Posted in N&V

What about that bridge?  The back story from Al Densmore 

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By Joni Johnson

Al and Sally Densmore have lived at the Manor since Spring, 2019.  We arrived just about the same time.  I was very excited to know that we had a former Mayor of Medford living here.  And then I learned about the Al Densmore Bridge…  How much better than that can it get?  But what about the bridge?  Why and how did it get built?  Why was it named after Al?

Al Densmore has been involved in politics and public service most of his adult life.  He was born and raised in Portland and went to school at Portland State University. At PSU he earned his B.S. in political science with a secondary education credential. He was hired by the Medford School District to teach social studies in 1968. As a volunteer with the local Democratic Central Committee, he learned that the party didn’t have a candidate to run for a county-wide office as state representative. He was elected and began the first of three terms in the Oregon House of Representatives.

Al rose quickly in the leadership of the Oregon House and in his second term was appointed to chair the House Local Government and Urban Affairs Committee. In that 1973 legislative session, Jackson County Commissioner Isabel Sickels and County Parks Manager Neil Ledward presented to Al and his committee the concept of a greenway trail along Bear Creek linking all of the communities and parks from Ashland to Central Point and beyond. The idea was written into bill form and ultimately passed into law in the summer of 1973. The city of Medford soon constructed the first section of trail.

Over the four subsequent decades, individual communities, led by the non-profit Bear Creek Foundation and Jackson County, helped construct additional sections of trail with the financial help of private citizens and businesses as well as state and federal grants. In 2006, the remaining gap to an unbroken trail of 22 miles was the at-grade crossing at Barnett Road.

Now we are getting to the bridge.  In order to alleviate the nation-wide recession of 2007, Congress passed an economic stimulus measure that offered grants for projects that were “shovel-ready” (already engineered ready to go to bid quickly). Medford’s share of these funds was approximately one million dollars. The bridge estimate was approximately two million dollars. There were two ways that the city council could respond – either repave Stewart Avenue or build the bridge that was a capstone to the Bear Creek Greenway. Al worked tirelessly to find the additional funds by working with the regional transportation planning body. The bridge was completed in 2012.  It was a major piece of construction to enhance the safety of pedestrians accessing the Greenway without putting themselves in danger as they tried to cross Barnett.

At first people called it the BOB – the Bridge Over Barnett. In 2015 County Commissioner Don Skundrick approached the city of Medford with the idea that the bridge be named after Al because of his unceasing efforts on behalf of the Bear Creek Greenway, and it was so dedicated.

So how does it feel to see that bridge as he drives Barnett almost every day?  He says, “It’s humbling because you don’t expect things like this to occur in your lifetime.” It is very visible and public, and by nature Al prefers to work behind the scenes to build bridges and solve problems.

Al and Sally came to the Manor in 2019 because of the sense community, personal support and very importantly, the ability to avoid cooking.  How lucky we are that he and Sally are here.

About Being Green…

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An info-editorial by Bob Buddemeier, based on input from Gini Armstrong

In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, “It isn’t easy being green.”  Well, it just got easier at RVM –Gini Armstrong is organizing a Green Team.  According to Gini, the Team will have a two-pronged approach to making RVM a more environmentally friendly community.  One prong will be providing information and encouragement to support individual action and more constructive lifestyles; the other will be providing RVM and PRS management with encouragement, support and information to take appropriate action in day-to-day operations.

Gini points out that there are many opportunities for conservation in the areas of chemical, plastic, and water use.  With respect to energy, she uses the solar energy applications currently advocated by Jim Ellis as the kind of initiative that can be undertaken.  For more information or to participate, contact Gini in person or visit the Green Team table at the upcoming Opportunity Fair.

For those interested in living in ways that are (more) compatible with Nature, formation of a Green Team is a Big Deal.  Why?  Why does Kermit think it’s not easy?  Because it’s complicated.  The thing we call Nature is VERY complicated.  Plants and animals (all the way down to the insects and even further – fungi and bacteria), water, air, soil, all interact in many ways invisible to ordinary people.  And if we’re talking about complexity, people – individually or collectively – add another very knotty layer to the interaction.

