VOLUME 55, NUMBER 1 SPRING EDITION CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION CBA CONNECTION Mt. Healthy Christian Village | Mason Christian Village | MCV Health Care Facilities | CBA Foundation DONORS DEMONSTRATE CONFIDENCE IN THE CBA MINISTRY A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Generally speaking if you want to know the level of confidence a group of donors has in a notfor-profit to which they are aligned, you need look no farther than the level of their giving. Most fundraising experts will tell you that when a donor-base believes (and sees evidence that) an organization is mission-focused and accomplishing its ministry goals, one of the ways they express their support is with their check book. Among the many score cards I use as CEO of the Christian Benevolent Association to assess the effectiveness of our ministry is the degree to which our friends get behind us with their giving, and I’m pleased to share that 2014 was our third straight year of gains in donor giving. CBA is alive and well and laser focused on mission. Our donors have been rejuvenated by what they see and hear, and are engaging with us by way of financial support at levels greater than at anytime in the preceeding ten years. It is inspiring for me personally and a vote of confidence from these CBA friends closest to our ministry. Larry Monroe The Way Forward, our capital campaign in support of a new post-acute care rehab wing at Mt. Healthy Christian Village has passed the one half million dollar mark. We are committed to completing this project without incurring debt! A construction contract has been secured with a firm well experienced in our industry and final cost projections remain near our projected budget of $1M. This new wing is targeted to open in January of 2016 and will provide spacious private rooms on the first floor of the north tower. What a wonderful addition this will be for the CBA flagship community of Mt. Healthy Christian Village. Many of our churches have renewed and/or increased their financial support of the ministry of CBA. Nearly 100% of church donations are directed to the Compassionate Care Subsidy Fund, a special part of our ministry providing a helping hand to residents who find themselves in desperate need of financial assistance. Through the benevolent ministry of CBA many of our churches provide the funds needed to help these residents in ways that honor them and honor our God. The Compassionate Care Benevolence Fund is truly in step with what we read in James 1:27. To our donors who continue to support the vital ministry of CBA, I send you a resounding, thank you! There are many who have partnered with us in the past, and to whom we extend an invitation to return. Stand with us in support of this ministry of Christian care to older adults and my pledge to you is God honoring management of your gifts and His precious resources. Serving With Excellence, Reflecting Jesus’ Compassion Mamie’s Cradle: A Heartwarming Story of Family, MCV Friendship and Generosity By Larry D. Monroe, CEO Laura Brothers arrived at Mason Christian Village in December of 1994. She remembers the day well. “It was so cold. I’ll never forget that moving day.” Laura, who previously owned a home in Middletown, OH had lost her husband Elliott earlier that same year, and credits her daughter residing in West Chester, OH with encouraging her to move to MCV. “My daughter Rebecca wanted me closer to her, and so I moved to the Village into one of the independent living Garden Homes.” When asked how her life has been since moving to MCV Laura grins, saying, “I have met so many wonderful friends since moving to the Village. Honestly, a person can be as active as they choose to be, and for those who choose to remain more solitary, they can do that and still be accepted. It’s a wonderful place.” After living 20 years in a Garden Home, Laura decided in May of 2014 to make a transition into one of the independent living apartments in the Village Centre of MCV. During the task of scaling down her home furnishings for her move she identified one cherished item she had no doubt would be going with her to the apartment. It was a cradle her mother Mamie Phillips had slept in as a baby while living in Carol County Indiana, an heirloom that dated back to 1886. Laura had been the custodian of her mother’s cradle for most of her adult life, and in the early 1940’s occasionally laid her own children in the old family relic. As she grew older, finding a suitable home for the heirloom was on her mind, and so she became intrigued with the possibility of donating it to the Heritage Village Museum. Unfortunately, upon further investigation she learned that because the cradle no longer had its rockers it was disqualified for acceptance into the Museum. One day Laura was sharing the story of the cradle and her disappointment about the museum with Marge Isaacs, friend and fellow apartment resident at MCV. Marge told her about a MCV Garden Home resident who enjoyed working in the Village woodshop, suggesting he might be able to construct rockers for the cradle. Shortly thereafter 2. CBA CONNECTION Laura met Al Shelton, who along with his wife Jan moved to MCV from Blue Ash, OH in November of 2013. Al was pleased to be asked to assist and like most retired men, anxious for a new project. It wasn’t long before he returned the old cradle to Laura beautifully restored to her specifications. Laura is thrilled with the cradle and her dream of having it become a cherished museum artifact for generations to enjoy may soon become a reality. I asked her what she thinks about the chain of events surrounding the cradle. “This likely would not have happened had it not been for the recommendation of one friend and the generosity of another. I will always be grateful to Marge Isaacs and Al Shelton.” Editor’s