploring the Experiences of Two Women in the Middle East Two women – their lives began in and returned to The and Bonnie Camp (Cellana), vastly different parts of the world. One United States and who have served in the Midgrew up in Pennsylvania, USA, the other on taught for ten years at dle East and now live in the the far side of the world in China, Thailand Toccoa Falls College same community and share a and Vietnam. and Alliance Theologiheart for Arab peoples. We The roads they traveled seemed to cross cal Seminary. The other hear about Arabs and Musas the one from Asia began her life’s work in woman returned to The lims in the news almost every Residents Bonnie Camp and urban America – Brooklyn, New York. The United States for family day, and it is not often in a Colleen Shepson join to discuss one with hometown American roots began reasons and spent the positive light. Colleen and their experiences living in the her life in a third world country – Gabon, next twenty years with Bonnie are able to penetrate Middle Eastern world.

Africa. her husband working beyond the stereotypes and In the 1970s and early 1980s their lives among Arab peoples in Chicago. In the last see the individuals that God loves. They have intersected in an entirely new three years their lives have known and loved many Arab people and Note: There will area of the world – the Middle again intersected as they are have insights that can be enlightening for be no Bible study East – Lebanon and Jordan to both currently residents at each of us. on 11-4 due to be exact. Together, the women Shell Point.

Join us for this discussion on Wednesday, Election Day. spent twenty-six years serving as Women’s Ministries of the November 19, at 10:15 a.m. in the Hospimissionaries with the Christian Village Church is excited to tality Room at the Village Church. Refresh& Missionary Alliance in the two countries. host a panel discussion with these two interments will be served and your understanding One woman was expelled from Jordan esting residents, Colleen Shepson (Sundial) of Arab peoples will be deepened.

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Shell Point Life | November 2008

Just One Generation Philosopher Challenges Readers to Reconsider Relationships with Christianity B

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That is what we have, one lifetime. It may be 80 years, or it may be only 39, like the French mathematician, physicist, psychologist and religious philosopher, Blaise Pascal, who lived during the early 1600s. Whatever the length of your lifetime, that is your generation.

Although Pascal’s life was short, his accomplishments were monumental. His ideas concerning the relationship between behaviors, perceptions, emotions and the human condition appear remarkably accurate and insightful, even in our present time.

After a profound spiritual encounter on a cold November night, Pascal was never to be the same. He jotted down notes about his experience and sewed the parchment into the lining of his coat. He wanted never to be without it.

Shortly after this “night of fire,” as he called it, Pascal began the task of creating a master apologetic. He began collecting his thoughts on a variety of issues with the in-

tent of creating a document which would challenge his friends to reconsider their abandonment – or nominal adoption – of the Christian faith. Although he died before it was completed, the collection of thoughts has been published in a book titled, Pascal’s Pensees, or Pascal’s thoughts.

Allow me to share three samples of Pascal’s thoughts, of which there are hundreds noted in his book.

They capture his passion to awaken his friends.

Thought #20 – man’s sensitivity to trivia, and his insensitivity to matters of major importance, reveal he has a strange disorder.

Thought #133 – Being unable to cure death, misery and ignorance, men have decided that in order to be happy, they ought not to think about such things.

Pascal’s Pensees, captures philosophical thoughts by 17th Century Frenchman, Blaise Pascal.

His keen observations of the human condition are still relevant in today’s modern society.

Thought #414 – Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for our miseries. Yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries. For above all, it is that which keeps us from thinking about ourselves and so leads us imperceptibly to destruction. But for that we should be bored and boredom would drive us to seek some more reliable means of escape, but distraction passes our time and brings us imperceptibly to our death.

My prayer for each of you is that your life is not passing in mere distraction. May you find and know the reason for which you were created. After all, we’ve had more time than Blaise Pascal.

Season of Praise Kicks off with Two Tenors

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Sunday, November 9, at 6:15 p.m.

For Barry Craft and Ben Owens, The works such as Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Two Tenors story began in 1993.

Barry has sung leading tenor roles with While observing two world-renowned artists numerous opera companies and is always inperform together using vited for return engagedrastically different musiments. He feels at home on cal styles, Barry had an both the recital and symidea. What about having phonic stages and has pertwo singers with different formed the entire major backgrounds and styles, oratorio repertoire with one traditional and one many internationally fanot-so-traditional, permous orchestras. Barry performing a sacred concert formed for Her Majesty Barry Craft and Ben Owens of together? The Two Tenors Queen Elizabeth II of Engthe Two Tenors. Don’t miss their concerts have proven that land and has performed for inspirational performance. traditional and contempomembers of the Royal Famrary styles of music can co-exist and present ily of Japan as well as President Kovac of the an inspirational message.

