Volunteering is good for your mind and body

Did you know that volunteers providing support benefit more

than those receiving the volunteer support? 1

Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits:

Volunteering is good for your mind and body because it

increases self-confidence, combats depression, and helps

you stay physically healthy

Volunteering connects you to others by helping you make

new friends and contacts and by increasing your social and

relationship skills

Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life.2

Even when controlling for other factors such as age, health, and

gender, research has found that when individuals volunteer, they

are more likely to live longer.3

A recent study of senior volunteers in the U.S. and Canada

indicated that 98% of volunteers felt a strengthened mission in

their lives and were making a difference; 98% felt better

physically; 98% felt that had a stronger emotional foundation and

90% felt they were sharing their wisdom with others.4

Did you know that older adults receive greater health

benefits from volunteering than younger volunteers? This is

especially true for those with chronic health conditions.

Researchers speculate that the volunteer activities of older

persons are more likely to be discretionary and provide them with —————————————————— 1.“Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s good to be good”, International Journal of Behavior Medicine, Post, S., 2005

2.www.helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering, 2013

3.“Volunteering in Middle and Later Life is Health a Benefit, Barrier or Both?”, Li and Ferraro, 2006

4.Home Instead, Salute to Senior Service U.S. and Canadian Executive Summaries, 2008

Volume 5 Issue 5

November 2013

Volunteering is good (Cont.) 2 ———————————————————————---———–

Resident Profile 3 ———————————————————————————–

Farewell to Rose 4 —————————————————————————––——

Tai Chi 5 ————————————————————————–——–—

Supervised Swimming 5 —————————————————————————–—–—

Photos 6 —————————————————————–———–—–—–

More Photos 7 ———————————————————————–————–

First Wednesday Lecture 8 —————————————————————————–——

Shrek The Musical 8 ————————————————————————————

Superintendent Presentation 8 ———————————————————————————–

Wednesday Happy Hour 8 ———————————————————————————–

Veteran’s Luncheon 9 ————————————————————————————

Pumpkin Back Off 9 ————————————————————————————

Hanukkah 9 ———————————————————————————–

Thanksgiving Day Schedule 9 ————————————————————————————

Calendar Highlights 10 ————————————————————————————

November Birthdays 11 ————————————————————————————

Employee of the month 11 ———————————————————————————--

Sunday Music Series 11 ————————————————————————————

Vigorous Mind Brain Gym 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Lodge Living

OTTER CREEK

The Lodge at Otter Creek Page 2

an important role in their community. Several studies have also looked specifically at

the effects of volunteering on those with chronic or serious illness such as arthritis,

diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.5

These studies found that when these patients volunteer, they receive benefits beyond

what can be achieved through medical care.6 In fact, volunteering was found to

contribute more to lower mortality rates than high religious involvement or perceived

social support.7 In fact, 77% of senior volunteers surveyed say that an important

reason they volunteer is to overcome feeling depressed.8

How to find the best volunteer opportunity for you?

In order to find a volunteer opportunity that will provide you with the physical and

emotional benefits you seek you should ask yourself the following questions:

Find a passion. What causes are important to me?

Look for a need. Who would benefit most from my commitment?

How much time am I willing to commit?

How much responsibility am I ready to take on?

What skills can I bring to a volunteer job?

Do I prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

Here are some suggestions for ways residents can get involved both inside and outside

the community.

Outside the Lodge:

1. Community House Sitter/greet guests during events at the Middlebury

Community House

2. Tutor Spanish speaking farm workers in English

3. Mentor students in elementary school

4. Assist first time offenders in making restitution for their crimes-Court

Diversion

Inside the Lodge:

1. Read to residents

2. Bring pets to visit residents

3. Walk with residents who need companionship

4. Serve as resident ambassadors

Where can you sign up?

For more details stop by and talk to Lauren Mohan, our Residential Services

Director or call her at 458-3275. ————————————————————

5.Ibid.

6.From Chronic Pain patient to Peer: Benefits and Risks of Volunteering, Arnstein, 2002.

7.Oman et al, 1999

8.Home Instead, Salute to Senior Service U.S. and Canadian Executive Summaries, 2008

Continued from page 1

November 2013 Page 3

Jo Birnbaum Jo Birnbaum is an incredible woman. I thought that already,

but after interviewing her for the monthly Resident Profile

article, I know it. Jo’s life was – and is – full of diversity,

generosity and creativity.

Jo was born of American parents in Havana, Cuba, as the

youngest of three girls. She lived there with much of her

extended family until the age of sixteen, when her father

decided to move his daughters back to the United States to

broaden their dating pool. His plan worked! A couple years after

Jo graduated, she met her husband-to-be, Matt.