note: Very often when prospective residents are considering a move to one of our communities they ponder how such a change will impact their lives. They delay making a decision, struggling with what they perceive could be a compromising of a degree of their independence. I think Laura Brothers’ advice would be to not waste a single moment on indecision. Make the move while you have your health, and you just might be amazed at how living in a CBA community could be some of the best years of your life. www.christianbenevolent.org MCV – Reflecting on 2014 By Mike Neavill, Village Manager The coming of a new calendar year provides an opportunity to look back over what was accomplished the prior year, reflecting on where we have been and where we are today. It’s a time to assess where goals were met and make adjustments for the future. Secondly, our residents are a terrific support to our sales staff. Many new residents tell us they made the decision to move to our community because of a personal relationship with and recommendation from a friend who is a current MCV resident. 2014 was an incredible year for Mason Christian Village. Just 18-24 months ago the Village had a Garden Home (GH) occupancy rate of 92%. While 92% is a good number, it still translates into 17 unoccupied homes out of our total of 191. Well, the picture is very different today. We closed new contracts on 21 homes in 2014, and over the last two years the number of new GH residents stands at 50! We ended 2014 with 100% of the Garden Homes occupied. It’s amazing to realize that nearly a quarter of our existing residents have moved to MCV in the last two years. As one would guess, there is a lot that goes into accomplishing these great results. Thirdly, it takes a cohesive, highly motivated, marketing team. Director of Sales/Marketing, Lizz Stephens and staff work hard for every sale, and they deserve much recognition for their accomplishments. First and foremost, we acknowledge our Lord, by whom all things are made and from whom all blessings flow. We thank God for His bountiful blessings. 900,000 800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 Fundraising GOAL $925K Fourthly, it takes a well-trained and proficient construction crew to rehab and ready homes in a timely and quality manner for each new resident. This crew is a part of the MCV maintenance department and they do an amazing job. Last, but certainly not least, it takes our new residents, who make the big decision to begin a new journey by becoming a part of our inspiring community. 2014 was indeed a wonderful year, and I’m looking forward to what 2015 has in store as we continue to serve our residents through hard work and dedication. MT. HEALTHY CHRISTIAN VILLAGE CAMPAIGN PASSES HALFWAY MARK Many thanks to those who have responded so favorably to The Way Forward Campaign. The Campaign recently hit the $550,000 mark as gifts in support of the significant project at MHCV continue to come in. The funds raised through The Way Forward Campaign will allow the construction of a new post-acute care rehab facility at MHCV. The new rehab wing will be located on the first floor of the north tower. This area will be completely retrofitted to accommodate new private rooms, a family lounge and private dining area for families and patients. We will also be adding a new nursing station along with electronic medical records technology. Investing in MHCV for the purpose of constructing this new wing is a critical component for the future of this community. The CBA Board and our administrative leaders are determined to complete this project without the need to incur additional debt. Thank You For Your Support! To join us in support of this inspiring project please contact Larry Monroe at 513-701-3435 or at larrym@christianbenevolent.org. Secured online gifts in support of The Way Forward Campaign can be made at www.christianbenevolent.org 3. Chronicling the life of Glen Campbell after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease CBA PREMIERE AT REGAL THEATER April 22, 2015 CBA Premiers Nationally Acclaimed Glen Campbell Movie in Mason, OH On April 22, 2015 the Christian Benevolent Association will host members of the Mason and surrounding area communities at the Regal Theater Deerfield Towne Centre for the premier of the Glen Campbell movie, “I’ll Be Me.” The movie chronicles Glen’s life since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and includes a video diary of his last music tour billed as the “Good Bye Tour.” Through this film, Glen and his family invite us to join them on a rare and personal journey as they deal with the onset and progression of this dreadful disease. The film was commissioned by LeadingAge (LA), a national association and advocacy group for not-for-profit organizations in the aging services industry, of which CBA’s communities are members. At it’s national conference in Nashville, TN in November of 2014 LA presented the film’s national debut for attendees and made it available to members interested in sponsoring it in their local communities to expand public awareness of Alzheimer’s. Mason Christian Village and Mt. Healthy Christian Village have both dedicated a significant part of their communities to the specialized care of residents suffering with varying levels of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Memory Care wing at MCV Healthcare Facility has been toured in the past by several visiting organizations who subsequently used the unit as a model for the construction of their own Alzheimer’s facilities. “I’ll Be Me” closes with Glen’s last musical composition, entitled “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” which was awarded an Academy Award for a “Best Original Song” at the Grammy’s held February 8, 2015. The song, serving as a goodbye to his loved ones, gets