Te Kimbal Farms Observer Volume 29, Number 1 ’Snow Use Complainin’ January 2020 Look for Familiar Faces in New Roles If you haven’t already done so: technology] people,” more suitable for corporate Congratulate Bob Herrick, the new Supervisor of positions, “and that’s not really what we’re looking Maintenance and Security, who succeeds Peter for.” Ideally, she says, Kimball’s new tech person Provenzano. would be qualified to work on, and assist residents with, both PCs and Macs, plus cellphones and other Congratulate Jordan (“West”) Saunders, a new technology. maintenance person to work with Bob Herrick and long-termer Chris Arnold. You’ve seen Bob Herrick, the new Supervisor of Maintenance and Security, Congratulate Chris-Ellen Furey on becoming the Chris working full-time on new Community Wellness Coordinator. construction within the Congratulate Kristina Shallies, promoted from buildings. Before coming Community Wellness Coordinator to be Director of to Kimball in May 2003, the Life Enrichment Program. he was a self-employed remodeler and painter. All these are Bob and West A m o n g t h o s e w h o full-time employed him was John appoint- Barry, a District Court ments, and all Judge in Pittsfield and except West President of Hillcrest Saunders’s Hospital and Educational are promo- Centers. A Pittsfield boy, tions from Bob and his wife, Lori, now live in Dalton. He used w i t h i n , s o to be a golfer but now, he says, “we’re homebodies.” three of the They have two sons in their late 30s. four faces are familiar in the halls. West Saunders does not come from the West. He’s a Human Resources Director Amy Goodrich says their Sheffield resident who goes by his middle name, appointments also mark a new phase of openness in West. Originally from Great Barrington, he spent 40 which the Administration will try to keep residents years in Maine, where his wife, Tatiana, was a better informed about staff changes and activities. veterinarian and he did maintenance work in the For good measure, the roster of appointments also veterinary clinic. She’s back to work as a includes two new CNAs (Certified Nursing veterinarian in the Berkshires. Both have family Assistants): Maia Leslie in LEP and Molly Bussiere here. “We came back to be around Great Barrington in Pine Hill. and everybody,” West explains. They have a 19-year- old daughter. And the search is still on for a computer person to replace Peter Provenzano, Amy says. (This Observer Chris Furey, an LPN and Dalton resident, had been report extends only until mid-December.) There have working here alternate weekends as a nurse since been plenty of applications, Amy says. “The problem August 2015. is that we are getting very high-level IT [information (continued on next page) 2 The Kimball Farms Observer January 2020 (Familiar Faces, continued from page 1) State Your Hot Ideas When Kristina Shallies stepped up to become LEP in New Focus Groups director last month, Amy Goodrich explains, “it just made sense” to make Chris the new Wellness Kimball Farms residents are never reluctant to share their opinions, solicited or not, but Michelle Rosier, Coordinator, “since she knows the ins and outs, and she knows the residents within the community.” Director of Residential Services, is about to launch a series of focus groups for residents to share their Chris graduated from Berkshire Community College concerns and wishes specifically about the activities as an LPN and worked at long-term care centers and programming for Independent Living residents. Berkshire Medical Center 24 years before coming to “We’re here for you,” Michelle says,” and we want Kimball. She and her husband, Rick, have two children and three grandchildren. “I love to cook,” to know what activities you’re interested in, or not.” she says, mentioning Chinese and Italian food “I’m very brave,” she asserts, “and I can take among others. “That’s what I do as a hobby.” She criticism. I really want to hear from everyone. We also knits, crochets and, in summer, gardens. have many new residents with great ideas to share LPN Kristina Shallies and we hope to hear from them, too.” c a m e t o K i m b a l l Kristina The focus groups will begin after the first of the year, Farms in June 2018 as with about ten residents per group. While the format Community Wellness for the groups is still to be decided, each one will Nurse. Born and raised “cover all the bases and topics,” according to i n P i t t s f i e l d , s h e Michelle. “We’ll ask about preferences for concerts, trained as a CNA at speakers and activities, the kind of programs we Ta c o n i