The thing about having a positive effect on the natural processes of the environment we live in is that a series of steps is required.

  • You have to decide what you want to affect – if you try to do everything, you are likely to accomplish nothing.
  • You need to decide what you can affect – dedicating yourself to the impossible, or even the extremely difficult, is another good way to accomplish nothing of significance.
  • You need to decide how to create the effect you aim for – system complexity means that there’s a lot to know and understand to avoid wasted or even counterproductive effort.

That’s a lot of decision making.  Realistically, it’s likely to be out of reach for any individual.  Enter the Team (Green, in this case).  More people, if they organize and cooperate, can collect more information, evaluate more opportunities, make better decisions (we hope), and by combined effort have more effect.

An example – the US Geological Survey estimated that in 2015, the United States used 322,000,000,000 gallons of water per day.  If you save a gallon per day (average household use is measured in hundreds of gallons), good for you, but it’s kind of a small dent in a large amount.  Persuade every resident to save a gallon, and that’s 1.000 gallons not used, which is beginning to look a little bit more like the great big number (which is now 322,999,999,000).  Persuade PRS and RVM to save some comparable fraction of the water consumed by Dining Services, Wellness, and Facilities, and you dial down the total some more.  Those accomplishments, or some fraction, become more achievable as you combine the efforts and influence of more people.  But you need to add one more bullet to the list above.

  • You need to decide how you are going to measure your effect. No matter how well-considered you think your actions are, without knowing the before and after, you are flying blind in terms of maximizing the benefits to Nature (and the people who are part of Nature).

So Go, Team, Go!  Green, Green, Green!

Tango at the Manor?   Wow!

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By Joni Johnson

Believe it or not, we will soon have access to authentic Argentine tango lessons by a resident who has spent much of his life dancing, especially Tango.  Just like Johnny in “Dirty Dancing”, Clay Nelson got his start with training from Arthur Murray.

Clay has been a Manor resident for four months but has been a long time resident of Medford and Ashland, where he was instrumental in developing the Ashland Tango group  https://www.ashlandtango.com.  Clay grew up near Chicago and first started his life in Engineering, with a BS, MS and Ph.D in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois. Always interested in dancing, while he was at U of I he started training with the Arthur Murray studio and ended up teaching there.

His career as an engineer took him to NASA, among other places, and then he taught engineering first at the University of Portland and then Texas A&M.  While at Texas A&M, he got back into dancing.  After presenting a paper in Portland one weekend, he fell in love with the city and asked for a year off from Texas.  The one year became two and a half years, and he finally left his tenured position in Texas to stay in Portland permanently.

Eventually, he gave up engineering completely and immersed himself in his new field of dancing.  He opened his own studio – Clay’s Dancing Studio. He taught many group classes in all sorts of ballroom dancing, swing being his favorite.  But a weekend workshop in Corvallis learning the Argentine tango changed his life forever.  That was in 1994.  He has never looked back.

He explained that there is a huge difference between authentic Argentine Tango and American Ballroom Tango. Whereas American Tango is driven by competition and specific stylized step patterns, Argentine tango is a more social dance driven by improvisation, communication and connection between you, your partner and the music.

Argentine tango started in the streets of Buenos Aires in the 19th century and is a melding of the music and traditions of European immigrants, South American Indians and African slaves. Ultimately it is an improvisational dance between two people moving in time to the music.  However, there is an underlying structure and rules of grammar–just as there is structure and grammar in speaking a language.

On the Ashland Tango site, Clay is quoted as saying “No other dance can compete with the passion and intensity of Argentine Tango!”  He told me that when you dance American tango, you are often dancing for a judge or the audience, but when you dance the Argentine tango, you dance for your partner.