Matt and Jo moved to New Orleans, where he was based in the service, and after a series

of other moves, they made their way back to New York. They eventually settled into a

French Farmhouse in Westchester where Jo’s life of creative and humanitarian endeavors

took flight.

Jo began to volunteer one full day a week at the Blythedale Children’s Hospital, where

she helped the students being treated there translate between Spanish and English. Her

work became a life-long passion, with 30 years of volunteering, many years as a member

of the Board of Trustees and now as an Honorary Trustee.

Matt and Jo also gave to the Children’s Hospital via their annual crop of honey. One year,

after moving to their French Farmhouse, they noticed a swarm of bees on a tree limb in

the yard. A local beekeeper came and removed the swarm of honey bees. Soon after, when

another swarm found its way to the yard, Matt and Jo knew it was meant to be and

decided to house the swarm. Each year, they would take the harvest of wildflower honey,

bottle it under the name of their property, Birch Hill Honey, and sell it to local businesses

and neighbors. The Birnbaums, also known as “The Honey People,” would then donate

all of their honey proceeds to the hospital.

Jo also used this time in her life to explore her artistic talents. As anyone who has been in

her apartment or seen her work in a Lodge art show can attest, she is a marvelous

sculptor. Jo also works in a variety of other mediums and is a participant in Jim Borden’s

weekly art class.

Jo moved to Vermont to be near one of her two sons, Michael, who blessed Jo with three

grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her other son, Raoul, lives in California

where he is a professor of Buddhist Studies at UC Santa Cruz.

This November 6th, Jo will celebrate her 5th Anniversary at The Lodge at Otter Creek. Her

feelings about the Lodge are simply stated and beautiful, just like Jo herself. When asked

what she loved most about the Lodge, Jo responded, “The warmth. The people. The

caring about each other. It has always been that way.”

Residents Profile

Page 4 The Lodge at Otter Creek

Good Bye Rose

Often times when I look up to a cloudless sky in the evening I will search

initially for the Big Dipper. As it has for hundreds of years the North Star

has been a guiding light for all mankind. It’s reassuring to know that it is

still up there.

We here at The Lodge have had our “guiding light” from the onset in our

favorite nurse, Rose Cleveland. She has served The Lodge is numerous

capacities, initially as our Director of Health Services, to that of Interim

Executive Director and finally to the position of Senior Health Services

Manager for the Bullrock Corporation.

Now she leaves us for other opportunities. She and her husband Marc will

be relocating to the state of Georgia where she will serve as a consultant to

an up and coming company in and around Athens, the home of the

University of Georgia. She goes there not by chance. Rose’s son and his

wife currently reside there and are expecting their first child in a few

months. As good as a person Rose is and as dedicated to her profession as

she has been, we can only imagine what a wonderful grandmother she will

be.

We will miss her so very much, yet on the other hand, be happy for what

opportunities and goodness lie in her future.

Jim McWilliam

Executive Director

Page 5 November 2013

Tai Chi

Wednesdays at 11:00 am

in the Fitness Center

Why join a group and take Tai Chi? Because it’s Fun!

And then there’s the other reason: Staying Independent. Tai Chi for

Arthritis is a joint safe activity proven to improve balance and agility while

increasing lower and upper body strength. It’s also proven that persons

who socialize, are physically fit, and engaged with their community are

happier, healthier and lead more fulfilling lives.

Supervised Swim

Thursdays from 2-3pm in the Pool

Supervised Swim with Coach Joanie.

Joanie Roberge is our newest Activities staff member. She comes to us with a range of

talents, one of which is her experience as a Swimming and Aqua Aerobics Instructor. Joanie

will be sharing her knowledge in our new Supervised Swim class, where residents can come

for a free swim with supervision, get tips on improving their technique, get back

into swimming, and more! Joanie is currently preparing for her Personal Trainer

Certification test later this month and will be available during Supervised Swim to use this

knowledge as well.

Please feel free to speak with Joanie or Courtney in Activities if you have any questions.