to the heart of what it’s like to suffer from this debilitating and heartbreaking disease and is becoming an anthem of sorts in the Alzheimer’s community. The song was also performed by country music superstar Tim McGraw live at the Oscars on February 22. CBA is pleased to share this wonderful film with the public, and hopes that it will become a source of information, comfort and encouragement to the throngs of people whose lives are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s strikes someone in America every 67 seconds, is the 6th leading cause of death in the USA, killing 1 in 3 senior citizens each and every year. The showing of “I’ll Be Me” for the public is in step with CBA’s commitment to being a resource for the many somewhat complex issues associated with elder care. CBA has reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association which will also be on hand the day of the film’s screening to provide literature and counsel to anyone in need of assistance. Tickets are available at www.christianbenevolent.org/glen-campbell 4. CBA CONNECTION www.christianbenevolent.org MCV Announces an Exciting New Partnership for Guest Lodging By Lizz Stephens, MCV Marketing Director We are thrilled to announce that Mason Christian Village has partnered with Homewood Suites by Hilton to provide residents’ visiting family and friends a comfortable and affordable alternative to the former MCV Guest House. When MCV first began offering overnight accommodations by way of renting the Guest House, there were a number of vacant Garden Homes in our community. By using a vacant home as a Guest House, we had the ability to offer another amenity and generate revenue from it. At the end of 2014, it was decided that due to high demand for Garden Homes, the MCV Guest House would be put back into our sales inventory. Not even a week after it was made available, the Guest House was sold! With the Guest House soon to be occupied by permanent residents, there was still a need for accommodations for visitors to MCV. The Homewood Suites partnership offers guests to our community extended stay accommodations. Homewood Suites is a new hotel less than 5 miles from MCV, ideally located in Mason’s business and commercial area. The facility is convenient to shopping, dining and leisure options. Accompanying the quality accommodations provided by Homewood Suites is an exclusive rate, just for MCV guests! Guests not only enjoy spacious rooms with fully equipped kitchens and WIFI internet, but also have access to a 24hour convenience store, complimentary grocery shopping service, hot breakfast, and dinner Monday through Thursday. Additional amenities of Homewood Suites include an indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, a business center and outdoor putting green. The partnership with Homewood Suites allows MCV to continue to offer our guests a comfortable place to stay while visiting our community and for the former Guest House to be enjoyed by permanent residents. For more information about Homewood Suites, you can visit their website at homewoodsuites.com or call (513) 701-9300 to make a reservation. Make sure to tell them you are with Mason Christian Village! 5. Gifts Given August 1 – December 31, 2014 MEMORIAL & HONOR GIFTS 6. IN MEMORY OF Charles & Dorothy Abato James & Jane Dean Donald Bamberger Bradford & Denise King Harry & Bessie Bertram Glenna Gilleland Alex Betley James & Sherry Betlej Bertha Bierbaum Linda Thompson Jane Bockhorst Darma Adiapen Gretchen Donnelly Fred & Theresa Hammerle Robert & Joann Weckman Denise Schramm Bruce Brantley Mira Loughrey Martha Mobley Ray & Fern Brestel Bill & Mary Meredith Forrest & Jesse Bridges John & Dianne Hockstok Mary Brinkman Michael & Ronda Jones Lee Ann Millisor David Brinkman Judy Brinkman Joyce Drake Don & Edna Ellis Anna Hanna Robert & Dorothy Huntington Dale & Diane Kirby Clyde & Jewell Koehne Donald & Merial Miller Paul & Marilyn Poe David & Mary Read Dave & Winifred Swormstedt Marilyn Waisblum Ernie & Renee Walker-Tong Dorothea Wyenandt Edna Carter Richard & Martha Johnson George & Dorothy Chain Shirley Glorius Marjorie Cunningham Anonymous Wendy Breeze CBA CONNECTION Fairfield Church of Christ Richard & Dolores Frybarger David & Connie Hargrave Joanne Hopton Dale & Judy McCann Tom & Kay Moll Eunice Murphy Herman & Nancy Samendinger Lois Smith Thomas & Claudia Wehmann Mary Davidson Clyde & Jewell Koehne Florence Dempsey Christ’s Church at Mason (Ambassadors Class) Frieda Denhart Adele Yung Patricia Denker Harold & Fae Audre Rice Milton & Mary Dills Milton & Barbara Dills Jane Engelhard Marilyn Abbott Robert Dell Joyce Drake Roy & Evelyn Harriger Clyde & Jewell Koehne Louis & Wilma Kressin Janice Linden William & Martha Mendez Tom & Kay Moll Harold & Fae Audre Rice William Falk Ruth Falk Ellen Fitzharris Richard & Colleen Dallmer Audrey Koch Eileen Wright George & Margaret Frankenstein William Frankenstein Gregory Gardiner Nancy Gardiner Wayne Gardiner Nancy Gardiner Wilma Gibbs Harold & Fae Audre Rice Elfreda Gibson Lowell & Paula Dye Joan Helton Esther Kluba Donald & Rebecca Kluba Bill & Betty Nickell Harry Payne Judy Stacey Helen Gilchrist Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Roy Girten Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Robert & Marian Gleason Cheryl Ashcroft Bailey family Marian Baird Jim Beattie Richard Beitler Bob & Donna Bender Derek Bier Mary Birk Douglas & Lisa Butt Lois Butt Gerald & Elizabeth Cashman Christ’s Church at Mason (Seekers Class) Walter & Alma Clift N. Jean Cottrill Donatic Virginia Fein Martha Ficke Barbara Greenwood Iris Hille Michael & Carolyn Hoyt Richard & Martha Johnson Mike & Cindy Kelley Howard & Martha Keneman & family James & Susan Konves Billie Lake Richard Lambert Denyse Lee Ronald Lelakes Genoa Livingston Stu Masters Steven Mengyan Midwest