Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
February 2016
Art is Ageless® call for entries is underway Wichita Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held March 7 through 25, 2016. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2017 Art is Ageless calendar. The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Wichita Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Having a creative outlet benefits the mind, body and spirit. “The exhibit and competition always draw a wide array of impressive artwork from talented seniors,” said Amy Watson, life enrichment director. “We’re expecting this to be another great year for creativity and variety of works on exhibit.” ART, continued on page 2
Health care residents debut RedBirds group Residents of The Willows health care neighborhood at Wichita Presbyterian Manor always appreciate the carolers who come to entertain them at Christmastime. This year, however, some of them had a new idea: why don’t we sing for each other? “Everybody comes in to do programs for us. So they got to talking one day about how they should put on a program for our people here,” said Helen Martinez, life enrichment assistant for health care. That’s how Helen’s Happy RedBirds were born. Martinez led the nineperson group in rehearsals every day for three weeks. They prepared four songs to perform on Christmas Eve for their friends in The Willows, accompanying themselves on maracas, tambourines and bells. Many of their family members came to listen, too. The residents decided on RedBirds for a name because cardinals are one of the only birds you hear singing in the winter. The group decorated matching red sweatshirts to wear, along with Santa hats and fingerless gloves. They even worked up some simple choreography to go with the music. “They really enjoyed doing it, and they were so excited because people REDBIRDS, continued on page 2
REDBIRDS, continued from page 1
were singing along and clapping,” Martinez said. With one successful performance under their belt, the RedBirds are ready to go again. They’re rehearsing a Valentine’s program, this time for the entire Wichita Presbyterian Manor community. The show is planned for Feb. 12. “They’re all over the jitters,” Martinez said. “Now they want to perform this in the chapel, where everyone is invited to come and hear the four love songs they all have chosen.” She added, “I’m just so glad they had fun doing it.We’re not going to stop now.”
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Local competition winners will join winners 17 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the systemwide level.
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Dawn Veh, executive director Jill Coleman, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, awatson@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-942-7456 Fax: 316-941-3806 Address: 4700 W. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters February 2016
Entry forms and information can be picked up at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, 4700 W. 13th Street, Wichita, or by contacting Watson at 316-9427456 or awatson@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to
view rules, download an entry form or enter online. Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2011). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 4, 2016.
Winter events at Presbyterian Manor
Billie Crossland, left, and Lois Jenkins enjoy the festive atmosphere on our visit to the Nifty Nut House in December.
Above and left: Presbyterian Manor employees enjoy a visit from local food trucks.
Above right: Velma Barber, left, and Wilma McLean enjoy the Nifty Nut House outing.
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Angela Page, life enrichment coordinator for the Westwinds neighborhood, receives the keys for our new bus from Kansas Truck. The bus seats 12 passengers and two wheelchairs, and has a hydraulic lift, all of which will help us include more residents with mobility needs in our activities. In December, we took health care residents on a tour of Christmas lights. EVENTS, continued on page 4 Wichita Presbyterian Manor
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EVENTS, continued from page 3
Angela Page, life enrichment coordinator for the Westwinds neighborhood, and resident Ruth Lichty admire one of several trees decorated for Christmas throughout the community.
Amy Watson, life enrichment director, shops at the Christmas Bazaar. Residents, families and staff members shopped at vendors while enjoying cookies, cocoa and coffee.
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Volunteer Daylene Gomez, left, and life enrichment staff members Angela Page and Helen Martinez gather by the tree in our front entrance after a concert by students from St. Jude school. Left: The Pilot’s Club was one of the vendors at Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s Christmas Bazaar, an annual event that is popular with residents, families and friends.
Time to celebrate volunteerism! How have you answered the call to be a volunteer? How have volunteers helped you in a time of need? Why do you think volunteers are so important? How have you benefited from being a volunteer? If you’ve got a story to share about volunteering, contact Life Enrichment Director Amy Watson and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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