Fall 2012

Volume 3, Number 4

www.sVwc.org

It was an unrivaled spring day at SVWC on Friday, May 18, when more

than 400 people—residents, staff, and guests—gathered to celebrate

25 years, reminiscing and enjoying delectable dishes prepared by our

outstanding Dining Services team.

A commemorative program in the Abbey was telecast live around

the community. The presenters paid tribute to the efforts of our

founders, residents, staff, and community partners. Guest speaker

Dixon Whitworth, Jr. described the creation of the community, from

initial funding efforts, to sitting on the Board of Trustees, to his

fondest memories of visiting his own parents when they lived here.

The Westbury Choristers sang and encouraged the audience to join in

singing “God Bless America.”

Following the program, guests were invited to share fellowship

throughout the community, from the Commons, to the Bistro, to the

Courtyard. An extensive menu showcased many different Tastes of

Virginia with treats

like fried

Chincoteague oysters

with a Surry Ham

Dust, Clarke County

Lamb Lollipops,

Smoked Virginia

black walnuts, and the

list went on and on.

Guests enjoyed light

jazz sounds by Oui-3, as well as a combo of piano,

sax, guitar, and trombone in the Commons by

resident Verne Collins and his talented cronies.

Attendees were greeted in the lobby by guitar music of Professor Glen

Caluda. Smiles, laughter, and enjoyment flowed into the evening as the

Richard Farland, Chairman

Terri Cluss

John Claybrook

Bengt Farnstrom

Stephanie Landes, Director of Development

Jim Mueller

Sigrid Mueller

Bob Riggs

Bob Sherwood

Jeannie Shiley, President/CEO

Terry Sinclair, M.D.

Duane Wernecke, CFO/Controller

Marcia Winfield

Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury Development Committee:

300 Westminster-Canterbury Drive

Winchester, VA 22603

540-665-0156

www.svwc.org

SVWC Celebrates 25 Years!

Meet our Legacy Society Donors

Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury is a not-for-profit, intimate, church-related continuing care retirement community that is committed to enabling residents to use their gifts fully, live their

lives richly, and enjoy with dignity the years God has given them.

Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Federal Tax ID 52-1266582.

A financial statement is available upon written request from the Office of Consumer Affairs.

sVwc celebrates 25 Years! by Leila Orndorff, SVWC Sales Counselor

See more great photos of the

event on page 5!

Murder In The Abbey!

Michael & Patricia Kalogeropoulos and Marguerite Gore

are among those in the community who support the

mission of Westminster-Canterbury.

michael & Patricia Kalogeropoulos

Mike & Pat are some of the newest members to SVWC and our Legacy

Society. When asked to share a little about themselves, they quickly

returned an eloquent note, so it is only fitting to let them tell their

story in their own words…So read on, enjoy and help us welcome Mike

& Pat to SVWC!

How did you hear about SVWC?

“We had been looking for just the right spot to retire, to get away from

the heavy traffic and impersonality of the Washington, D.C. area while

still being close to family and friends. We had been refining our search

for a location and had identified Winchester as a perfect place to retire.

Thanks to your Marketing Department, we received an unsolicited

SVWC flyer in the mail! We had planned a visit to Winchester already

and were able to meet with Chanda on a Sunday to learn more. We

hadn’t heard of a CCRC before but once we learned more and were able

to visit some of the living areas and meet some of the residents, we

were sold!

What made you decide this is where you want to live?

We were totally impressed with the facility and staff; the active

lifestyle fit our needs; and residents seemed to love being there!

SVWC seemed like a perfect place for us -- a stable and welcoming

environment with no headaches of home ownership! We both had

spent many years living overseas as federal employees within the

Intelligence Community -- Mike in European posts; Pat in Latin

America and East Asia. The transient nature of this lifestyle doesn’t

allow for many long-lasting friendships so we were ready to settle

some place where we could be a part of a community, develop new

meet our legacy society Donors

The Resale Shop is open the first and third Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.! Everything is very reasonably priced and ALL proceeds go towards the SVWC Fellowship Fund. So come have fun and shop with your friends, knowing that your purchase is supporting an important community ministry!

sVwc bistro concert series, sponsored by BB&T, has published its calendar for the remainder of 2012! See inside to learn when your favorite musical artist is coming on campus!