c H i g h i n usually schedule, but I also hope there will be some Pittsfield. Ten years of outside-the-box ideas, too.” w o r k a s a C N A Sign-ups for the focus groups will begin soon. convinced her that she wanted to become a Michelle cites the recent survey of users of the nurse and she went exercise equipment in both the Pine Hill and Lenox b a c k t o M c C a n n gyms as a good example of the benefits of asking for Technical School in opinions. “We planned to buy a certain group of North Adams for further training. She and her machines, but when we surveyed residents, we husband, Nick, live in Hinsdale. A former swimmer, learned that they had other preferences, so we’ve she says she now spends most of her spare time with revised the order to include, for instance, more their five-year-old son. NuStep machines, two for Pine Hill and one for the small Lenox gym.” That’s the new lineup. But Amy Goodrich wants “to raise awareness and welcome discussion” of new A problem Michelle hopes to have groups discuss is staff members. To that end, she has begun posting this frustrating situation: the Trips Committee works pictures of new hires in all staff positions, including hard to find interesting destinations and good kitchen, laundry and grounds, around the buildings; restaurants, and makes appointments with tour you can see the first crop on the Bridge bulletin guides or docents. They post a sign-up sheet. Many board. You’ll also begin seeing pictures of monthly residents sign up for the trip, but by the time it orientation classes and quarterly “milestone lunches” actually takes place, so many people have crossed held for staff recognition. their names off the list that the trip is cancelled. P.S. The recognition lunches are held off-campus. Start thinking about your great ideas now, so that you can be ready when it’s your turn to share your Andy Pincus opinion. Susan Dana January 2020 The Kimball Farms Observer 3 President’s Report: Also in the works, this time led by Michelle Rosier, is the establishment of focus groups, whose task will Let Us Connect be to consider what new committees or programs One question about fulfilling my role as President of residents would welcome; which existing ones have the Residents’ Association was answered at our lived their lives and can end or be modified. The December meeting: I can be seen behind the podium. focus groups would not be permanent but offer input Whether I can adequately represent you is yet to be that may continue. Success of this effort relies upon determined. My understanding of the responsibilities residents’ ideas and participation. of this office stems from one word: “Connect.” I hope for this monthly column to be short but do want to let you know of staff changes. We offer The gavel is passed congratulations to Bob Herrick, Peter Provenzano’s successor as Superintendent of Maintenance and Security, and newcomer Jordan (West) Saunders, maintenance worker with Bob Herrick and Chris Arnold; Kristina Shallies has been promoted to Director of the Life Enrichment Program; Chris Ellen-Furey is now our full-time Community Wellness Coordinator. You’ll see pictures of new staff on the Bridge bulletin board, thanks to Amy Goodrich. It’s not for lack of looking that we don’t yet have a competent IT person to provide computer assistance to residents. This is the Berkshires: there are more We are a disparate group but we form one jobs than people to fill them, but Kimball is aware community, and we are all a part of making it work that there is a significant demand for the right in a congenial way. I will do my best to connect individual and the search continues. residents’ concerns and aspirations with the Thank you for the confidence you have expressed in administration; to facilitate conversations that will me. promote cooperation, and to include as many Dorothea Nelson individuals as possible in decisions that will impact residents. The Kimball Farms Observer is printed and That can only happen with your cooperation. I will published by and for the residents of Kimball Farms be guided by your suggestions: that means EDITOR PRODUCTION expressing your ideas in writing and placing them in Andy Pincus Ned Dana the Suggestion Box found in our mail room. I Michelle Rosier promise such messages will be presented to Administration and R.A. officers. I cannot promise EDITORIAL STAFF: Stephanie Beling, Susan Dana, outcomes but can guarantee your written Ned Dana, Virginia Fletcher, John Gillespie, communications will be reviewed and responses Bernie Handler, Loring Mandel, Dorothea Nelson, provided.