M 2005 Annual Ecumen Leadership Conference – Known as …webnet.ecumen.org/News/2005Insider/March2005_Insider... · 2005-03-23 · Ecumen INSIDERINSIDER March 2005 1 MARCH 2005

Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER March 2005 11111

MARCH 2005

Best-selling author and innovatorDr. William Thomas will join us askeynote speaker on May 4 at the annualEcumen Leadership Conference – knownas Family Gathering. His timely talk –“Growing Home: Transforming OurVision” – promises to be engaging andthought provoking.

Annual Ecumen Leadership Conference– Known as Family Gathering –to Feature Innovator and AuthorWilliam Thomas, M.D.Leadership Conference to be held May 4th in Saint Cloud!

Convinced that the institutional-basedsystem of delivering long-term care isoutdated and at the root of manyquality and consumer satisfactionissues, Dr. William Thomas announcedthe start of the Green House Project in2000 on Capitol Hill. The first GreenHouse opened last year in Tupelo,Mississippi.

The Tupelo Green Houses are four small (10-person) homes where 40 people requiringskilled nursing services live and receive thecare they need. Green Houses alter facility size,interior design, staffing patterns, and methodsof delivering skilled professional services. Itsprimary purpose is to serve as a place whereelders can receive assistance and support withactivities of daily living and clinical care,without the assistance and care becoming thefocus of their existence.

Dr. Thomas and residentAlice Johnson enjoying

the moment

Wear your EcumenWearables on May 4th!

— See special conferencediscount on page 14

[Dr. Thomas - continued on page 2]

To learn more about the Green HouseProject and Dr. Thomas, go to

www.thegreenhouseproject.com.You might also want to check out his

new book: What are Old People For?How Elders Will Save the WorldThe New York Daily News calls it

“electrifying.”

22222 Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER March 2005

Every Christmas morning as a child,Joanne Negstad would rise early at herfamily’s Saint Anthony Park home andvisit nearby Twin City Linnea toperform in an annual Christmas programfor Linnea’s residents. Little did she knowthat several decades later she’d behelping lead Linnea’s parent organizationas a member of its board of trustees.

Service, faith and leadership are ingrainedin Joanne’s DNA. Her father was aLutheran pastor; her mother was deeplyinvolved in the Church, and her brother isBishop Mark Hanson, the PresidingBishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Churchin America (ELCA). Reflecting on deepconnections between her family and theLutheran Church, Joanne lightheartedlyrefers to herself as a “white-hairedchurch lady.” It’s clear, however, thatshe’s so much more.

Today Joanne is president of LutheranSocial Services of South Dakota, thelargest private non-profit social servicesagency in South Dakota. She has alsoserved as an executive for Lutheran SocialServices of Illinois and was the executivedirector of the Association of LutheranSocial Ministry Organizations.

Joanne Negstad, Ecumen Board Trustee

Meet TrusteeJoanne Negstad

Subsequently, she was the foundingpresident of Lutheran Services in America.Organizations of which she has served asa board member include the MinneapolisArea Synod, Luther NorthwesternSeminary and the National Assembly ofHealth and Human Service Organizations.In 2000 she was named one of the “Top50 Non-Profit Leaders” in the country byThe NonProfit Times.

Joanne is energized by the transformationthat is occurring at Ecumen and enjoysthe role that she plays in helping theorganization nurture its faith-basedfoundation and grounding. As someone“who loves fundraising,” Joanne is amember of Ecumen’s fund developmentcommittee, where she helps Ecumenextend its mission by sharing herexpertise in board and fund development.

Joanne says that “God has worked in herlife” by providing new paths for her toshare her skills and experience. We’rethankful that one of those paths broughther to Ecumen.

Thomas, who graduated from HarvardMedical School, originally planned tospecialize in emergency room medicineuntil a job in a nursing home changed hismind. The insider’s view of a long-termcare facility made him wonder if there wasa better solution to living arrangements forolder adults who could no longer remain intheir own homes. With few spontaneousevents and little social stimulation,residents often became withdrawn anddepressed.