The much-anticipated sVwc Fashion show will be held on November 15th! More details are to come.

The 2012 Donor appreciation reception will be held on December 11th! Save the date as this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Upcoming Events ~ Mark Your Calendars!

Michael & Patricia Kalogeropoulos

(Continued on page 7)

The Development Newsletter of Shenandoah Valley Westminster-CanterburyWestburyThe Legacy

WestburyThe Legacy WestburyThe LegacyFall 2012

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Fall 2012

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Donor spotlight: Pifer Companies The Pifer Companies is a second generation family-owned group of companies offering a comprehensive array of services to both the commercial and residential sectors mainly in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. They provide both residential and commercial clients with a “one stop shopping” experience to acquire, design, build, remodel, maintain, manage and sell or lease projects – allowing clients to minimize costs and time.

Pifer Companies has been instrumental in helping to maintain and “refresh” the SVWC campus – most recently by updating the Commons with new lighting, ceiling and windows, remodeling the common areas of Shenandoah Hall and the Wappacomo Hall main entrance, and completely transforming the Activities Room in Lawrence Hall.

Working closely with Ponte Vecchio Living (SVWC’s interior design partner and fellow SVWC Fellowship Fund donor), Pifer Companies has helped to keep SVWC a safe, beautiful environment that is enjoyed by residents, staff and visitors alike.

“We have appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to work with SVWC staff and its residents to refresh their home over the past two years.  It has been wonderful to see so many friendly and familiar faces and we look forward to a continued partnership together,” said Richie Pifer, Jr.

“SVWC values the business relationship with Pifer Companies.  Pifer has been very patient and professional in answering all the questions posed to them by staff and residents during the renovation of multiple common area spaces.  The results of their hard work are evident throughout campus,” said Jeannie Shiley, President and CEO of SVWC.

In addition to their outright gift to the Fellowship Fund, Pifer Companies has also stepped up to sponsor the 2012 SVWC Fashion Show, which is going to be held on Thursday, November 15th.

“Since my grandmother and several of our family friends attended last year’s show, we felt it was a great way to support an event that they enjoy and at the same time, give to a very important cause,” said Pifer.

“I’m thrilled that Pifer Companies has joined the ranks with our corporate donors. I’ve known Richie since we were kids, so it’s a fun and proud moment now to re-connect and both be giving back to the Winchester community that raised us,” said Stephanie Landes, SVWC Director of Development.

To learn more about Pifer Companies and the services they offer, visit www.piferco.com or call (540) 542-1670.

The SVWC Fellowship Fund provides confidential assistance to qualified residents who find themselves in need of financial support. The fund acts as a safety net for all residents so that no member of the SVWC community will ever be forced to relocate because of a lack of financial resources. To learn more about joining the 2015 Fellowship Fund campaign, please contact Stephanie Landes, Director of Development, at (540) 665-5923 or slandes@svwc.org.

We are proud to announce that Pifer Companies has joined the 2012 Fellowship Society as a Benefactor!

Activities Room Before Activities Room After

From the Development OfficeThoughts on the Season of Giving

As the Fall and the holidays start to approach, our minds start to shift to gift giving. First things on my

list are my family’s Christmas stocking stuffers: new underwear and socks (I have a 5-year old son – these

necessities seem to disappear into thin air), candy, a few pieces of fruit (a tradition I carry down from my

mom), toothbrushes, and personalized ornaments for the tree.

Once we move past my husband and the kids in the family,

gift buying gets harder, because… here come the parents.

