At the last meeting of our Residents' Association we said "Goodbye" to Jim, our IT person who has been with Kendal at Granville beginning back in the days when it was being built. At first he was someone who seemed able to do many things well. It quickly became apparent he would be an asset and fortunately for all of us he agreed to take on the responsibility of an Information Tech. As each one of us has moved in he has helped us get our televisions set up and operating properly and if we had computers he has helped us with them as well. When we got new ones, he has provided guidance and assistance through all of the hazards associated with such an undertaking
I particularly got to know and work with Jim because not very long after I came here Jim brought together those of us who as computer users were interested in exploring ways we could help each other. One of the things that grew out of that was I took on the task of teaching a class for beginners. Jim helped me to use the computers available in our staff training room for our classes. At one point there were so many students that I had to divide them into two sections. Jim was always on hand when any problems occurred and lent his support to me when I had questions or needed advice.
It also became apparent that it would be helpful if we had available a dedicated computer work station which could be used for teaching one on one. In addition it would be a useful tool for the treasurer of the Association.
Fortunately two of our residents responded positively to my plea at one of our early Residents' Association meetings. They provided the funds for not only a computer but all of the accessories needed to set up a complete work station. Jim was of inestimable help in getting it all together and helping to keep it maintained.
In 2009 I had serious surgery to remove a large tumor from my chest and had to give up teaching the classes. However, upon recovery I was on call for help with the work station.
In his farewell words to us Jim said something which I think portrays a great deal about the atmosphere here at Kendal.
He spoke of the fact that he was here at a time in his life when individuals find themselves involved in looking out for and helping their parents. He said here at Kendal he has felt as if he had over one hundred fifty parents and in addition with the kind of staff that we have here he has had seventy some brothers and sisters.
Then at the official farewell party he added this comment about his experience here, "It's been the best job of my career." Jim thus confirmed Kendal's belief that a Kendal community should not only be a good place to live but also to work.
We are grateful that Jim has been with us meeting one challenge after another as we started and grew together through everything from the frustrations caused by cable companies and four day power failures to the humdrum constantly recurring problems presented by working in a field which changes faster that one can change ones clothes.
I might add that Jim is just one of many such dedicated staff members who helps to make our lives better on a daily basis.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
The Amelia Gathering Room: Exploring New Opportunities
In June, when Kendal at Granville residents celebrated the end (well, almost the end) of the two-year Phase II construction project, we also dedicated our new assembly venue, the Amelia Gathering Room. The celebration and dedication were absolutely in order. For thanks to this new room, Kendal at Granville now – at last! – has a facility large enough to accommodate the entire resident population of the campus. And since the room is equipped with both a stage suitable for larger performance groups and an advanced audio-visual technology system, the Entertainment Committee is already working on lining up various singing groups, theatrical troupes, and musical ensembles for the entertainment of residents.
I should add that the Amelia Gathering Room was confirmed as part of the Phase II construction plan only after it became clear that it was feasible to meet the cost of the room through dedicated gifts from friends and residents of Kendal; and the facility was in fact named at the request of a generous and anonymous donor in honor of someone close to the donor.
In the weeks since June we have already begun to taste the opportunities the Amelia makes available to us. Take these three examples:
In July the Kendal at Granville Residents Association was able for the first time to hold its monthly meeting in a room large enough to accommodate anyone who wanted to attend. By no coincidence, the meeting drew the largest crowd of residents in the history of the association. Sure beats the older room, where space was tight and chairs a bit uncomfortable. And fuller attendance will allow more residents to be actively engaged in Kendal activities.
Later in July about a dozen members of the Licking County barber shop quartet organization gave us a concert. It was a happy evening, with richly-harmonized barber shop favorites, a few novelties, some good sentimental stuff, and a patriotic song or two – a menu to please the taste of almost anyone. Some singers were rookies, but at least one veteran was in his 53rd year of membership. The Amelia Gathering Room rocked!
Just a day later the men's breakfast club met to receive instruction in the martial arts – not perhaps active and physical instruction, but educational and illuminating demonstrations. Three practitioners of martial arts, one of them 78 years old and all associated with a studio in nearby Newark, showed us a variety of "exercises" (I'm not quite sure what the proper term is, but they all involved quick movements and sudden shouts), told us a bit about the complicated history of Asian martial arts, and explained how some of the differences among, say, Taekwondo, Judo, and Aikido arose. I left quite persuaded that, whatever else might be said about the lessons of the demonstrations, practitioners of martial arts are in impressively good physical shape.
So what else can the Emilia Gathering Room be used for? Well, this coming Sunday two residents, Judy Chambers and Arie Janssens, will be getting married. That's a first for Kendal – a marriage that unites two residents. And the grand occasion offers us another first – the inaugural wedding reception for the new gathering room. Everyone is invited and there's room for everyone to attend.
Exploring new opportunities indeed!
I should add that the Amelia Gathering Room was confirmed as part of the Phase II construction plan only after it became clear that it was feasible to meet the cost of the room through dedicated gifts from friends and residents of Kendal; and the facility was in fact named at the request of a generous and anonymous donor in honor of someone close to the donor.
In the weeks since June we have already begun to taste the opportunities the Amelia makes available to us. Take these three examples:
In July the Kendal at Granville Residents Association was able for the first time to hold its monthly meeting in a room large enough to accommodate anyone who wanted to attend. By no coincidence, the meeting drew the largest crowd of residents in the history of the association. Sure beats the older room, where space was tight and chairs a bit uncomfortable. And fuller attendance will allow more residents to be actively engaged in Kendal activities.
Later in July about a dozen members of the Licking County barber shop quartet organization gave us a concert. It was a happy evening, with richly-harmonized barber shop favorites, a few novelties, some good sentimental stuff, and a patriotic song or two – a menu to please the taste of almost anyone. Some singers were rookies, but at least one veteran was in his 53rd year of membership. The Amelia Gathering Room rocked!
Just a day later the men's breakfast club met to receive instruction in the martial arts – not perhaps active and physical instruction, but educational and illuminating demonstrations. Three practitioners of martial arts, one of them 78 years old and all associated with a studio in nearby Newark, showed us a variety of "exercises" (I'm not quite sure what the proper term is, but they all involved quick movements and sudden shouts), told us a bit about the complicated history of Asian martial arts, and explained how some of the differences among, say, Taekwondo, Judo, and Aikido arose. I left quite persuaded that, whatever else might be said about the lessons of the demonstrations, practitioners of martial arts are in impressively good physical shape.
So what else can the Emilia Gathering Room be used for? Well, this coming Sunday two residents, Judy Chambers and Arie Janssens, will be getting married. That's a first for Kendal – a marriage that unites two residents. And the grand occasion offers us another first – the inaugural wedding reception for the new gathering room. Everyone is invited and there's room for everyone to attend.
Exploring new opportunities indeed!
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