Page 6 The Lodge at Otter Creek

Events

Rob Mermin

“A tribute to Marcel Marceau”

Shopping and lunch in Manchester

Homeward Bound Reception

AARP

“A presentation on Fraud”

VT Ethics“

“Patient Choice and Control

at the End of Life”

Page 7 November 2013

Apple Bake Off Corey Playing in the

Meadows

Pumpkin Painting

Crazy Hat Day

Harvest Dinner

Page 8 The Lodge at Otter Creek Upcoming Events

Addison Central Supervisory Union Superintendent’s Presentation

Tuesday, November 12 at 1:30 pm

In the Founders’ Room

~~~~~~~~~

Guest Speakers

Mark Perrin Board Chairman and

Peter Burrows, Superintendent.

Thursday, November 7th

At The Town Hall Theater

Leaving the Lodge at 7:00 pm

Shrek the Musical, based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film,

+ brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to dazzling

new life on the stage. THT’s newest resident company features an all-star cast of area

performers led by Leigh Guptill, Kim Anderson and Justin Bouvier. Music by Jeanine

Tesori with book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.

First Wednesday Series

at Ilsley Public Library

Daniel Fogel, Reading Henry James

November 6, Leaving from the Lodge at 6:30 pm

Arizona’s enforcement-led immigration policy is reshap-

ing the national conversation around immigration reform. The State of

Arizona holds a mirror and asks Americans who they are and who they

want to be.

Please join us for an hour of socializing.

Wednesday’s Happy Hour 4:30 - 6:00 pm

During November Happy Hour will be hosted by

Holly Tippett on November 6, Cathy Williams on November 13

and Jim McWilliam on November 20

Thanksgiving Day Schedule

7:30 - 9:00 am - Normal Breakfast

9:00 am Macy’s Day Parade and Football Games Playing in Gauger Theater

11:30 am & 12:30 pm Thanksgiving Dinner

4:30 pm Lighting of the Menorah Candle

7:15 pm Thursday Night Movie: “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving” in the theater

The dining room will be closed for the evening meal, however a takeout meal will be

provided during the evening.

NOVEMBER 2013 P AGE 9

The Great Pumpkin Bake Off, Tasting and Voting Monday, November 18th

10:00 am—1:00 pm

You can contribute your homemade pumpkin food item or just come and sample.

Then vote on your favorite pumpkin deliciousness.

Veteran’s Luncheon with Lauren In the Founders’Room

Monday November 11th at 12:30 pm

Homemade Soups and Breads

Sign-up in the Mailroom.

Hanukkah

This year, in an extremely unusual coincidence of the calendar, the chants

of “Gobble, gobble, gobble” for thanksgiving will be interspersed with the

singing of “Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel” for Hanukkah.

By the Jewish calendar, a holiday actually begins at sundown the night before, so the

first night of Hanukkah is Wednesday, November 27, the night before Thanksgiving.

The lighting of the Menorah is November 27 thru December 4 at sundown.

The Lodge at Otter Creek Page 10

Calendar Highlights ——————————————————————————————————————————————————-

November 1 11:30 am U.S. Women’s Hockey National Team VS Finland at Middlebury College

November 1 7:15 pm Garnet Rogers After Dark Music Series at the Town Hall Theater

November 2 4:15 pm National Theatre 50 Years on Stage at the Town Hall Theater

November 3 2:00 pm Sunday Music Series - Tim Guiles; Pianist

November 4 4:40 pm Margaret Carother Habitat for Humanity Presentation in the Gauger Theater

November 5 1:00 pm VT Weather in the Global Warming Workshop OLLI at UVM College

November 6 6:30 pm First Wednesday Lecture Series at Ilsley Library: Daniel Fogel

November 7 7:00 pm Shrek The Musical at the Town Hall Theater

November 9 12:30 pm Met Opera - Tosca (Shostakovich)

November 9 2:30 pm International Movie “Amour” at Middlebury College

November 10 2:00 pm Sunday Music Series - Ann Janson,Harpist

November 10 2:30 pm Singer Pur, at Middlebury College

November 11 12:30 pm Veteran’s Luncheon with Lauren in the Founders’ Room

November 12 1:30 pm Mark Perrin, ACSU Board Chairman and Peter Burrow, Superintendent

November 13 11:00 pm Lunch, The Glass Onion at the Hannaford Career Center

November 14 6:30 pm Middlebury Union High School play Cinderella Dress Rehearsal

November 16 2:30 pm International Film “Searching for Sugarman” at Middlebury College

November 16 3:30 pm Men’s Hockey at Middlebury College vs Bowdoin

November 17 2:00 pm Sunday Music Series - Rick Ceballos, Banjo

November 17 3:30 pm Men’s Hockey at Middlebury College vs Colby

