Launching into Life at the Edina Home

OF M
MOUNT
NNEWSLETTER
EWSLETTER OF
OUNT OLIVET
O LIVET ROLLING
R OLLING AACRES
CRES
Offeringcare
careand
andservices
servicesforforpeople
peoplewith
withdevelopmental
intellectual and
Offering
andother
other disabilities
disabilities
Spring 2016
Launching into Life at the Edina Home
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres received
$80,000 from over 200 donors at the
end of 2015. We give a special thanks to
the Mount Olivet Homes’ Auxiliary for
their very generous gift of $20,000.
Gifts will support
life-enhancing activities for residents.
SAVE THE DATE!
Estate Planning Seminar
Tuesday, April 19, 12:00 p.m.
Attorney Stuart Bear
Minneapolis Campus Fellowship Hall
LUNCH PROVIDED
See page 8 for more details!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
From the Chief Operating Officer.....................2
Employee of the Year........................................3
Employee Anniversaries...................................3
Launching into Life, continued.........................4
A Life-Changing Program................................5
Memorials & Gifts.............................................6
Board Member Chris Rud.................................7
Golf Scramble Kickoff.......................................7
Estate Planning Seminar..................................8
From the Director of Development...................8
WWW.MTOLIVETROLLINGACRES.ORG
MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 1
Parents and staff help create full lives for residents
In his professional roles
working with youth and
families, Hal Weldin often has
spoken to groups about what
he describes as the four key elements of a parent’s job: love,
safety, nurture, and launch.
He articulately describes how
he and his wife, Jill, watched
their oldest son, William,
now in the military, grow to
the time when he was ready
to “launch” into the world
“and function
Daniel, who lives at the Edi
without Mom and Dad.”
Hal and Jill Weldin, who app na Home, enjoys a virtual visit with his parents,
ear on the tablet. Staff per
He adds, “As parents, we
son Maria Zahler assists.
have a certain joy when our adult children
find who they are and where they want to be.”
But as parents of their second son, Daniel, Hal and Jill have had another experience: “Daniel never will be fully launched into the world like our older son. He will
always need a community around him that advocates for him, provides what he needs,
Continued on page 4
The 2016 Golf Scramble will be held on
Monday, August 29
at the Minneapolis Golf Club.
Sign up early as foursomes go fast!
Register on page 7 or at mtolivetrollingacres.org/get-involved/golf-scramble.
Spring 2016
1
3/14/2016 5:15:33 PM
From
the Chief
Operating
Officer
Dear Friend,
Spring is in the air, and as we look ahead to an
exciting 2016, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks
to you for a record-breaking 2015! Our year-end
fundraising totaled $80,000, which will support life
enhancements for our residents and clients. Programs
like Showstoppers, the Glee Club, and other enriching activities throughout the year are made possible
through your generous support. Thank you!
It is exciting to announce that Kraus-Anderson
Construction and Data Center Systems, Inc. have
committed as benefactors for our 27th annual Golf
Scramble, which takes place Monday, August 29,
2016, at the Minneapolis Golf Club. I hope to see you
on the green!
As our programs grow and evolve, we look forward to some changes in 2016. We plan to finalize the
downsizing of our original campus in Victoria, which
began in 1993. By the end of the year, between 4 and
10 residents will live at the Victoria campus.
Our Adult Day Services program is expanding,
and by the end of June we hope to move to a new site
in Chanhassen. This program provides life-enhancing
activities, meals, and social stimulation for clients and
residents who are unable to work.
We are also pleased to announce that Mount
Olivet Rolling Acres Mental Health Services provides
support to our community. For more information or
to make an appointment call: 952.401.4868.
Our successful partnership with MacPhail
Center for Music began with our Glee Club. Now we
will expand to include a new program for clients and
residents that focuses on the therapeutic benefits of
music listening. Stay “tuned” for more details!
Finally, I want to extend deepest thanks to our
employees who are the heart and soul of the care we
provide to our clients and residents. Their passion,
dedication, and joyful service exemplify the mission
of Mount Olivet Rolling Acres, and it is an honor to
serve with them. Happy spring!
