Author: Dell

Retirement Living Residents Association newsletter
Masonic Village at elizabethtown

MARCH 2015

THE VILLAGE NEWS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

We’ve survived another harsh winter and can now look forward to more tranquil weather and wonderful times together at our “resort”.
Published in the last issue of the Village News are the names of current RLRA Committee members. If your name is not listed and you requested to me to be on a committee, you are on a standby list to replace departing members in the future. At present, all committees are full—and I thank you all for your involvement.
There are also newly elected cottage and apartment representatives and I welcome you. Please get to know your residents; and residents, get to know your representatives. Holding monthly get-togethers is a great way to foster friendships.
Your representatives are here to help you in any way possible—whether it be a strictly personal issue or a general campus issue so please let them know what is on your mind so they can bring it to the attention of the Executive Committee and the MV Administration at our monthly meetings.
I want to wish you all a “Happy Spring” and remember, “every day is a gift”.
Fraternally, Jack Heinze
MASONIC VILLAGE CAPS
It’s hard to believe but we’re about to get into the warm sunny season. That means a good protective cap is needed and they are available right here on campus and in a variety of colors too.
Dark blue, pink, beige and the newest color—white. Each quality cap has the MV logo and they are only $13 each. We are running a Golfer’s Special (anyone can be a golfer) for March with the white caps a dollar off the regular price or $12.
To order a cap, make out your check to RLRA and send to Jerry Kemmerer at 342 Sycamore North. Be sure to include your address and phone number. If you have any questions, call Jerry at 13942 or Wils Kile at 14597.

Introducing the new director of the Men’s Chorus, George Robertson. When Bob Carthew retired after directing the Men’s Chorus for 7 years, George was asked if he would step in.
George has an extensive background in music and in choir directing. He loves to direct and said he’d rather do that than eat!
It all started when he was asked to join the choir at the Salem UCC Church in Rohrestown. One day the choir director quit and George was asked to fill in - which he did, on and off when he was needed, for many years. Finally in 1990, he was asked to become the paid choir director. He continued in that role until his move to MV E-town 14 months ago.
George comes from a musical family. His mom played piano and George said she had a lovely voice. She was the organist for the Church of God in Landisville. His dad was first clarinetist with the Lukens Steel Band and his sister sang with the Lancaster Opera Workshop. George himself has played the piano since he was 10 years old.
The Men’s Chorus sings once a month at Sell Chapel, both services. George said as director, he will be selecting what they will be singing. Chorus has about 37 or 38 men and they rehearse on Thursday evening in the Keystone Room. Carman McKee is their new accompanist. George said he’s also open to the Chorus traveling to other churches to perform. George said the chorus is open to any man who has a love of music and can carry a tune.
George is from the Lancaster area—worked for Hamilton Watch after he graduated from high school. He joined the Navy during the Korean War conflict although he never saw action, he was on an LST patrolling. After the service he worked for Hamilton again for a short time, then joined Rudicill & Company, a printing company that was bought out by Donnelly Printing. George worked for Donnelly for 38 years the last 12 years as a Supervisor in the Steel Way Plant.
Along the way he played in a small group and then formed his own combo with some friends— a sax player, guitarist, drums and George on piano, otherwise known as the Starlighters. For eight years, they played lots of American Legions and receptions until the era of rock and roll arrived. He also taught piano privately to both children and adults for about four years.
He and his wife, Mary Arlene have been married for 64 years and have two girls and a boy. Their oldest daughter is a teacher in York County and their youngest daughter has her own travel agency in Lancaster. Their son and his wife have a marketing business in Maryland. The Robertson's are blessed with both grandchildren and great grandchildren.
George said he loves all kinds of music, including the Beatles but prefers the classical. He and Arlene try to attend as many of the Activities outings to the church musical programs as they can. And of course they love the monthly organ programs at Brown (where they reside). George said there was nothing he enjoyed more than the piano and organ duets that he participated in at Salem UCC. Nancy Halliwell

