THE READING GROUP

     Among the many interest groups at Kendal is the Book Group, which has been selecting a book several months each year, and after reading it, gathering for a group discussion.  According to the convener, there are only two rules: comments must focus only on the book, and only one person speaks at a time.

     This month's book? Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2013 history/biography THE BULLY PULPIT: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.

      In August, the reading period was extended into September because of the length of the book--752 pages plus 115 pages of notes.  Still, the Group had it largest attendance (23), apparently because of both the topics and the author.  Of those, over half had read the entire book (13) or listened  on 18 hours of recordings (2).  Others were still reading with most intending to finish, and a few had not read it, but came to listen.

     Virtually every reader had been fully engaged with the story of how Teddy Roosevelt, Will Taft, and the progressive journalists of their period, had engaged individually, together, and sometimes in direct opposition, in working to change the direction of the U.S. government, amidst a burst of industrialization, from a laissez faire idea to a functional, regulated system, toward which we continue to struggle.

      Some did sneak in personal reasons for their interest: a shared home town or alma mater, a commitment to a similar cause, a family tie or memory, or a professional interest.  But most comments were either evaluative of a particular action or individual, analytical regarding the author's "take" on one or more of her subjects, or personal insights drawn from the text.  A new member of the community could hardly help but observe the intellectual capacity, and the willingness, of members to engage in a truly complex but exceedingly well wrought book, with individual insights, observations, and questions.

       Rather obvious, of course, were the many vexing similarities of that historical period's issues to today's ongoing battles--a bitterly divided Congress, internally divisive political parties, policy bought by special interests, isolationism versus globalism, voter suppression, environmental concerns, etc.

      Of special interest to this group was the detail in which Goodwin explores the importance of the relationships between many players--fathers and sons, sons and mothers, husbands and wives, politician and journalist, journalist and publisher, even wives and wives.  The relationship theme caused some to believe that this richness was necessarily the product of a woman author, and most to decry the loss of letterwriting which would make such research unlikely if not impossible today.

    One reader likened the book to a love story and to The Bible--a collection of stories, each with its own meaning.  Another thought it was perhaps unfair in its evaluation of Taft, and of the value of different styles of leadership.  Some were surprised and disappointed by the older Roosevelt's behavior in his effort to retain power.  Others cited Goodwin's constant recognition of secondary players, local politicos, wives, aides, brother and sisters.

      Unfortunately, the one hour discussion was apparently insufficient for enough discussion of the roles played by the journalists, except for the opportunity they had for both thorough investigation and serious readership.  While true that tariff battles can seem boring, most of the major issues, and critical roles of Sam McClure, Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, Ray Baker, Jacob Riis and others could have received more discussion if there had been more time.  And no one mentioned Archie Butts....

meh 9/26/14

Candidates and Candidacies

Next week the Kendal residents – in their collective identity as KAGRA (the Kendal at Granville Residents Association) – will hold our September gathering. This September event is a big thing. Our by-laws style it the "Annual Meeting." What that means is that while KAGRA meets on a regular, monthly basis to conduct the ongoing business of the association, the Annual Meeting is a special occasion. It is here that we choose council members for the coming operational year (October 1-September 30) and select the residents to serve on our standing committees. It is also here that we approve KAGRA's budget for the coming year.

What I want to comment on, however, is not the responsibilities of these offices or the procedures we use to fill them, but rather what we can glean about life at Kendal at Granville from reading the information that candidates post about themselves in their brief bios.

First off, it's useful to note that the slate of six candidates – three women and three men – encompasses the full range of Kendal residential terms: that is, one is a "founder" – one of the original residents at the newly-opened facility in 2005; three are persons who have joined the community in the fifteen months since its expansion; and two are mid-range residents, neither founders nor newbies. Clearly a newer generation of residential leadership is moving forward. And that's how it should be.

But what is more interesting are the career backgrounds they bring to their candidacies. One is a teacher of public speaking, argumentation, and persuasion. One worked on the country's guided missile program under Dr. Wernher von Braun. One taught in the Columbus school system for three decades. One spent thirty years as a chaplain and pastoral care educator at large hospitals.  One handled the book-keeping for a small business. Two served in the armed forces.

