The Informer September 28, 2020

The Informer

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Mayflower Supports Mask Up Grinnell

Recently, a coalition of local organizations launched the “Mask Up Grinnell” campaign to encourage the wearing of face masks in Grinnell.

According to Grinnell Mayor, Dan Agnew, a Mayflower Community resident, the City Council met in July with a University of Iowa Hospitals infectious disease doctor to determine how to support Grinnell businesses and organizations during the coronavirus pandemic. That professional stated that the most effective means of support was the encouragement of the wearing of face masks.

Mayor Agnew emphasizes that the City cannot establish a mask mandate, nor enforce such a requirement. However, the City wants to be part of the encouragement of mask use. The City worked on the mask imitative with other “supporting partners” that include Brownells, The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, The Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Grinnell College, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Grinnell Newburg Community School District, and UnityPoint Health–Grinnell.

In a video released on September 16^th, The Mayflower Community CEO, Steve Langerud, is pictured declaring, “We mask up so that our residents can have visitors.”

The partners engaged consultant Katy Wells, owner of Double You Marketing, Inc., to design materials and create graphics for promotion of the campaign. As a result, a variety Grinnell-tagged face masks are available for $8.00 each, along with posters and yard signs at the new website: maskupgrinnell.com.”

Mayor Agnew has said, “We do want to encourage wearing masks as a way to get us back to our everyday activities.”

See the yard signs posted on The Mayflower Community campus. And, mask up!

-Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director

Neil Hewitt Does It Again at Mayflower

Four times now! On Tuesday, September 15^th, Nashville recording artist, Neil Hewitt played three different sites on The Mayflower Community campus. He shared a mix of oldies and country Western music. A native of Nevada, Iowa, and resident of Ames, Neil has previously played three gigs for Mayflower residents—twice in the Carman Center and, in June, outside on the Health Center lawn as he has adapted to the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Neil set up his sound system and guitar in the Beebe Circle at the entrance to Beebe Assisted Living, in front of the Health Center on Park Street, and at the Health Center Courtyard, on the secluded northeast side of the building.

In his words, he played “old country” (“You know, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, John Denver.” If that is old country, we are all getting old…er!) along with “old Rock ‘n’ Roll” (now, that is old!).

To the delight of Beebe Assisted Living, Health Center, and independent living residents, Neil strummed and crooned. He has always been a gift to residents at Mayflower. We are fortunate to share his music.

Neil is a 2011 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Having recorded a number of songs, he sings country western music and some gospel.

The marketing coordinator for Isle Casino & Hotel in Waterloo, has observed, "Neil plays for us at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo throughout the year. With all the compliments we receive from our guests, I'd love for him to perform here monthly. He is a pleasure to work with, very professional and punctual. He has an amazing talent and is enjoyed by all of our patrons.

Find Neil on Facebook here.

-Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director

UnLOCKIN the Power of Philanthrophy:

“IMPORTANT REMINDER AHEAD”

I continue my thoughts about popular Legacy Giving plans, with this “important reminder” of the advantages you gain utilizing your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for both current and future charitable contributions.

A key principle of charitable planning states “give taxable assets to charity and keep non-taxable assets for yourself or your heirs.” Congress and the IRS have paved the way over the past decade for tax favored contributions from your IRA. To the extent you use an IRA for charitable contributions; you will keep more dollars for yourself and have more to pass on to heirs.

Two caveats precede my list of benefits of IRA giving:

Consider giving from your IRA only if you can afford to do so. If you have other funds (usually non-taxable assets) for daily living expenses, charitable giving from your IRA is likely a good idea. Please consult me or your other professional advisor(s) if you want help making this determination.

IRA giving should not be used if charity will give you something in return for your gift. Meals, concert tickets, pieces of art, or a round of golf are common examples of items provided by charity, often related to special fundraising events. Any benefit you receive for an IRA gift causes the charitable withdrawal from your IRA to be fully taxable and defeats the main purpose of IRA giving.

Here is why IRA giving has become so popular:

Individuals over age 70 ½ can make direct IRA contributions to Mayflower and other favorite charities:

· in amounts ranging from a few dollars to $100,000 per year.

· with no income tax due on these “charitable withdrawals.”

· with the additional benefit that your “charitable withdrawal” reduces the “required minimum distribution” you are required to take each year. (Note: the CARES Act suspended the requirement that you take a minimum distribution for calendar year 2020, and it raised the “required minimum distribution’ starting age to 72 for those not yet 70 ½ before January 1, 2020)

At Mayflower, your direct IRA contributions can be applied to a number of important initiatives:

· replacing the Beebe elevator

· added to Human Needs Endowment Fund/Mission and Vision Fund as your legacy gift

· supporting resident or staff wellness initiatives

An important note: If you have a different type of “tax free” retirement account that is not an IRA, know that it is possible to convert some of that account to an IRA to take advantage of the opportunities I have described. Consult your IRA or other professional advisor about this possibility.

Finally, your IRA is a sound choice for making charitable gifts after your lifetime. For similar tax saving reasons, and ultimately getting more assets to your heirs, naming Mayflower as a beneficiary for a percentage of your account should be among your estate giving considerations.

With a Charitable Gift Annuity, you get paid to leave a charitable legacy.

Doug Lockin 515.210.6603 or dlockin@mayflowerhomes.com

Treasure Chest:

This month, the Treasure Chest is filled with a beautiful knitting display from Lisa Case. Stop by Pearson building lobby before the display changes in October!