2
Spring 2016
2016 MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 2
MARK YOUR CALEN
DAR
Estate Planning Semin
ar
April 19, Mount Olivet Lu
theran Church
Mount Olivet Homes’
Auxiliary Garage Sale
May 5-7, Mount Olivet Lu
theran Church
Mount Olivet Rolling A
cres Golf Scramble
August 29, Minneapolis G
olf Club
Mount Olivet Homes’
Auxiliary Gala
October 25, Location TBD
®
rs
a
ll
o
D
e
ic
o
h
C
Thrivent
Make a Difference!
ial members with
Eligible Thrivent Financ
,
ve until March 31, 2016
2015 Choice Dollars ha
to direct them.
nity
Don’t miss this opportu
Rolling Acres.
to support Mount Olivet
entchoice
Go to Thrivent.com/thriv
to learn more and find
nditions.
program terms and co
d say
Or call 800.847.4836 an
r the prompt.
“Thrivent Choice” afte
ort!
Thank you for your supp
WWW.MTOLIVETROLLINGACRES.ORG
3/14/2016 5:15:34 PM
2015 Employee of the Year Named
We are proud to announce Samantha Wessberg as our 2015 Employee of
the Year. She is a tireless advocate for
both clients and staff. Through persistence, determination, and hard work,
Samantha has earned her success at
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres over the past
eight years.
Samantha Wessberg
Hired as an on-call
substitute support staff while
she was still in high school,
Samantha became known
throughout the organization
as a hardworking employee
who was popular with clients. She continued to grow
her reputation as an on-call
sub during her college
years, and upon graduation
was hired full-time as a
residential counselor at the
Samantha with Mark, who lives at
Oakwood Home. Moving
one of the community homes.
from overnight to day shifts,
from residential counselor to program
how much fun the activity was and often
coordinator at Northgate Home, Sathanked staff for being involved,” says Samantha showed a commitment to client
mantha. “When I hear that and see them
enrichment that grew with every step in
smile, that’s why I come back every day.”
her career.
Samantha now works as the proSamantha says she is motivated by
gram supervisor for the Birch Bluff,
seeing her clients get involved in comBrenden Pond, Chanhassen, and Kings
munity activities. “Clients would express
Lane community homes, ensuring that
Celebrating 25, 30, and 40
Years of Service!
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres congratulates staff members who have celebrated
significant anniversaries of service. With the rest of their colleagues, they are dedicated
to providing the highest quality care for the people we serve. Our staff of over 450 is
well-educated, dedicated, respected, experienced, and diverse.
Marge Geffre
t 40
YEARS
YEARS
30 u
YEARS
Tito Dawis
staff receive the training they need to
do their jobs to the best of their abilities. She uses her understanding of
person-centered supports to inspire
her clients to reach their full potential.
Samantha’s hard work building relationships with clients, families, guardians,
and staff embodies what it means to be a
direct support professional. For Samantha, winning the award “confirms that
everything I did really made a difference.
It means I am good at what I have been
doing and it feels amazing to know that!”
We are honored to have Samantha
as part of our team. Congratulations to
Samantha on being our 2015 Employee
of the Year!
Kari Dose
SPRING 2016
Homes with Heart is published three times a year
for family, friends, and supporters
of Mount Olivet Rolling Acres.
25 u
YEARS
Board President: John Hogenson
Chief Operating Officer: Bruce Torgerson
Editor & Director of Development: Mari Carlson
Copy Editors, Writers & Researchers:
Kristen Cullen, Jessica Rivest, Erin VanBurkleo,
Sam Velie, Lynn von Hassel, Karen Walhof
Kevin McLaughlin
Homes with Heart
MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 3
Brian Smith
Jay Stellrecht
Graphic Design: Karen Walhof
Spring 2016
3
3/14/2016 5:15:37 PM
Launching into Life at the Edina Home, continued from page 1
Jack, Daniel & Michael at
Daniel with staff member
the Edina Home
Marnie Carlson
The men at the Edina
44
Spring 2016 MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 4
Home
and helps him discover his abilities.
‘Launching’ a child with disabilities is
remarkably complex.”
As Daniel became an adult,
Hal and Jill looked at the options
available for him. “We needed to
find a way for Daniel to transition
out of our home into a group home.
We connected with Mount Olivet
Church Pastor Monica Hammersten, figured out some creative
funding, then worked with Mount
Olivet Rolling Acres to establish
this non-traditional group home
that was the right place for Daniel.”
In September 2015, Daniel moved
into the Edina Home, along with
three other young men, each with
slightly different needs.
Letting him go hasn’t been
easy. “We cared for Daniel for 28
years,” Hal notes, “and now we had
to trust someone else to be his advocate and determine what is in his
best interests and help him discover
who he wants to be.” He pauses.
“We weren’t prepared for our own
vulnerability. It was tender to entrust Daniel’s care to someone who
hadn’t always known him. . . . But
now we see how happy Daniel is.”
