Community Comments
May, June 2011 Comments
January 14, 2012
Your View: VINE provides services not rendered elsewhere
— Recently, I was asked if the current fundraising effort by VINE to renovate the Nichols Building is in conflict with the Mankato Family YMCA’s efforts in the community. My simple answer to that question is “no.”
Eighty percent of what VINE does to enhance lives in the Mankato area are things that we at the YMCA do not do. Raking yards, delivering meals, giving rides where needed, respite care, doing household chores, nursing home/hospital transition and medication management are just a few examples of these types of services.
The other 20 percent of services provided by VINE involving senior exercising and social functions are similar to what we offer at the YMCA. With the demographics of our community continuing to get older, all I can say to that is, “thank goodness.”
A growing senior population means a growing need for these types of service. We cannot do it alone, and neither can VINE.
It is great to be able to provide these options in our community. VINE Executive Director Pam Determan and I agree on this point and will work together to assure we continue to provide quality programs for our community’s seniors.
John Kind, executive director, Mankato Family YMCA
October 14, 2011
Your View: Nichols would enable VINE to be more efficient community partner
— On the opinion page in the Oct. 2 issue of The Free Press, writers shared the commitment of the Otto Bremer Foundation to Mankato’s youth. A community business partnership with youth is an admirable endeavor.
Of no less importance is support for other needful segments of our community: The elderly, adults of all ages with physical and mental disabilities, low-income individuals and families, the unemployed and the homeless.
VINE Faith in Action, is an effective community organization which is using and directing its resources to aid the needy in Nicollet and Blue Earth counties. With VINE’s help the elderly are able to stay in their own homes longer, local seniors from all walks of life are given a place to gather and socialize and keep physically fit through the many programs at the Summit Center, and people without personal transportation and unable to access public transportation are taken to appointments and to work.
I drive for VINE and wherever I go, my VINE badge is recognized with praise for the good work that the organization does.
VINE has undertaken a capital campaign to raise funds to upgrade the Nichols building and property, which will provide them with more space to help consolidate their operations and expand programs. Their current facilities are insufficient to coordinate the efforts of 550 volunteers and to allow for long-term growth.
VINE’s goal in the acquisition of the Nichols property isn’t to build a “Taj Mahal” as was suggested by a previous writer to the editor.
The Nichols Building will be a tool to enable VINE Faith in Action to grow into an even more efficient and helpful community partner. It needs and deserves our support.
Richard Melarvie, Mankato
October 4, 2011
Your View: VINE helps our lives be all they can be
This fall, we have a rare opportunity to safely invest in our future by supporting the Nichols project of VINE.
By 2020, Minnesota will have more residents age 65 and older than those who are school children. By 2030, 21 percent of us will be 65 and older. The implications of this age “tsunami” for quality of later life, social services and health care are huge and programs such as VINE will be increasingly needed.
As a former member of the Minnesota Board on Aging and director of the Minnesota State University gerontology program, I have often seen needs of Minnesota elders fall through gaps in government services. And, despite these formal programs, the vast majority of caregiving for elders is still done by families.
Around this core of caring lies a circle of community-based services, often volunteer, to support “aging in place” with dignity and autonomy (and to avoid or delay costly institutional care).
Such is VINE. It has developed from a dream into a widely lauded program. Now it pursues the “Nichols vision” designed to yet more effectively target preventive, supportive and restorative services to ages 45 to 100 and older, with the goal of a positive, life-affirming elderhood.
VINE works without significant local government involvement (in sharp contrast to how similar communities fund such efforts). Clearly, personal and corporate investment in this project are critically important.
One might argue that this is an opportunity for city and county to envision how they too might partner more effectively with VINE to make the Nichols project real. After all, don’t each of us want our lives to be all they can be — at whatever age?
David Janovy, Mankato
August 29, 2011
Your View: Reusing Nichols building is a stellar idea
How often have you silently or loudly reminisced about the destruction of a historic building? To what extent is the reuse, recycle, reduce philosophy part of your values and actions for good living?
The Nichols building may not be viewed as a historic landmark by some, just yet. For others, it is. I can hear our forefather educators urging us to not destroy the Nichols building.
It is on the land of our Mankato High School that was destroyed by fire in 1941. Many of today’s seniors remember attending college classes in Nichols Hall or working there.
To think the building can be reused for an even greater purpose is an absolutely stellar idea. Mankato has looked for ways to create a center for adults in their aging years.
Never has there been an opportunity like this one to actually make a dream come true. The center is of sound mind and foundation; available right under our noses.