In Capitol Hill briefings last fall, preliminaryfindings from a study led by the Universityof Minnesota, showed that residents’ andfamily members’ satisfaction levels weremuch higher versus two traditional nursinghomes in the study. Dr. Thomas willdiscuss the Green Houses and much moreon May 4.

[Dr. Thomas - continued from page 1]

Mark Your Calendars for theMay 4th Event in Saint Cloud!

Ecumen InsiderPublished every six weeks, Ecumen Insiderprovides an inside look at the people andplaces that make up Ecumen.

We welcome your comments, stories, ideasand feedback. Please contact Eric Schubert,Ecumen’s director of communications, [email protected] or 651-766-4333.

Editor: Eric SchubertDesign and Production: Linda Oelker


When you walk into MargueriteHogan’s home at Ecumen’s WillowWood independent living residence inWhite Bear Lake, the first thing you noticeare the stunning paintings adorning herwalls. Her art, most of which was createdby her very hands, makes her homeuniquely hers.

Marguerite, who paints four hours daily,creates more than 200 works of art eachyear. Her artwork inspires, but so doesthe fact that she didn’t begin paintingseriously until she was in her 70s.Specializing in watercolors, which shecalls “demanding and surprising,” 90-year-old Marguerite enjoys landscapepainting the most. That enjoyment likelycomes from the picturesque environs thatsurrounded her in Northern Minnesota.Marguerite was born in Blackduck,Minnesota and lived in scenic Ely for morethan 40 years. She and her husbandraised two daughters who also paint.

Marguerite Hogan:Willow Wood’s Artist-in-Residence

Marguerite, who studied under artistssuch as Gerald Korte, began an Ely artclass, which she taught for 16 years atthe Ely Senior Center. She also co-founded Ely’s Art in the Park, a festivalthat grew into the famed Ely BlueberryFestival and which today draws nearly40,000 people annually. On Marguerite’s80th birthday, the City of Ely celebratedher at a local gallery and declared it“Marguerite Hogan Day.” The wallswere filled with her paintings thatcommunity members had purchasedover the years.

Although Marguerite has exhibited andsold her paintings in a number of artshows, attention and dollars aren’t hermotivation. “I paint for the love of it . . .the joy of it . . . it’s relaxing andfulfilling,” she says.

Marguerite shares her talents,encouragement and experiences withaspiring artists of all ages. In fact, sherecently spoke to young artists at WhiteBear Lake High School and she alsomentors a very special art student –her 7-year-old grandson. Margueritefrequently talks about the joy shereceives from painting; however, it’sclear that she also contributes a greatdeal of joy in the process. Thank you,Marguerite.

Marguerite Hogan displays her artworkin her home at Ecumen’s Willow Wood

independent living residence. Below, one ofher favorite creations.


Family Member Shares Pride in Bayshore and its People

George Carlson was a 94-year-oldresident of Bayshore, who lived inBayshore’s Alzheimer’s unit. Earlier thisyear he passed away. George’s son Kenwas so moved by the care andcommitment that Bayshore teammembers showed toward his father thathe took the time to write a letter toBayshore leader Paul Libbon. Followingare excerpts of that letter:

I’d like to thank you, and all of theBayshore staff, for the care, and evenmore so for the “caring” that you’veall extended to my dad during his stayin your Alzheimer’s unit . . . My dadfell and broke his femur in lateOctober 2004, and following his hipreplacement surgery I spent 12 hoursa day at his side for the next two

weeks. This gave me a uniqueopportunity to become part of[Bayshore], not just as a visitor, butas a participant. I got to know MyrnaAndrews, Sue Routhier, CarolBearheart, Laura Gower, KathyHoward, Barb Green, Deb Johnson,Wendy Gallagher, Diane Ramfjord,Diane Hakola, Jen Ward, Jen Dickman,Bill Redman, Bill Littlehawk, BeckyBloom, Becky Pack, Gloria Kersten, JimMalec, Steve Peterson, Robyn Doller,Ashley Bushey, Keith Gallagher, BobSaxin, Cassie Kaser, Terri McIntyre,Karla Larson, Siobhan Payton, KristinTuominen, Jone Vyvlecka, AubreyTuders, Renee Allen, and others whoprovided care for my dad. I was able tosee firsthand, how much these people

care, how patient they are, and howdedicated they are . . . I saw throughmy dad’s eyes that he recognized thathe was “home,” with people wholoved him, and who cared for him! . . .

All of [you] . . . are truly angels onloan. You have given so much, both tomy dad, and to me. I can’t adequatelyexpress my gratitude, but I will alwayscount the staff [at Bayshore] amongmy closest friends. I’ve told my familythat no matter where I am living, if Ireach a point in my own life where Ineed the type of care that my dad hasneeded for the past few years, I wantthem to place me at Bayshore. It’s allabout people, and your people are thevery, very best!

Sue Routhier, Diane Hakola, Becky Bloom, Siobhon Payton, and Diane Ramfjordleft to right:


Bay

sho

re P

rid

e

Carol Bearheart, Laura Gower and Jennifer Dickmanleft to right:

Steve Peterson, Becky Doherty, Jim Malec, Kathy Howard, and Myrna Andrewsleft to right:


Clarkfield Care Center CompletesLargest Renovation in its History“Where is the pool? Every 5-Star residence has a pool.” That was the remark of one of many proud people inClarkfield who celebrated the March 11th grand opening of the newly renovated Clarkfield Care Center.

Ecumen-managed Clarkfield CareCenter just completed a $2.1 millionrenovation, the largest project in the carecenter’s history and its first majorrenovation in 34 years. Construction hasenhanced the environment for residents,staff and family members. Improvementsinclude:

Clarkfield Care Center is now lookingat potentially constructing a newadjacent building that would include agarage for Clarkfield ambulances anda new conference room that would beshared by Clarkfield Care Center andthe city. The project would becontingent on grant money thatwould fund much of the project.

A luxurious, welcoming 3,000-foot dayroom that features a beautiful fireplaceand plenty of room for special events.Six new private rooms for residents.A hospice room and an adjoining suitefor family members to give themprivacy and space to spend time withtheir loved ones.The laundry facility has been relocatedto the main floor and has beencompletely modernized.A new physical therapy room.A new nurses’ station and expandedoffice space.

Residents Marguerite Zimmerman and George Lindquistenjoy the new surroundings

Art Behr plays onClarkfield Care Center’s piano


Fund development is formally on the“revenue” area of our dashboard;however, it ties to other dashboardareas, particularly “home” and “choice.”Financial contributions have helped fundchapels, artwork, gardens and other keyfeatures that enhance home and choiceat residences within the Ecumennetwork.

Judith Goff has joined Ecumen as theorganization’s director of planned giving.She will work closely with our regionaldevelopment team to extend our missionand build endowment assets throughestate gifts. Endowment gifts given byresidents – or their families – will directlybenefit the facility in which the residentlived, providing needed resources as wecontinue to grow and expand ourservices and choices.

Planned giving is the strategic process ofnurturing relationships with current andfuture donors and helping them achievetheir stewardship and philanthropicgoals. Planned giving integrates financialand tax planning to help the donormaximize the financial impact of his orher gift. There are a variety of vehiclesfor planned giving, including bequests,trusts, life insurance, annuities andqualified retirement plans, such as anIRA, 401k or 403b.

Judith brings more than two decades offund development experience to Ecumen.Her previous roles have included servingas a planned giving officer for Twin CitiesPublic Television, director ofdevelopment for Episcopal Health andHousing Services (now Episcopal Homes)and as a major and planned gifts officerfor the College of Saint Catherine.

New Lamplighter ManorBedroom

Focus on the Dashboard:Judith GoffNamed Director of Planned Givingat Ecumen

Judith Goff, director of planned giving

Thank you to the 60 Ecumen teammembers and residents who

contributed to the Ecumen TsunamiRelief Fund. Nearly $4,000 wasraised in just over two weeks.

EcumenEcumenEcumenEcumenEcumenTsunami ReliefTsunami ReliefTsunami ReliefTsunami ReliefTsunami Relief

Raises Nearly $4,000Raises Nearly $4,000Raises Nearly $4,000Raises Nearly $4,000Raises Nearly $4,000

Before entering the world offundraising, Judith worked in publicaffairs and government relations.She was the director of member andpublic affairs for the NationalCouncil of Farmer Cooperatives inWashington, D.C., and legislativeaffairs officer for Farm CreditServices (now Agribank) in SaintPaul. Active in the Twin Citiescommunity, she is a board memberof the Great American HistoryTheatre in Saint Paul and hasvolunteered at the Guthrie Theatersince 1985.

Judith has a B.A. in Politics fromHollins University in Roanoke,Virginia, and has completedcoursework toward a M.A. inTheology at the College of SaintCatherine.


AT THE CAPITOL:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Left to right are:

Steve Mork

Mary Cordts

RepresentativePeter Nelson

(R-Lindstrom)

With most of Ecumen’s residences inMinnesota, our organizational legislativereport is focused on Saint Paul. TheMinnesota legislative session isapproaching the halfway point. TheFebruary state economic forecast showeda rosier picture with an additional $234million in revenues. However, a $434million budget deficit remains for 2006-07. The discussion is largely aroundwhether to use revenues from expandedgambling to plug the budget deficit.

Minnesota House and Senate committeeshave each passed a three percent cost-of-living adjustment for nursing homeworkers. Governor Pawlenty’s budgetproposal, meanwhile, seeks a two percentincrease. A bill to provide funding forclosure of struggling care centers andfinancial assistance to help others expandservice offerings has been introduced inthe House and will soon be introduced inthe Senate.

Representative Brad Finstad (R-New Ulm) is chief author in the Housealong with Representatives Sviggum(R-Kenyon), Huntley (DFL-Duluth),Emmer (R-Delano), Eken (DFL-TwinValley), Urdahl (R-Litchfield) andHeidgerken (R-Freeport).

Senator Paul Koering (R-FortRipley) is the chief author in the Senate.Additional authors have expressedinterest in signing on the bill. The nextstep will be hearings in committee. Thepace is picking up at the Capitol as allbills must pass out of committee in April.The Constitutional deadline for thissession’s adjournment is May 23.

Several Ecumen team members have beenbefore policy committees in recent days.Mary Cordts, Ecumen director ofcampus operations, and Green Acresadministrator Steve Mork testifiedbefore the House Health and HumanServices Finance Committee on legislation

that would increase reimbursement ratesfor Green Acres and Parmly in ChisagoCounty to bring them in line with rates inthe nearby metro area. The legislation’schief authors are RepresentativePeter Nelson (R-Lindstrom) andSenator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge).

Bayshore administrator Paul Libbontestified before the Senate Health andHuman Services Finance Committee onbehalf of a bill authored by SenatorYvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth)that would bring Bayshore’s Medicaidreimbursements in line with other Duluthfacilities. Representative TomHuntley (DFL-Duluth) has authoredsimilar legislation in the House.

MHHA and Care Providers of Minnesotaalso held their “Day on the Hill” eventon March 22. For information on specificlegislation, go to the web site sponsoredby MHHA and Care Providers ofMinnesota: www.carecantwait.org


Rising: Update on

LargestConstruction Projectin Ecumen History

Lakeshore

The largest transformation project in Ecumen history –the new Lakeshore – continues to rise on the LakeSuperior shoreline in Duluth. Roofing will begin soon onthe subacute unit, offices are being framed in the TownCentre and floor framing is occurring in the assistedliving area. The Town Centre is now weather tight, thesubacute unit will be weather tight on April 1 and theassisted living area on May 6.

