NEHALEM NEWSPAGE

L'Arche Nehalem 8501 SE Stephens Portland, OR 97216
(503) 251-6901 Fax: 251-6952 e-mail: mail@larche-portland.org web site: www.larche-portland.org

OCTOBER 2004

Our mission is to create a place to call home
for people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.

NEWS

• Happy Anniversary, L’Arche! All over the world, L’Arche communities are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of L’Arche in Trosly, France. Come celebrate at Neahkahnie House at 7:00 p.m. this Saturday, October 2. L’Arche USA Zone Board Member and former L’Arche Lambeth (England) assistant David Jenkins will be our guest.
• Brian and Erin Kelley (and son James) welcomed Ava Elizabeth into the world on September 4 at 5:45 a.m. Ava was 6 lbs., 4 oz. Blessings to the Kelleys, and welcome to the L'Arche family, Ava!
• Our newest live-in assistant, Monica Ranaghan, arrived at Neahkahnie House last week. Monica hails from South Bend, Indiana. We also welcomed Friederike Kahle in September. Friederike, a student in Germany, will be living with her aunt for the next several months and doing an internship at Nehalem three days a week.

• CHRISTMAS TREE LOT MANAGER: November 26-December 19. We need a responsible, energetic person to work with the Board and leadership team as an independent contractor handling set-up, tree orders, customer relations, check-in and training of volunteers, record keeping, and all the little things that will keep our tree sales at 82^nd and Burnside and in the Hollywood district running smoothly. Do you know a mature student home for the holidays? Interested yourself? Please call the office (503-251-6901).
• VOLUNTEERS: Help us show our appreciation to the Remodelers Foundation, which is helping us renovate Nehalem House's top floor bathroom after helping update the main floor bathroom three years ago. They need volunteers to help with hospitality for the Remodelers Home Tour, Oct. 9-10 at several locations around town, with proceeds going to the Foundation. Call the L'Arche office for more info.
• L’Arche Nehalem is looking at expanding into the house next door to Neahkahnie House, which is owned by long-time L’Arche friends Bev and Ken Hansen. Under consideration is the idea of inviting new core members able to live more independently than those currently in the two present houses. We are also considering finding short-term tenants to help the Hansens meet the financial burden of the house in the interim. For more information, please call Mary Ann or Susan in the office.

• Neahkahnie House will be celebrating Ben Miller’s birthday with a day trip to the beach! On Saturday, October 9th, we will all pile in the new van for a drive to Lincoln City, lunch out at Mo’s, and cake and presents at the Gardner home (Amy Barcia's parents). Ben is enjoying all the celebrations related to his anniversary and birthday. He has been working his way through many Tupperware containers of leftover cake (and sharing with all of us, of course!).
• Person-centered Planning for our Core Members: One of the goals in L’Arche Nehalem’s current mandate is to "create an individual plan for each core member that affirms his or her gifts; identifies his or her social, spiritual, and physical needs; challenges him or her to grow..." Both Joni Smith and Jeff Deeks have had their own planning meetings in recent weeks. Each of them has a rich circle of support: family, friends, vocational providers, L’Arche members, who came together to help dream and envision the future.

  Jeff is hoping for more independence and for newness in his life. One thing Jeff would enjoy is more guys in his life to do things with. If any of you men can include Jeff in some of your activities, let him know!

  Joni wants to strengthen her circle of long-term companions who are constant throughout the many transitions of assistants Joni experiences. Would you like to be one of those persons?

• MORE CORE MEMBER NOTES: Cindy Leonard has attended several concerts with friends this summer. She and Mary Ann Ramey went to see Emmylou Harris at the Zoo recently, and she has tickets to see Sting next week…Robyn Dowell resumes weekly aerobics classes through Portland Parks and Recreation's Disabled Citizens Recreation this month. She really enjoys the workout and the music at aerobics…Rodney Gabriel has enjoyed good health this summer, and has been spending more time out on the porch enjoying lollipops and watching the "skippies" (kids) in the park. It’s been a year this month since he quit smoking. Way to go, Rodney!

  Adam Richards and Marilyn Petruzzelli began Special Olympics bowling recently…Jeff will be celebrating his birthday with family and friends at a pizza party in West Linn. He has returned to PHAME rehearsals after the summer break…Joni continues to be a sunny presence at Nehalem House, often greeting visitors from her recliner, where she is coloring or doing her light-board pegs.

BOARD ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS:

Board Formation with David Jenkins, Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (10725 SW Barbur Blvd., Ste. 200)

Board Meeting, Wednesday, October 13, 7 p.m. (Nehalem House)

Executive Committee, Wednesday, October 20, 7 a.m. (Marsee’s Cafe)

Fundraising Committee, Thursday, October 21, 7 a.m. (Marsee’s Cafe)

 

"A community is not just a place to give security to a few people; it is the earth where each person can grow in love and in wisdom, bear fruit and give life both within and outside the community; we are all called to bring good news to our world." Jean Vanier, Letter , March 1997