Hal and Jill appreciate the
teamwork necessary to make the
community home experience work:
“Our task is developing a relationship
with MORA and their staff. How do
we find the combination of parental
support, Rolling Acres support, and
work experience that makes the best
life possible for Daniel? How do we
work together for his best interest?”
Hal says he’s very grateful for how
those relationships have progressed:
“Our experience with the MORA
staff has been remarkable,” Hal
says. “What I’ve most appreciated
is that I’ve never questioned the
love and care the staff have for
Daniel. Watching his caregivers
come to know him and the three
other young men in the house
has been remarkable. They have
listened to us, made their own observations, then developed wonderfully rich
relationships with Daniel.”
Hal is honest. “It would be wrong
to romanticize it, that it is a smooth
incline,” he notes, but the move has been
positive both for Daniel and his parents.
“When Jill and I discussed what kind of
place we wanted for Daniel,” Hal says,
“we decided we wanted him to live with
other young men whose families continue to be deeply involved with them.
We are very fortunate that is true at the
Edina Home. We have eyes on him three
to four times a week, and this staff is
open to that. They have embraced having
parents involved. That’s not always true
in other homes.”
But Hal is quick to note that Daniel
and his three housemates also contribute
to this relationship: “One of the things
individuals with disabilities have to offer
the world is that they really need other
people’s care. Daniel needs the whole
world to care for him,” Hal says, “and
that pulls the very best out of the staff
there.” Hal, an ordained pastor and now
a chaplain at Children’s Hospital, speaks
from his heart when he says, “The Holy
Spirit guides us as we discover who we
are to each other, and I think that’s what
is happening in that home now.”
Moving their son to the Edina
Home has changed their lives dramatically. “Since September it’s the first time
that we haven’t had to do primary care
for Daniel, so now we’re figuring our
lives out. It brings relief, space, and loneliness,” he muses. “But I’m very grateful
for where we are now. The MORA staff
members have developed a remarkable
relationship with Daniel.”
Interdependence is one of the core
values of Mount Olivet Rolling Acres:
“Every person and organization is
interdependent with others in our community and beyond.” It is being lived
out at the Edina Home, as clients, families, and staff members work together
to create the best life possible for Daniel
and the other young men who make it
their home.
WWW.MTOLIVETROLLINGACRES.ORG
3/14/2016 5:15:39 PM
Rolling Acres Buddies Program Has Had Life-Changing Effects
Carmen Nesheim’s experiences as a buddy inform her teaching today
Carmen Nesheim, longtime Mount
Olivet Lutheran Church member and
first grade teacher at Cornelia Elementary
School in Edina, remembers those bus
trips in the mid-1970s on Monday nights
to Mount Olivet Rolling Acres. “First of
all, the bus rides were a lot of fun because
you got to go with your friends. Then
when we got to the campus, that was
fun. We were teamed up with a buddy.
I had two through the years—a girl and
a boy.” Each of her buddies had Down
Syndrome, and they lived on the Mount
Olivet Rolling Acres campus.
“We would play games, do things in
the gym, and be there as a connection for
our buddy,” Carmen says. The activities
were well supervised, often involving
games and crafts. “Sometimes we would
do a project together with our buddy,”
she remembers.
And in the midst of the fun, Carmen
and her friends learned an important
lesson. “We discovered that our buddies
were loving, happy, and caring people.”
Why did she commit her time to that
weekly visit? “My friends were involved
in it, and they told me about it and how
much fun it was. At that time it was a
‘big deal’ for the youth” at Mount Olivet
Lutheran Church. She remembers that
the message was clear: It was important
to form that bond and relationship with
their buddy. “We learned to have courage,
compassion, and empathy through that
experience,” Carmen says. “We learned to
go there without fear, and we discovered
that our buddies had lots of joy and very
big hearts.”
“This was before any kind of service
learning in schools, but I know that having participated in it was significant for
me during high school and college years.”
Carmen has remained close friends
with three of the girls, now women, who
participated in the Buddies program with
her. In fact, they are an annual foursome
for the Mount Olivet Rolling Acres Golf
Scramble. “When we come together to
play golf, we reminisce about our exomeswith
withHHeart
eart
HHomes
MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 5
periences with our buddies.” She adds,
“Playing in the Golf Scramble is a great
way of giving back” all these years later.
