June Resident Council General Meeting Minutes

Resident Council General Meeting

Minutes for June 6, 2016

The June 6, 2016 meeting of the John Knox Village Resident Council was opened by President Jim Ham at 2 p.m. in the Courtyards Community Center, which was filled to capacity.

Two first time attendees and brand new residents were identified and welcomed. Susie Glotstein has been with us just more than two weeks. Susie came from Overland Park, Kan. and now lives at 180 Shamrock Pl. Larry Transmeier comes from Raymore, and has lived in 302 D Building for three weeks. Susie and Larry were given a round of applause for attending the Resident Council General Meeting so soon after moving in!

Dr. Dan Rexroth, President and CEO of John Knox Village, reminded us of the Foundation Gala - “Big Easy Nite Out” planned for Saturday, June 11. This is a fundraiser for improvements at The Pavilion. The goal is $300,000 and Dan was pleased to announce the response from the Village community and Lee’s Summit businesses has been so great that $200,000 is already pledged. There will be items for silent and open auction in addition to a New Orleans style dinner.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Resident Services Committee: Chair Martha Wood reported on the May meeting. Maria Timberlake, vice president of senior living, gave an update on The Meadows project. The Village has signed an early site package contract with Paric Construction. This includes further demolition, site grading and leveling, moving a transformer and putting in underground utilities. Full construction should begin early fall. To ease disruption to the residents, the new parking lot will be completed first. Some trees must come down but the plan is for at least one tree to be planted for every one that is removed. There will necessarily be some disruption related to access to the salon, golf course and dining. Maria said that things will be messy from mid-May to mid-September but every effort will be made to keep it at a minimum. There will be a Grand Opening for the new Courtyard Commons on June 27. Kelli Snell, director of Resident Life, was our speaker who presented five “Hot Topics” that Resident Life is working on and asked for our opinions and suggestions. These topics were 1. Price points for travel, events and food at events. 2. Movies (related to the new Courtyard Theater) including types of movies, times and reservations (the movie theater will also be used for lifelong learning, reservations will be required and volunteers will be needed); 3. Smaller neighborhood events (should they be open to all); 4. Types of music for entertainment, including whether residents musical tastes are changing.  5. The importance of food at Village events. There was a good discussion and a wide variety of suggestions. The next meeting will be June 13.

Health Services: Chair Helen Darby, reported on the May meeting. The speaker was Sarah Meese, LPN – with the Resident Health Center. Sarah reviewed the services offered at the Resident Health Center, which includes point of care testing such as blood glucose, wound care, ophthalmic care, (such as eye drops), vital signs and injections (with physician order). Other services may be available on a fee for service basis. Sarah reviewed the flu shot clinic held this past fall when approximately 275 injections were given. There were positive comments on the efficiency of the clinic. It was noted that the space was too small for the volume of residents who came through and Sarah stated they are looking for another place for this year. A first time guest, Betty Reed, who plans to join our committee was welcomed. Rodney McBride, vice president health services, announced the resignation of David Mercier, the Village Care Center Administrator. Rodney stated that David will remain in place during the search for a new administrator and that a number of applications have already been received. Staffing in the Village Care Center, while improved from a year ago, currently has 19 open CNA positions (full and part time), and there are six open positions at Village Assisted Living. Agency help is being used on some units. Village Care Center recruitment continues. Exit interviews are conducted with those who resign, and these are conducted by Human Resources. In addition, interviews are done with long time staff to find the reasons why they stay. The physical therapy room at the Village Care Center is being refurbished. A new floor and fresh paint is planned. The Fitness Center now has a new elliptical machine, and a grant for equipment to improve balance will soon be doubled by the foundation and placed in the Village Care Center. The next meeting is June 8, and the speaker will be Craig Faith, speaking on the revision of emergency contact form.

Sales, Marketing and Communications Committee: Chair Margie Stowell reported on the May meeting. Marybeth Roberts, Director of Sales and Marketing presented a summary of FY16 and Future Goals for FY17. Marybeth explained the importance of leads and how they affect sales. Various forms of advertising, referrals from residents, television and newspaper ads, and mailings are some of the tools used. The newly developed website has been an exceptionally good tool. Seminars and special events are well received. Current residents can, and do, play a very important role by giving real-life experiences about what it is like living at the Village. The report showed that FY16 had over 200 more leads than FY15 – and that most leads come from a 15-mile radius of the Village. The closing ratio is tracked to determine the success rate – it is about 17 percent. Cancellations do occur for various reasons. The addition of Deann Hanson as move-in coordinator has been excellent, as she can help relieve the stress of moving and can give advice when asked. For FY17, the trend is very positive. The Northside Villas are all sold and residents are beginning to move in. D Building sales are progressing nicely. A goal of 186 entry fee and lease move-ins for FY17 is hoped for. Also, many renovations are being done. Marybeth distributed the FY17 Sales statistics through April 2016 and discussed the progress. The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 16, in the Places Manhattan Room.

Nominating Committee: The committee is on hiatus until September.

Program:

Our speaker was Todd Hollander, Director of Dining Services and Events. Todd shared a lot of very interesting information about the new Courtyard Commons area. Starting with the hours for the new dining room, Todd indicated it would be open every day (including Sunday) from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. Dinner will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Carmen Wayman is the new manager, and Chef Tim Wells will handle the much larger kitchen. The menu will include some old items, plus many new items such as Island Mahi Mahi – Chef Tim's signature entree. There will be a “soft opening” on June 16 and 17 – by invitation only, when selected groups will be able to sample the new menu. On June 20, there will be a full opening for all. The dining room seats 72 and will include a community table for those who don't wish to sit alone. There is also a private dining room for eight diners. The current Courtyard Cafe will be re purposed as a bar and Coffee Shoppe, which will be open Monday through Sunday from 8-4. The current ice-cream area will remain. Todd answered several questions.

Following Todd's presentation, Kelli Snell provided information about the Village’s “Light the Torch of Pride” Olympics event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 16 at the Pavilion. Village residents and associates are encouraged to invite their families to this annual summer event. Leading up to this year's event, torches will be traveling throughout the Village (one for associates and one for residents) to showcase Village P.R.I.D.E. - delivering excellence to make the JKV community even more amazing). President Jim Ham was handed the resident torch today to start the relay. (The associate torch started with the Village Care Center for all the work they have been doing to improve care there.) Jim has been asked to pass it on to a resident individual or group who has worked to make the Village great and has shown P.R.I.D.E. in our community. The torch will be carried throughout the Village by relay all the way to its final destination in the Pavilion on July 16. The final torchbearers (associates and residents) will light the monumental cauldron with the Olympic flame. The Village relay's function is not unlike the world's Olympic relay's functions: to herald the Olympic Games and to transmit a message of peace and friendship to the people along its route.

Kelli stated that Monday, June 27, is the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Courtyards Commons area. Champagne and appetizers will be served. The Courtyard Salon will open on July 6, and hours will be Tuesday through Saturday. The new Courtyard Theater with seating for 35, financed by the John Knox Village Foundation, will be officially opened on July 9. Saturday movies will be shown at 3 and 6 p.m., plus 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. Residents can reserve the theater for other purposes also. To make reservations, call 347-2999. The walkway to the Pavilion will also be open soon.

Please remember to send in your Communications Survey (it was in your June Village Voice) as the deadline is June 10.

The next General Meeting will be on Monday, July 11. The program will be given by DeAnn Hanson, move-in coordinator. DeAnn will speak about her new position and how if affects the new residents moving in as well as the Village as a whole.

Respectfully submitted,

June Dewsberry, Secretary, Resident Council