Mankato is a great place and defines itself as “a regionally focused municipal organization responsible for delivering essential public services to its citizens and visitors.”
For over half a century, we have known the influence of the “baby boomer” population who are now in their 60s. Let’s not wait until we are in real trouble for meeting the needs of our aging citizens.
The volunteer energy the older group provides in many domains of our society is awesome. Let us not lose this opportunity for the community to be stronger.
Mankato could be similar to Albert Lea and be the next Blue Zone community with a longevity compass greater than what we have.
Mary Huntley, Mankato
August 8, 2011
My View: Why I support VINE's efforts and project
— By Jack Considine
First and foremost I support VINE because they have earned it!
Seniors to be served are our World War II vets, our Korean vets and our Vietnam vets. These are our former policemen and firemen. They are the teachers, Girl Scout leaders and nurses that raised us. Little league coaches and troop leaders that help form our character. In short, the people that built and sustained our community for generations.
By 2020 there will be as many of them over 65 as are in grades K-12 in Minnesota. VINE has a proven track record of providing services that are needed by our parents. Services that save tax dollars and keep people healthy, happy and in their homes.
Second, Mankato continues to tout itself as a regional leader. What better way to show vision, planning and leadership than to be ahead of the curve in preparing for what has been called the “senior tsunami.”
Whether we are talking about water treatment, public safety or transportation, the City Council has tried to plan for the future, build for needs and position Mankato to be ready to take advantage of opportunities that will arise in the future. Which brings me to my final point.
The largest generation of Americans has started turning 65. They are also the ones that control the greatest amount of wealth in the country. They are known for demanding services and amenities. Having VINE in place with a proven track record of service will be an economic engine for the city. Mankato has already been recognized by AARP as a good place to retire. With the services envisioned by VINE we could shoot for a great place to retire.
It would create jobs and business opportunities. It would diversify our economy and strengthen our tax base. In the last 10-15 years, several astute local businessmen have already built a number of facilities just to cater to this demographic. The people in these facilities eat in local restaurants, shop in local shops and hire local people to care for their needs. It is a growth industry!
VINE is the largest faith in action organization of its kind in the nation. The programs and services that VINE is proposing are cutting edge, not just in southern Minnesota or even in the state. These programs are at the forefront of ideas in the nation providing for seniors and saving tax dollars.
While the city of Mankato can not shoulder the whole cost of VINE’s project and the community will need to step up to support this endeavor, I am in support of a grant to VINE because of the reasons I have listed above and in the end we would have a faith-based, private non-profit delivering services to our seniors and not a government entity.
Jack Considine represents Ward 5 on the Mankato City Council.
August 6, 2011
Your View: Senior center will help all do better
A wise person once said, we all do better when we all do better.
City council members, please vote “yes” to financially support the VINE adult community center’s renovation of the Nichols Building.
Roxanne Meyer, Mankato
August 3, 2011
Your View: VINE does exceptional, professional work
VINE is the exception to my belief in separation of church and state. I have been involved with them for years. They do incredibly necessary services for the elderly, disabled, etc.
Summit Center is a big draw and is crowded with so many activities at any one time. There is not enough parking (very little) at either the VINE office or at the Summit Center. Their VINE offices on Third Avenue are bursting at the seams. I am impressed with the personalities and professionalism of their staff.
Recently, I was hospitalized with major surgery, released too early with no home care. The VINE social worker was here on the first day possible bringing me a bath bar, bed rail, and chore service.
They give prayer shawls to people in that situation and I treasure mine.
The Mankato area is fortunate to have them here and supporting them should be a necessity.
Janice A. Fox Mankato
July 31, 2011
Your View: New VINE building not a personal mission
— The first place to which I turn in my Free Press each morning is the editorial page. I love to read about what the community (and the editorial staff) is thinking.
I want to respond to the letter from Sharon Lonergan, published July 23, regarding the “new” VINE building. Anyone who has seen the facility from which VINE operates its myriad of programs for older individuals and has heard Tim Penny share the Silver Tsunami statistics (the number of seniors who will need services in the near future), will agree that they need a new place.
In fact, they are proposing to use an empty building — not build a new structure. By rehabbing the Nichols office building to include office space on the upper levels, VINE will garner revenue to offset operating costs. If they are successful with this vision, they will save Blue Earth County the cost of demolishing the building.
It sounds as though the writer thinks that this is Pam Determan’s personal mission. Lonergan should know that VINE is run by a board of directors who come from all parts of the community with various backgrounds and talents. This proposal comes from that board; Determan is their executive director and is carrying the idea to the community at large.