Many scientists find that their talents lead them to music in various forms.  Clay moved to dancing.  As an engineer, he is fascinated analyzing the dance and the music. After his experience with the Argentine tango, he began spending his energy teaching only the tango and leaving the other ballroom dances to other teachers in his studio. Then he got involved in tango festivals, organizing the Portland festival of tango twenty years ago.  Festivals have taken him to Seattle, Mexico and Ashland where he made friends with people whom he keeps in contact with to this day.  He is currently involved in two festivals, one in Portland   https://valentango.us/ and one in McCloud, California  https://burningtango.us/.  The Portland festival attracts over 700 people and the McCloud festival hosts about 350 dancers.

Clay spent about eight years in Ashland and the same amount of time in Medford before moving to the Manor.  The community aspect of RVM really attracted him because he said otherwise it would be so easy for him to become a hermit.

I asked him what he loved about Argentine tango.  He said there is a magical moment that happens when you get in sync and connect with your partner and the music, and you create your own dance.  He says that the experience often puts one into a wonderful trance-like state.

Clay is excited about starting a tango class here at the Manor.  Scheduled start date is Monday Oct 3 from 7:00-8:00 pm in the auditorium. And not to worry if you think tango is too complicated or difficult. Ultimately it is just a walking dance with your partner in time to the music. Clay starts his classes with first clapping to the beat and then moving and walking to the beat with your partner. Gradually he progresses to basic tango steps and moves while at the same time keeping the concepts of leading, following and improvisation in mind. No partner is needed to join the class, and no  previous dance experience is needed–in fact some of the best tangueros have never danced before.  To see examples of stage performance Argentine tango go to: https://youtu.be/6EPy7Obd2_8

Clay thinks that exposure to the Argentine tango will be a wonderful moment in appreciating another culture and moving in a different way.  Also, Clay hopes that there will ultimately be a merging of the RVM Tangueros with the local Rogue Valley Tangueros, and we can all meet for an evening of Tango.  The RVM class will be in the auditorium and therefore is not very limited in number.  It will be a six-week series. Clay hopes to create a real love for the Tango here on top of the hill.  How lucky we are that he moved to RVM.

What’s New in October

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*-Do you want to get a personal email notification of a new Complement issue or new material?   Email us at openinforvm@gmail.com and we will put you on the mailing list

Interested in previous issues?  Scroll to the bottom of the page.  In the center is a “Load More” link.  Click this to display past articles.

 

NEWS & VIEWS

What about that bridge? The back story from Al Densmore, by Joni Johnson

About Being Green…, by Bob Buddemeier

The Karnatz Korner – October – November 2022

Knock, Knock, by Bob Buddemeier

ARTS & INFO 

Smokey’s Favorite Toast, courtesy of Bill Silfvast

The RVM Craft Fair

NIT WIT NEWS – October 2022, by A. Looney

October in the Library, by Anne Newins

The Woman in the Library book review, by Bonnie Tollefson

Events and Opportunities: October-November

in Big, Borrowed, or Both

3550:  the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here

Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (October issue) Click Here

PREPARE

Be Ready to Shiver and Shake! by Bob Buddemeier

RPG Manual – Resident Preparedness

Celebrating Norm Boice- Lawn Bowling Extraordinaire

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By Joni Johnson, pictures by Reina Lopez

On Wednesday, August 31, the lawn bowling club celebrated the retirement of Norm Boice at a dinner at the Manor.   Norm, in his two years plus term as president, has done a remarkable job in moving our club forward during these hard times. He initiated several parties, started the process of bowl inventory, increased visibility of the bowling club and reconnected us with our amazing past.

Did you know that Lawn Bowling has been part of RVM since its inception, with both indoor and outdoor playing fields as part of its original plans.  And more importantly, RVM is one of the very few CCRC facilities in west that has lawn bowling as an option.  If you go to the Lawn Bowling page on myrvm.org you will have access to articles and stories about the club and its history.  Enjoy!  And thank you Norm for his leadership and foresight during the pandemic.

