You are invited to the Community Dinner the third Monday of every month at 6pm

What is more fun than eating out with friends? 

Join Chef JP at the Oak Crest Community dinner every third Monday of the month at 6pm.

Reservations Required

Bring your own friends or make some new ones.....

What we learn and how we learn it.
A knock at my office door and an unprovoked attack.

When we are faced with abrupt, overly aggressive people we have choices, unfortunately it is like the old adage when you are up to your neck in alligators, it is hard to remember your goal was to drain the swamp. Back to my first contact of the day and why the rude intruder felt the obligation, the right to attack using repeated phrases that were at best cliche for e.g. "  I know what "everybody" thinks .As I reflect  now I want to respond that there is no one who can know what everybody thinks.  There is only doing the best you can and respecting others. My visitor didn't do either of these things. But I can be thankful that I was reminded to. 

Last week I made a mistake. I sent a check made out to the wrong company for payment. I called and was assured that it would be returned to me and not to worry, they would not cash it actually they couldn't cash it if it wasn't made out to them...or so they promised. Yup you guessed it they cashed it. 

Wow stuff like that makes me mad. 

I was thinking about it and I realized that is exactly why promises are important...most people expect them to be kept. So when someone breaks a promise it is a big deal. 

I then thought about our slogan: 

We Promise: Caring,Keeping,Trusting. 

The whole mess seemed worth it as I realized that our slogan is more important than anything and the pride we  feel in saying it and living ti  is a really big deal for us at Oak Crest. 

Sometimes it doesn't matter how fancy a website is or a brochure or a sign if the promises being made are not kept. Wow another benefit: I can stop fretting about redoing our website and work on keeping our promises.

WELCOME SUMMER AND DON'T FORGET THESE SIMPLE RULES TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE

Welcome Summer

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE
AND
DON'T FORGET THESE SIMPLE RULES:

• don't complain about the heat
• 
  
• don't miss a chance to go outside
• 
  
• don't pass a flower without smelling it 
• 
  
• don't turn down any invitations for a walk
• 
  
• don't stop admiring the sky
• 
  
• don't forget your sunglasses 
• 
  
• and don't forget to SMILE because summer is finally here !!!!

Benefactors Sandy and Marion Campbell

at the dedication of the Campbell Center

the Oak Crest Keeping Program is a copyrighted 

approach to help those suffering from diseases associated with memory loss is practiced everyday in the Campbell Center. 

Beginning May 1st,2014 Marlene Pokorny will taking the reigns of the Keeping Program. 

Marlene has served for decades as the Alzheimer Support Group Leader and in that capacity is

 certified by the Alzheimer's Assoc.

Marlene will bring a new depth of caring to the Keeping Program with the addition of exciting new experiences such as the tactile sensory stimulation exercises she has planned.

Please come and ask for a tour of the Campbell Center and visit with Marlene to learn more about the Keeping Program.

Keeping the spirit alive

Remembering how nice it is to feel loved....

It is never easy to get through the winter, but this month it has been very challenging. As we persevere the extreme temperatures maybe the way to stay warm is to remember how warm the feeling of a hug can make us. Why not remember to give a hug whenever possible and perhaps that nice feeling will last forever.

Merry Christmas from Oak Crest 

join us for a tour of our amazing decorations!

Happy Thanksgiving and bah humbug to Black Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours!

Thinking about eating? 

We do allot. At this special time of year who can help but conjure up memories of Thanksgiving dinners from the past. For good or bad, this celebration becomes about the food. And now that seems almost quaint as we are bombarded with "Black Friday" ads. A brief survey here at our table nets this comment: "Enough already" we have heard all we can stand about the sales and the store openings on this time honored traditional holiday. 

So for now just let us eat and be thankful for all the blessings we share and have been given. And as if that isn't enough, we are thankful not to go shopping on Thanksgiving!

November is Staff Appreciation month at Elgin Oak Crest Residence & Atrium Apartments

November is 

Staff Appreciation Month .......

what is there to say but "thank you" for

• working to improve the lives of older adults
• smiling when it is not easy to 
• looking for the better way 
• knowing how to love
• overlooking your own needs 
• being kind and gentle to someone who is not
• never forgetting to respect those you care for
• supporting your coworkers
• offering to help

Dear Friends,
Last month I marked my 40th year at Oak Crest. To celebrate the occasion a small reception was held in our delightful Cellar Pub. (one of my favorite places) 
At the end of a Wednesday I really didn't expect much of a turnout, to my surprise there was!
New faces and old friends greeted me warmly and asked questions like "does it seem like 40 years?" and "are you retiring?", "How did you start" and that is a "lifetime" and how did you do it. 
Well it was fun having two solid hours of "me" time and it certainly sparked some reflection on my part.  So here it is I started early in my life and loved it. Yes, I stayed and I loved it and no I am not retiring and I still love it. And I did it one day at a time, with no grand plan for tenure or milestones, just doing a job and loving it.
Finally to all the wonderful calls form old friends who couldn't make it and the beautiful flowers and cards, your well wishes have been a cherry on top of a wonderful life here at Oak Crest. And maybe that is just how I did it with thoughtful people supporting me in my work for 40 years. 
Thank you
Susan Cincinelli
Executive Director

Annual Hot Dog Luncheon

109th year anniversary and  benefit fund raiser

thank you to our business participants 

• IHC
• Ohm's Care Care 
• U46 Administration staff (Tina DeLonker)
• Elgin Police Department
• First Community Bank 

and all the individuals who attended and enjoyed a hot dog to celebrate Oak Crest's anniversary. Your support is appreciated. 

September 2013

marks Oak Crest's 109th year of continuous service.

and

Executive Director Susan Cincinelli's

40th year at Oak Crest

Help us celebrate these milestones

by attending our scheduled events

• Wednesday September 11th at 12 noon 

Annual Hot Dog Luncheon

fundraiser

eat in or carry out

call ahead to place your order!

and for more information.

847 742 2255

______________________________________________

• Thursday September 19th 4 to 6pm

Susan Cincinelli

Executive Director's 

40 years at Oak Crest 

Cocktails & Appetizers reception

in the 

Oak Crest Cellar Pub

rsvp 847 742 2255

Welcome to George's Stage at Oak Crest Atrium

Oak Crest's Georges Stage

Performing or Learning 

George's Stage has it all!

Oak Crest Members enjoy the comfort 

and 

Excitement of George's Stage

where artists perform 

and 

readings enchant!

named for George Lord, an Oak Crest founder George's

 Stage is just one of the new venues available within the 

Oak Crest Atrium Apartments. Call for a tour and find out how

 you can be a part of this exciting endeavor. 

Oak Crest actively seeks volunteer performers for George's Stage. 

Building for success...
It's never too early to think of our feathered friends.

Mike and Bob are working on  the construction of a bird house.

The newly created Mary's Assembly Hall is host for a variety of interesting programs. Consider your skills and how you could share them with others in this great new setting. Call Zoila at 847 742 2255 for more information.



" Happy New Year from our castle to yours"
Tea is being served every afternoon
at 2:30pm
and you are invited!