SAVE THE DATE
May 5, 2011
Our 2nd Annual
"Lovin LIFE"
5K Walk/Run
The mission of LIFE, working in collaboration with families, is to assist residents to develop the skills to function as independently as possible, and to provide supports to assist them in attaining their maximum level of independence, self fulfillment and happiness. Our commitment is life-long, and encompasses the personal, social, and employment needs of LIFE residents.
TO ARRANGE A VISIT TO LIFE, PLEASE EMAIL US
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LIFE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William G. McKelvey, Chairperson
JoAnn Simons,
Vice Chairperson
Peter Capernaros, Secretary
Trustees:
Jody Bellows
Peter Bowman
Pamela Dempsey
Jill Edelson
Nancy Jones
David Leary
Michael Lenehan
Karen Megathlin
Donald Moore
Joseph Reardon
Susan Reilly
Stephen Rothenberg
Kathy Titus
Dick Weir
ABOUT LIFE...
Living Independently Forever, Inc., is a non profit organization that has served adults with learning disabilities within its condomium communities on Cape Cod, Massachusetts for sixteen years. Residents have joined the LIFE community from many areas of our country and beyond.
LIFE's professional staff is dedicated to the goal of encouraging each resident's aspirations, strengths and abilities.
LIFE provides support and resources in the areas of vocation, education, social/community involvement and daily living. LIFE is a thriving community, whose residents live full and productive lives.
AT LIFE... Residents own or share a condominium within LIFE's condominium communities in Hyannis and Mashpee on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our communities offer recreation facilities and state of the art fitness centers. LIFE's professional staff provide support services appropriate to each individual resident. For more information about LIFE, please call Diane Enochs, Executive Director at 508-790-3600 or email Diane
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January, 2011
It Was a Year of Giving....Reflections on 2010....
Gifts from residents to the Salvation Army's "Dress a Live Doll" Program It was an active year at LIFE, a year of new beginnings, opportunities and memorable events. It was a year of giving back to community- 50+ residents with very big hearts who made a big impact in the lives of less fortunate Cape citizens...
In a challenging economy, LIFE's residents rallied good will and donated to the Salvation army, the Noah shelter, the Sandwich Food Pantry, local animal shelters, libraries and many other Cape organizations. We would like to thank the Kiwanas Aktion Club of Cape Cod for mentoring us in many of our charitable efforts. It was a year of "once in a lifetime" moments... We'll never forget the thrill of the LIFE Survivors Basketball Team's competition in the Special Olympics National Games in Nebraska- what a stellar experience that was! And, yes,they proudly brought home the bronze to Cape Cod- a shining accomplishment for the players and their fans. And Hyannis LIFE resident, Trey Marabella, will ever hold in his heart that magic moment when he proudly offered his poem honoring Eunice Shriver to her son,Tim; and then ensued the extra sweetness of being recognized for his tribute on Timothy Shriver's blog. It was a year of welcoming.... 2010 brought a new Executive Director. Diane Enochs, has come to LIFE with a deep background in human service management and innovation. We are excited about the path that Diane will be guiding us on. It was a year of expanding abilities and opportunities ... LIFE Residents secured new jobs, received promotions and participated in new activities, including our first annual "Lovin LIFE" 5K, a myriad of fitness events, seasonal celebrations, Zumba classes, art classes and a Cape Explorations program which deepened our appreciation of our beautiful Cape Cod coastal region. And there was sadness too...the LIFE community grieved the passing of Daedre Furman, a much-loved member of the LIFE House group living program. Daedre lived her life with a vitality that endeared her to everyone who knew her. She loved life, dancing, butterflies, animals and her friends. And although we miss her dearly, we carry her joyful spirit in ours hearts in this new year as we look forward to fresh dreams, opportunities and achievements.
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Having "Lunch on Joe" in Celebration of
National Disability Employment Month
 | Joe Zide welcomes his friends to a special Olive Garden luncheon.
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LIFE Inc. resident, Joe Zide, has been employed as a busser by the Olive Garden Restaurant for over two years. On October 25, in appreciation for Joe's good service and in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Olive Garden invited 30 of Joe's friends from LIFE, Inc. to have lunch "on him". "It was a really great gathering" said, Traci Kempaner, General Manager. "Joe has been a excellent employee for us and we were very happy to host this special luncheon." "Employing a person with a disability can be challenge", she added, "but I believe that the secret to any successful employment situation is finding the right match. Joe certainly has strengths that are hard to find in the general population. He is what I would term: 'guest motivated'. He has the valuable ability to anticipate our customers' needs and he adds value to our business through making the Olive Garden experience more enjoyable. He can always be counted on to make the extra effort, whether it's offering to hang up a diner's coat or opening a door". "The LIFE vocational team does a great job", she continued, "When I discussed hiring a LIFE resident with vocational counselor, Barry Souder, he very carefully listened to what our needs as a business were, and then encouraged Joe to apply for a position with us." Philip Bergeron, Culinary Manager, is also impressed with Joe's "detail oriented" job performance and he shared the following anecdote: "Whenever I compliment Joe on a task well done, he humorously responds 'What would you do without me?' And I always answer 'Joe, I don't want to find out'."
LIFE residents work at approximately 60 locations on Cape Cod. To hire the perfect LIFE resident for your business, Email Josie Bouvier, Director of Employment or call her at 508-790-3600.