As part of the transition process, Lakeshore announcedlast month that approximately 70 residents will berelocated and staffing will be adjusted by approximately60 people between April and September. Lakeshore isworking closely with other area providers, includingBayshore, on resident relocations and helping connectstaff to other employment opportunities in the area.Lakeshore is holding an April job fair with more than20 area providers.

Visit the Lakeshore web cam at:www.LakeshoreLiving.org


Reverend Mark Holman,Eric Schubert,Jennifer Pfeffer, director ofcampus operations,Bishop Jon Anderson

Eric Schubert, Bishop Rolf Wangberg, Reverend Mark Holman

Reverend Mark Holman, Bishop Peter Strommen, Robin Hanson, Eric Schubert

Ecumen team members recently metwith bishops of several Minnesotasynods to introduce Ecumen to thebishops and explore ways we asmembers of the Lutheran communitycan build on our current collaborationsand make them even stronger.

Thank you to Bishop Rolf Wangbergof the Northwestern Minnesota Synod,Bishop Peter Strommen of theNortheastern Minnesota Synod, andBishop Jon Anderson of theSouthwestern Minnesota Synod forhosting Ecumen and sharing theirinsights. Ecumen looks forward to futuremeetings with Bishop Peter Rogness ofthe Saint Paul Area Synod and BishopCraig Johnson of the Minneapolis AreaSynod. Bishop Harold Usgaard of theSoutheastern Minnesota Synod servesas a member of our board of trustees.Thank you also to Ecumen consultantReverend Mark Holman, forcoordinating these meetings.

EcumEnmEEts

minnEsotaBishops


Kathryn Robertsrecently appeared onthe Twin Cities CableTV Show “StrictlySeniors” to discussEcumen. The show’shost is the alwaysdapper 77-year-oldRoland Minda.

Former WCCO-TV newsdirector Ken Pack directsthe show. Ken worked atWCCO-TV for 35 years andworked closely with WCCObroadcasting legend DaveMoore.

Ken Pack

Twin Cities TV Show FeaturesEcumen

Gallup’s annual survey of which professionalsare the most trusted found nurses at the topof the list (trusted by 79 percent) followed byelementary school educators (73 percent).Military officers and druggists both were highon the trusted list with 72 percent each. Incontrast, newspaper reporters (21 percent)and TV personalities (23 percent) were theleast trusted professions.

Survey ResultsMight be Newsto the Pollsters,But Not toEcumen!


Congratulations to BonnieFaber, LPN at Parmly, who wasrecently named the Minnesota

Health & Housing Alliance’s(MHHA) “Caregiver of the

Year” for District D. Bonnie alsorecently received Parmly’sIsabelle M. Lindgren

Distinguished ServiceAward, which is presentedto a Parmly team memberannually to recognize theirdedicated Christian service

to older adults.

“We are all creating home forthe wonderful residents here,

and whatever we give to them,we get back 100-fold,” says Bonnie. “No one can do this job alone, and I amaccepting these awards on behalf of Parmly and the angels that I work with.”

Parmly’sParmly’sParmly’sParmly’sParmly’sBonnie Faber HonoredBonnie Faber HonoredBonnie Faber HonoredBonnie Faber HonoredBonnie Faber Honored

Cong

ratu

lation

s

to al

l!!

Good Shepherd Community recentlyreceived MHHA’s Community Service Award asa result of its involvement and leadership in aninitiative called Operation Share a Blessing. The

program gives direct support to militaryfamilies through volunteerism, donated

services and financial gifts. Operation Share aBlessing has impacted more than 200 militaryfamilies. It began with a major kick-off event

that included entertainment and fun forfamilies and a moving worship service.

