Community Matters Aberdeen Village
April 2015
PMMA observes its Founders Day
Employees of Aberdeen Village will observe the founding of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America this month as the company celebrates 66 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri. Each Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus will have its own celebration with residents and employees during April, acknowledging the importance of making life “the way you want to live.”
We are the Easter people! Go for it!
“Many of our employees view what they do as a calling, not just a job,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, which directly impacts the wonderful care our 2,400 residents receive every day.”
When Paul wrote his great resurrection chapter (I Corinthians 15), he didn’t end it saying, “Let’s celebrate the great future life that awaits us.” Instead, he ended it this way, “So, get on with your work because you know that in the Lord, it won’t go to waste.”
Aberdeen Village will celebrate Founders Day from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on April 23. Join us in the chapel/ community room for food, games and cheering on the staff/resident Wii bowling teams during the Founder’s Day tournament. Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish
Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton, chaplain
God raised Jesus to life again! God’s new world has begun! Easter shouts to every dark place in the world that brokenness, disappointment, failure, heartbreak and death are not the final words. The final word is the love of God. The gift of Easter is a second, third or infinite number of opportunities to start all over again. Listen to the story of Itzak Perlman from a 1995 story from the Houston Chronicle. Itzak, the famous violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Lincoln Center in New York City. Getting on stage is no small achievement for him. Polio as a child left him with braces on both legs and he walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an unforgettable sight. When he reaches his chair, he sits down, slowly puts his crutches on the
FOUNDERS, continued on page 2 CEO, continued on page 4
A proud member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America
EASTER, continued on page 2
Goin’ fishin’
It’s time to pack up the tackle boxes and head to the lake! Thanks to the benevolence of the Olathe Bass Pro Shop, Aberdeen Village residents will be fishing soon. Bass Pro donated six fishing rods and reels. Pictured here are Aberdeen Village Recreation Services Director Sandy Barnes and resident Dick Griffith receiving the rods and reels from Diego Sequi of Bass Pro Shops. There will be a shopping trip to the Olathe Bass Pro Shop for the lures and bait needed for the fishing trips. The first big outing will be April 29 to Hillsdale Lake. The marina at the lake has kindly offered the use of a pontoon boat for the fishing trip.
FOUNDERS, continued from page 1
a home for seniors. Her vision became the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. Today PMMA remains true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values. For more information about Founders Day, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, at swilley@pmma.org. EASTER, continued from page 1
floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, nods to the conductor and begins to play.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org. Tim Allin, executive director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
By now, his audiences are used to sitting quietly while he goes through this ritual and wait until he is ready to play. But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke.You could hear it snap. People thought to themselves, “He’ll have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage—to either find another violin or else find another string for this one.” But he didn’t. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again. The orchestra began and he played with more passion, more power and more purity than they had ever heard before. Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. But that
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night Itzak refused to know that. He modulated, changed and recomposed the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was re-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before. When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. Then everyone was on their feet, screaming and cheering in appreciation. He smiled, raised his bow to quiet them and said, “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.” Itzak is one of the Easter people! Brokenness, disappointment and failure will not have the final word. His faith and his performance challenge us to love like nobody has ever hurt you, dance like nobody is watching, sing like nobody is listening, and live as if this is paradise on earth. Let us open ourselves to the Easter Joy and to live fully with all that we have, but also to make music with what we have left.We are the Easter People! Go for it!
Big time bowling The NSL is a national internet bowling league for seniors. Teams play in their own community, and Aberdeen Village has joined the league. Teams are made up of 4 senior bowlers. Teams compete in conferences with 7 other teams. Teams play each team in their conference one time – a total of 7 games. The better teams advance to 3 or 4 weeks of playoffs much like the NCAA Final Four format – you win, you play on – you lose, you are finished. No traveling is involved. The NSL is in its sixth year of state, regional and national championship play. There are 130 communities participating this year with 320 teams and more than 1,600 seniors who are registered on NSL teams. Each team has a coach – generally the Activities Director. The coach posts the teams scores on the NSL website each Thursday. Scores are then calculated and results are posted on Friday by 4 p.m. Eastern time. The NSL keeps individual and team stats, provides the schedule, manages the competition and distributes awards to conference and division winners. Awards also go to Coach of the Year and NSL Bowlers of the Year. We look forward to a winning season! Pictured here are independent living residents and Wii Bowlers Bob Butler, Harry Acker, Rose Klusman and Ginny Graham.
USO-Style Dance Wednesday, April 22, 2015 5-7 p.m. Aberdeen Village 17500 West 119th Street Olathe, Kansas 66061 Complimentary valet parking provided. Aberdeen Village resident “Irish” Lubberts (third from right) at Honolulu Naval Air Station, 1945
Reminisce this spring
with a little bit of swing. A taste of home away from home. Time for talk among the troops. And the dance you couldn’t wait to attend. At Aberdeen Village, the good old days of USO clubs are never far behind — and you’re invited to celebrate them with us! For one special evening, we’ll enjoy refreshments while revisiting the Big Band era, with music from K.C. Swing Band and the Sharon Andrews Duo. Dust off those uniforms, grab a partner, and join us at Aberdeen Village for a jitterbug or two.
Veterans are welcome to wear their uniforms and caps. To R.S.V.P., call 913-599-6100 today!
A Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Senior Living Community . AberdeenVillage.com
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Entry deadline: April 15
Coming Up in Community Matters Community Matters will focus on gardening and outdoor life in an upcoming issue. Are you an avid gardener, or were you when you were more physically able? What did you love about gardening? What did you grow? Does your campus have a raised bed garden that you help with now? What do you enjoy about being outdoors? If you have a story to tell, contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
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Community Matters April 2015
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