The Many Services Related to Dining

by Bob Buddemeier

Ken Wilson has the job that everyone wants somebody else to do well.  As Ken explains, it was an example of the adage “be careful what you wish for.”  He applied to serve on the Dining Services Advisory Committee (DSAC), and somehow came out of the process as Chair of the committee.

After serving in the position since October, Ken felt ready to talk to The Complement about DSAC’s current activities.  His first statement was to acknowledge and thank Janet Jacobson for her three-year service as Chair, and especially for negotiating the changing restrictions and other challenges of the COVID period.

Ken Wilson

When asked what he saw as the main thrust of committee activities, he unhesitatingly answered “communication” – enabling the committee to effectively assess resident needs and concerns and transmit them to RVM Administration and staff, and to assist with providing Dining Services information to the residents.

An example of actions taken to better understand resident viewpoints is the appointment of individual committee members to take responsibility for talking to residents in the various dining venues. These assignments are:  Arden – Claudia Macmillan; Umpqua and Mountain View – Meridel Hedges; Manor dining room – Gary Jensen; and Bistro – Diane Friedlander.  They communicate their observations and information collected from the residents to Marilyn Perrin, who compiles them as feedback for the committee and Dining Services leadership.  Vicki Gorrell has also continued in the invaluable job of secretary, producing minutes and posting activities on MyRVM.  Ken has also welcomed Sally Densmore to the committee as a replacement for Madge Walls who recently resigned for personal reasons.

Ken has weekly meetings with Eric Eisenberg, and the full committee (which includes Eric and Dave Keaton in addition to Resident Council officers and RVM board members) meets at 1:00 pm on the third Wednesday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September and November In 2024), with smaller meetings in the intervening months.  When asked if guests could attend the regular meetings, Ken said “Yes, certainly, but if they want to present or discuss something, I’d like them to contact me before the meeting.”

In addition to acting as advisors and communication pathways, Ken pointed out that the committee can provide active support for Dining Services.  The example he gave was the period when Arden needed to close down for a few days.  Reservation holders needed to be notified, and there was not enough staff time available for them to do it in person.  The committee divided up the people who needed to be contacted and informed them with personal phone calls instead of a memo or email.

These kinds of activities can help smooth the interactions between Dining Services and the residents, while giving everyone a better understanding of DSAC’s goals and capabilities, Ken said.  This is good, since there will certainly be lots of communication opportunities associated with developments such as the “declining balance” (aka Spend Down & My Choice) meal charges, which Dave Keaton has announced will be initiated March 1.

For further information about DSAC and what it does or can do, contact Ken or one of the committee members named above, Mission, membership and minutes are posted on MyRVM; click the main menu Dining tab, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, and click the icon in the lower right corner.