Norm says, “We have completed two-plus years battling all sorts of obstacles; COVID, smoke, heat, cold, interruption of social connections, member health issues, just to name a few.  But true to the club’s 60-year history, these two-plus years brought progress. As we know, there is a lot more to do: recruit new members to generate excitement, social events to reconnect members, and some competition to stimulate growth. With COVID about over (please let it be true), the door is open to make some real forward progress. Lawn bowling is a sport that everyone can enjoy and we are indeed fortunate that 60 years ago our founders had the foresight and vision to make it available to all of us.”

https://a.mwapp.net/p/mweb_ws.v?id=82274946&c=82275315&n=Resident-Information

this site takes you to the activities page.  Go to lawn bowling and see the various stories about lawn bowling at RVM.

A CCRC Residents’ Bill of Rights

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by Connie Kent and Bob Buddemeier

Did you know that residents of CCRCs in Oregon are guaranteed specific rights by State law? It is true – the current version, dated 2021, may be found on the Oregon Legislature website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors101.html. The 17 articles of the Bill are included at the end of this piece.

The articles of the current bill address most of the things you might expect – the CCRC’s obligation to assist and support the resident, non-discrimination, privacy, medical care, freedom of activities and associations, and communications between resident and “provider” (the CCRC management).

From 2013 to approximately 2017, an RVM version of Resident Rights was posted on MyRVM. That version was later supplanted by a very slightly different (unfortunately undated) PRS/CARF version of Resident Rights. [Note: CARF is an accreditation organization to which PRS formerly belonged.] You can find this document at https://thecomplement.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Residents-Rights-Jan-2017-PRS.pdf. Both of these documents were apparently based on a very similar but slightly older version (2011) of the rights statement, which is still available on the Oregon Secretary of State website: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=90425.

In early July 2022 the CARF/PRS version was still posted on MyRVM, but it could be found only by searching; there were no links to it. Residents Council Officers agreed that the information should be provided to residents. When we consulted Administration, Executive Director Stan Solmonson explained that the document had been “unlinked” because it carried the logo of CARF, and the Manor is no longer associated with CARF.

Stan agreed that the document needed to be available to residents, and said that he would make sure that is updated, republished, posted and distributed.

The text of the Oregon statute is reproduced below. A final RVM version may differ slightly because Articles 12 and 13 refer to policies for which the CCRC is responsible, and certain general terms (e.g., “reasonable” in Article 16) might be replaced with specific policy statements.

 

ORS 101.115 Resident rights.

[Definition: “Provider” means an owner or operator, whether a natural person, partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation or unincorporated association, however organized, of a new or existing continuing care retirement community, whether operated for profit or not, that provides, plans to provide or agrees to provide continuing care to one or more unrelated residents under a residency agreement.]

(1) A provider must assist a resident, upon request, in the exercise of the resident’s rights as a citizen of the United States and as a resident of this state. A resident has the right to exercise all rights that do not infringe upon the rights or safety of other residents.

(2) A resident has the right to review a provider’s disclosure statements.

(3) A provider may not discriminate or impose any requirement or restriction based on sex, marital status, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin of a resident, a prospective resident or a resident’s visitor.

(4) A provider shall make reasonable accommodations to ensure that services are accessible to residents who have disabilities.

(5) A provider shall treat each resident with respect and dignity at all times, and ensure privacy for each resident during rehabilitation or treatment and when receiving personal care services.

(6) A resident has the right to associate and communicate privately with persons of the resident’s choice and to send and receive mail that is not opened by the provider.

(7) A resident has the right to be free from abuse as defined in ORS 124.005.

(8) The residents’ council has the right to meet with the provider no less than twice each year and must be allowed free discussion at the meetings of subjects that may include, but need not be limited to, facility income, expenditures, financial trends, resident concerns, proposed changes in policy, programs and services, and any other issue identified by the council or a resident under ORS 101.112 (1).

(9) A resident has the right to participate in social, religious and community activities at the discretion of the resident.

(10) A resident has the right to be fully informed, prior to or at the time of admission and during the resident’s period of residency, of services available in the continuing care retirement community, whether the provider participates in the Medicare or Medicaid programs and the consequences of the participation or lack of participation by the provider in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

(11) A resident has the right to refuse medication, treatment, care or participation in clinical trials or other research.