Then there is the range of their hobbies and interests. One is a devoté of duck hunting and fly fishing. One is a proponent of nature photography. One is an antiquer. Still other enthusiasms include travel (everyone likes this option), bridge, book clubs, Pilates, policy development, gardening, library work, and church activities. Moreover, in some fashion or another, all are fans of programs of lifelong learning.

I should probably add that the persons on this slate are not in any sense running against each other. KAGRA has a nominating committee, which recruits a slate of candidates large enough to fill every vacancy, but no more; and while there is an easy way for alternative candidacies to emerge, no one in my seven years at Kendal has used this route. So when the elections are over, we can be confident that all of the skills, backgrounds, and interests I've mentioned will be at play in guiding the new office-holders as they make decisions for the residents.

Finally I must draw attention to this description of a strength one candidate offers the community: "trying to bring common sense and good humor to all such things." KAGRA will  be in good hands. If only Kendal could place such people in Congress!

On a Thursday afternoon in early July I settled down in my den to do a task that required a concentrated period of uninterrupted time for completion.  Then the phone rang.  When I answered it was a call from Sarah, our automated phone messenger, with word that Granville had lost its water pressure due to a break in a main water line and they were working to repair it.  I made a mental note of that and returned to the task at hand.

It was only a few minutes when I got a second call from Sarah with the same message and then just a few more minutes before I received a third call.  Once more I tried to return to my task only to have the phone ring again  This time it was someone from the Granville Water Department to tell me what I had already heard from Sarah three times.  Persevering in my task I found my place only to be interrupted by the Granville Fire Chief, who often helps with sending out automatic warning messages to the Granville community.  By now I knew what he was going to say before he said it.  I was now convinced that no one in Granville had a drop of water to drink, wash with, or flush!!!

What I did know for certain was that I was lucky to be living at Kendal at Granville because in all past emergencies the staff had risen to the challenge be it four-day power outages, unending snow, or interrupted water pressure during our phase two construction project.   This day proved to be no exception. As they have before our Kendal Staff demonstrated that the are resourceful, thoughtful, and capable of dealinh with whatever comes their way.

A glance at the clock told me that the dinner hour had arrived.  I set aside my unfinished task to prepare to go to dinner.  Arriving at the dining room it quickly became evident that our staff members had been as busy as those proverbial bees.  Near the entrance I discovered large coolers filled with ice, bottled water, and soda for drinking. Bottled water was also available to take home for taking medications.

That night’s menu included spaghetti and corn on the cob.  They were prepared using bottled water.  The staff had located plastic ware for our use since they would not be able to wash dishes.

 

We heard that over in the health center they had taken advantage of the nearness of the swimming pool by carrying pails of water to flush the commodes there.  I couldn’t help thinking as I heard this about that little line so often tagged on to job descriptions that reads something like this: “And other related duties.”  Little do we know when we read that line just what it might come to mean in an emergency.

 The Granville water line was repaired later that Thursday evening but the emergency was only partially over as they announced the repair they also imposed a “boil alert” for all consumable water.  This remained in effect from Thursday  through Saturday morning.  During this time our staff performed as always calm, helpful, and reassuring that we were safe and secure as always here at Kendal at Granville.  They had indeed, “done it again.”  And very well.

 

 

 

VISIT THE ART GALLERY: AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

As a KAG resident for about six weeks now, more and more amazed by the talents and personalities here, I have delighted this month in the exhibit of resident and staff photography.

At the opening reception, the photographer most cornered was Hedda von Goeben, for a long wall celebrating "who hangs the wash, where they place it, and the country they live in."  It features vivid colored clothing gracefully hung in the South Pacific, spread on roofs above restaurants and art studios in South America, hung on ropes linking South Africa's Kelly green shanties, neatly organized on all white veranda clothes racks in Japan, attached with colored clothes pins in Tahiti.  A great idea, displaying only one of Hedda's artistic talents.

I was struck by the composition and sheer beauty of Jan Hoftiezer's pictures of the New Zealand Alps, Antarctica, and the high window flower boxes of Maastricht.  She has a photographer's eye.

Much attention was drawn to Wanda Quay's Tea Rose, the mushroom she spotted among autumn leaves, and a perfect shot of Old Faithful.  And everyone was counting the babies sheltered by Polly Redifer's mother elephant, then sharing experiences of--or dreams of--their own African safari.

Bob Doherty's focus on cooling area lakes, Kelley McCormack's collage of her "Home Away From Home" in the Great Smokies, and Kim Yang's delightful photos of laughing children and women, all remind us that they have lives beyond Kendal.