Operation Share a Blessing continues to givefamilies a helping need through care, house

repairs, and other assistance.

Good ShepherdCommunity ReceivesCommunity Award

Sunrise Home in Two Harbors iscelebrating its 25th Anniversary on

April 1. Festivities will include acontinental breakfast and tours

for community members.Happy Anniversary

to the team atSunrise Home!!

Happy 25th

Anniversaryto Sunrise

Home!!

Congratulations to BethanyCommunity! They recently hit 100

percent occupancy for the first time intheir history. The community includes

Bethany Home (skilled nursing), BethelManor I and Bethel Manor II

(independent living) and WinonaShores (independent living).

BethanyBethanyBethanyBethanyBethanyCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity

Makes HistoryMakes HistoryMakes HistoryMakes HistoryMakes History


Larry Baker, volunteer driver; Donna Anderson, volunteer driver program scheduler; and Gene Bahr, volunteer driver

Together Larry Baker and GeneBahr contributed nearly 60 years inpublic service as members of theLitchfield police force. The longtimefriends are no longer at the wheel ofLitchfield squad cars, but their drivingis still critically important to the areacommunity. Larry and Gene are two of20 volunteer drivers for the MeekerCouncil on Aging’s Volunteer and RSVP(Retired and Seniors VolunteerProgram) driving program. Theprogram is coordinated from Ecumen’sAugustana Lutheran Homes inLitchfield.

You’rE in Good handsWith thEsE auGustana

VoluntEErs at thE WhEEl

Drivers in the 27-year-old program haveracked up more than 2 million miles. Geneand Larry, who were recently named“Volunteers of the Year” by theMinnesota Social Service Association(Region 6) have racked up more than140,000 miles in the last several years. Thevolunteer driver program, which is run bydirector Judy Barka, volunteer coordinatorDonna Whitcomb, and scheduler DonnaAnderson, delivers passengers to medicalappointments in the Litchfield area and asfar away as Rochester and Saint Cloud. It’snot unheard of for drivers to start out at5 a.m. and conclude their day at 10 p.m.

They’re available seven days per weekand on holidays.

Gene and Larry like to say that when youdrive with them, the trip from Litchfieldto Saint Cloud takes 45 minutes, not 90minutes. You know you’re in good handswhen you’re traveling with these formerpolice officers!


Visit the Ecumen Cyber Store link atwebnet.ecumen.org to get speciallydiscounted shirts like those worn byDeb Manthey and Dana Wollschlager,below.

Ecu

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Special Cyber Store FeatureforEcumenLeadershipConference

Wear YourEcumen

Wearables on

May 4thCYBER STORE FEATURES

SPECIAL CONFERENCE

DISCOUNT

Show your Ecumen colors at theEcumen Leadership Conferenceknown as Family Gathering. Just intime for the conference, theEcumen Cyber Store isfeaturing a cool blue chambrayshirt at a special discount of$23.76 plus shipping. To accessthe shirt discount, go to the “twillshirt” category.

In addition to that shirt, there are anumber of other wearable itemswith the Ecumen logo. Access thecyberstore at webnet. Deliverytakes 8-10 days.

Store Registration: If you havenot already registered to use thestore, you will need to do so at theweb site. Shortly after registering,you will receive an e-mailconfirming your registration.

K E R N A L @ B U H L E R C O M P A N I E S . C O MK E R N A L @ B U H L E R C O M P A N I E S . C O MK E R N A L @ B U H L E R C O M P A N I E S . C O MK E R N A L @ B U H L E R C O M P A N I E S . C O MK E R N A L @ B U H L E R C O M P A N I E S . C O M

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M 2005 Annual Ecumen Leadership Conference – Known as …webnet.ecumen.org/News/2005Insider/March2005_Insider... · 2005-03-23 · Ecumen INSIDERINSIDER March 2005 1 MARCH 2005