Tickets for this event will be available at the Transportation office or by calling x12905. The cost for each ticket will be $3.50 that will be billed to your account.
It is dark out there! Have you noticed? This is the time of year when daylight is scarce and the nighttime hours dominate.
Our Joys of Christmas celebration will take place on Sunday, December 15th at 3:00PM in the Life Center.
Gratitude magnifies our experience of the good things in life, enabling us to enjoy them more fully.
In reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday this week, I was reminded of the attitude of gratitude shown by a former resident a few years back.
On behalf of Beatitudes Campus staff and the Employee Appreciation Committee we would like to share just how much was given by everyone for this year’s Employee Appreciation Fund—a whopping $160,506.64!
“People who are active and have healthy habits when they move to a Life Plan Community or other senior living community are likely going to remain that way, if not more so.”
The next Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, December 4th at 2:00PM in the Life Center. Be There or Be Square!!
Do you recharge by being social with others, or by spending time alone? Perhaps you are a person to enjoy conversations with a large group of people, or perhaps you prefer one-on-one interactions? Would you describe yourself as an introvert, or as an extrovert? Whether we are happiest out partying with our extroverted friends whom we have only just met, or whether that thought fills our introverted souls with dread, most of us can certainly say where, on that scale, we find ourselves most comfortable. With that in mind, I was fascinated to read recently about an introvert who deliberately lived, for a week in the most socially extroverted way possible, saying yes to every social engagement she could. The prospect, she said, was ‘as appealing as root canal treatment’. Her behavior was a sociological experiment prompted by research from the University of California in which over a hundred people were asked to act as extroverts for a week, and then as introverts the following week. During her week of extroversion, this intrepid introvert made new and lasting connections with others whom she perhaps otherwise wouldn’t have – and she described the process as ‘fake it till you make it’. There was nothing fake about the connections that she made with her now new friends, but her comments reminded me of a piece of Confucian wisdom which invites us to try acting ‘as if’ something were the case in order to bring about that which we seek. For example, if we are naturally introverted, acting ‘as if’ we were extroverted can playfully and courageously break up patterns of normality and expectation, and help us to see that different ways are possible. It’s practical advice that could just work in any walk of life, and you have to try it, of course, to see the results. Within a faith context, imagine for a moment not just believing in an abstract sense that God loves you unconditionally, but to act intentionally so as to shape all of our interactions and the challenges which we face with that knowledge at the forefront of our minds, watching for what happens when we let go of trying to prove our own worth, and resting instead in the reality of God’s complete love for each of us. Faith can seem like a beautiful idea which is one step removed from the reality of our lives; but living purposefully, while acting as if God’s kingdom of love can be found on earth, as it is in heaven can be a daring way of bringing the reality of that faith about.
Williams, Ariz. (November 8, 2019) – Bearizona, a popular drive- and walk-through wildlife park devoted to providing homes to wild animals in need, is introducing its first bald eagle on Veterans Day. He was named Vernon by the winner of the company’s recent naming contest that reached over 30,000 animal lovers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and was shared 124 times in just 24 hours.
The contest called for all Bearizona fans and supporters to submit a name appropriate for such an incredible animal that represents the strength and freedom of America ahead of the national Veterans Day holiday. The winning name was chosen out of 850 fan entries and honors George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Vernon is especially fitting since the first president of the United States and Bearizona’s first bald eagle were both from the great state of Virginia.
After he was seen fighting with another eagle in what was likely a territorial dispute and suffered injuries affecting his ability to fly, Vernon was rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department and made his way to multiple facilities over the last decade before finding his forever home at the Bearizona Wildlife Park, where he will have the space and care he needs to thrive.
“He’s very shy, but he loosens up after a few fish,” said Susan Davidson, founder of High Country Raptors. “The staff continues to learn more about him and his likes and dislikes every day, and we are doing our very best to keep Vernon feeling as comfortable and safe as possible in his new home.”
Visitors will be able to visit Vernon for the first time, along with the rest of the Bearizona residents, on Veterans Day, this Monday, Nov. 11th. Free admission will be offered to all individuals currently serving in or who have honorably served in the U.S. military.
“Eagles are becoming more common here in Virginia and I see them a couple of times a month. My heart still jumps in excitement when I see one,” says contest winner, Laurinda Bowling of Bland, Virginia. According to Savannah Carleton, a second contest winner who chose the name Vernon, “Since the bald eagle is from Virginia, it seemed perfect for his name to be Vernon. But when I saw someone else had suggested it, I just decided to ‘second’ their vote. It’s always fun to participate and vote when an Arizona park gets a new member and the community gets a voice in the process.”
We would like to thank everyone that participated in the Go the Extra Mile for Breast Cancer Awareness Walk held on Tuesday, October 29th
Arizona has seen “sporadic” activity since the flu season began on September 29th. There were 32 confirmed cases during the week of Oct. 12th for a total of 59 so far.
Rain is almost always welcomed here in the Valley, but that is not always the case elsewhere.
Rev. David W. Ragan, Sr. VP of Resident Services, was glad to see so many in attendance and found that there were three residents attending for the first time.