Mary Ingham's glorious shots of stages of the setting sun over the Gulf of Mexico make a Westerner like me long for that view, whereas Dan Fletcher's close-up shots of wildlife visitors outside his Kendal home tell us to get out there early and late if we want to see the wild turkey, snapping turtle, rabbits, raccoons, deer and pheasants!

Doyle Anderegg must have a great lens and quiet feet, judging by the exhibit's welcoming photos of wildflowers and butterflies he caught with open wings.

Don't miss this exhibit!

meh

Taking a Look at One Aspect of LGBT Equality

One of the ways the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of Kendal at Granville seeks to fulfill its mission to promote acceptance and inclusiveness is through holding periodic meetings of the Diversity Book Club.  The book chosen for our most recent session was “My Two Moms” by Zach Walls, the son of two lesbians and an activist on the behalf of LGBT equality. The subtitle,  “Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family” succinctly describes the lessons of life that Zach learned as he grew up.

Zach came to write this book after he addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee on 31 January 2011 in a public hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Iowa.  A video of his testimony posted on YouTube went viral. It had more than 1.5 million views within two weeks and exceeded 15 million views by April 2012.

One of the benefits of the Diversity Book Clubs is that it brings together both Kendal residents and staff members in a forum where they can discuss with each other books pertaining to topics on issues related to diversity and inclusion.  In our most recent event the number of staff members and residents was very nearly equal.  The co-leaders were Logan, a kitchen utility aide, and Susan, a retired Denison University professor of English. Logan had previously met the author and was impressed by what he had to say.  Therefore he recommended the book to us for study.

Our discussion ranged from personal reactions to the ideas expressed by Zach to sharing of personal interactions with LGBT persons.  Several comments related to the way in which Zach, an Eagle Scout, had used the Boy Scout Laws as a framework for his book.  Note was taken of the fact that Zach plans to work toward changing the negative views of gays within the Boy Scout organization. It was pointed out that in his book Zach states that one of his moms was regarded as a top Scout leader.  It was the consensus of the group that Zach’s approach was reasonable and well thought out.

Listening to this book and taking part in the discussion has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own personal journey to an understanding of the problems encountered by the LGBT community members in everyday life. I have come from a total unawareness that problems existed to a gradual awareness that there are people with such problems to becoming an advocate for LGBT equality.  Zach’s story has awakened me to an even greater awareness of my need to explore ways I can support LGBT equality. 

 

 

 

Celebrating Independence Day at Kendal

Sometimes everything falls nicely into place.  The stars are in conjunction. All is right with the world. "Serendipity"  – that's what it is: a serendipitous moment.

And that's the right term for the Independence Day celebrations at Kendal in 2014!

We actually started our celebrations a few days early. On the evening of Tuesday evening, July 1, a wonderful local choral group, the Vintage Voices, came to Kendal to present their annual July 4th concert. As the name suggests, the members of the chorus are senior citizens. But their voices were full and exuberant, and their program richly satisfying. The theme of the concert was patriotism, and the hallmarks of American society the singers chose to foreground were service to country and equality. The great American patriotic songs were performed – "America, the Beautiful," "God Bless America," and "The National Anthem" – and the audience was encouraged to join in on all of them. Each of the military branches was honored with the presentation of flags, borne in each case by residents who had served in the branch being recognized. Nor were the vital contributions of the myriad of persons who had not been members of the armed forces forgotten, as one choral number specifically celebrated these actions. The evening began solemnly with the posthumous conferring upon a former resident of an award for long and distinguished service to veterans. The concert was both a moment for serious reflection and an occasion for proud celebration.

On the evening of July 3rd the Granville community fireworks show lit up the clear skies over Kendal. Settled back in lawn chairs, residents could watch the colorful pyrotechnic displays while savoring the inevitable booms, bursts, and jolts that accompany them. For what would an Independence Day celebration be without some body-shaking blasts?