I know that the cost of food and energy is climbing for all of us; I know that $4.5 million is a ton of money. I also know that programs that work to keep older individuals in their homes in their “silver” years will save everyone money in the long run.
Nancy Zwickey, Lake Crystal
July 31, 2011
Your View: Investing in VINE’s plan now will save money
I support VINE’s effort to create an adult community center by rehabbing the Nichols Building.
VINE is a remarkably effective, efficient nonprofit that has faced and overcome numerous funding challenges. It is a valuable community asset, serving people with long-term health needs and difficult life circumstances. VINE’s work — such as giving people rides to medical appointments, supporting family caregivers, and completing home chores — allows people to remain living in their homes longer than they could without the services.
My 90-year-old father lives alone, four hours away from Mankato. He hires people to provide daily assistance so he can stay on his farm. In Mankato VINE volunteers provide people the type of services dad receives. I’m grateful that dad’s caregivers provide quality, compassionate services, but it would mean the world to me for dad to have access to a place like VINE proposes where he could socialize, exercise and learn new things. Staying active and engaged in life may well have slowed his declining health.
By enabling older adults to stay healthy and independent in their own homes, personal and government resources, that might otherwise be required for expensive institutional assisted living or nursing home care, are preserved.
Our demographics will rapidly change as baby boomers age and the need for older adult services will rise. Service costs will only increase. Investing in VINE’s plan now will save money for the county and state in the long run.
VINE’s plan is well-researched, uses existing resources efficiently and provides for definite future needs.
A planned adult community center will be a good addition to our community.
Jean Klosowski, Mankato
July 30, 2011
Your View: VINE needs more space
As a retired director of nursing in long-term care and an active VINE volunteer, I am in a unique position to speak about the value of VINE’s efforts to support family caregivers, to keep people active and healthy, and ultimately keep people out of costly institutional care. Sixty six percent of nursing home stays are paid for with public funds.
Through my service as a driver and respite program volunteer, I regularly see how both the givers and receivers of VINE services benefit from this quality organization. I drive community members to medical appointments and to the food shelf and help family caregivers to have a needed break at the Summit Center’s Some Time Away respite program. I also drive older adults to exercise classes (which they can atte nd for $1 per class), and have witnessed how their strength and balance improves through participation in this wellmanaged program. In order for VINE to continue to carry on its good work and prepare for the coming “age wave,” it simply most have more space.
I am writing to lend my support for the Aging to the Max campaign to renovate the Nichols Building. The former Mankato State classroom building, which now sits empty and was slated for demolition before VINE stepped in, will revitalize our city center, create jobs and most importantly, benefit aging community members for decades to come.
Virgie Bergemann Mankato
July 30, 2011
Your View: VINE’s services are a community resource
I read with interest Sharon Lonergran’s letter to the editor, published July 23.
I was president of VINE’s Board of Directors in 2008 when state funding was cut, eliminating a grant that for more than a decade had helped to pay staff and train and coordinate volunteers at negligible cost to recipients of VINE services. I understand the sentiments that arose when the board subsequently required that care receivers be informed of the actual costs of “free” volunteer services and of formerly state-supported programs. However, a nonprofit must pay its operating costs or it will cease to exist. Furthermore, to my knowledge, nobody is turned away from VINE programs for lack of ability to pay registration costs.
I kno w firsthand that VINE staff work extremely hard to secure grant funding, private donations, and partnerships to keep costs low and enable participation. In addition, during my six years on the board, we received numerous direct requests to take on the coordination and delivery of additional services for community members of all ages as both local needs and the social service landscape changed.
I see the proposal for revitalizing the Nichols Building as a serious effort to provide an ongoing community center for adults in our community and to consolidate VINE’s staff and programs in one building.
I will contribute what I can. Even under the original Summit Center charter to provide services to those 55 and older, I’ve been an older adult for a couple of years now and I look forward to having this community resource to turn to as I continue to age.
Elaine M. Lilly Mankato
July 26, 2011
My View: The case for a new senior center
By Pam Determan — This past winter, VINE Faith in Action formally requested permission from Blue Earth County commissioners to evaluate the Nichols Building for possible renovation into a state-of-the-art adult community center and offices for all of VINE’s programs and services. This former classroom building for Minnesota State University lower campus, more recently used as office space, was slated for deconstruction because a suitable buyer had not been identified.
A thorough assessment of the building determined that the Nichols Building is structurally sound and has great potential for reuse. With a new window and wall system, past problems with temperature control and moisture-related mold will be eliminated and the downtown area will retain a well-known landmark. We have the opportunity to purchase the Nichols Building for $1 providing we can raise the funds to rehabilitate it.
