Quite a show

Our various Residents Association committees arrange for a lot of performers. Denison faculty speakers often come to Kendal. One of the best we have had took place Sunday in front of a good sized and enthusiastic audience. Stafford Berry , Jr and his accompanist, Terence Karn brought a company of Denison students to perform African Dance. Berry is a visiting professor at Denison. We also occasionally get speakers from Kenyon and Ohio State. As we have retirees from all three as residents, we have the necessary contacts.

This performance took place in the Heller room. Karn played, and explained, several drums. Berry got the audience involved, teaching us some native words and phrases. Although no resident actually danced, we did do movements and replied in the words he taught us.

The students were wonderful. There were about 8 dancers, only one a man. They came in costume and sang and danced. The dances were incredibly acrobatic. Although only two students were of African ancestry, they entered into the dance with obvious joy and enthusiasm. It was easy to see why Berry, although a native of Pennsylvania rather than Africa, is able to so inspire students.

It was a terrific afternoon for which we thank the Kendal Diversity Committee and Denison University,

Our Drivers

Let me set the record straight for our readers as to what kind of driver I am referring to since the advent of computers has added yet another possibility to the list of driver definitions. By drivers I am referring to the gentlemen who provide an invaluable service to those of us here at Kendal at Granville who no longer drive our own vehicles.

Among the services which they routinely provide are weekly bus trips to the nearby supermarket for grocery shopping every Tuesday afternoon. They don't just drive the bus to and from the market but they assist those who need help with getting the groceries loaded into individual large containers on the bus for the trip home and then they help with getting the groceries to the individual apartments, cottages, and villas.



Likewise on Friday afternoons they provide a shopping trip to nearby stores according to the needs of those who have signed up for the trip. This may include stops at the library, the post office, the bank, the Indian Mound Mall, drug stores etc.



Arrangements can be made for them to drive the bus for groups attending concerts, plays, and other special trips such as to the Columbus Zoo. Depending on the distance and the purpose there may be a charge which is divided among the number requesting the service. There is no charge for group trips to the polls to vote or to view the Fourth of July parade or other similar Granville community events.

What I personally have come to appreciate most of all is the fact that we can schedule individual trips for health care appointments. There is no charge for trips within a twenty mile radius. Miles in excess of this amount are billed at the current IRS mileage rate. Transportation service for health related issues that exceeds two hours is billed at $10.00 per hour regardless of the appointment location.


I refer to our drivers as gentlemen because the men who hold this position are in deed gentle men. For example they assist those who need a steady hand getting in and out of the various vehicles used to transport us. They patiently load and unload walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs. They make sure safety belts are fastened. They accompany those who need help in getting to a particular office in a medical building or a department in the hospital. They either wait with us or leave a number that can be called for us where they can be reached to come back to pick us up. And they do it in a sensitive manner managing to maintain our dignity and keep us feeling safe no matter what the weather and traffic conditions.


I would be remiss if I failed to mention that this transportation system operates smoothly because of the efficiency with which our Facility Services Secretary handles the scheduling of all of the many requests for trips. We owe her a debt of gratitude for the skillful way in which she works out the problems which occur such as when times overlap. She takes it all in stride and in a calm manner works with individuals to make adjustments that will make it all work.

Greyhound used the slogan "Leave the driving to us." Here we can leave it to our drivers with confidence.

THE HELP

I am sure many of you have read, or at least heard about the current bestseller, "The Help." This is a story of maids and housewives in the sixties in the South. Their relationship was not happy. The housewives treated the maids unkindly and thought the maids less than equal human beings. The maids in turn had no respect for their bosses and did not trust them.

Please let me tell you a story about the "the help" at Kendal. Last night we had a forecast of freezing rain, ice, and snow. Many of the staff live some distance from Kendal and were worried about being able to get here in the morning. They worried about who would cook our meals and do other important tasks. So on their own, six staff people, including the chef, dining room manager, and housekeeping manager, volunteered to stay over night in an unoccupied residence. They had a sleepover for our benefit! Early this morning I heard the maintenance staff plowing and salting sidewalks. They will be vigilant all day. I know from experience that tonight, if we have more ice and snow, the dining and kitchen staff will call and ask if we would like our meals delivered.

We in turn are grateful, and try to express our appreciation and gratitude by being respectful in our interactions. Please and thank you are important as well as acknowledging that the staff cannot work miracles, even though I have seen them try. We have mutual respect. Part of this comes from the orientation we residents had when we first learned about Kendal. The new staff is given orientation classes on the "Kendal Way." Kendal, as a Quaker Community, is ultimately responsible for this way of life. In our booklet "Values and Practices", I quote : In all matters involving staff and community members, we strive for open communication and seek to preserve a sense of community." I am grateful for our community.