But perhaps more significant and
poignant is the effect that experience
has had on how Carmen lives out her
vocation as a teacher today. “At Cornelia I’ve had the privilege of having
students with Down Syndrome in my
class.” And though other teachers take
students with special needs into their
classrooms for short periods of time,
“I keep them. They stay in my classJanna Lafountain
room,” Carmen says. “I get on the
e,
& Darcy Winter we Carmen Nesheim, Sandy Ulsaker
Wie
re
floor with them and use my toolkit
They continue to suMORA buddies when they were teen se
s.
pport Rolling Acre
of training to help them learn. And
s by participating
in the Golf Scram
bl
e
ea
the other students love them.”
ch summer.
Carmen traces the fact that she is
comfortable having students with
special needs in her class back to her
experiences at Mount Olivet Rolling
Acres: “I do believe that came from the
experience of being a buddy.” Besides
classroom teaching, she has worked
with private tutoring for students with
special needs: “I don’t know if I would
have embraced those experiences if
I hadn’t had those earlier contacts at
Rolling Acres.” She continues to maintain
relationships with some of her former
students and their families.
agious!
Smiles are cont
n.
fu
Although Carmen makes clear that
t
ea
gr
is
er
togeth
Spending time
she didn’t participate in the Buddies
program with any expectations for great
outcomes, it has made a huge difference
in her life. “It has been really impactful
for me as a teacher. I learned a lot from
the program.”
Who could have guessed the longterm ramifications the Buddies program,
now called Tuesdays with Rolling
Acres, would have in Carmen’s life?
All of the students in her classroom
have benefitted from the insight and
exposure she gained there. “Every
person matters—that’s what we
learned through our experiences
at Rolling Acres, and that’s what
Mount Olivet yo
I teach my class. Every person
uth and Rolli
enjoy the Zoo M ng Acres residents
matters.”
obile.
pring2016
2016
SSpring
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3/14/2016 5:15:41 PM
Memorials and Gifts
Thank You, Donors!
October 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015
IN MEMORY OF:
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ANDERSON
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BARON
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IN HONOR OF:
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BIRTHDAY
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Spring
pring 2016
2016
MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 6
JACK HAMMERSTEN
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SCHMALZ
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STROMMEN
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E.V. Westin
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Memorials and other gifts make programs like Showstoppers possible.
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Auxiliary
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ESTATE GIFTS:
Sucile Anderson
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GIFTS IN KIND:
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Foundation
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THRIVENT CHOICE:
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We apologize if your name
was omitted or misspelled.
Call Sam Velie at
612.821.3153 for corrections.
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JOIN US
AUGUST 29!
Sponsor, Player,
and Donor Form
Meet Board Member Chris Rud
Chris Rud has served on the Mount Olivet Rolling Acres board
for nearly ten years now. She is deeply committed to the vision
and services that Rolling Acres offers, primarily, she says, because
“Rolling Acres provides services for those with special needs that
cannot be met by parents or family alone; it is the responsibility of
the whole community.” She is “dismayed at how our dysfunctional
political process sets people up for failure and negatively impacts
those who need support the most.”
Chris is now retired, but she had worked as an organizational
consultant. When Rolling Acres needed to evaluate its mental
health services, the administration asked Chris to spearhead some
focus groups with parents and families to evaluate the service
provided. Chris says she was amazed at the “100 percent positive
comments about their contacts with Mount Olivet Rolling Acres.
This is an organization that is exceptionally well run.”
The Metro Crisis Coordination Program (MCCP) is of special
interest, she says. A collaborative effort among the counties of Anoka,
Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, it is
managed by Mount Olivet Rolling Acres. The goal of the program
is to work interdependently with individuals, private providers,
and public agencies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area to prevent
crises that affect the residential or work placements of people with
developmental disabilities or related conditions, and to reduce the
use of hospitalizations and civil commitments resulting from crisis
situations. “They do amazing work,” Chris says, “serving a wide range
of people in this large metropolitan area. Rolling Acres has been
entrusted with that responsibility.” She adds, “They are pro-active and
really work hard to educate care providers.”
Clearly, Chris values the staff who work at Rolling Acres: “It takes
a special person,” she says, “who puts the needs of the community
and the people they serve first. That’s what this staff does. They are so
willing to commit to serve others, to put the people they serve ahead
of their own needs.” She adds, “I love going to board meetings and
hearing the passion in their voices, the caring in their voices.”
Chris and her husband, Stan, were among the first worshipers
at the Mount
Olivet
Lutheran
Church West
Campus. They have two daughters,
Nicole and
Genie, and
four grandchildren.