Container Corporation Tom & Kay Moll Richard & Kathleen Mulcahy Northern Hills Christian Church Andris & Sandra Olukalns Tito & Sandra Pel www.christianbenevolent.org Tom & Kay Moll Barbara Pettyjohn Michael & Frances Pohl Sam & Gwen Stone David & Joann Walker Marie Howell Joyce Drake Ruth Falk Carol Freas Robert & Karen Limoseth Tom & Kay Moll Dale & Joyce Underwood Charles & Ethel Jones Robert Jones Leon Jones Maryellen Jones George & Henrietta Kehler William & Barbara Kehler Loraine Kline Martha Anness Elaine Benedict Thomas & Jeanne Boyle Laura Brothers Campus Book & Supply Joyce Drake David & Karen Drees Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Don & Edna Ellis Kenneth Kline Terrence & Susan Mairose Paul Neumann Leroy Pryse Jeanne Siekmann John & Mary Strong Richard Walthour Clifford & Jean Weiss Darlene Wiggeringloh William Knaebel Robert Grundhoefer Norma Kraus Carroll & Carol Baker David Leitz Kurt & Mary Bofinger Joan Buzek Richard & Josephine Euler Len & Mary Lou Hausman Dorothy Heuer J. A. & K. E. Klare James & Carol Klare Marketplace Holdings, Inc Phyllis Sanders Ann Stanley Alan & Jean Weber Swilfred & Maud Lemons Edith Sandlin Audrey Luttrell Doris Odor Marion Massmann Laura Brothers Christ’s Church at Mason (Seekers Class) Joyce Drake Kenneth & Jinnie Helm Jerry & Haruko Hood Richard & Martha Johnson Barbara Murray Charlotte Sidler Lois Smith Sam & Gwen Stone Marjorie Sutton Eileen Wright Mary Mays Michael & Salli Barach Ann Stanley Wayne McConnell Grace Catlin Gary & Ruth Claypoole David & Carol Freas Harold & Fae Audre Rice Herman & Nancy Samendinger Dale & Joyce Underwood Dorothy Monroe Paul & Clara Bernhardt Richard & Joanne Biedinger Glen & Terri Burkhardt Phil & Donna Clifford Joseph & Rhonda Closson Robert Dell Joyce Drake Joe & Di Ellison Kitty Garner David & Connie Hargrave Roy & Evelyn Harriger David & Patti Jefferson Clyde & Jewell Koehne Louis & Wilma Kressin Ladies from Marketing (Christie, Lizz, Lynn, Nicole) David & Linda McCracken William & Martha Mendez David & Mildred Merkel Harold & Nancy Mitchell Tom & Kay Moll Gene & Jimmie Phillips Leroy Pryse Harold & Fae Audre Rice Herman & Nancy MEMORIAL & HONOR GIFTS Rita Penny Harold & Fae Audre Rice Stephen & Bonnie Rogers David & Lynn Ruwe Victor & Lillian Sabino Donald & Barbara Saunders Glen & Sandra Stamper Sam & Gwen Stone James & Barbara Walsh Rose Goosen Robert Ryan Jean Grant Max & Blanche Walker John & Margaret Gray George & Joanna Banta Randolph & Patricia Gray Timothy Gray William Green Joanne Green Bob & Jeanne Groenke Robert & Mary (Heidi) Messinger John Hall Rosemary Tigner Donna Hanaford William & Georgia Adams Fred & Shirley Blake Jane Dickey & Mark, Jennifer, Brent Pat Glatthaar Fairfield Class of 1949 Lester & Nancy Kehr Scott & Connie Lindsay Palma Miller PEO Sisterhood, Chapter FB Paul & Shirley Philley Kimberly Poe Joseph & Anne Shock Mary Jane Sper Betty Zeller Lena Hanselman Wanda Patrick Robert Hastings Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Max & Dolle Haven Del & Winifred Schanie Arthur Henderson Steve & Judy Aldridge Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick David & Eva Grubbs Emma Henderson Ken & Carol Henderson Ron & Gerri Henderson Steve & Debbie Henderson 7. MEMORIAL & HONOR GIFTS Samendinger Jennis Schwietert Patricia St Louis Mae Stephens Doris Thompson Max & Blanche Walker Charlie & Karen Webster Eileen Wright Dolores Montanye Dean Montanye Bert Morris James & Judy Askren Joyce Drake Anna Hanna Ron & Liz Morris Northern Hills Christian Church Audrey Parker Tito & Sandra Pel Rita Penny Eileen Wright Ivan Morse Evangeline Morse Elizabeth Muckenfuhs Phyllis Sanders Paul Nead Richard & Martha Johnson Topsy New Betty Overstreet Tillie Odor Gordon & Dorothy Staten Frank Pangburn Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Mary Pearson Don & Edna Ellis Erin Hall Meade Anna Hanna Mike & Angie Herzog Doreen Johnson Mary Protheroe Ruth Stang Mary Pennington Neville & Joan _ Pennington Shirley Phillips Sue Bair David Phillips Glenn Pinkerton Elizabeth “Betts” Pinkerton James & Elaine Powell Kenneth & Pam Pyle 8. CBA CONNECTION James Prendergast Joan Erb Breetz Viola Kist Wayne & Jane Schleutker Mark & Sally Schmidlin William Proudfit David & Linda Proudfit Mabel Rueger Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Sarah Ruskaup Grace Ruskaup Gayle, Goldie & Tom Ryan Robert Ryan Vera Schmeuszer Marcella Chamberlain Beverly Gilbert Loraine Walters Melvin Schulenburg James & Diane Byerly Matt Hellwig Donald & Karen Hellwig Hollis & Patricia Mitchell Ann Stanley Harry & Garnet Schwettman Doris Berman Harry Schwettman Harold & Fae Audre Rice Victor Shaffer Janet Shaffer Stout Kenneth Shelly Richard & Joanne Biedinger Harold & Fae Audre Rice Herman & Nancy Samendinger Roger Shepler Eileen Wright Vera Shipley Gerald Shipley Blanche H. Skillman Charles Skillman Ralph Sleight Eileen Wright Josephine Smith John & Ruth Smith Mary Smith Mabel Merkle Walter Smith Kathleen Smith Warren & Nolah Jean Smith Margaret Artmayer Charlotte Sidler Warren Smith Tom & Kay Moll Jim Parrish Larry & Nancy Smith Donald & Patricia Stogsdill Ina St. John Phyllis DeBra Melvin Stang Kenneth Stang LaRue Stanley Marva Barricklow Margaret Strang David Strang John Sullivan June Lang Mafalda Topich Joyce Drake Glenn Vaughan Ken & Rosalie Ireland-Eick Fred Westermann Margie Westermann Frida Weyer Vanita Weyer Elizabeth Work Harvey & Maryann Bream Weldon Dean Wright Eileen Wright IN HONOR OF Alma “Clio” Adler Robert & Deborah Adler Our family who bless us every day Charles & Bonnie Bauer Harvey & Mary Ann Bream Lee & Karen Mason Grace Catlin Gary & Ruth Claypoole Bruce & Susan Kelley Gary & Ruth Claypoole Bruce & Susan Kelley Mary Ellen Myers Steve & Janet Parker Grace Catlin Duane & Betty Cohoon Brian & Linda Greuel Pastor Elizabeth Cooney Jane Leiby