My parents have a house full of framed family photos,

treasures and gifts from all over the world, furniture (minus

the recent hand-me-downs passed to us kids) and now thanks

to retirement, free time to explore their interests and serve

those purposes for which they care so deeply. So…What am I

supposed to give them, when have what they want already or

can go out and buy it on their own?

Well after struggling through a few years of trying to still discover the “perfect gift” amidst a limited

budget and hardly any time to shop, I’ve finally taken to their advice:

Make a donation to a cause that they care about.

I struggled with this notion. The handing over of a note, even though the money was going to a good

cause, felt lackluster when we were in the heat of ripping though wrapping paper and bows. However

as I learn of the great need of so many different causes and people throughout the world, and of course

through my position here at SVWC, I have come to appreciate the significance and importance of what I

had once considered a “lackluster” gift.

As you know, we are in the midst of the 2015 Fellowship Fund campaign, with a goal to raise $2 million

dollars. As of September 1st, over $973,000 has been given by generous donors (both individuals and

businesses), through unsolicited contributions that are offered to commemorate the honor and memory

of friends, and by organizations that support this fund.

Thank you so very much to all who have helped us reach this milestone!

While we are so very appreciative and are pleased with the progress, we still have a long way to go. The

need continues to increase and with baby boomers already starting to make the transition to retirement

communities, we have our hands full.

I ask that as you prepare for this holiday season and requests for Christmas wishes start coming in, that

you prayerfully consider making or asking for donations to be made (can be in your honor if you wish) to

the SVWC Fellowship Fund. While temptation tugs at us for physical and sentimental “things” with which

to surround ourselves, please keep in mind your SVWC brothers and sisters that are in need of financial

help.

I am happy to answer any questions or help facilitate a gift with you and/or your loved ones to make this

process as easy as possible.

I hope you are having a wonderful 2012 and pray that the upcoming holiday seasons will be ones you

always treasure. It is an absolute pleasure sharing life here at SVWC, and I wish nothing but the very best

for you and your family this year and beyond.

Stephanie Landes

Director of Development

bistro concert series All concerts are held in the

Bistro by the great fireplace

at 7:30 p.m. $10 at the

door, the public is invited,

helping to benefit the SVWC

Fellowship Fund.

october 19 - robbie Limon returns with his

brilliant guitar star of

numerous shows at Wayside

Theatre. He does the great pop

singers of the 1970’s plus more

November 16 - OUI-3 Sophisticated jazz trio returns

to the Bistro. David Gerwig

(saxophone), Jonathan Rose

(guitar), Ralph Gordon (bass).

Smooth sounds.

December 14 - Thomas Pandolfi World acclaimed

pianist returns again with

glittering keyboard virtuosity.

Favorites of his: Gershwin,

Chopin, Liszt, Brahms

$10 at the door, the public

is invited, helping the

Fellowship Fund

To RSVP or learn more about

the bistro concert series, visit:

www.svwc.org/bistroconcerts

Sponsored by:

WestburyThe Legacy WestburyThe Legacy

meet our legacy society Donors -- (Continued

from page 1)

friendships and begin our travels throughout the U.S.

What led you to decide to give, joining SVWC’s Legacy Society?

In these days of declining government and family support to senior

citizens and their caregivers, we feel it is important to ensure that we

seniors are not shunted aside but instead are able live out our lives

with dignity and grace. We hope that our gift will not only help elderly

residents in need but will also let their caregivers know their efforts

are appreciated.

Thank you, Mike & Pat, for your generosity and the abundant (and

genuine) concern you already have for SVWC – both the community

itself and all those involved. Welcome to SVWC – we’re so glad to have

you here!

marguerite gore

Marguerite Gore believes in the mission of Westminster-Canterbury

and demonstrates her caring and commitment through her generosity

and support of the Fellowship Fund.

“We should all do our part to make sure no one would have to leave

Westminster-Canterbury due to financial stress,” said Gore.

A SVWC resident since 2004, