Vital Aging Network Announces Autumn Leadership Classes For The Rest of Your Life in Twin Cities & Mankato
The rest of your life begins now!
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
-John Wooden, Award-winning basketball coach
You can live out your passions and help to make a better world.
ALVA is a leadership development program designed for people 50+ who want to use their experience and skills in whole new ways. It's for people who want to make a difference. . .
Remember the excitement before a new school year--the sense of anticipation in the air, of something new and exciting about to begin? Why not try something new again this fall? ALVA starts October 9. Classes meet the second Friday of the month for 8 months at Century College in White Bear Lake, Inver Hills Community College, and Minnesota State University, Mankato.
A limited number of scholarships are available to cover 1/2 of the course fees. Don't let this opportunity pass by. Register today!
This will be the fifth year VAN has offered this first-class leadership program for older adults. 144 individuals have received their ALVA Leadership Certificates and have created meaningful projects throughout Minnesota.
Check out the Vital Aging Network's website at www.vital-aging-network.org (click ALVA) or call VAN at 651.917.4635 to learn more about how to make this the best "school year" of your life. Registration and scholarship information are on VAN's website.
Celebrating Nearly 1000 Years of Marriage at Ecumen
"It says so much what the sanctity of marriage can be. When you say in the marriage vows, 'for better or for worse, in sickness and in health,' and you look around the room at the smiles on their faces and the physical condition of their bodies, you understand what it means."
Rev. Roger Klinghagen
With many of their children and grandchildren filling the room, 16 couples at Ecumen's Emmanuel Home in Litchfield, Minn., held hands and repeated wedding vows to each other, reaffirming the promises they made during their original wedding ceremonies. Thanks to Amber Thompson at the Litchfield Independent Review for the photo of Viola and Charles Ohm above, the longest-married couple at the celebration. The Ohms were married April 2, 1936, near New Germany, Minn.
When Viola was asked what kept the couple together all these years, a friend in the crowd answered, "She can't walk that fast, so she can't catch a new one." To which Viola quickly replied, "I wouldn't want a new one." She then shared advice with Amber:
"Working as a team is the key to a long, happy marriage."
Viola Ohm
The Ohms lived on a 140-acre dairy farm for many years where they shared duties. "I helped him making hay, shucking grain. I had three boys and I had my house in tip-top shape. We had chickens, we had cows, and when 9 o'clock rolls around you're just happy to go to bed," said Viola.
"You've got to work together, don't think you're going to do it all and let the man out. You've got to share 50/50. When he needed something for his machinery, we went and bought it. If I needed something in the house, we went and bought it, and that's the way we worked together."
The celebration was topped off by our customer Ruby Dragt providing the top from her wedding cake, 73 years ago, to adorn the cake for the vow renewal ceremony.
Jim Klobuchar – Who's That Guy With Dave Chilstrom?
I talked a few days ago with Herb, a man who has reached the heights in his occupation and felt the respect of millions. It didn’t surprise me that after the usual courtesies the conversation moved to his brother, who spent most of his working years at Ecumen's Augustana Homes in Litchfield, Minn, and today is a customer.
As we talked I remembered that somewhere in my wanderings I discovered a working definition of a word that has an appealing sound but is not easy to wrap our arms around. The word is humility, which comes up often in meetings of recovering men and women who have changed their lives from the destructive self-indulgence of an earlier time, and understand their vulnerability. It will come up in a discussion about how we react to success and achieving, and the hazards of pride and arrogance that sometimes come with it.
And then someone will remind us that genuine humility does not mean thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.
Nearly 20 years ago I wrote a newspaper story whose headline read: “Bishop Proudly Bows to the Fame of his Brother, the Janitor.” The bishop was Herb Chilstrom, then the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and therefore the spokesman for 5 million Lutherans, a role which, the story drily noted, is never very easy nor particularly safe. We were friends, and had written a book together. Herb Chilstrom was and is one of those approachable church hierarchs who talks without pretense and wears well in any setting. He had met with the heads of state on three continents, talked twice with the Pope and somewhere in the midst of all of that was invited to be the grand marshal of the big civic parade in Litchfield, his hometown in Minnesota. He had also dealt with tragedy in the loss of a son to suicide.