November 19 3:30 pm Psychology Professor Matt Kimble of Middlebury College - Founders’ Room

November 22 6:30 pm The THT Young Company presents, LA VOLTA-A Turn at the Masked Ball.

November 23 6:30 pm Jupiter String Quartet at Middlebury College

November 25 1:00 pm ARK Children’s Music Performance, Founders’ Room

November 28 11:30 am & 12:30 pm A Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

Page 11 November 2013

Resident Birthdays November 1 Mayneal Wayland

November 3 Richard Rosane

November 5 Betty Ireland

November 6 Nataly Fitzmorris

November 11 Joan Baker

November 13 Jean Nekola

November 13 Adele Pierce

November 15 Peg Nichols

November 19 Betty Damewood

November 19 Richard Keating

November 20 Arthur Levy

November 21 Jean Rosane

November 22 Madeleine Kamman

November 28 Sherman Drake

November 30 Judith Thornton

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS AT THE LODGE

Staff Birthdays November 3 Chantele Duval

November 4 Linda King

November 8 Shandi Caffery-LaClair

November 8 Virginia Deering

November 9 Sherri Pinkham

November 10 Tasha Thomas

November 12 Teresa Whittemore

November 14 Robert Bowen Jr.

November 17 K.O. Onufry

November 20 Ginger Gould

November 20 Tina Marie Russ

November 21 Andrea Root

November 23 Nicole Berry

Join us for a celebration honoring all our November birthdays on

Friday, November 29th at 2:00 P.M. In The Meadows.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Employee of the month for September was Amanda Diamond. Amanda started working for us at the Lodge on December 31, 2013. From the first day she started work here at the Lodge, you could see she was a very special caregiver. The residents in her care always commented about the extra attention she would give while assisting with their needs. She became a primary preceptor for new hires which proved to be valuable for retaining staff and giving them top notch training. She recently became a medication technician and works as both a med tech and a caregiver. Amanda was accepted to NCCC in Ticonderoga , NY this fall to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and continues to work here at the Lodge every weekend giving great care. We can all say there is no one more exemplary The Lodge at Otter Creek employee of the month for October 2013

Sunday Music Series Sunday in the Founders’ Room at 2:00 P.M.

November 3rd November 10th

Tim Guiles, Pianist Ann Janson, Harpist

November 17th November 24th

Rick Ceballos, Banjo Kimberly Arnold, Pianist

The Lodge at Otter Creek Page 12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36

37 38 39

40 41 42 43

44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55

56 57 58

59 60 61 62

63 64 65

66 67 68

GONE WITH THE WIND Across

1 .Plow puller

5 .Roman sandal

10 .Plantation in "Gone with the Wind"

14 .Tops

15 .Player's lament

16 .Bears (Sp.)

17 .Lead actor, "Gone with the Wind"

19 .Spitting sound

20 .Engine need

21 ."What's gotten you§"

22 .Need a bib

24 .Chiang's husband

25 .Library command

26 .War to cover for secret offshore oil surveys

28 .Celestial being

30 .It may be blessed

32 .Rhoda's mom

33 .Striped shirt wearer (abbr.)

35 .One, in Germany

36 .Discounted, maybe

37 .Lead actress, "Gone with the Wind"

40 .Opposed, in Dogpatch

42 .Indian author Santha Rama____

43 .Cheerleader's cheer

44 .Golfer Crenshaw

45 .Literature Nobelist Hermann

47 ."Hardball" broadcaster

51 .Depraved

53 .Chemist's workplace

55 .Part of a farmer's refrain

56 .Loggers' contest

57 .Assent in Acapulco

58 .Gangster's gun

59 .Chill

60 .Sorcery

63 .Fixes, in a way

64 .One of the Van Halens

65 .Other, in Acapulco

66 .Fannie ___(securities)

67 .Reposes

68 .Campus bigwig

Down 1 .Puget Sound city

2 .Gone with the wind?

3 .Not digital

4 .Jacques Cousteau's milieu

5 .Indications

6 .Kansas city

7 .Gray wolf

8 .Subj. for U.S. newcomers

9 .Supped

10 .Go __ __ (deteriorate)

11 .Flabbergast

12 .Musical embellishment

13 .Faulkner's "__ __ Lay Dying"

18 .Third month of the Jewish calaendar

23 .No longer active (abbr.)

26 .Face concealment

27 .Crackers

29 .St. Patrick's Land

31 .Day star. e.g.

34 .Military capability

36 .Cries of aversion

37 .Red wine

38 .Sunrise direction

39 .Like most sonnets

40 .Disney owns it

41 ."Gone with the Wind" state

45 .Color

46 .Extract

48 .Undo

49 .1967 seceder

50 ."Gone with the Wind" plantation crop

52 .Like May Through August

54 .Remains

57 .FCC concers (abbr.)

59 Usher's offering

61 .Suffix with Chlor- or sulf-

62 .Bacillus shape