E. Richard Crabtree Robert & Charlotte _ Ourada Verna Dolle Dennis & Barbara Barger Georgi Eick James & Linda Eger Ezella Martino Michele Martino Ralph Massmann in honor of birthday Barbara Murray Mick McLaughlin George & Elaine Breuer Joyce Drake David & Mildred Merkel MCV Residents MCV Health Care Auxiliary Mae Stephens LaVerne & Lois Morse William & Jerlene Bell MHCV Staff Eileen McGuiggan Doris Odor Kevin & Ginger Odor Gilbert & Betty Schreiber Robert Schreiber Mildred Spicker Thomas & Carol Spicker Max & Blanche Walker George & Elaine Breuer Joyce Drake Dave & Rhonda Mick Kent & Marcia Odor Kevin & Ginger Odor John & Lee Ellen Pitman Norma Souders Lorene Werline in honor of 104th birthday John & Edith Large Roger Wright Cynthia Boatright www.christianbenevolent.org “You’ve Been Caught” By Donna Clifford, CBA Human Resource Director By Donna Clifford, Human Resources Director Our employees are being “caught” doing things the R.I.T.E. way, exhibiting our Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence as they go about their workday. Lisa Cecil, MCV Dir. of Nursing and Lila Howell, Nursing Assoc. Each day in every department we find examples of compassionate care and love for our residents. Sometimes it’s something small; like the resident who likes her coffee cup to always be full, and so the dining room server takes special care to ensure that it is always full. Sometimes it is something larger; witness the nurse aide who wraps her arms around an agitated resident who suffers from dementia and calms her down with assurances that she is loved. Sometimes it is heartbreaking and heart lifting; such as the resident on hospice care who has lipstick lovingly applied by a nurse so that she “looks her best when she meets Jesus”. Throughout our communities we see everyday gestures that make all the difference in the lives of our residents. There’s the receptionist who takes the trouble to know the names of residents’ grandchildren and always asks about them, or a maintenance worker who goes into an apartment to fix a leaky faucet and then spends a few minutes in his busy day to pray with that resident who has been under the weather. Sometimes we see things that are a little on the entertaining side as well; a laundry worker who comes in on her day off to demonstrate clogging to the delight of a fitness class. And then there’s that extra trip a driver makes to Kroger because a resident forgot to put something important on a grocery list. Our employees are special people who believe in and live out our mission on every shift throughout every day. Last summer CBA started an employee recognition program called “You’ve Been Caught” where managers present cards to employees who they witness exemplifying our Core Values, going above and beyond the scope of their normal job responsibilities. The employee takes the card to the Human Resources office where they exchange it for a gift card, redeemable at local restaurants and shops. The employee is then further recognized along with others who have been “caught” on a poster in the employee break room or at the time clock stations. Mason Christian Village and Mt. Healthy Christian Village are special places to live and to work. New hires frequently tell me how different it is to come to a workplace where everyone smiles and genuinely cares for the residents and for each other. How very blessed we all are! Bible Studies Expand to Skilled Nursing Floors at MHCV Bringing on a full-time chaplain at the Mt. Healthy campus has had the tangible benefit of increasing the number of Bible studies that occur each week. Previously, in addition to the Sunday chapel service, a Wednesday Bible study was the only midweek offering. This study continues and is held every Wednesday morning at 10:00 in the chapel. Attendance has improved slightly over the past couple of months, but it remains limited to those who are able to get to the ground floor. Other residents can watch and listen via the television (and several do), but personal interaction is limited to those who can actually get to the chapel. Last fall we changed that. We now have Bible studies on Thursday mornings on the skilled nursing floors (4 and 5 north). Members of the Life Enrichment staff help to gather the residents who want to be involved, and we meet in the common areas of those two floors. The fifth floor is engaged in a chronological study of the life of Christ. As many as 15 or more gather each week for that study. Afterwards there is a study of the book of Acts on the fourth floor. This floor includes many who are here for rehab, so they are often in therapy and unable to attend, so the attendance is lower here. Those who do attend enjoy the study, however. The studies are led by the chaplain, Jon Underwood, and the atmosphere is casual. The studies are just 30 minutes long, and they always begin with the singing of a hymn. After that we pray together and then look at the Scripture together. Many of the residents involved have spent years in the Word, and these new Bible studies have been a welcome and refreshing look at the old, old story. 