His brother, Dave, was born with a brain injury. As kids they played together and loved each other. Every small triumph for Dave was a triumph for Herb. Dave grew up with mental challenges, but none that affected his energy or his bouncing good will. He swept floors in a nursing home. He became a janitor, with a huge smile for every one he met, bringing the sun with him. When Herb the Bishop accepted the parade invitation he asked if his brother could ride beside him. And so he did. The crowds cheered and applauded and somebody yelled, “hey Dave, who’s that white haired guy with you.” And Herb hugged his brother, laughed and wept.
He told a friend, “I don’t know a greater privilege than sitting next to my brother on a day like this.”
Dave, the retired janitor, lives in Litchfield, still bringing the sun with him everywhere. Herb, the retired bishop, lives in St. Peter and still serves his church whenever it asks. They are separated by miles, but inseparable.
Ecumen blogger Jim Klobuchar is a former columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, is author of several books and an adventure traveler.
Rachel Veitch - She's Rolling With 600,000+ Miles
I was meeting with some colleagues today and we were talking about aging and being engaged in life and purpose. Then I walked down the hall and talked wtih another colleague who told me his truck now has 160,000 miles and runs like new. Then I got an email to a link to Rachel Veitch featured at Growing Bolder, which brought it all full circle.
Rachel is almost 91 and last bought a car when Lyndon Baines Johnson was President - that was 600,000 miles ago. Her "Chariot" as she calls it is a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente. Rachel is a retired nurse who volunteers several times a week with the Orlando, Florida, police department. That's when she's not working on her Chariot.
Watch the video with Rachel here.
Senator Al Franken on Long-Term Care Financing Reform
Great editorial in yesterday's Minneapolis Star Tribune on long-term care financing reform. Very nice to see the new Senator from Minnesota talk about it:
"Long-term care holds enormous opportunities for bipartisan compromise. So many Minnesotans -- myself included -- have had mothers, fathers and spouses who relied on these services during what are incredibly difficult times. There's nothing partisan about caring for a loved one with dignity.''
Spot on.
Check out great Q&A in today's New York Times on Congress Tackling Long-Term Financing Reform. It's with Barbara Manard, a health economist with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Their work has really been what has elevated this issue in Congress.
Do One Thing Today
Contact your Congressional members today. It's easy. Let them know that long-term care financing reform must be part of health care reform.
War Hero Don Singlestad Doesn't Need Red Bull Energy Drink
Don Singlestad, 92, doesn’t need Red Bull energy drink. He’s a real Red Bull, the most decorated non-commissioned officer of the 34th Division of the Red Bull Infantry. In September, our customer at Heritage Manor in Park Rapids will travel to Vernio, Italy, for the dedication of a road honoring the Red Bulls.
Jean Ruzicka of the Park Rapids Enterprise newspaper wrote a great article about his role in ensuring Rome was “preserved, rather than falling victim to the ravages of combat.” Technical Sergeant Singlestad received the Italian Military Medal of Valor Gold Cross – a citation equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor – for his role in operating with partisans behind enemy lines. He was one of five persons (3 Americans) to be recognized with this honor during World War II. He’s also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient
Don participated in the first U.S. invasion of Africa and was captured by the Germans. He was sent to a French prison camp and wasn’t released until the French joined Allied forces. Following Africa he went to the British Isles to train as an Army Ranger, but he was declared ineligible after his captain learned he was married. Don rejoined the 34th Red Bull Division in General Patton’s Fifth Army until the war’s end.
On Feb. 4, 1944, Singlestad’s platoon was attacked by the Germans. He and one of his squads were surrounded and cut off from the rest of the company. He fought his way free by moving forward, throwing hand grenades in his advance. Expending his ammunition he used his rifle as a club against the enemy who surrounded him. He felled two soldiers, dived over a rock wall, seized another rifle and continued his advance to the company command post. He provided valuable information to his commanding officer and reorganized his platoon in repulsing enemy attack.
Don later entered Rom three days before American troops arrived. He helped set up communications in to direct air and artillery to protect the Vatican and other ancient buildings. His heroics led to a personal tour of the Vatican by the Pope. As Don readies for his return trip to Italy, he’s also writing a book on his experiences called Fighting Fool.
We salute you and thank you, Don.