On Tuesday, October 15th at 1PM in the Agelink Great Room, Success Matters will be presenting on the topic of Driving Decisions and Alternate Transportation Options
As the fierce heat as waned and Summer has begun its gradual change into Fall, we have all received a reminder that despite living in metropolitan Phoenix, where at first glance our environment and surroundings seem so controlled and ordered, the unending cycle of our natural world continues on in the background without any management or administration from us.
Despite us liking to think that we have subjected every aspect of our world to our own whim and desire, the natural world has a habit of prodding us every now and then, and reminding us that humankind, despite its opinion of itself, is merely a part of something much larger.
Anyone who has been out at sea when a storm is heading toward them will be quick to tell you that no matter how much we might want to, ultimately we do not have control over everything in our lives.
A lack of control is often a difficult thing- we all like to manage and govern as many aspects of our lives as we can, but what happens when we come face-to-face with something which we cannot control? Then we hit a problem. Despite our society offering us control and innumerable choices in our lives, there are still those things over which we have little or no choice.
That is why for me, those nudges from nature are so important. They help to remind me that I have to remain open to the ungovernable aspects of my life, and not to get so caught up in my own life as to forget that I am only a small part of something much bigger. The Welsh poet, W. H. Davies, encapsulated this reminder in his poetry:
What is this
life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Perhaps by simply standing and staring we might also remember some other words, this time from the 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich, who wrote that despite our worry and fear when we lose control, with faith in God “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well”.
One of the events we look forward to every year at Beatitudes Campus is Power of the Purse. This signature fundraising event, now in its ninth year, transforms the campus into a festive atmosphere for an afternoon of fun, fashion, friends—and of course purses! We enjoy great food prepared and served by our own Dining Services team, drink champagne, visit with old and new friends, and of course, shop for lots of gently loved designer purses! This year, Power of the Purse will be held on Sunday, November 3, from 2-5PM, and we invite you to join us! For our residents, we have special pricing for tickets—$45 (normally $95).
For those of you who are new to the campus, Power of the Purse (POP) is a party (on a grand scale), where gently loved designer purses of every stripe and color are auctioned. Why do we do this fundraising event every year? We do it for you, our residents. You inspire us every day and you give us purpose. All proceeds from this event support our residents and campus programming. Funds that are raised benefit the Resident Assistance Fund, our scholarship program that helps our residents who have outlived their personal assets. Funds also support programs that engage us and exercise our minds as well as our bodies.
Last year, Power of the Purse raised more than $226,000 to directly benefit our campus. This year we hope to raise even more—a testament to the power of the purse —and to the power of you, our residents! We have raised more than $1 million in the past eight years, thanks to you!
On the day of the event, the areas around Town Plaza and the Rose Garden are transformed for a day into celebratory areas—complete with a giant tent and red carpet! The Bistro becomes a room full of purses, where we have a silent auction of beautiful purses. We also offer “Purses with Prizes,” where every purse has a gift card or coupon worth at least $25. But, it’s not all about purses—we will have a “wine and fine spirits pull” where you can secure a bottle of wine or fine spirits that are favorites of the Beatitudes Campus Board of Directors and the campus leadership team. If purses are not your thing, we will also auction off sports packages, spa treatments, arts packages, firefighter ride-alongs and other fun items.
Once you have placed your bid on your favorite purse, you can wander toward the Rose Garden where you can enjoy a casino area, Scotch and Tequila tasting and more food and fun.
Near the end of the event, the big white tent in the Promenade Mall becomes alive for the live auction and fashion show of purses, where our awesome auctioneer, Letitia Frye, will demonstrate how much passion she has for Beatitudes Campus. Many of you will remember Letitia from years past—she puts on a show you won’t want to miss!
Power of the Purse is also about Power of Community. It’s so heartwarming to see about 400 community and corporate leaders, campus friends, residents and family visit with each other, enjoy the beautiful and bountiful food prepared by our own campus chefs, buy purses and experience the power of Beatitudes Campus. The generosity and fun that we experience on this day cannot be matched!
Of course, an event of this magnitude would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. We are so thankful for the enduing support of our sponsors—they have such a passion for the residents and campus. This year, The Weitz Company and Blue Cross Blue Shield are the Title Sponsors for the event, Morrison Living is our Red Carpet sponsor. The Beatitudes Campus Auxiliary, as well as board members, partners and staff have also stepped up to the plate to become sponsors.
Of course, an event of this size requires lots of planning and helping hands to make Power of the Purse successful! The Fund Development team manages the event, and nearly 30 staff volunteers from most of the departments across campus help on the day of the event. We are so grateful to our Power of the Purse Steering Committee made up of community leaders and campus friends. This dedicated group has been securing donations—designer purses and other auction items—to make this day a great success. But mostly, it is you, our residents, who give us inspiration and encouragement to put on Power of the Purse every year. You are the power!
I invite you to join the party and buy your ticket from the Foundation Office (in Agelink). You can join your friends and neighbors and celebrate the Power of the Purse! Please call Barbara Wood (x16136) if you have any questions.
What is a lynching? By definition, it is a premeditated extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, convicted transgressor, or to intimidate a group.