(12) A resident has the right to obtain treatment, care and services, including but not limited to home health and hospice care, from persons providing health care who have not entered into a contract with or are not affiliated with the provider, subject to policies of the CCRC regarding the provision of services by persons that are not under contract.

(13) A resident has the right to submit grievances and to suggest changes in policies and services either orally or in writing to staff or other individuals without fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal by the provider. A provider must adopt written policies and procedures for the timely resolution of a resident’s grievance.

(14) A resident has the right to be free from harassment by other residents and to peaceful enjoyment of the CCRC without interference from other residents.

(15) A provider shall keep clinical and personal records of residents confidential. A resident or an authorized representative of the resident has the right to a prompt inspection of the records pertaining to the resident’s care. The provider shall provide photocopies or electronic copies of a resident’s records to the resident or the authorized representative at a reasonable charge.

(16) A resident has the right to receive notice of proposed changes in fees or services in accordance with ORS 101.112. The provider must allow residents a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed changes before the changes become effective.

(17) A provider shall have a procedure in place for a resident to request that a staff person of a particular sex be assigned to assist the resident with activities of daily living. The provider shall accommodate the request unless the provider is unable to do so. If the provider is unable to accommodate the request, the provider shall notify the resident, in writing, of the reasons why the provider is unable to accommodate the request and shall maintain documentation showing why the provider cannot accommodate the request. [2009 c.201 §12; 2015 c.839 §1; 2021 c.367 §6]

What’s New in September

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*-Do you want to get a personal email notification of a new Complement issue or new material?   Email us at openinforvm@gmail.com and we will put you on the mailing list

Interested in previous issues?  Scroll to the bottom of the page.  In the center is a “Load More” link.  Click this to display past articles.

 

NEWS & VIEWS

Celebrating Norm Boice – Lawn Bowling Extraordinaire, by Joni Johnson, pictures by Reina Lopez

Karnatz Korner September-October 2022, by Bob Buddemeier, information from Sarah Karnatz

Tango At the Manor?  Wow!  by Joni Johnson

A CCRC Residents’ Bill of Rights, by Connie Kent and Bob Buddemeier

Flo, Jack, Mary and Sue, by Connie Kent

ARTS & INFO 

September’s Library Display, by Anne Newins

My Pal Hank, by Tom Conger

NIT WIT NEWZ –  September 2022, by A. Looney  

A Trip Through Local Geology, by Anne Newins with additional information provided by George Yates

RVM  September-October Event & Entertainment Schedule

in Big, Borrowed, or Both

3550:  the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here

Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (September issue)  Click Here


PREPARE

RPG Manual – Resident Preparedness

Use It or Lose It Part 1: Manor Mart

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By Bob Buddemeier

In the recently distributed RVM FY 2022-2023 Budget Summary, the following statement appears:

Translation:  Don’t expect RVM to subsidize this forever.

As far as I could find out, there is not a firm timeline or net income amount set for determining whether the Manor Mart stays or goes, but the warning is clear.

Why do we need it?  For people without cars, or with limited mobility, it can be nearly essential.  Mart Manager Alicia Aldrich says that some residents do essentially all of their shopping there.  This says a lot about the combination of stocked goods and ordering possibilities that the Mart offers – people who get their meals provided can find almost all of the household and personal items they need.

Alicia also says that the markups are low – comparable to most retail outlets.  This means that somebody who hops in the car to go to Freddie’s and pick up some minor item is paying an additional $0.50-1.00 for gas, taking an extra 20+ minutes, and dealing with the hassles of traffic and parking.  Why would they do it?  Force of habit is one answer, but there are some others.  One issue is that of hours.  If your head hurts at 7 p.m. and you’re out of Tylenol, or if you get a desperate craving for an ice cream bar on Sunday, you’re out of luck as far as the Mart is concerned.  This is a tough problem, because staying open requires people and people are expensive.

