Spring 2011 - Retirement Housing Foundation

50th Anniversary Celebration
RHF Annual Dinner Honorees
Manager of the Year
In 2003, the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, transferred Independence
Square, a 123-apartment HUD 202 community, to Retirement Housing Foundation.
We are grateful that they elected to give this community to RHF, at the suggestion
of Jean Dremstedt, so that it would remain in the United Church of Christ family.
Pam Jennings became the manager of Independence Square in 2005.
Regional Manager Lavonne Mickelson writes that Pam experienced many obstacles
upon beginning her employment with us because of the issues left by the
previous managing agent. Independence Square had very little income or
available funds, 11 vacant units, and disgruntled staff and residents. Pam
worked diligently to remedy the many issues and persisted to bring the property
to 100% occupancy in just a few months. In fact, she had residents who
moved to Independence Square just because they heard that she was there.
Her efforts have been recognized by HUD with the receipt of her second
Superior Management Occupancy Review rating in consecutive years.
This past summer, we received the resident survey results for Independence
Square showing a 93% satisfaction rating. Also included were comments
from residents like, “A great place to live!” “Excellent Staff” “Everyone
here has been wonderful, we are treated very nicely.” “I love it here, it feels
like home.” “I feel safe here and I feel that God hand-picked my apartment
for me.” “This is the best place anyone could live.”
Pam is one of the leading managers in the Midwest region, and is very
willing and eager to help train new managers and offer assistance to others
when needed. She regularly plans dinners and other functions, and most
recently organized an ice cream social and gospel concert. She’s always
looking for ways to bring her residents together. Pam and her assistant,
Susan, began hosting breakfast at the property on Saturday once a month.
This has been very welcomed by the residents, and they say that Pam
makes the best pancakes they’ve ever had!
She is also active outside of RHF. She organizes a team and participates
annually in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk, volunteers
her time as cheer coach for her daughter’s cheer team, and volunteers
at the Catholic School where her daughter attends.
RHF is pleased to recognize Pam Jennings as 2011 Manager of the Year.
Rex Chapman Award Winner
Dr. Laverne Joseph was named the recipient of the 2011 Rex Chapman
Award, by Retirement Housing Foundation’s (RHF) National Board
of Directors, at RHF’s 50th Anniversary Dinner on February 18th.
Pictured above: 1) Independence Square
Manager, Pam Jennings. 2) Independence
Square is located in Evansville, Indiana. 3)
Pam, flipping pancakes at Saturday morning
breakfast with the residents. 4) Residents
enjoying the annual Gospel Concert.
The award acknowledges Dr. Joseph’s 25 years as President and
CEO of RHF. During his tenure, RHF has quadrupled in size to 163
communities in 25 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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