Honor: 7 Teachings on a Life Well-Lived from Senator Nancy Brataas and Her Daughter Anne
Anne Brataas is the daughter of pioneering Minnesota State Senator and leader Nancy Brataas. Sen. Brataas, who was the first female Minnesota state legislator elected in her own right, died last week in hospice care. For a wonderful example of "honor," we share with you her daughter's tribute entitled: As she died, Sen. Nancy Brataas posed a final question: 'Unconventional?' that was published today at MinnPost.com.
Ecumen Job Openings Now on Twitter
Ecumen’s Human Resources Department recently launched the new @Ecumen_Jobs Twitter account that highlights open positions in the company’s 37 cities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Idaho and Tennessee. As one of the top 20 nonprofit senior services providers in the nation, Ecumen offers a wide variety of jobs along numerous career paths to more than 4,000 employees.
Positions include an array of opportunities in direct health care, such as nursing and other caregiving and therapy jobs, as well as positions in sales and marketing, accounting, human resources, social services, IT, housing management, building maintenance and housekeeping, food and dining services, and administrative support.
Jobseekers can apply online for Ecumen jobs at http://careers.ecumen.org/jobs/.
Ecumen’s Corporate HR Team Takes Big Lessons From an Afternoon at Feed My Starving Children
By Camille Gross, Ecumen E-Learning and Training Coordinator
Ecumen’s mission primarily focuses on serving older adults, but it’s great to be part of an organization that encourages us to serve all ages.
Last week the Ecumen corporate Human Resources team went on a volunteer outing to Feed My Starving Children’s site in Coon Rapids, Minn. We quickly learned how much of a difference just a little help can make in the lives of others.
We packed food shipments to Jamaica and had an experience far more enlightening than we expected.
It’s incredible to think that a few hours of volunteer work could have such an impact. Over the course of a half day’s work, we were able to pack 47 boxes of food. With each box containing 216 meals, we were able to pack over 10,000 meals. We were told that our efforts were enough to feed 166 children for an entire year. Plus we got to wear cute hairnets and taste the food.
Also, the experience brought us closer as a team. Packing food in an assembly line process, the nine people in our group became more comfortable as a team and felt a drive to become better – together. To ensure the success of the overall purpose, we had to rely on one another.
Some of us measured out the food — dried rice, soy and vegetables, along with vitamins. Others weighed and sealed packages. Others packed boxes. We quickly found ourselves in competition with other groups of volunteers — trying to see who could pack the most boxes.
It was a fun atmosphere, but we were focused on the job and driven to work as efficiently as we could. At the time we probably didn’t realize it, but looking back, this is how our department must operate every day in order to succeed. We must strive towards the same goals and trust each other to support Ecumen employees in the best way we can.
Ecumen encourages employees to collaborate and provide excellent service to the people and communities we serve— and also to volunteer outside the company to help the community at large. We got a first-hand lesson in why that is such a good idea. Here’s the bottom line on our afternoon of volunteering:
- Boxes of food packaged= 47.
- Children fed for one year=166.
- Experiencing the value of service= Priceless.
Joe Gomer, Minnesota's Last Tuskegee Airman and Ecumen Lakeshore Resident, Dies at 93
Our country has lost a hero, Congressional Gold Medal recipient and one of a small group of remaining Tuskegee Airmen. Joe Gomer passed away at Ecumen Lakeshore in Duluth, Minn., on Thursday, October 10. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and all those he inspired. We are honored to have known and cared for Joe Gomer.
Learn more about Joe's life and accomplishments in today's Pioneer Press/AP story, "Minnesota's last Tuskegee Airman dies at 93."
Photo by AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Steve Kuchera
A Lifetime of Love Recaptured
Bill and Mary renewed their vows at Ecumen of Litchfield last week. Mary was granted her "wish," which also included lighting a unity candle and singing "Amazing Grace," through the new EcuDreams program for Ecumen of Litchfield hospice residents.
"A Lifetime of Love Recaptured" by Jenny Berg, Litchfield Independent Review
After more than 66 years, she still captures his heart.
It was evident in the way Bill Olson slowly rose from his walker, leaned in and tenderly kissed his bride last week during a ceremony to renew their vows. With tears in his eyes and a single rose pinned to a simple plaid shirt, Bill repeated that he still takes Mary to be his wife.
“It really got to me,” Bill said thoughtfully while eating a cupcake after the ceremony.
Bill and Mary, both 85, have lived in Litchfield for decades and ran Gambels in downtown Litchfield for many years. A few months ago, Mary transferred from living at the couple’s home to living in hospice care at Ecumen. Read more and see photos of the event on the Litchfield Independent Review's website.
Life Stories Celebrated at Ecumen Community in Norwood Young America
One of the joys of working at Ecumen is getting to know so many people who have great stories and life experiences. A number of Ecumen communities are collaborating with Celebrations of Life whose mission is to provide a meaningful Legacy Journey® experience to help individuals and families live their lives with intention and share their values, wisdom and generosity with loved ones and future generations. Through the collaboration, Ecumen customers explore and publish their life story. As you can imagine, the stories make great keepsakes today and for generations to come.
The Harbor in Norwood Young America is an Ecumen-managed community that has had 8 residents who have recently embarked on their life story projects. The newest stories were celebrated last week at a reception at The Harbor, where the authors unveiled their hardcover autobiographies, sharing them with family and friends.
Over the course of several months residents met with Bonita Heilman, The Harbor’s Community Relations Director to share, reflect and write about their lives. After the writing process is complete, the stories are edited and published in hardcover books complete with a lifetime of photographs.
Among the authors and honorees at the most recent celebrations were the following:
Bonnie Trebesch: She grew up in Clements, MN, and met her husband when she was 13. They were married when she was 18. He was a Marine stationed in California. Together they had 12 children. Talk about juggling!
Gordon Wroge (pictured above): He grew up on the family farm in Young America, MN that was founded by his Grandfather in 1876. Gordon spoke German at home and learned English at school. Today Gordon’s son Dave is the fourth generation of Gordon’s family to live on and work the family farm.
Vernon Henschen: Vernon also grew up on a farm near Cologne, MN. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Hamburg, Germany, and found the German he spoke at home with his family came in handy while stationed overseas. He has restored over 70 tractors in his lifetime. They’re all at the family farm. And they’re all International Harvesters.
Congratulations to Bonnie, Gordon and Vernon for sharing their stories! Your families must be proud. We are!
Secrets to 75 Years of Marriage and a Final Goodbye on Valentine's Day
A 75-year love story will forever change today. Clifford and Mildred Bjerke of Moorhead, Minn., married in the 1930s and raised a fun-loving family based on their simple ideals of love, family and hard work. Not uncommon in those days, but few are able to reach the 75 year milestone.
The grandparents of one of my best friends, I’ve witnessed the legacy Clifford and Mildred created – generations of Bjerkes who carry on the “spunk” that kept Clifford on his toes and the hard work that held their family together. Their daughter, at age 70, makes me laugh out loud at her stories and admire her funky new haircut and bright red dress. Their granddaughter, my friend, is not only the life of the party, but also works long, emotional hours as a neonatal nurse practitioner.
It’s both heart-warming and heart-breaking that Clifford and his family say goodbye and lay Mildred to rest today, Valentine’s Day 2013, just days after sharing their love story with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. It’s my honor to pass along Clifford and Mildred Bjerke’s secrets of 75 years of marriage.