We thank
Chris for her
leadership
Chris Rud,
and support.
The Rud family: Front row (l-r): Jake Strait, Stan Rud,
Nicholas.
daughter Nicole Strait, Curt Strait & daughter Genie
Nicholas.
Back row (l-r): Emma Nicholas, Taylor Strait & Madie
WWW.MTOLIVETROLLINGACRES.ORG
MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 7
Complete this form to register. You may access an online
form by scanning the QR code below or by visiting
mtolivetrollingacres.org/get-involved/golf-scramble.
o I would like to be a sponsor (see levels below)
o I would like to be a sponsor and play golf (additional
$275 per person, $1,100 per team)
o I would like to play golf only ($275 per person,
$1,100 per team)
o I am not available to golf but would like to donate
(list in “Payment Amount” below)
Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone
Email
For sponsors, please choose one:
o $10,000 Benefactor (includes a foursome)
o $7,500 Diamond
o $2,500 Gold
o $5,000 Titanium
o $1,000 Silver
o $3,500 Platinum
o $500 Bronze
For teams, please complete:
Handicap
Player 1 (self)
Player 2
Phone or Email
Player 3
Phone or Email
Player 4
Phone or Email
PAYMENT AMOUNT: $ ________________________
o Check is enclosed. (Please make check payable to
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres.)
Charge my credit card: o Visa o MasterCard o AmEx
Card #
Expiration date
Signature
QUESTIONS? CALL 952.474.5974
Donations are tax deductible according to the law.
$50 per player is considered a tax-deductible contribution.
Mail form to:
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres
18986 Lake Drive East
Chanhassen, MN 55317-9348
Get easy access to the golf scramble registration
by scanning the QR code with your smart phone or tablet.
Spring 2016
7
3/14/2016 5:15:42 PM
M ount O livet R olling A cres
18986 LAKE DRIVE EAST, CHANHASSEN, MN 55317-9348
A D D R E S S
S E R V I C E
R E Q U E S T E D
From the Director of Development
Dear Friend and Supporter,
For nearly 60 years, Sucile “Sue” Anderson was
an active and loyal member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. She was delighted when her church
established Mount Olivet Rolling Acres in 1965.
Providing people with intellectual and other disabilities the care and services they need to live a life valued
by society, which is the mission of Rolling Acres, resonated with Sue. During her lifetime, she did her part in ensuring that those
important services remained strong by making generous annual gifts.
After she died in 2014, Mount Olivet Rolling Acres received a letter from
her insurance company confirming that Sue had remembered the organization in her estate plan by making a beneficiary designation on a life insurance
policy. By letting us know of her intentions, Sue was a Mount Olivet Vision
Partner, our planned giving affinity group. We are grateful to Sue for her leadership and wonderful support both during and after her lifetime.
Perhaps you might consider leaving a gift for Mount Olivet Rolling Acres
in your estate plan. There are many ways to leave your legacy. One simple way
is to make a beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy just like Sue
did. It is easy to do and can be changed at any time if circumstances change.
I want to invite you to join estate planning attorney Stuart Bear and me
for an estate planning seminar on Tuesday, April 19. Stuart is a terrific presenter. Please see adjoining article for details. I also have a packet of planned
giving materials I would be happy to send you if you can’t attend the seminar.
For more information, email or call me at [email protected] or
612.821.3150. Thanks!
Happy spring!
Mari Carlson, Director of Development
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
& Affiliated Organizations
612.821.3150, [email protected]
8
Spring 2016 MORA Homes with Heart Spring 2016 final.indd 8
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES
PERMIT NO. 3675
ESTATE PLANNING
The Greatest Gift
You Can Give
Your Loved Ones!
Learn about Wills and
Trusts with Estate
Planning Attorney
STUART BEAR
Tuesday, April 19, 12:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Campus Fellowship Hall
LUNCH PROVIDED
Having an up-to-date will or trust is one
of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones.
A well-thought-out estate plan makes it
easier for your family, avoids disputes,
and ensures that your wishes are followed.
Family circumstances and estate planning laws
change periodically, so it is important to review
your documents every few years.
You can also perpetuate your values by leaving
a legacy for organizations important to you.
Join us on Tuesday, April 19, 12:00-2:00 p.m.,
in the Minneapolis Campus Fellowship Hall.
Reservations required by Friday, April 15
Reserve your seat by calling 612.821.3187.
WWW.MTOLIVETROLLINGACRES.ORG
3/14/2016 5:15:43 PM