George Washington

I recently discovered "George Washington's Rules of Civility" on the internet. There are 110 maxims that helped shape and guide America's first President. I have read them all and I am including some of them, without comment, here. (Some grammar items have been modernized.)


When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.

Shift not yourself in the sight of others, nor gnaw your nails.

In writing or speaking, give to every person his due title according to his degree and the custom of the place.

In your apparel be modest and endeavor to accommodate nature, rather than to procure admiration; keep to the fashion of your equals, such as civil and orderly with respect to time and places.

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.

Think before you speak, pronouce not imperfectly, nor bring out yours words to hastily, but orderly and distinctly.

Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after drinking wipe your lips. Breathe not then or ever with too great a noise, for it is uncivil.

Rinse not your mouth in the presence of others.

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

Jim

January Opportunities

When the University of Illinois students are gone, we need help with some activities where the students generally assist. Among the things are Bingo on Saturday afternoons and Game Night on Monday.

We need helpers with Bingo on the following Saturdays: 12/22, 1/5, 1/12 and 1/19. The games start at 2:15, however set up starts before that. Ideal time for arrival is about 2:00. After the games, we will need help with transporting the residents and clean up of the area. That is generally done by 3:15. One hour and 15 minutes is all that we are asking. This would be appropriate for one to four people to help those residents who might have vision or hearing deficits; or there might help needed with motor skills.

Monday evening game night begins at 6:45. Again, help is need before and after for set up and clean up. The times needed would be about 6:30 until 7:45 (at the latest). One or two people (no more than that) would be wonderful.

If you want to help, let me know. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Giveaways!!!

We need some help giving away things.

We have too many clothing items. Some of our residents gain or lose weight and their family members donate clothes to us. We have some clothing items that don't have resident's name on them and are thus 'lost' for long periods of time. We need to give away these things.

We have more books than the residents will read. Friendly neighbors donate them to us and we have too many. We need to clear off the shelves. We need to give away these things.

Are you aware of an appropriate place to give these items? Let me know!

We are NOT SOLICITING books or clothes or TVs or furniture or medical equipment.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Dementia training

Every new employee at CCNH is required to attend a 4-hour dementia training as part of the 2-day orientation. Some employees are required to attend a yearly 12-hour training. Neither of these is required of our volunteers.

However, if you would like to attend one of these sessions, you are welcome. If you would like to spend a significant amount of your volunteer time being with some of our residents with dementia, then I strongly suggest that you attend.

These are once a month sessions. Let me know if you want to attend, I'll give you more information.

OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Why are we here?

We care!

People don't go to a nursing home to die! People go to a nursing home because they need 24 hour nursing care. Sometimes, it is a matter of need some daily medications and there is no family member who can do that. We have people here who don't have much wrong, but they need to be here because they cannot live on their own and have home health aids come in is not practical.

Our residents have bad hearts, poor lung function, kidney failure, circulatory issues, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and more. Come in a visit with them, learn about the aging process.

I need 90 minutes of your time for interview, orientation about working with elders and a tour. My usual office hours are 8 - 3 Monday through Friday. Contact me, let's get together.

Jim Hronek, Volunteer Coordinator
Champaign County Nursing Home

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

County Music at CCNH

Do you play?

We have requests for certain kinds of music at CCNH. We have Celtic harp, singing, piano playing, bluegrass and big bands. We don't have County Music. Do you play? Do you know someone who would be willing to donate about 45 minutes once a month to share their talents?

Let me know. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

October, 2012

Lots of things happening this month!

Oktoberfest will be at 2:15 on Friday the 12th. Lots of fun for this annual event.

A Pumkin Social will happen on the next Friday, the 19th.

We will also have a Halloween Party on the 31st. Costumes and all.

Please consider coming to enjoy the fun and getting to meet our residents.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us