VINE Faith in Action has embarked on a capital campaign to achieve just that. At a cost of $72 per sqaure foot to remodel (compared to $120 per square foot to build new, in addition to the cost of purchasing land for the building site), the $4.3 million cost for the proposed community facility is an excellent value.
The revitalized Nichols Building will offer many opportunities for adults in mid-life and beyond to maintain their health, volunteer their time and remain engaged in community life. The Nichols Building offers 156 parking spaces and will provide VINE with much needed space for our volunteer caregiving programs, along with room to grow and to address the needs and opportunities that will come with the aging of the baby boom generation.
In the next 50 years, most of the growth in Minnesota’s population will occur in the over-50 age group. In a dramatic reversal of traditional demographic trends, by 2020 Minnesota will have more retirees than school children. One in four of us will be over the age of 65!
To address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this demographic shift, the state of Minnesota has made a number of recommendations spelled out in A Blueprint for 2010: Preparing Minnesota for the Age Wave.
VINE’s plans for renovating the Nichols Building address many of these recommendations:
1. Redefining Work and Retirement
Research illustrates that Americans in the second half of life, regardless of their income, educational level, or race, all share a desire to: explore options for the next stage of life, pursue educational interests to retool skills or obtain new training, remain engaged through paid work and volunteer service to help find meaning and purpose, use their skills and experience in flexible work or service opportunities and make meaningful connections with their peers and their community.
The new Adult Community Center will provide much needed training space, equipped with smart boards and video projection equipment, and many additional opportunities for lifelong learning and involvement. A designated entrance for volunteers, expanded parking, and a large chore program garage will augment VINE’s service capacity. Older adults will enjoy meaningful ways to share their skills.
2. Supporting Caregivers of All Ages
Minnesota needs to slow the decline of family caregiving by offering eldercare options and redesigning service to wrap around family care.
The renovated Nichols Building will house a full-service family caregiver support center and daily respite facility, including a shower, laundry facilities, and the potential for overnight and weekend respite services in the future. Trained volunteers and caring professional staff will lighten the burden of family caregivers. Older adults in need of care will enjoy age-appropriate and compassionate care in a respectful and stimulating environment.
3. Fostering Communities for a Lifetime
Minnesota’s communities should be good places to grow up and grow old, and offer physical, social and service features for their residents of all ages.
The Adult Community Center is designed for people age 45 plus. It will provide a weather-protected canopy entrance and a city bus stop. People will have easy access to VINE’s social worker, caregiver coach and other professional staff. A wide array of programs and services (legal assistance, various counseling programs, health care consultation, support groups etc.) will be available to help people navigate the second half of life. There will be no membership fees and programs will continue to be offered at minimal or no cost.
4. Improving Health and Long-Term Care.
Minnesota must transform its health care, promote good health for all, improve chronic care and intensify its long-term care reform.
VINE’s programs and services are modeled around the seven areas of personal wellness (physical, emotional, social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and vocational) that encourages healthy aging throughout the life span. Certified senior fitness instructors will continue to lead a wide array of classes to help aging adults gain strength, improve balance, and enjoy a high level of physical functioning. The Center will include a warm water therapy pool, a walking track, and exercise equipment specifically designed for aging adults.
We conservatively estimate that by 2013, people from throughout the Minnesota River Valley will make 60,000 visits annually to the Adult Community Center. However, this region, and specifically the cities of Mankato and North Mankato, lags far behind other Minnesota cities in public support of senior centers.
We recently conducted a phone survey of well-established senior centers around the state, which showed the direct funding that Mankato and North Mankato provide to the Summit Senior Center (a total of about $48,000/year and about 91 cents per capita) is among the lowest in comparably sized Minnesota cities.
For example, the nationally recognized Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud annually receives $405,000 in city funding ($6.15/per capita) and operates in a city owned and maintained building. The Senior Center in Winona receives $391,000/year in city funding ($14.17/per capita).
Undoubtedly, these are challenging economic and demographic times; The collective goodwill and support of the public, private and non-profit sector will be required for successful navigation of this project. In my view, it is past time for the greater Mankato area to support a high quality place for aging adults in the community where they worked, paid taxes and raised their families.
VINE recognizes that older adults are a community asset.
As VINE’s executive director, I welcome the community’s investment in our vision for sustaining a healthy aging community in the greater Mankato area. Visit AgingtotheMax.com to learn more.
Pam Determan is director of VINE Faith in Action.