Community At Rockhill

SPRING 2016
COMMUNITY
MATTERS
NEWS FROM THE
C O M M U N I T Y AT R O C K H I L L
MEET THE NEW ROCKHILL:
Living Inspired, Working Empowered
I NSIDE T HIS ISSU E
GIVING AND GAI N I N G
IN HONDU R A S
T H E L EGACY OF
DOROT H Y E N GST ROM
EV EREN C E : I N T E G R AT I N G
Y O U R F I N A N C E S W I T H FA I T H
MISSION STATEMENT
We are a vibrant community
providing purpose, dignity, and compassion,
centered in God’s love.
WELCOME TO
As you see, our newsletter to you (formerly known as Horizons) received some
attention during our recent rebranding effort! We’re excited about the changes
we’ve made, and think you’ll enjoy its new format.
On that topic, I’ve heard from so many that our new website is bright, creative,
and useful, and that our new push into social media has been both fun and helpful
to our quickly growing number of followers. And leading the way—our new logo—
expresses it all so vibrantly, and confidently.
There’s been a fair share of debate regarding how we’ve moved the word
“Mennonite” in our identity to avoid any continuing misconceptions regarding
those whom our community serves. Supporting this notion even further is how
we’ve given the word “community” more prominence. It’s been rewarding to hear
from leaders in the Borough and Township who feel a greater connection to our
community, and who were so grateful to be involved in the process.
This time of year, when new life and growth is promised, I am reminded of
something that Audrey Alderfer, granddaughter of our founders Katie and Wilmer,
recently told me. “We expect Rockhill to change; we know you cannot keep things
the same.”
What she said is right and in her words I feel a blessing for the work we have
done, and continue to do, to make Rockhill be the best place to live and work. It’s
wonderful to realize the one thing that will never change is the sense of community
we feel among ourselves. It is now better represented to the public, to our future
residents, and to their loved ones.
I ask for God’s blessing on our community as we open our hearts to the vibrancy
that comes from a faith that believes in new life that bursts forth in this season.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ron Hertzler, Chair
Michele Thrush, Vice Chair
Jeff Godshall, Secretary
Jennifer Landis, Treasurer
Glenn R. Bauman
Bryce J. Bergey
Dorothy K. Weik
H. Jeffrey Wilkins
ROCKHILL EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Karen Lehman
CEO
(215) 257–2751, ext. 124
[email protected]
Carol DeLancey
Chief Operations Officer
(215) 257–2751, ext. 175
[email protected]
Alisa Miller
Interim CFO
(215) 257–2751, ext. 123
[email protected]
Juanita Nyce
Vice President of Organizational Advancement
(215) 257–2751, ext. 142
[email protected]
Kristin Thim
Vice President of Human Resources
(215) 257–2751, ext. 126
[email protected]
Best Wishes,
THE COMMUNITY AT ROCKHILL
Karen Lehman, CEO
3250 State Road
Sellersville, PA 18960
(215) 257–2751
www.communityatrockhill.org
PA G E 1 P H O T O C R E D I T: K R I S T E N K I D D P H O T O G R A P H Y
Community Matters
ANSWERING MAMA’S CALL
“
Spending that time
in Honduras gave me a new
perspective on my life.”
— A LICE McCAULEY, ROCKHILL RESIDENT
L I V I N G I N S P I R E D B Y M E N N O N I T E VA L U E S
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What is the MAMA Project?
The MAMA Project is an organization focused on
meeting the educational, health, and nutritional
needs of Honduran children. It was established
as a partnership between Mennonite women’s groups
in Pennsylvania and Honduras—thus the acronym,
“MAMA,” which stands for Mujeres Amigas Miles
Apart (Women Friends Miles Apart).
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Their earliest efforts were in 1987, when they
established nutrition clubs in the city of San Pedro
Sula, Honduras. Since then, they’ve expanded
their reach to help over 60 regions in the country,
while equipping leaders to be advocates for their
communities’ health, providing care and help
when needed.
>
<
Rockhill resident
Alice McCauley,
center, during
her first trip to
Honduras. She
plans on helping
again.
Rockhill Chaplain
Tim Weaver after
a full day of
laying concrete
floors. It was
his 17th trip to
help the MAMA
Project.
C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
•
SPRING 2016
I
n many ways, resident Alice McCauley,
82, personifies the Community at Rockhill.
She’s active, spirited, and has a giving
nature. Several weeks prior to Christmas,
she was told of an opening on a team that
was preparing to go to Honduras to do work with
the MAMA Project. Two weeks into 2016, she
was standing on Honduran soil, prepared to help
any way she could.