George Robertson Jr

WHAT IS IT?
WHERE IS IT?
See page three for the answer

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Deadline for APRIL 2015 is MARCH 17.
Submit to: editor.1@juno.com or inter-campus mail Editor, The Village News.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW REPRESENTATIVES TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

George Vurdelja—represents the Ford, McKinley, Taft Court and Monroe area. He and his wife Marge moved here from Lancaster ten years ago and were one of the first residents in that new cottage area.
George hails from Pittsburg and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. George spent his working years with Colony Papers in York as the Operations Manager.
He’s been a member of the Plumcreek—Monroeville #799 Masonic Lodge for 49 years.
George and Marge like to travel and of course spend time with the grandchildren. George also is interested in photography.
He served in the Army and continues serving Veterans as a DAV van driver and visiting the Lebanon Veterans Hospital.

Sycamore South is now being represented by Susan Koch. A relative newcomer, Susan and husband Frederic have lived here just one and one half years.
Susan was born and raised in Allentown and moved here from Allentown. She retired from St Luke’s hospital were she was Volunteer Coordinator and gift shop buyer. She has also worked as a buyer for Hess’s Dept. Store and was the first woman board member for the Whitehall Mall. She’s most proud of going back to school at fifty to be able to go into Social Services.
She enjoys cooking and reading and uses her retail expertise to help out at the Health Center gift shop.
Susan and Frederic are looking forward to becoming great grandparents in September.

GIANT DISCOUNT CARDS
Just a reminder that during the year there are certain times when there are FIVE Mondays between sale days of Giant Food Stores Resident Discount Cards.
The five Mondays between are in March, June, August and November …... so you might want to think about buying an extra card on sale days in those months. Ray Betz

Volunteers needed for Village Gift Shoppe—cashier. Please contact Kathi Nasatka at 33260.

CAMERA CLASS
Organizational Meeting—Wednesday, March 4, at 10am in the Allegheny Building Living Room
All residents who would like to be more comfortable with the controls of their camera are welcome. Please bring your camera’s manual.
The Photography Club, which starts this spring, will assume that everyone in it knows how to operate his or her camera—so this class is designed to help you figure out what all those buttons are for!.
To register, call 13967. If leaving a message, include your name, phone number and email address. Or email Roger Ford at rhford1000@gmail.com.

Thank you to all those who accepted the challenge for the Dance Marathon at Penn State. Jill Kile and Mary Mahoney raised $8,800 For The Kids—this was an exciting amount of money and garnered 11 tickets for the Dance Lottery. Although they were not selected to win the lottery and dance, both Jill and Mary are to be commended for their contribution to THON.
Mary & Jill wrote the following for Facebook:® “We would like to offer our sincerest gratitude to everyone who has supported us this past THON season. Unfortunately Mary & I were not selected to dance in THON this year, however we were able to surpass our goal and raised $8800 FOR THE KIDS. We could not have done this without your help and encouragement every day. Thank you so much. We are looking forward to having a great last THON weekend and seeing all of our dancer friends dominate the dance floor for 46 [hours of dancing]. GO STATE, BEAT CANCER, FTK. Jill & Mary”
I understand Mary & Jill expect to write individual thank you notes to their Penn State AIG friends in the near future. Both young ladies learned a great deal from the experience and can proudly say that they helped FTK (For The Kids). Patty Kile

Photo from 2014 THON

Page #

Christmas Isn’t Just A Day
The world has gone wrong but Christmas is right,
Brought by a baby born in the night.
At the time that He came the world was wrong then.
It was ruled by a king who was not one of them.
The king was so cruel that the babe had to flee
On the back of a donkey with His family.
The Lord let them know when it was time to return
And to take up His place as the Savior of man.
So know that these days when the world is still wrong,
Christmas brought us a Savior to whom we belong. Sherrie Letcher, Dec. 2014

Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars
All the nighttime diamonds from the sky
Collected on a tree nearby -
Frozen on twigs by Winter’s icy grip.
Behind it rose the morning sun creating a flickering glitter the likes of which I’d never seen.
A tight network of ice diamonds twinkled rapidly, randomly.
Mesmerized for an hour, I watch in awe as twinkle by twinkle, millions of jewels were reclaimed to the sky by the sun.
It rivaled the most decorated tree created by man! Arlene Ditzler

