NEHALEM NEWSPAGE

L’Arche Nehalem,  8501 SE Stephens,  Portland, OR  97216

Office:  503-251-6901   Fax: 503-251-6952  E-mail: mail@larche-portland.org  Web site:  www.larche-portland.org

JUNE 2007

Our mission is to create a place to call home

 for people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.

NEWS

*      Robyn Dowell participated this spring in a weekly art class through Portland Parks and Rec.  Her artwork is on display at the East Portland Community Center, as well as on a T-shirt Robyn brought home featuring self-portraits of everyone in her class.

*      Text Box: Prayer Night Wed., June 13, 7:00 p.m. Neahkahnie House In lieu of having a Regional Coordinator, Community Leaders in the Western US Region are accompanying each other’s communities.  L’Arche Nehalem received a visit in May from L’Arche Tahoma Hope Community Leader Stacy Cates-Carney.  Stacy met one-on-one with many community members, gave some valuable formation about aging core members, and attended a Board Committee Meeting during her visit.  Thank you, Stacy!

*      Welcome to new board members Katie McDonald and Bill Leidy.  Katie has been associated with L’Arche for 10 years as an assistant in Syracuse and Switzerland and a board member in Chicago.  She recently completed her doctorate in Community Psychology and has joined the faculty at Portland State.  Bill was acquainted with L'Arche through our founding assistant Pat Dillon, and responded to a request on the Oregon Association of CPAs website to join the Board.  He is Accounting Supervisor at Portland Community College.

*      New Arrivals!  Former board member Dan Layden and Kate Deane welcomed their new adopted baby daughter Jordan Alexis, born May 19, weighing in at 7 lbs., 5 oz.  Amy Barcia’s brother and sister-in-law Chet and Erin Gardner welcomed their new baby daughter Sarah, born May 31.

Mark Your Calendars

June 30, Sat., 5:30-9:30 p.m., University of Portland:  20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER DANCE  Assistants and core members from the other communities in the Western U.S. Region will be with us.  Please join us—it promises to be a very festive evening!  Please RSVP by June 15 (503-251-6901).

August 11, Sat, 7:00 p.m., place TBA:  JAZZ FOR PEACE BENEFIT CONCERT Advance discount tickets available for $25 (save $10) while 100 tickets last—first come, first served!  Every ticket benefits L’Arche!  To purchase your tickets for this world-class event, go to www.larche-portland.org and click “buy now” or call Doug at 503-251-6901.

LIFE IN THE HOMES

Vertical Scroll: L'Arche Nehalem, a community of faith located in southeast Portland that provides homes for adults with developmental disabilities, has need of someone (at least 21 years old) to live in one our homes mid-June, July, and August. In exchange for room and board this person would share in household responsibilities (such as cooking and cleaning) and be available two nights a week (8:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.) to be on call to respond to emergencies during the night and to help residents with bathing, dressing and breakfast in the morning. For information contact Susan Mitchell at 501-251-6901 or email susan@larche-portland.org. To learn more about L'Arche Nehalem, visit www.larche-portland.org.

*    Marilyn Petruzzelli has welcomed an orange kitty named “Pumpkin” into her heart and home.  Pumpkin was ill during her first couple weeks of community life, but now seems to be feeling better and exploring her new home.  Thanks to assistant Tamara Yates for supporting Marilyn in her desire to find the “right cat!”

*    lness and low energy in mid-May and spent several days at a nursing home.  We are grateful to have him back home at Neahkahnie as he regains strength and appetite.  Thanks to all who spent time visiting Rodney at the nursing home and for the constant support of Elderplace in meeting Rodney’s changing needs.

*    Welcome to our University of Portland summer volunteer Anne Richards.  Anne joined the team at Neahkahnie House in mid-May and will be with us until early July.  She is from Ohio and is majoring in German and English at UP.

*    We have also welcomed two new paid respite caregivers to support the homes.  Karin Thomsen got connected to the community since she lives in the neighborhood near Nehalem House.  She supports Nehalem House 2-3 days a week.  Michelle Fischer is a student at Mt. Hood Community College studying Mental Health and Human Services.  She will be supporting Neahkahnie House full time beginning in June.

*    On June 6th, assistants will have a Retreat Day to reflect on Sabbath, led by Seton Orscheln.  Thank you Alison Hilkiah and Karin Thomsen for spending the day in the homes to make this possible for assistants. 

BIRTHDAYS

ANNIVERSARIES

June 5:  Patty McNally
June 21:  Meredith Zubel

May 31:  Joni Smith (20 years)
June 1:  Cindy Leonard (20 years)
June 24:  Meredith Zubel (1 year)

MEETINGS

¤       Wed., June 13, 7:00 a.m., Marsee Bakery:  Executive Committee

¤       Thurs., June 14, 1:30 p.m.:  Board Finance Committee 

¤       Wed., June 20, 7:00 p.m., Nehalem House:  Board Meeting

WISH LIST

ü   Glass pie plates (3) for Neahkahnie House

CELEBRATIONS

Please join us if you can!

*            Wed., June 13, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House:  Prayer Night

*            Wed., June 20, 7:00 p.m., Neahkahnie House:  Meredith Zubel’s 1st Anniversary

*            Sat., June 30, 5:30 p.m., University of Portland:   20th Anniversary Dinner Dance

 

THANK YOU!

*         Everyone who made our Spring Social a success, especially Monica Ranaghan who shared her home with us.  We raised over $3000!

*         Patrick and Maureen Wheeler for new silverware for Nehalem House.

*         Rev. David and Ricki Perry for sharing their home with assistants while they were on vacation.

*         Ross and Louise Miller for bringing a great dinner and dessert to share with Neahkahnie House on Mother’s Day, Pat McConnell for cooking and sharing dinner at Nehalem House, and Shirley Halnan for cooking dinner at Neahkahnie House.

*         David Cutter, a new L'Arche Nehalem friend who is connecting us with many resources.

*         Monica Ranaghan, Bill Leidy, Cat Willett, and Katie McDonald for attending the Regional L'Arche Board Formation Weekend May 18-19.

*         Monica Ranaghan, Dave Heard, Doug Westberg, and Susan Mitchell for successfully completing the 2006/2007 TACS/United Way Fund Development Capacity Building Program.

 

Don't be frightened of people who think differently. Peace can only come if we listen to each other, creating places of togetherness and belonging.

Jean Vanier, Address, April, 2005 (thanks to L’Arche Canada)

 

Did you check out the new interactive Jean Vanier quote library on our home page?

Or sign up for an inspirational daily thought or weekly story from Jean Vanier's writings via email at www.larche.ca/en/home/eletters/

 

Getting a paper copy? Would you like to save us a stamp and receive the Nehalem Newspage electronically? Please drop us an email at doug@larche-portland.org or call us at 503-251-6901.

 

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