Chaplain Tim Weaver—who told
Alice of the opportunity—is a relative
newcomer to the Community at Rockhill,
but not to working with the MAMA
Project. His latest trip to Honduras
(which he took the week prior to Alice’s
trip), marked the 17th time over 16
years in which he has given his time and
effort to helping the organization.
“Medical Brigades”
Those volunteering to help the MAMA
Project are placed on service teams,
or “medical brigades.” While Alice
was a member of the “Perkiomenville
Mennonite” service team, Tim served on
“Deep Run East Mennonite.”
While Tim’s responsibilities for his
week focused mostly on laying concrete
floors and translating Spanish and
English whenever necessary, Alice’s role
differed each day. “We organized and
packaged everything from donated shoes,
to toys, to medications, to newborn care
kits for new mothers,” she explained.
In total, her service team provided
some form of medical attention to
close to 450 Hondurans. This included
deworming (drinking polluted water
leads to many ailments—worms being
the most prevalent), treatment for
malnutrition and anemia, dental care,
and vision care.
“We visited five villages over the
course of a week, and believe me—all
that traveling over miles and miles of
unpaved roads left an impression!” she
said with a smile.
it’s important
that we see
how people live
in other parts
of the world.”
If you’re thinking that laying concrete
as Tim did might not be as rewarding as
the work Alice did, you’ll want to think
again. “We laid 50 floors of concrete in
one week. That much work will take it
out of just about anybody, but no matter
how long and hard the days were,when
I’d settle down for sleep, I always felt
like I gained more than I gave.” One
particular story stands out to Tim. “We
poured a concrete floor for a 78-year
old couple, who have lived there most
of their lives, and had raised a family in
that very small room. For the first time
after all those decades, they’re not living
on dirt. You can’t hear something like
that and not be changed.”
Perspectives
“Change” defines so much of
what the MAMA Project does. They
change living conditions; change a
child’s health; change apprehension
to optimism.
And Hondurans aren’t the only ones
who benefit.
“It’s important that we see how
people live in other parts of the world,”
explained McCauley. “Personally,
spending that time in Honduras gave
me a new perspective on my life, and I
feel lucky because of it. There are many
out in the world who don’t have clean
drinking water, proper nutrition, eye
glasses, or even a solid floor under their
feet. I feel blessed and thankful that I
do, and will try my best to never take any
of it for granted again.”
Tim would find peace every night
after a hard day’s work in Honduras.
“The mission house has a beautiful
front porch, and each night we’d spend
some time there to reflect on what we
had accomplished that day or to share
stories. It could have been as big as
laying down a record number of floors or
as simple as the pleasure of watching a
child helping an elder walk safely on a
muddy path.”
With their trips only weeks in the
past, both Tim and Alice are ready for
their next trip to Honduras. “Each time I
return, I feel refocused. My priorities feel
right. My values are in order. I need this
reset at least once a year,” Tim said.
“It was a busy time and it took a
few days for me to fully recover after
getting back—especially since I picked
up a cold on the flight home,” Alice said.
“But at the same time, the feeling of
fulfillment the trip gave me is more than
any vacation could have given me.”
How can you help?
There are many ways you can support
the MAMA Project—contact them
today to find out how.
Call (215) 679–4338, or e-mail
[email protected].
Learn more about the program at
www.mamaproject.org.
L I V I N G I N S P I R E D B Y M E N N O N I T E VA L U E S
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<
Forging a
New Future
Rockhill CEO Karen Lehman
opened the event.
GUIDED BY CORE VALUES OF THE PAST
On February 3, 2016, Rockhill
Mennonite Community publicly
announced that it has adopted a new
identity—The Community at Rockhill:
Living Inspired by Mennonite Values.
Board members, the executive team,
public officials, church and community
leaders, neighbors, and a wide range
of community members were in
attendance for the launch celebration.
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C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
•
SPRING 2016
R
ockhill’s branding process included interviews and
focus groups with a cross-section of stakeholder
groups, data gathering, and market research.
Rockhill’s board members, executive leadership,
and team members wholeheartedly embraced this
process. The timing could not have been better. The branding
process dovetailed with the creation of Rockhill’s new mission,
vision, and values statements (see inside front cover).
This refreshed brand will enable Rockhill to more effectively
communicate its mission, vision, and values to both the
current community and future residents. Rockhill’s marketing
agency, Leapfrog Group, dug deep and engaged stakeholders
by soliciting their feedback on Rockhill’s past research findings
to determine the “why” underneath the “what,” hearing their
personal elaboration of the approved mission, vision, and values
statements, and hearing participants’ thoughts about the future
of Rockhill.