Whispers of Spring
In our lovely valley, March is upon us.
As you survey the earth around you there are subtle signs of spring.
Because you may not notice them otherwise,
Nature makes sure you’ll see her happy harbingers by painting them in glorious bright hues,
Purple, orange and pristine white.
The crocus is a sign of hope, early in the season.
It tells us all that its flower cousins will be joining us soon
To spread warmth and cheer among us.
Arline Rochkind

WHAT IS IT? WHERE IS IT?
Gazebo on Truman Drive

Volume 55

Page #

VILLAGE GREEN COUNCIL ELECTIONS
It’s time to elect new representatives and officers for the Village Green Council. The term of office is for two years. The following positions are up for election: Representatives for Dauphin, Daman, Lancaster, McKee I, McKee II, Kuhlemeier, Levis, Grand Lodge Hall 2nd and 3rd floor, Allegheny Central, Allegheny North & Allegheny South. Officers: President, 1st Vice Pres. 2nd Vice Pres.
Candidates names must be presented to Resident Council by the fourth Thursday in March (March 26). The candidate must have agreed to serve if elected.
Voting is by secret ballot. Balloting will take place on April 9th in a room designated by the Nominating Committee. Each resident of the Village Green is permitted and encouraged to vote.
You will vote for your building representative and also for each of the officers.
The Nominating Committee will count all the votes and post the results. Number of votes required for election is a simple majority of the valid votes cast.
The election gives everyone a chance to run for office and, if elected, to serve your fellow residents.

DO YOU KNOW— Approximately 1880 people live in Retirement Living in the four PA Masonic Villages (Sewickley, Lafayette Hill, Dallas & MV E-town). Of that number, approximately 1337 live here. Warminster, the 5th campus, has only personal care & nursing.

VILLAGE GREEN COUNCIL MEETS
THURSDAY MARCH 26TH AT 9:30 AM
IN SALON 3 BROSSMAN WING OF
THE CULTURAL CENTER

Korean War Veterans Association will have it’s monthly meeting at Oak Leaf Manor, 2901 Harrisburg Pike, Landisville. 1st Wednesday each month—this one is March 4th.
Agenda will wrap up election of officers. Paul Cunningham, of Lancaster has agreed to be a candidate for President. A light lunch, courtesy of Oak Leaf Manor will be provided at 2pm—business meeting begins at 3pm.
Veterans & their companions/drivers are encouraged to attend. Interested? Call Russ Kolmus, 77341

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP; Contributors to this issue included: Ray Betz, Arlene Ditzler, Roger Ford, Nancy Halliwell, Jack Heinze, Patty & Wils Kile, Susan Koch, Russ Kolmus, Sherrie Letcher, Cindy Phillips, Arline Rochkind, George Vurdelja. If you’d like to help on future issues, submit your article & your name and phone to Editor-The Village News via inter-campus mail or editor.1@juno.com.

ATTENTION:
Retirement Living Resident’s Association Meeting:
Deike Auditorium
NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 5TH AT 9:30 IN DEIKE AUDITORIUM
SPEAKER IS KATHLEEN PAVELKO
PRES. & CEO OF WITF PUBLIC MEDIA

Pathe´ News Special—do you remember them? Then you are probably a film buff and we could use your expertise. Activities is in need of a volunteer (or two) to show the movies in the Keystone Room. Movies and dates can be set up with the Activities Office—so get into the “big screen” again and volunteer. Call 14509 if you can help out.

I want to extend a sincere THANK YOU to the almost 40 residents who committed more than 464 hours in 2014 to the employee Giant Discount Card Program. Your hard work and dedication has allowed the employees to take advantage of this program and realize a significant savings over the course of the year. Please know that your time and efforts are truly appreciated by all. Cindy Phillips

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(Continued from page #)SPOTLIGHT George Robertson, Jr