On the morning of the Fourth itself a contingent of about twenty residents gathered with two convertibles – our float! – to represent Kendal in the annual Independence Day parade down the main street in Granville. Some rode, some walked. The weather was spectacular, with temperatures in the mid-70s, low humidity, and a light breeze. The various floats represented many of the kinds of organizations that vitalize American communities: schools (public and private), musical groups, service organizations of all sorts and all ages, local businesses, and governmental offices. Children were everywhere. And so were people in colorful and often perplexing costumes. Many, including the Kendal gang, waved small American flags. The parade route was lined with spectators of all ages, ranks deep, often comfortably ensconced in lawn chairs while cheering, smiling, and waving. Some of these spectators were Kendal residents who preferred to watch and clap rather than walk in this spectacular setting. All in all, it was an occasion fit for Norman Rockwell.

Here, courtesy of Emily Conlon, are some photos of Kendal parade participants.

                      The Kendal Parade Gang

                   Dr. John Weigand, and Tom and Myra Gallant 
      

                                                         Dave Skeen

                              Becky Skeen

In the early afternoon the residents celebrated the Fourth with one of the spectacular mid-day meals that mark the big summer holidays at Kendal. To continue the Rockwell image, ask yourself this question. What could be more emblematically American than a special meal built around grilled hotdogs and hamburgers; brats and ribs; cole slaw, baked beans, deviled eggs, and corn on the cob; and an array of pies, cakes, and puddings?

It's true that many residents then spent the afternoon viewing the exciting World Cup matches. But that choice merely affirms that the spirit of America – as much on this 237th commemoration of the country's founding as on the grand day itself in 1776 – remains open to new and ever-broader visions.

We had a spectacular Fourth of July at Kendal. 

The Gallery Committee at Kendal at Granville

This blog begins where my last blog left off with the promise to continue the story of the Gallery Committee.  The mission of this committee was and remains to assume the responsibility for managing the Art b Gallery as Jane Heller had been doings since it opened in 2005.

One of the first tasks taken on by the committee was to obtain a museum quality hanging system to replace the hammer and nails being used.  This would free the maintenance department from continually having to repair the nail holes and repaint the walls.  The committee also was able to get the Woodworking Committee members to make a locked display cabinet with adjustable glass shelves to accommodate three dimensional art objects.  Considering the work involved in maintaining exhibits in two areas the committee decided to extend the time span for each exhibit to two months with alternating opening dates

Planning meetings are held once a month.  In between meetings members are engaged in a variety of tasks such as contacting artists, getting agreements with artists signed, putting up and taking down displays, arranging for and hosting receptions for show openings, sending thank you notes, etc.  Beyond a doubt this is one of our most active groups.

Since its inception the committee has hung twenty-nine gallery shows and set up twenty-seven cabinet displays.  All of this has been possible because of the number of artists and art enthusiasts who live here.  Four of the gallery shows consisted entirely of the works of Kendal artists.  When the subject matter of one of these shows was flowers the committee used the opening reception to not only recognize the artists but three individuals who created flower art in their own special way. One was a resident who has become known as the “flower lady” because she gives so many of us miniature bouquets of fresh flowers on birthdays and anniversaries.  The other two were a couple who created and maintained a lovely  “oval garden” where any one of us could pick flowers.

A call for art posters brought considerably diverse responses from twelve persons. There were posters from Alaska to Florida, from Delaware to California, with some from here in Ohio including one from Granville.  Some came from well known art museums while others came from lesser known venues.  Each reflected a bit about their owners. 

The response of residents and staff to a similar call for photographs demonstrated that we have some skilled photographers in our community.  One of blue birds by a staff member brought several requests for copies.  At the present time we are planning an informal presentation of photographs mounted simply on foam board. .

Believing that young artists should be encouraged we have had nine gallery shows featuring the work of students from nine area schools ranging from kindergarten to post-secondary levels of education.

 

Currently we have a display of Heisey glass in our display cabinet made up of items on loan from twelve residents. In July and August it will be replaced by a show of half boat models with sea shells. That will be followed by what we have come to call our “Olio Shows,” i.e.  Small groups of items from more than one artist.

Our current gallery exhibit is made up of pieces of art from the personal collections of fifteen residents.  Plans underway for future gallery shows include photographs, mandalas, student art, and fiber arts.  There is no quiet time for the members of this committee as they work to assure our community of a new show each month.

I personally find working with this committee fulfilling and challenging.  It helps to give purpose to my life.  Along the way I find that I discover kindred spirits among my fellow residents.  I believe that this is one of the reasons that we enjoy visiting and revisiting art galleries and art museums. Another benefit for me and our Kendal community is that the nature of the work of the committee keeps us focused on the future.