< Rockhill board members Glenn
<
Bauman and wife Christine
admired our new logo.
<
Sales brochures were
created for the variety of
health and living options
available at the Community
at Rockhill.
Rockhill resident Sue
Krass shared her personal
connections with her home at
the Community at Rockhill.
Together, we are the Community at Rockhill—
This is what we heard…
•
t Rockhill, residents are empowered to live spirited, fulfilling
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lives that are exactly as they choose—from active and engaged
to peaceful and private.
•
esidents become part of the Rockhill family, and as such, are
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deeply cared about and for by leadership, team members and
each other.
•
s a community rooted in Mennonite values, there is a sense
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of belonging, trust, and security that engenders a generosity of
spirit and fosters lives of meaningful growth.
•
Embraced by community
•
Rooted in faith
•
Empowered for living
With a full continuum of services, the Community at Rockhill
offers Residential Living, Personal Care, Health Care, and Adult
Day Services, creating a community for inspired living that
spans all levels of care. The Community at Rockhill will remain
a caring ministry of Franconia Mennonite Conference, a member
of Mennonite Church USA, and will continue to be governed by
the same board of directors and executive team.
Founded in 1935 as the Alderfer Home, the organization has
undergone four name changes in its history.
The Community at Rockhill has launched a new website,
CommunityatRockhill.org and has expanded its Facebook and
Instagram pages.
L I V I N G I N S P I R E D B Y M E N N O N I T E VA L U E S
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IN MEMORIAM
Dorothy Engstrom
Leaves Behind a Legacy
of Compassion
Dorothy (Dot) Engstrom passed away Friday,
February 12, 2016. Born October 15, 1938 in
Camden, New Jersey, she was the daughter of
the late Ernest and Virginia Ruark. For 12 years,
Dorothy worked as an elementary school teacher
in Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
She also worked at New Life Youth and Family
Services as a social worker for over four years.
D
orothy served Rockhill as an
employee for 28 years and
continued to be an involved
community member, advocate, and
donor throughout the rest of her life. She
came to Rockhill in 1976 and stayed
through four major building programs.
Dot began her work at Rockhill as a
Social Worker. Over the years, she added
Admissions Coordinator and Director of
Adult Day Services to her responsibilities
eventually moving from the Health Care
Center to take the position of Director
of Independent Living (now known as
Residential Living).
Dorothy served as a board member
for several local organizations, including
Community Home Services, Indian Creek
Foundation, and Grand View Hospital
Foundation. Dorothy was an active
member of Souderton Mennonite Church
and taught Sunday school there for
over 30 years. She chaired the Deacons
Council and made two mission trips to
New Orleans to assist with relief work
after Hurricane Katrina. Dorothy loved
traveling, taking pictures, and gardening.
She also loved all things lighthouses—
visiting them, collecting them, and
photographing them. She was similarly
passionate about reading and spent much
time devouring a wide variety of genres,
especially biographies of the United
States presidents.
Dot supported the growth of our
benevolent care ministry because
she understood Rockhill’s mission of
compassion and mercy. A committed
supporter, Dorothy requested that
memorial contributions be made in her
name to the Rockhill Benevolent Fund. A
family member sent this note with their
contribution, “We are so pleased that,
even in death, Dorothy wanted to help
people in need.”
We appreciate the commitment that
Dot made to Rockhill during her lifetime
and how she remembered our residents
with her legacy of compassion.
We are so
pleased that,
even in death,
Dorothy wanted
to help people
in need.”
Like Dot, your gift can make a significant difference for residents who have outlived their resources through no fault of their own and
need assistance from the Benevolent Care Fund. As a result, they are able to continue living at Rockhill. An envelope is enclosed for your
convenience. Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. If you would like to learn more about creative ways to support the
Community at Rockhill, please contact Juanita R. Nyce at (215) 257–2751, ext. 142 or [email protected].
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C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
•
SPRING 2016
Faith, values inspire Everence, Rockhill
The experiences of Frank* and Mary*
show some of the ways Everence®
can help people with their finances
while honoring the faith principles that
guide them.
F
rank and Mary were enjoying life in a local retirement
community when they decided to ask Everence for help.
Frank wanted to make sure financial tools were in place to
protect Mary and their family because he didn’t know how
much longer he’d be able to manage the couple’s finances.
Mary and Frank learned how their finances could be
simplified by consolidating multiple accounts into one
investment relationship with Everence Trust Company. And
they appreciated knowing their retirement savings would
be professionally managed and their investments would be
consistent with their values.
