William Penn Life, 1977 (12. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1977-01-01 / 1. szám

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TO OUR READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS:

Our official publication is published quarterly. Publication months are January, April, July, and October. Deadlines are always the 25th of the previous months of publication.

Material for publication should be typewritten, on ONE SIDE of paper only, DOUBLE SPACED, allowing SUFFICIENT MARGIN.

Address contributions to:

EDITOR PENN LIFE

WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION 429 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219

1 BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

Mr. Stephen Varga, Vice President of Branch 1, a retiree, is dedicating much of his free time to aiding residents of Van Doren Nursing Home. The following article appeared recently in the Fairfield Citizen-N ews.

As the patient advocate program gets underway in local nursing homes as mandated by State law, Stephen Varga was the first to assume his duties here.

Mr. Varga, a retired social services worker with the state, thought he might be able to help when he read about the need for volunteers for the new program.

He was one of several people who took a two-week crash course at Housatonic Community College to train volunteers to work with the elderly. The course was given by the State Department on Aging, and brough to the classes representatives of convalescent homes, and the social security, social services, administrations. The volunteers were given information which would be helpful when talking to patients. Volunteers will not be experts on medical and legal matters, he added, but will be able to refer questions to the proper town or state agencies.

It is the responsibility of the local health directors to appoint the patient advocates, who will in turn report any problems to the health department.

Mr. Varga said he will spend a few hours weekly meeting with the patients.

“I hope it’s going to be mutually beneficial,” remarked Mr. Varga, about his duties there. He hopes he can help the facility administration as well as the individual patients.

“Most of the patients here have relatives who visit quite often, but Mr. Varga will be a help,” said Mary Perachio, assistant administrator. She feels the program is a good one, noting that “lifestyles have changed. People are finally doing something for the elderly.”

Ellie Pouncey, who is a full time social worker at Van Doren, also thinks it’s a good idea to have someone outside of the organization coming into the facility. She and Mr. Varga will be working closely on patient problems.

Congratulations to Mr. Steve Varga for giving of his time and talents to help those shut-ins who so desperately need someone who cares for them. Steve Varga cares.

GETTING TO KNOW two of the resident, at Van Doren Hospital is newly appointed patient advocate Stephen Varga. He talks with May Clouet, left, and Freda Barrows.

8 JOHNSTOWN, PA.

Branch 8 of Johnstown, Penna, held their Children’s Christmas Party, Sunday, December 5, 1976 at the Hungarian Ev. & Ref. Church Social Hall. Santa greeted each child. When they saw Santa they were really delighted and anxious to whisper their name and what they wanted for Christmas. Santa gave each child a Christmas Carol song book. Theresa Dudash and Santa lead the children and their parents in the singing of Christmas Carols. Then Branch Manager Steve Petruska entertained the children by showing movie cartoons, then Santa and Sheila Godeck gave each child a Yuletide Gift and Branch Manager Steve Petruska gave each parent a calendar and gift, courtesy of the William Penn Association. The program was concluded with the serving of refreshments to all present and while the children, parents and grandparents were busy enjoying the refreshments — Santa disappeared.

Branch 8 of Johnstown, Penna, is very grateful and our sincere thanks and appreciation to the William Penn Association Board of Directors and the National Officers for their financial aid in making our Children’s Christmas Party a success, it’s the children of today who later will become the future of our branch and Association, and extends its Best Wishes from himself and All the Officers of Branch 8, for a Happy Holiday Season to all the National Officers and Staff, the Board of Directors, plus each and every William Penn Member.

We also wish to thank the following who helped serve the refreshments: Vera and daughters, Maryann and Jenny Petruska, Mary Schrengost, Betty Buckshaw, Frances Strosz, Helen Godeck and daughter Shelia. We wish to thank Santa —C. Knapp and Photographer Vic Godeck. Special thanks to Maryann and Jenny Petruska for decorating the beautiful Christmas tree, also thanks to anyone else who helped make this 1976 Children’s Christmas Party a success.

I wish to thank one and all for sharing this beautiful afternoon with your wonderful children. We hope that everyone enjoyed the Branch 8 Children’s Christmas Party and to all our branch members and their friends we wish you all a very joyful and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

On the following Sunday, December 12, 1976, Branch 8 of Johnstown, Penna., held their regular monthly meeting, after which they held their election of

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