9. MHCV Receives Grant for Dining Services One of the dining service challenges we have always faced at Mt. Heathy Christian Village is delivering hot food to residents living on the upper floors of the five-story community who are unable to eat in the dining room or who just prefer to eat in their room. With the kitchen located on the ground floor, it is difficult to plate the food and get it up the elevators to residents quickly enough for it to be delivered hot and appetizing. After thoroughly examining the issues and exploring options, a proposal developed that would include the addition of food serving equipment located on each of the upper floors of the building, allowing staff to plate-up hot food just a few steps from the resident rooms. CBA CEO Larry Monroe believed that there could possibly be funds available for the project in the form of a grant from Foundations focused on services for the elderly, or programs and projects that improve the quality of life for the aging population. A grant application was Larry Monroe, CEO submitted to The Robert and Christine Steinmann Family Foundation resulting in MHCV receiving $20,000 in support of the project. Mr. Monroe expressed his appreciation for the grant saying, “I am very grateful for the grant in support of our efforts to enhance the dining experience for many of our residents. This was a nonbudgeted capital project, and receiving this grant will allow us to complete and install a prototype for what I hope will become one of many food serving stations located on the upper floors of our community. I truly believe the equipment we will be able to purchase with the grant will significantly improve the lives of many of our residents.” “I am very grateful CBA Adds New Chief Financial Officer We are pleased to announce that Vickie Brashear has joined CBA as Chief Financial Officer. Vickie brings a wealth of industry experience to CBA, along with and a heart for working in a mission for the grant in driven organization. Prior to joining CBA she support of our efforts Community for eight years where she led the to enhance the dining and construction initiatives resulting in revenue experience for many experience in long term care exceeds 20 years. of our residents. ...” Vickie sees her finance prowess as a key element was CFO for a Continuing Care Retirement organization through several business growth increasing from $16M to $25M. Vickie’s total in the ministry of CBA. “In accounting, I do what I do to support existing and create new programs that allow our staff to take care of the residents in the best way possible.” Vickie is a CPA with a degree in accounting from University of Cincinnati. She has a great affection for our residents and has very quickly become a valuable part of the CBA administrative leadership team. She and her husband reside in Montgomery, just a few miles from the Mason Christian Village campus. 10. CBA CONNECTION www.christianbenevolent.org CBA Provides Estate Planning Services In Partnership With Financial Planning Ministries Nearly 60% of Americans die without a Will or an estate plan of any kind! It’s a statistic that’s difficult to imagine considering end of life planning can include such critical areas as medical care options and the dispensing of assets in ways that most honor the intentions and priorities of the deceased. Estate planning is important, and the process need not be complicated or intimidating. The Christian Benevolent Association has partnered with one of the leaders in Christian estate planning services, Financial Planning Ministries (FPM) to provide no cost, no obligation 60 minute seminars for members of our churches. FPM’s preferred vehicle for estate planning is the Living Trust. Here are just a few testimonies from the leaders of churches in the Cincinnati area who through CBA have scheduled FPM seminars for their congregations. “We have every good thing to say about the Estate Planning Seminar we hosted with FPM/CBA. The level of expertise and resources offered by FPM representative Dick Hess were outstanding. The experience was low key and low pressure, while being extremely informative. My wife and I now have an estate plan that reflects our Christian values and stewards our resources just as we wish. We highly recommend the ministry and services of FPM/CBA.” - Bart Steever, Sr. Minister Parkside CC “Our church greatly enjoyed and benefited from a seminar provided by Financial Planning Ministries and CBA. It was a great kingdom partnership that produced tremendous results for us.” - David Vaughan, Sr. Minister Whitewater Crossing CC. “Through Fairfield CC’s partnership with CBA, FPM provided our church family with clear, concise, no pressure, personal counsel that has been a wonderful help to many of our members.” - David Hargrave, Pastor Fairfield Church of Christ The Living Trust: • Keeps your estate from going through the high costs and delays of probate. • Gives you and your loved ones complete control over your assets. • Helps protect your privacy because it does not become a public document after death, unlike a common Will subject to probate. • Provides for immediate access to and distribution of assets according to deceased’s instructions. • Living Trusts are completely revocable and may be amended at any time in your lifetime. Attending an informative FPM seminar could be one of the best decisions of your life. For information about the Living Trust or to schedule a seminar, call or email Larry Monroe at 513-701-3435 or larrym@christianbenevolent.org. 11. CBA Among Sponsors of Retired Minister’s Conference On April 14-16 the Kairos organization will host its 2nd Annual Retired Minister’s Conference in Cincinnati at the Double Tree Suites located at 6300 E Kemper Road Sharonville, OH. CBA is pleased to be among the sponsors for this great event. LeRoy Lawson and Bryce Jessup will be the Keynote speakers. Both have spent a lifetime serving Christ’s Kingdom, and are highly respected church leaders. Those who know Bryce and LeRoy can attest to their unique styles of humor, which when sharing the platform together can lead to some hilariously entertaining interactions. Both LeRoy and Bryce have experienced the joys and sorrows that come in vocational ministry, so they will be sharing insightful reflections from their years on the front lines of Kingdom service and leading inspiring group discussions and Q&A. CBA CEO Larry Monroe attended the first Conference in 2014. “CBA helped sponsor the first Retired Minister’s Conference last year in Indianapolis, IN. For me it was an inspiring