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| Spreading the Joy of Special Olympics |
 Jon Derr, Special Olympics Global Messenger (photo courtesy Special Olympics)
Since 1968, athletes with intellectual disabilities have been spreading the word about the Special Olympics movement. Twenty years later, in 1988, the Sargent Shriver Global Messenger Program was established as a formal component of the Athlete Leadership Program of the Special Olympics. The Global Messenger program was created to train and encourage Special Olympians to directly share the Special Olympics experience with potential participants and with the world. We would like to offer our congratulations to LIFE residents, Alex Cohen and Jonathan Derr, longtime Special Olympians, who both successfully completed the Global Messenger training in 2010. In the program sessions, they were taught the art of public speaking, including training in diction, projection and proper attire for speaking engagements. Messengers are encouraged to speak from their personal experience about how Special Olympics has influenced their lives. During the training, they were taught how to write compelling speeches based on their experiences.
Jon and Alex are two individuals who are passionate and articulate about their Special Olympics involvement. We are certain that they will be excellent communicators in their new missions and that their Global Messenger activities will well serve the memory of recently deceased Sargent Shriver. Our best wishes are with them as they, in the words of the late Eunice Shriver, spread "a message of hope, a message of victory".
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From Diane Enochs, Executive Director
It's with great enthusiasm that I write to you as LIFE's new Executive Director. I'd like to share with you some of our plans for this new and promising year. This month we are kicking off an enhanced Fitness Program, "The Biggest Winner". Our residents will be working very consistently with our Fitness Director, Ian Saarmann, and Assistant, Kim Cassim, to make further progress in areas of fitness and healthy lifestyles. I am very excited to share that we will be introducing a "Brain Gym" program to assist our residents in improving and maintaining cognitive functions such as memory, attention, problem solving and flexibility. Residents will also use software to learn relaxation techniques.
We will soon introduce a "LIGHT Program"; this is a specialized program created to assist people with developmental disabilities through the grief process in a creative, supportive, meaningful and team-focused manner.
We are continuing to add many more night and weekend activities and classes at LIFE to assure that our residents have a full menu of activity choices during their non-working hours. These include craft classes, a photography club, a writers' group, and a theatre group. And please save the date: On May 5th we will we holding the 2nd annual "Lovin' LIFE" 5K Run/Walk. We'll soon be announcing our 5K beneficiary so stay tuned. The 5K will be followed by a community block party at the Mashpee LIFE condominium village. Another exciting event on the horizon is the Bermuda Cruise in May; our residents can hardly wait.
Giving back to our wonderful Cape Cod community continues to be a priority at LIFE. If your event needs volunteer help, our residents may be able to assist you. Also one of our residents may be a perfect match for a job opening at your business. For information about LIFE volunteers or to consider employing a LIFE resident, please contact Josie Bouvier, LIFE employment director, at 508-790-3600.
LIFE updates can be found on our Facebook page: LIFE - Living Independently Forever - visit it regularly for news and pictures!
Wishing you all a wonderful 2011!
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Interview with Resident, Amanda McKelvey
When you ask Mashpee resident, Amanda McKelvey, what she thinks about LIFE, her answer is a quick one: "It's just the best thing my parents have ever done for me", she says. We recently talked to Amanda to find out more about her life at LIFE.
What do you most like about living here?
"There are so many activities to do that you can always be on the go if you want to be. And there are friends, friends, friends."
What has been your most favorite moment at LIFE?
"Definitely, competing in the Special Olympics National games last summer. People say many things are 'once in a lifetime' , but for me that really was.
I was so lucky to get that opportunity."
So you're really into sports?
"Yes, I really like sport activities and there are a lot of them here."
Do you have any hobbies?
"Yes, I just love to cook. I never use a cookbook. I just make up recipes.I invite my friends to dinner a lot."
Have you ever taken cooking classes?
"I got a food and nutrition degree through Project Forward at Cape Cod Community College. I also took classes at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts."
Do you work?
"Yes, I work in a restaurant of course: Siena in Mashpee Commons."
What would be a really big dream for you?
"I love the Food Network and I would love to create my own video cookbook of recipes that are really easy to prepare but taste really great. I think that other LIFE residents would find a video cookbook like that very helpful."
That sounds like a great project! So, what are you most looking forward to this year?
"Well, more basketball, sports, cooking and I can't wait for LIFE's Bermuda Cruise. That's going to be awesome. Yes, I think it's going to be an awesome year."
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Interview with Fitness Director, Ian Saarmann
Ian Saarmann has been employed at LIFE for seven years. As LIFE's Fitness Director, he has spearheaded the annual "Lovin'LIFE 5K" Run/Walk and LIFE's bronze winning participation in the 2010 Special Olympics National Games in Nebraska. Ian oversees (and is head cheerleader!) a comprehensive wellness program at LIFE, encompassing sports, fitness activities, nutrition and healthful living.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
"It's very satisfying to see our residents progress and build self confidence. Our Survivors Basketball Team's progress was really a highlight for me. To see our athletes compete at such a high level, to see them making friends with athletes from all over the country and to witness how their hard work really paid off for them was a great experience." What kind of background did you bring to LIFE? "Well, I have a Masters Degree in Physical Education and Sports Psychology. I worked at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego and as a personal trainer." What do you do when you're not at work? "I play with my young son, I run a lot and I like to watch movies." What's your favorite movie? "I'd have to say 'On the Waterfront'. It's one of those classic old movies that I saw as a child that really made a lasting impression on me." What's your favorite book? "I don't know if I really have a favorite, but I tend to read a lot of self-help and motivational books. I love everything by Tony Robbins and also like the writings of the spiritual teacher, John Ortberg." Do you listen to music? What kind? "I like 80's music and particularly love the 'Boss', Bruce Springfield. We're both from New Jersey, you know." What are your hopes for the new year? "That our fitness program keeps growing and expanding. We'll be holding our second annual 'Lovin' LIFE' 5K this year. I'm really happy that a majority of the LIFE residents participate in our program, but I'd like to reach every resident at LIFE this year and help them to realize how much fitness can improve your life." All rights reserved, LIFE, Inc., 2011
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