Rev. David Ragan, Sr. Vice-President of Resident Services, called the meeting to order at 2:15PM welcoming residents and noting that it is Black History Month and there is a lot going on around Campus. The Life Center is now equipped with an Induction Loop System to better serve persons who use hearing aids. Residents were treated to a series of old automobile ads that really came from years back. One ad extolled a device which allowed for cleaning the car cushions using the exhaust gas of the automobile. Others showed sleeping children lying out on the fold-down seats of a Nash and also looking out from a perch above the seats in the back window. Those were the days. David gave a special welcome to one resident who was attending Town Hall for the first time and urged residents to invite neighbors who are new to join them in attending the meeting. The Welcome Coffee will be on Wednesday, February 27th in the Life Center at 2:00PM. Come and meet your newest neighbors and learn why they chose the beatitudes and the hobbies and interests they might have in common with you.
Tom Denny, President of Residents Council, gave a report on last month's Residents Council Meeting. Last month five standing committees and Building Representatives from three buildings reported along with Sherwin Block with Transportation, Monica De La Rosa on volunteer hours and Donna Ellis on the newly formed Diversity Group. Tom asked three members of the Council to report to Town Hall on their Committees. Bette Henriques, Chairman of the Employee Appreciation Fund Committee, noted that the group has lost three members recently and needs new members to help with this work. The purpose of the Committee is to work with Administration to raise funds for the Employee Appreciation Fund and find other ways to support our employees. Call Bette at x18809 if you are interested or have any questions. Outreach Committee Chairman, Gene Lefebvre, said that his Committee connects the Campus with others in the larger community. We have supported washington high school with scholarships for selected students and would like residents to join the Outreach Committee in our 2019 project to make a difference in the lives of students. Kay Baker said the Transportation Sub-committee is working on the $30,000 grant to be used for future on-campus transportation. The grant calls for taking a brief survey which was distributed on Feb. 20th and will be collected on Feb. 27th. The results will be shared with residents and the committee will continue their work to find solutions for campus transportation.
Rod Bailey, Sr. VP Marketing and Sales, reminded residents that everyone has the opportunity to refer friends and neighbors to Marketing. Marketing is always happy to have referrals and to reward residents if their referrals become new residents. The first referral reward is $1000, referral #2 is $1200, and referral #3 is $1500. Drop by the sales center or call extension x18467 to begin the process. Rod also said that Marketing is having great success with the new Patio Homes and doing very well in bringing people on campus as well. Groundbreaking for the Patio Homes was on February 21st.
Joe Kane, our own Mr. Variety, explained that Elaine's fine dining's new 52 week menu is now in the Roadrunner each week and residents will be informed as to when the 52 week menu will include Buckwald's. David said that the satisfaction survey went up considerably to 67% for dining and he thanked residents for their appreciation of the dining staff.
Success Matters had an extremely high rating as well. Jessica Meyer, Director, introduced the three new students interning on the campus for three months—Katie Holmes (A.T. Still), Gillian Quaal (A.T. Still), and Chandler Sommers (NAU). Jessica also said that with Telecoil enabled hearing aids, you can hear things in the Life Center with much greater clarity. The T-coil must be activated. Residents should see their audiologist or hearing aid provider to ask whether your hearing aid has loop capacity and to learn how to turn it on and off when you are in the Life Center. Chandler Sommers, one of our new interns, will be taking the lead in the Safer Stepping Falls Prevention Workshop being offered for six weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00PM in the Agelink Great Hall starting on February 19th. Each session is dedicated to exercises that target balance, as well as discussion and education about falls prevention.
Jaime Sackrison, Senior Community Outreach Ambassador, informed residents about the “I Am a Family Caregiver” Traveling Photo Exhibit that is currently on view at the Welcome Center, Plaza Bistro and Life Center. The photos are inspiring. It is sponsored by the Beatitudes Be At Home Program which supports family caregivers by providing respite care and care partnerships. Jaime also discussed our relationship with 19North and the opportunity for residents to display and/or sell their artwork and crafts on the second Friday of each month from 6:00 to 9:00PM. The first event was on Friday, February 8th, and if you are interested, contact Didi Cruz at x18473 to learn more about the next one.
CAREcorps Volunteer Coordinator, Monica De La Rosa, is now on maternity leave and questions can be directed to Didi Cruz or Jon Schilling. A Current Events Discussion with Bob Black will take place every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 4PM in the Admin. Conference Room. The one hour meeting is constructed around the Arizona Republic Newspaper and the major TV news Networks. All are welcome to attend. For questions, call Didi at x18473. A Violins of Hope Concert will take place on Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00PM featuring violins owned by Jews silenced in the Holocaust and played by students from Rosie's House and musicians from the Downtown Chamber Society. It is a free event but space is limited, so call x12905 to see if a space on the bus is available. Call Nancy Splain at x18484 with any questions you may have. There is a CAREcorps Discovery Meeting the 3rd Monday of every month from 11:15AM to 12:00PM in the Admin. Conference Room. Maryland School will be having their celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday on Friday, March 1st, and volunteers are needed to read to a classroom. Transportation will be provided; call x12905 to put your name on the list. The bus will leave campus at 7:45AM and return at 9:30AM. For questions, call resident Sybil Eppinger at x15132. English Language Assistant volunteers are needed on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 8:45 to 11:15AM or from 11:45AM to 2:15PM. Positions are open for lead teacher or assistant teacher. If interested, contact the ELA Coordinator, Jane Ross-Stempel by email: [email protected] or by phone: 602.463.4070.
Michael Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, informed residents about the many events coming up to celebrate Black History Month. Mike is honored to be on the committee and he noted that there will be displays and reminders throughout the campus and on the Community Channel all month long. The Black History Month theme here in our community this year is called “My Story Begins in Me”. The precursor to Black History Month was Negro History Week created in 1926 in the United States by historian, Carter G. Woodson. One day a week there will be a Black History related display set up in the Plaza Bistro and also a movie each week in the Life Center. The month will wrap up with the Sixth Annual Black History Month celebration on Thursday, February 28th from 2:00 to 3:30PM in the Life Center. Speakers include Bob Longini, Ken Corprew, Mike Smallwood, and Anthony Farias. Vernon Parker, the first black Mayor of the Town of Paradise Valley, and a White House worker for President Bush Senior and George W. Bush, will be a guest speaker. In addition, a group of our own staff members will be celebrating with a dance. Watch the Roadrunner and the Community Channel for times and places of special events. An Outdoor Walking class has started on Thursdays at 8:45AM in the Plaza Club. The B-Fit winner for February is Carolyn Grisinger.
David announced that PFLAG has combined meetings for Phoenix area LGBTQ individuals, families and friends. The campus meeting is now the Phoenix PFLAG Support Meeting. The next meeting will be on March 19th, and each third Tuesday thereafter at 7PM, we will meet in the Recreation Center.
Remember the Hootenany each and every Wednesday night in the Life Center at 5:45PM. Bring your friends to this free musical entertainment. Wednesdays Sundaes with Dave is held on each third Community Wednesday in the Plaza Bistro from 2:00 to 4:00PM. Enjoy a free yogurt and share your thoughts.
The next Town Hall Meeting will be on March 6th at 2:00PM in the Life Center. Attend and learn about all the many things happening at Beatitudes Campus.
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