Everence also set up automatic bill payments, which helped
Mary focus on spending more time with Frank when his health
started to fade.
No matter how you may interact with Everence, our goal is
the same—to help you organize your finances so you can devote
your attention to what you are feeling called to do.
Everence offers a range of financial services, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
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investments
asset management
financial planning
group retirement plans
worksite wellness programs
life and disability insurance
group insurance
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Medicare supplement plans
long-term care insurance
annuities
charitable giving plans
banking services
Considering the breadth and depth of our products and
services, Everence helps the residents and staff at Rockhill
integrate faith, values and financial decisions.
Three Everence staff members have a regular presence on
campus and are available to meet with you:
•
Jeffrey Godshall, CFP®, CTFA, Trust and Financial Advisor
with Everence Trust Company, offers office hours at Rockhill
(9:00 am to noon—the first Thursday of each month)
•
aria Angelucci, CSA®, CLTC, Financial Services
M
Representative, is a senior health and Medicare supplement
specialist who consistently works with residents
•
att Novak**, CFA®, Financial Advisor, who helps administer
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the community’s employee retirement plan
To learn more about Everence, our advisors and our services,
visit everence.com/Souderton.
* Not their real names
** A
dvisory services offered through Investment Advisors, a division of
ProEquities Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered
through ProEquities Inc., a registered broker-dealer, member FINRA and
SIPC. Investments are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may
involve loss of principal, and have no credit union guarantee. Everence
entities are independent from ProEquities, Inc.
Above: From left are Everence Financial
Advisor Matt Novak, Trust and Financial
Advisor Jeffrey Godshall and Financial
Services Representative Maria Angelucci.
L I V I N G I N S P I R E D B Y M E N N O N I T E VA L U E S
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Showing at
the Gallery
at Rockhill
We’re honored
and excited to
present a twin bill
of two extremely
talented local
artists: Holly
Perry and Tom
Swartley.
Perry’s exhibit displays a
selection of her watercolor
paintings, which present the
realism of everyday objects
and landscapes in bold colors.
Swartley’s photography
displays his unique
perspective on landscapes,
vacation destinations, street
scenes and still life.
This exhibit will run
through early June. For
more information, please
contact Peter Leonowitz at
(215) 257–2751, ext. 214.
The Gallery at Rockhill is
open daily from 9am–5pm
and is fully accessible to
visitors with disabilities.
From left to right:
Tom Swartley:
Cuttalossa Winter
Tom Swartley:
Lavender Fields
Holly Perry: Tiger Lily
From left to right:
Holly Perry: Backshore
Birches
Holly Perry: Succulent
Tom Swartley: Bridge
Reflection
From left to right:
Holly Perry: Reflections
Holly Perry: Remembrance
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C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
•
SPRING 2016
1
ROCKHILL
PHOTO
GALLERY
2
1.
ward-winning fiber artist
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Rachel Derstine recently
exhibited her artistic quilts in
The Gallery at Rockhill.
2.
In addition to sharing her
work, artist Rachel Derstine
offered a wide selection of
her merchandise available
for purchase.
3.
Orpha Rickert (left) and Verna
Nonnemaker at the opening
reception. Both are 100+ years
old, and both still enjoy very
active lives at the Community
at Rockhill.
4. 3
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Volunteer Coordinator Mary
Bleakley, shown here with Eagle
Scout Stephen Mehlbaum,
recently announced her plans
to retire after 26 years with
Rockhill. We wish her the best,
and will miss her kindness,
spirit, and hard work!
5. The Seeing Eye organization
visited Rockhill with many of
their amazingly trained labs and
shepherds. We learned about
how they assist the blind, the
training process, and the seeing
eye dogs themselves.
6. To give back some of the
incredible generosity they
give to us, a group of Rockhill
volunteers were recently treated
to a brunch. Pictured here are
Rockhill volunteer Gail Glushek
with event organizer Glenda
Childs (right).
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7. Rockhill CEO Karen Lehman
(right) with resident Arlene
Landis at the brunch for
volunteers.
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The Community at Rockhill
3250 State Road
Sellersville, PA 18960
(215) 257–2751
communityatrockhill.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
T H E C O M M U N I T Y AT R O C K H I L L
What Does Inspired Living Look Like?
IT C AN BE
A CTI VE
ENGAGED
CAREFREE
Plant in our Community Gardens • Participate in Volunteer Opportunities
Exercise on State-of-the-art Equipment • Swim in our Heated Pool
Discover why so many individuals and families trust the Community at Rockhill.
To learn more or to schedule a tour, call (215) 257–2510 or email [email protected]