time of fellowship and education packed with gems from featured speakers as they shared valuable and relevant insights for attendees and their wives. I would encourage retired (or soon to be retired) ministers to attend.” The Conference will begin with a banquet dinner Tuesday night, continue throughout the day on Wednesday, and ends with lunch on Thursday. Registration cost is $99 for an individual and $178 for a couple, and includes all program activities, catered meals, and bonus “appreciation” items along the way. The hotel charges for 2-nights lodging are separate from the registration fee. If you are a retired minister – or nearing retirement you won’t want to miss this Conference! Ministers are encouraged to bring their wives who will also enjoy what is planned for the Conference. Space is limited to 100 participants, so you’ll want to register right away! For more information, registration and making hotel reservations visit www.RetiredMinisters.com. Have You Remembered Us in Your Estate Planning? The Christian Benevolent Association Foundation relies on the gifts of donors to provide the kind of care and support so vital to the residents and family members we serve. The next time you review your Will or Living Trust, please consider leaving a charitable bequest to CBA. Ask your attorney or advisor to include such words as: “I give, devise or bequeath to the Christian Benevolent Association of Greater Cincinnati, Inc., for its general purposes, all (or state a fraction) of the residual and remainder of my estate, whether real or personal.” “I give to the Christian Benevolent Association of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. the sum of $____________ dollars to be used to support its mission.” If you have questions about including CBA in your estate planning, please call Larry Monroe at 513-701-3435 or email Larry at larrym@christianbenevolent.org. If you have already included CBA in your estate planning, thank you! 12. CBA CONNECTION www.christianbenevolent.org Holiday Traditions at MHCV By Julie Price, Admissions and Marketing Director The holiday season is a very special time at Mt. Healthy Christian Village, and for the past several years it has begun with our Thanksgiving Celebration. On November thirteenth, 390 residents, family members, and friends enjoyed a formal, traditional Thanksgiving feast prepared and served by MHCV dining service, staff, and management team. In addition to enjoying the meal, residents and their guests had the opportunity to have a professional photo taken. Several of the family members said it was the first time their family had had a photo taken together in many years. Sheryl Baumann, CBA Dietician has organized the feast since its inception and spends many extra hours facilitating the event. Despite the extra effort and time that it took, Sheryl and her team members were rewarded with the happy faces and sincere gratitude of those in attendance. December brought a flurry of Christmas parties and programs including “The Spirit of Christmas,” which took place on Saturday, December thirteenth. Over 100 attendees enjoyed MHCV’s Auxiliary fundraiser luncheon and resident choir program. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal, which featured homemade lasagna prepared by our own MHCV Chef. This was followed by a delightful resident choir performance. Life Enrichment Director, Jackie Davis led the choir, which included our talented Chaplain, Jon Underwood. The Holiday season comes and goes so quickly each year, leaving behind cherished memories of our community and its residents with anticipation for the New Year ahead! 13. Living & Laughing Together; The Ludlow’s Story By Julie Price, MHCV Admissions and Marketing Director Charlie and Marilyn Ludlow’s story began in 1948 when Marilyn’s family moved from Oakley to Cherry Grove, OH. Marilyn was in her senior year, and not wanting to change Schools, she embarked on a daily hike to a bus stop where she caught a city bus to Withrow High. It was on one of these daily walks she caught Charlie’s attention which one day led to an offer of a ride from the bus stop to home. The rest, as they say is history! When asked what the secret to a happy marriage is Charlie cracks a smile and says, “Yes Dear”, at which Marilyn laughs and shakes her head. Sixty five years have passed since 22 year old Charlie pledged “in sickness and in health” to his 19 year old bride, a promise that resounded again last year when they were faced with Marilyn requiring a greater level of health care. The Ludlow’s made the difficult decision of leaving their Clermont County home and moving to Mt. Healthy Christian Village. Marilyn requires nursing care and Charlie lives in an Independent Living apartment in the same building. Charlie and Marilyn spend most of each day together playing bingo, participating in music programs, or doing many of the activities offered by MHCV’s Life Enrichment Department. It’s not easy being separated because of differing care needs. However, it is comforting to both Charlie and Marilyn knowing they are under the same roof no matter what time of day or night. Charlie knows that when he needs to go out of the building for his own appointments or to have dinner with his friends in the dining room, Marilyn is receiving the quality care she needs and deserves. The Ludlow’s have grown very fond of the caregivers at MHCV and consider themselves as “adopted” grandparents by several! “They are really, really good, and they are hard workers” stated Charlie as he reflected on Marilyn’s aides and nurses. Daughter Cathy, herself a nurse had mixed emotions when it came to a decision about where her parents should live. “You hear horror stories about nursing facilities when you work in healthcare” she said. “I know I don’t have to worry about them now…which allows me to focus on meeting the needs of my own family more. It’s the best place they can be and it’s so obvious that the people working at Mt. Healthy Christian Village love what they do and they care about the residents who live there.” Whether it’s watching her parents perform in the resident choir, or hearing about the day to day events from her father, Cathy rests assured that her parents made the right decision about moving to their new home at Mt. Healthy Christian Village. 