Staff Appreciation Fund: A Reminder

Our Fund Appeal is heading into its final few weeks. Residents who have forgotten or put off their contribution are encouraged to take pen in hand and make out a check to thank the staff who have served us so well.

Please make your check payable to the KOH Residents Association and write “Staff Appreciation Fund” on the memo line.

The check should be put in an envelope marked “Staff Appreciation Fund,” and left at the front desk.

Co-chairs Jacky Cummings and Gene DuBow thank you in advance for your generosity.

Residents Council Election: Candidate Recruitment

The Residents Council, the body that represents all of us who live at Kendal, will have its yearly election in the fall. The issues that the Council deals with have a direct bearing on the life we live here.

Now is the time to consider running for one of the seven open seats for the 2020-2021 term. Please review the letter recently sent to all residents and submit the “Intent to Run” form on the reverse as soon as possible (but no later than June 8).

If there are questions, please direct them to Janet Schloat who chairs the Election Committee.

Spiritual Exploration

Two Spiritual Exploration groups, led by Hanan Watson and Dorothy Muller, are now meeting on Zoom.

Participants find them helpful and supportive. As a result, we wish to start a third group to meet biweekly on Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

Participation will be on a first-come, first- served basis. Each Spiritual Exploration group has no more than 10 participants who meet for reflection, deep listening and sharing from their life experiences on specific themes. The meetings are structured by guidelines intended to create a welcoming and safe space.

Group members listen to each other but do not respond directly to each other’s comments and do not attempt to solve each other’s problems. They support each other by listening with respect and without judgement. While each participant has a chance to speak, the meetings are not discussions or debates.

The first ten to respond will be invited to join a general information session on Thursday, May 28, at 11:15 am. If you are interested, please send an email to Dorothy Muller.

Getting To Know Pamela

Our new CEO Pamela Klapproth has now been at KoH for a little over a month and with the Resident Council’s help has been setting up various opportunities for residents to get to know her.

There are three Question and Answer sessions on Channel 1970, held Thursday – Sunday at 2 pm, on April 24 – 27, May 7 – 10, and May 21 – 24. The April session is already past and the May 7 – 10 one will be in progress when you get this; questions for the May 21- 24 session can still be sent to Hank Schacht at henry.schacht@warburgpincus.com.

In addition, Pamela has started to host small group meetings of up to 10 residents using Zoom.

Residents will be individually invited to these meetings and can use their computer, tablet, or smartphone or can call in using their regular phone to participate. Pamela will introduce herself and is hoping that each resident will introduce his or her self and use it as an opportunity for questions and comments.

Kendal on Hudson Turns Fifteen

Normally, the 15th Anniversary of a live-wire institution such as Kendal on Hudson would call for a festive party. However, these are not normal times and the spirit of celebration dies hard in the hearts and minds of our active resident body. So, we’re not going to let this important occasion just fritter away.

The Residents Council had planned a big 15th Anniversary Celebration for this Saturday, May 9. Sadly, it had to be postponed, but Muriel Fox and Pat Taylor have been working on what we can do safely.

Residents should look for surprises from Council and Dining in their meal delivery. And then they are requested to go out on their balcony or patio at 7:15 pm and make noise to celebrate. We’ll sing Happy Birthday at 7:20 pm.

The unified outpouring will not only mark the anniversary, but it will also be honoring the wonderful staff who have been enhancing our lives with dedication, efficiency, and affection.

FLOWERING IN THE TIME OF THE VIRUS

Though Kendal residents are mostly “locked down” in their own apartments, it does not mean that they will be unable to do a little gardening to brighten up their living spaces and their spirits.

Through the good offices and efforts of Facilities Director Bob Michael, Bright View, Kendal’s landscape gardening company will be bringing plants to the campus for purchase by the residents. The Residents Horticulture Committee helped organize the ordering of plants by residents.

Balconies and patios will soon be ablaze with the wonderful colors of blooming spring plants adding to the beauty of the great place in which we all live.

CIDG Discussion Group Goes Zoom

CIDG IS ZOOMING

The Contemporary Issues Discussion Group (formerly the Faith Group) which has operated non-stop for the last 15 years, has continued its always interesting exchange of views. Today, it’s done on Zoom.

Maintaining its time-honored schedule of one-hour discussions at 10 am on Thursdays, CIDG has moved its sharing of opinions by residents to computers and other digital devices. Convener Gene DuBow shares the topics in advance and then coordinates the hourly discussions among the residents who can hear and see each other. Social as well as intellectual goals are fulfilled.

Since going electronic in the last few weeks, the coronavirus has taken up a great deal of the group’s interest. It included a live report from Berlin on how Germany and the other EU countries were managing.

Our nation’s upcoming election and, more specifically, our own House of Representatives primary were also discussed, with Annette Leyden lending her expertise regarding the local situation.

CIDG is open to all residents. To be included on the discussant list, get in touch with Gene DuBow.   

Kendal Buddy System

Hey Buddy!

Kendal is a community. It’s not a hotel or apartments. It’s a group of people living and relating to one another. There is a sense of responsibility – one for the other.

In this time of social separation, it became apparent that there should be a system where every resident is called to see if they are OK and whether they are in need of anything.

What emerged from the Residents Association was the “Buddy System”. Utilizing great organizational skills, Mary Lou Wells and Jo-Ann Rapaport set up a system of “Buddies” by buildings and floors, where each resident is called regularly by a neighbor to see how they are and how they are getting along. For those who live alone, these calls help a resident feel less isolated. 

Concerns and questions are passed along up through the system and, if policies have to be changed, to the Residents Association leadership. There are 26 callers, who contact 3 to 8 people each. Residents can request that they not be called or be called less often.

Kendal has many great attributes, but perhaps the most important ones are responsibility and caring. The Buddy System is just that.

Kendal's First Virtual Art Show

Lynn Brady, Curator of the First KoH Virtual Art Show “It’s Spring!”, announced its opening on the Residents’ Website.

You can view the artwork made by residents by going to www.kohresweb.org. Click on the three bars in the upper right-hand corner of the Home Page.

In the drop-down menu on the right side, click on INFO and then on “Did You See”.

The gallery of artworks will appear. It’s spectacular! Scroll down the images to see all of them, the artist, and the medium.

Look for future Virtual Art Shows in the coming months.

Working With Those in Need

Kendal on Hudson is pleased to share with everyone that we are donating grocery items to the local Sleepy Hollow Food Pantry.

They pack food for families of four, with more requests coming in daily. We will deliver oatmeal, pasta, cereals, and other things they have had a growing demand for and difficulty providing. Fred Coppola has been working with them.

We have also increased our daily meals to the Meals on Wheels program, and will continue to work with both of these programs.