What can be done to increase business?  Without using the “advertising” word, we can discuss awareness-raising and attention-getting,  Those activities might be combined with sales or featured items, or just used as the Channel 900 spots are – for information and encouragement

The Complement is willing to run Manor Mart notices. I would hope that hillTopics and Bits and Pieces would do the same for this in-house resource that benefits the residents.  But what ad agency is going to organize this campaign and generate the material?  Alicia is the one-woman do-everything proprieter whose time is taken up with managing and trying to improve and expand store services.   Couldn’t we find some residents with retail or PR experience who would be willing to support the Manor Mart on a volunteer basis?  This would be a real service. (see comment on “support” in the reply section below)

Another point – the Manor Mart was (re) established after sustained resident (including Resident Council) pressure and requests.  OK, activists, you got it – now what are you going to do to keep it?  It seems to me that this is something deserving of sustained attention and support – a task force or support team organized by the Residents Council.  Or, if that can’t happen, an independent group of people who really care.  There are numerous examples of that happening at RVM.

There need to be some solutions found, because the problem is well-defined: if enough people don’t use it, we all lose it.

Flo, Jack, Mary and Sue

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by Connie Kent

Mary and Jack Frost with Sue

Shortly after moving to the Manor, Sue Silfvast stood to introduce herself to her local P.E.O. chapter (Philanthropic Educational Organization). Asked to choose just one important element of her life, she chose to describe her visit to Japan in 2007. She had been invited by the alumni association of the Doshisha University in Kyoto to represent the family and give a talk at a celebration of the 150th birthday of her great aunt, Mary Florence Denton (1857-1947), who had been a missionary and educator in Japan for 60 years. Sue, her husband Bill and her cousin Sandra were overwhelmed when they were greeted with deep bows upon their arrival. The Japanese revered “Aunt Flo.” She was considered a “national treasure” by the Japanese.

Miss Denton had been decorated with the Sixth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government, the first woman and the first American ever to receive the award.

In 1888, after having taught for 17 years in California (starting when she was 17 years old) Mary Florence Denton answered God’s call (through the American Board of Foreign Missions), packed up her life, boarded a ship, and moved to Japan. She became active in the Japanese Red Cross, the Volunteer Nurses’ Association and in aiding Russian prisoners during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). She was instrumental in founding the Kyoto Y.W.C.A, the Japanese W.C.T.U, and the Women’s Society for Moral Reform. At just over 30 years of age, she joined the faculty of the Doshisha School in Kyoto, now one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan. She taught Japanese girls geology, botany, astronomy, English, Bible, cooking and nursing. She made herself responsible for nursing any of the girls who were ill in the dormitory and for years she was head of the dormitory matrons.

At her P.E.O. meeting, Sue describedher aunt, how honored she felt to be associated with a relative that was so highly regarded by so many Japanese, and the amazing welcome she and Bill had received in Japan. Suddenly she heard a gasp from the audience.

“Wait. Could your aunt be the woman my husband has talked about so much? Are you talking about Mary Florence Denton, of Kyoto, in the forties, right after the War?”

The speaker was Mary Frost. “My husband Jack was in the Army in Japan and went to see Miss Denton several times. Meeting her had a big impact on him. He can’t say enough about the great lady who> was so respected by the Japanese. Why, the Japanese took care of her all during the war, when America was fighting Japan!”

And that’s how, almost eighty years later, Sue met Jack and Mary Frost, who were also living at the Manor. Jack had befriended “Aunt Flo” toward the end of her life, visiting her and bringing her medicine. Miss Denton had retired in 1928, but continued to live in her home on the grounds of the Doshisha, cared for by a devoted Japanese family. But the medicines she needed weren’t readily available in Japan, so the Red Cross provided them, and Jack, having fallen in love with her, was one of the delivery boys.

Mary and Jack Frost with Sue and pictures of “Aunt Flo”

 

 

When Sue got together with Jack and Mary, they shared with her the journals Jack had kept during his time in Japan. Turns out “Aunt Flo” had many distinguished visitors in addition to GI’s like Jack, among them the Theodore Roosevelts, Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Malcolm MacDonald, son of England’s then Premier, and countless others.

What are the odds? A fellow Manor resident knew and admired Sue’s Aunt, a legend in Sue’s family who lived half way around the world, and whom Sue herself had never met.