14. CBA CONNECTION www.christianbenevolent.org MCV Healthcare Facility Performing Well By Bob Slade, Licensed Administrator 2014 was an exceptional year at Mason Christian Village Healthcare. Factors such as our stable census, strong reimbursement rates and payer mix have produced operating results that have allowed us to continue reinvesting back into our campus debt-free. The kitchen in the Village Centre has been renovated to include a new server, and there have been upgrades including new cooking equipment, cabinets and appliances. These improvements will immediately improve the dining experience for our residents, especially when the Matthews dining room expansion is completed later this summer. We have also purchased many new items for our residents and community, including power lift recliners in Memory Care and Skilled Nursing, a projection system for the Chapel, televisions throughout the facility, fleet vehicles and wellness equipment. In addition, we are in the process of upgrading our nurse call system, phone systems and implementing Electronic Medical Records (EMR). EMR will include a wireless network providing Wi-Fi in the entire Healthcare building. This will be completed in the latter part of 2015. The new rehabilitation wing is continuing to push forward and is scheduled for completion this summer. The rehab wing will include 20 private rooms for short-term, post-acute care, its own dining area and a 2,300 square foot therapy gym. Additionally, nine existing resident rooms in Skilled Nursing will convert to private rooms. We are grateful for our entire team of employees who worked hard to deliver our terrific results in 2014. We look forward to the New Year and to bringing some exciting new enhancements to our community. DONATE A VEHICLE TO CBA Now it is easy to donate any vehicle (running or not) to CBA. We have recently become a registered non-profit with Donate For Charity, Inc., one of the nation’s largest and most respected vehicle donation organizations. Donate For Charity’s network of service providers is extensive, making it possible for them to arrange for the pick-up and sale of any vehicle, arrange a sale and then send a check to CBA for the Compassionate Care Fund. Call Donate For Charity Inc. toll free at 866-392-4483 to arrange the pick-up of any vehicle, or access their website at www.donateforcharity.com. Remember, good cars or junk cars can be donated to CBA through Donate For Charity Inc. Contact them today! Stranded Motorist Results in Gift to CBA In November of 2014 a family attending ICOM (International Conference on Missions) in Columbus, OH had a mechanical breakdown of their family vehicle. The cost of prescribed repairs far exceeded the value of the vehicle, so the owner set his focus on obtaining a replacement automobile and planned to surrender his old vehicle’s title to the repair garage allowing them to dispose of it as they saw fit. A chance conversation between the stranded motorist and CBA CEO Larry Monroe resulted in another plan. A quick toll free call was made to “Donate to Charity”, the organization partnering with CBA to provide gifts to the ministry through donated vehicles. A few days later “Donate to Charity” picked up the old vehicle at the repair garage in Columbus, sold it for scrap metal and sent a check to CBA! Please remember CBA as you consider disposing of a vehicle you no longer need. “Donate to Charity” accepts all vehicles, running or not. They also accept old farm equipment, discarded and rusty old trucks and cars. Give “Donate to Charity” a call. They will walk you through the easy process of turning your unwanted vehicle into a tax deductible gift in support of the ministry of CBA. 15. Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Butler Mail Services 411 Western Row Rd Mason, OH 45040 If you have an address change or would like to be removed from our mailing list, please email rhondac@ christianbenevolelnt.org The Christian Benevolent Association does not discriminate on basis of race, sex, religion, age, qualified handicap, or veteran. Christian Benevolent Association Larry Monroe, CEO Vickie Brashear, CFO 411 Western Row Rd Mason, OH 45040 513-701-3448 www.christianbenevolent.org Mason Christian Village MCV Health Care Facility Bob Slade, Health Care Administrator 411 Western Row Rd Mason, OH 45040 513-398-1486 www.masonchristianvillage.org Mt. Healthy Christian Village 8097 Hamilton Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45231 513-931-5000 www.mhchristianvillage.org The mission of the Christian Benevolent Association of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. and its affiliate organizations is Serving with Excellence, Reflecting Jesus’ Compassion. CBA was established in 1960 by the Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ to provide not-for-profit, full-service retirement communities providing a secure, Christian living environment amid beautiful surroundings. Today our two campuses serve over 600 retirees and are dedicated to the enhancement of the spiritual, physical, social, cultural, emotional well-being and personal dignity of each resident. ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITES TO VIEW THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS www.masonchristianvillage.org www.mhchristianvillage.org
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