Belated Birthdays:

Please wish a special belated birthday to Wanda Lohr, who celebrated Sept. 3rd and Gordon Van Donselaar, who celebrated Sept. 17th.

New Federal and State COVID-19 Testing Requirements

In response to the final rule issued by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), published September 2, 2020, all Mayflower regular and contract employees are required to be tested for COVID-19 on a recurring basis. As a result, you may see activity in the Mayflower Estes House, 630 Park Street, where up to 150 employees will be tested in each phase.

If there is a positive case with a resident or employee, “outbreak” testing must be initiated. This means the frequency must be increased. Testing is based on local county COVID-19 activity. The ratio of positivity dictates the frequency of testing and is posted every two weeks on the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Here is the guide to Positivity Rates and resulting Testing Frequency:

Low (less than 5%) = Once a Month for each employee

Medium (5% - 10%) = Once a Week

High (more than 10%) = Twice a week

Daily COVID-19 screening continues for residents and staff. This entails a daily register of individuals’ temperature along with a health assessment. If an employee or resident is symptomatic, the individual will be tested. Mayflower will continue to follow existing policies and procedures for daily screening, use of PPE (personal protective equipment), contact tracing, and Phase regression.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have questions, please contact Jacki Hicklin, RN, Mayflower Assistant Director of Nursing/Infection Control Nurse at 641-236-6151 x233 or jhicklin@mayflowerhomes.com.

-Steve Langerud, CEO

Food Service Containers

When you are done eating your meals, please make sure you return your green food containers ASAP at your drop-off location! (located where you reside) Or bring them to the Buckley Dining Room. Food service employee, Sue Allen "smiles" as she retrieves empty containers.

Want to See a Full-Length Movie Again?

The Mayflower Community’s Resident Movie Committee has made arrangements for a pandemic-style return to movie watching in the Kiesel Theatre. As of this writing, two movies have been shown on September 12^th and 19^th. A third, the 1980 film, “9 to 5,” starring Dolly Parton, is scheduled for showing tomorrow. You may call Deb after 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28th to reserve a seat.

Because interest has been high for attending the movies, but attendance is limited by Mayflower’s current “Maximum of 10” policy for any campus gathering, the procedure for going to the movies has been changed.

We will announce the next two Saturday shows in each bi-weekly edition of The Informer on its Friday publication day. If you are interested in attending, it will be necessary to call Deb Jack, Mayflower’s Receptionist (641-236-6151) on the following Monday after 10:00am. The reservations for one of the nine available seats (the 10^th being held for the projectionist), will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis. Unless there are vacant seats, reservations will be accepted for just one of the two movies on that Monday.

The next two shows will be:

· Saturday, October 3^rd; 2:00pm – Secret Life of Bees. 2008 story of 14-year old runaway Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) who is raised by South Carolina beekeeper August Boatwright (Queen Latifah) in the racially-charged 1960’s South.

· Saturday, October 10^th; 2:00pm – Lady Eve. 1941 screwball comedy about a mismatched couple (Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda) who meet aboard an ocean liner.

-Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director

The Mayflower Residents Association (MRA) will hold its Fall Council Meeting at 2:00 P.M. on Zoom on Monday, October 5, and its Fall Town Meeting on Zoom at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, October 19. Residents are invited to attend both meetings, with general voting allowed at the Town Meeting. Thank you.

-Gene Wubbels, President

Restarting the Calendar of Events

If you wish to add to the Mayflower every-other-week published calendar, please email or call me. Currently listed will be the movies on Saturdays in The Keisel Theater and The Men’s Coffee Group , Buckley 3^rd floor lounge, Thursday mornings 8:30.

Thank you,

Deb Jack

djack@mayflowerhomes.com

641-236-6151 ext. 100

‘IT’ with You and Me

“‘IT’ with You and Me” is a technology service that our Community Development and Well–Being Coordinator, Victoria Collins, is offering to Mayflower residents. This service entails a one-hour training session with Victoria, who will be dealing with your technology-related questions. If you would like to sign up for an “‘IT’ with You and Me” session, please call Deb Jack at the Mayflower Receptionist desk (641-236-6151) and schedule your session. Victoria will meet you at your home.

Book Reviews:

All the Devils Are Here

Louise Penny

Novel #16 of the Louise Penny series was released on September 1, 2020. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie are in Paris, where the other seven members of their immediate family reside. They await the arrival of their fourth grandchild. If you have awaited expectantly #16 in the series, you won’t be disappointed. If you have abandoned Three Pines and the Sûreté du Quebec, this would be a good time to get reacquainted.

Three Pines was barely mentioned. The setting throughout contemporary Paris captured my attention; there is even reference to the scaffolding around the Notre Dame de Paris. Two members of Gamache’s family are directly involved in the crime investigation, his god-father Stephen Horowitz and his son Daniel. International banking, high-tech manufacturing, environmental safety and attempted murder make for a great story.

Redhead by the Side of the Road

Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler’s books are a treasure trove of character development. Perhaps a bit light on action, but definitely heavy on the folks that inhabit her stories.

This new book, Redhead by the Side of the Road, tells the story of Micha, a 40-something handy man who is also the “Tech Hermit.” He provides IT/tech help to those in need. (His publication is “First, You Plug It In.” Perhaps he could spend some time at Mayflower!)

Micha just doesn’t get it most of the time, something that is very annoying to his long-term girlfriend. She tells him that she is being evicted, but he simply doesn’t get the hint. He doesn’t always see things as they are. His days are filled with routine, but also with delightful characters in his building and his client base.

This is a quick read that is a perfect diversion in these days of isolation. Hope you like it.