 

Karnatz Korner August – September 2022

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by Bob Buddemeier, based on information from SARAH KARNATZ

 

As you might expect, Karnatz Kountry just continues to expand.  This month we feature even more words from the prophetess herself, and a penetrating look all the way into NEXT month.

August 9 & August 23 Links n’ Drinks Plaza Patio 12p – 1p.  This is simple. BBQ’d links (yes there are vegetarian options) chips, drinks (leaded & unleaded) and novelty ice cream bars. No bands, no games, just good ol’ fashion BBQ and conversations.   Reservations are required, but if you didn’t make the cut, don’t despair — events are planned for Sep 13th & 27th, so be ready to pounce when sign-ups are announced.

August 16 Kona Ice for staff, courtesy of Foundation, 11a -2p set up behind the pool. Last staff event for the year.

August 17 Oregon Wine Experience  – off campus Aug 17-21. RVM is the sole sponsor for the Oregon Wine Experience Medal Celebration.  RVM’s Executive Chef Bill Tuenge and his Chefs will be making magic with 4 specialty curated items and showcasing the RVM talent this year!  For information, see https://www.theoregonwineexperience.com/

August 8 & August 22 RESIDENT Kona Ice 11a-3p, including an early stop at the MSC before continuing along the route as planned.  Aug 22 is the last one for the year.

August 25 Saucy 60s Theme Concert (2 – 4p) Auditorium. To shine a spotlight on the 60’s we are bringing up a really cool rockin’ 60’s tribute band to play all kinds of boogie 60’s music. This is the perfect opportunity to show off your tye-dyed bell bottoms, as 60’s fashion is encouraged!  No reservations needed — just come on in.

August 26–  a Wine and Cheese reception (4-6)  in the Sunrise Room –resident art project, Family History: then and now. Please join us in The Sunrise Room of the Terrace: meet the people behind the posters: the parents, grandparents and maybe even great grandparents of RVM residents. It’s all here. America at its best viewed thru the eyes of Manor residents with their amazing stories.

 SEPTEMBER

All Month — the Golden Golf Ball Hunt is back!  Annabel hides them all over campus; when found residents & staff bring them back to me in the CE Office to claim their prize.

All Month — Treasure Island display – Auditorium display case – remember the cabinet of curiosities? This is the treasure version.  Residents had some really cool items, not really odd… so I wanted to do a treasure display.  Bring your items to the auditorium at 9 a.m. Sep 1, or call 7246 to seeif your item is appropriate.

Game Shows Begin the first week in September: I’m teaming up with Reverend Scott, Kathy Fitzpatrick, Jordan Mo, and Cam Deen to start our very own RVM Game Show Night. Some are classic inspired, some are new age, but all are fun! Stay tuned, more to follow on this one.

September 5 Labor Day – additional lunch option. Caribbean Cook out in the Auditorium (or pocket lot if its nice outside) 11a – 1p Includes Staff working that day! Amazing REAL Caribbean food!! And yes he will have vegetarian and Gluten Free options.

September 8 Meet the Author Round 2 –Deschutes Room. The 1st meet the author was a huge success, and it will return by popular demand. Did you know that we have over 140 published works from past and current RVM residents? This is a speed dating set up. 6 or 7 residents and 1 author are at each table for a set amount of time where authors can discuss their works, their inspirations and answer questions, then when the timer goes off, the author moves to the next table. Drinks and snacks provided.  Sign-up sheets should be out Sep 1.

September 11 – First Responders Remembrance Stair Climb & BBQ (not open to residents, this is something special we do to thank our local First responders and remember 9-11) Fire districts from all over southern Oregon come and climb the tower stairwell, then participate in a small ceremony on the roof, and enjoy a chef attended BBQ in the pocket lot.

September 16 – 23 RVM Autumn Games. Like the good ol’ days, just different. Timothy has some great ideas for this year’s Autumn games! Opening Ceremony is on September 16 followed by a week of knock down drag out games!  If you haven’t signed up it’s too late to play, but there will be plenty of room in the bleachers for you to cheer or jeer you favorite teams.