Slovak Republic.

An American trained artist, tenor Barry Along with Barry Craft comes Ben Craft, has earned the reputation as one of the Owens, an extremely versatile artist. He has most sought-after singers of the current gen- a beautiful voice suited to both contempoeration. His lyric tenor is especially suited to rary and traditional singing styles. Barry says the very high tessitura found in the Bel Canto of Ben: “I have heard a lot of young musioperas of Bellini, Donizetti, and in symphonic cians on my musical journey. They tend to

be excellent in the studio and then fall apart in front of an audience of any size. It is the audience that brings out the best in Ben. His musical artistry level is far beyond his actual age.”

Ben Owens has toured Japan two times as a member of the Two Tenors concert. Ben is a graduate, with honors, of the University of North Texas with a double major in physics and mathematics. An accomplished guitarist, he teaches guitar at the Lake Cities Music Studio and composes his own songs. Ben is also an accomplished pianist. He has recorded two CDs on the Bachman Music Productions label. He was born in Longview, Texas.

On Sunday, November 9, at 6:15 p.m., they will combine their artistry to create an evening highlighted by the uniquely inspirational music of Two Tenors. The concert will be presented at The Village Church; tickets are $10 and are available at the church office during regular business hours.

For more information call (239)454-2147.

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“Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.”

—NORMAN ROCKWELL

At age 21, Rockwell’s family moved to New Rochelle, New York, a community whose residents included such famous illustrators as J.C. and Frank Leyendecker and Howard Chandler Christy. There, Rockwell set up a studio with the cartoonist Clyde Forsythe and produced work for such magazines as Life, Literary Digest, and Country Gentleman. In 1916, the 22-year-old Rockwell painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, the magazine considered by Rockwell to be the “greatest show window in America.” Over the next 47 years, another 321 Rockwell covers would appear on the cover of the Post. Also in 1916, Rockwell married Irene O’Connor; they divorced in 1930.

The 1930s and 1940s are generally considered to be the most fruitful decades of Rockwell’s career. In 1930 he married Mary Barstow, a schoolteacher, and the couple had three sons, Jarvis, Thomas, and Peter. The family moved to Arlington, Vermont, in 1939, and Rockwell’s work began to reflect small-town American life.

Norman Rockwell America’s Favorite Artist Born in New York City in 1894, Norman Rockwell always wanted to be an artist. At age 14, Rockwell enrolled in art classes at The New York School of Art (formerly The Chase School of Art).

Two years later, in 1910, he left high school to study art at The National Academy of Design. He soon transferred to The Art Students League, where he studied with Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman.

Fogarty’s instruction in illustration prepared Rockwell for his first commercial commissions. From Bridgman, Rockwell learned the technical skills on which he relied throughout his long career.

Rockwell found success early. He painted his first commission of four Christmas cards before his sixteenth birthday. While still in his teens, he was hired as art director of Boys’ Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, and began a successful freelance career illustrating a variety of young people’s publications. © 1960 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing Co., Indianapolis, IN All rights reserved. www.curtispublishing.com

The Four Freedoms In 1943, inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt’s address to Congress, Rockwell painted the Four Freedoms paintings.

They were reproduced in four consecutive issues of The Saturday Evening Post with essays by contemporary writers. Rockwell’s interpretations of Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear proved to be enormously popular. The works toured the United States in an exhibition that was jointly sponsored by the Post and the U.S. Treasury Department and, through the sale of war bonds, raised more than $130 million for the war effort.

Although the Four Freedoms series was a great success, 1943 also brought Rockwell an enormous loss. A fire destroyed his Arlington studio as well as numerous paintings and his collection of historical costumes and props.

In 1953, the Rockwell family moved from Arlington, Vermont, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Six years later, Mary Barstow Rockwell died unexpectedly. In collaboration with his son Thomas, Rockwell published his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960. The Saturday Evening Post carried excerpts from the best-selling book in eight consecutive issues, with Rockwell’s Triple Self-Portrait on the cover of the first.

In 1961, Rockwell married Molly Punderson, a retired teacher. Two years later, he ended his 47-year association with The Saturday Evening Post and began to work for Look magazine. During his 10-year association with Look, Rockwell painted pictures illustrating some of his deepest concerns and interests, including civil rights, America’s war on poverty, and the exploration of space.

In 1973, Rockwell established a trust to preserve his artistic legacy by placing his works in the custodianship of the Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society, later to become Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. In 1976, in failing health, Rockwell arranged to have his studio and its contents added to the trust. In 1977, Rockwell received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal. In 2009, the Museum will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Article courtesy of the Norman Rockwell Museum www.nrm.org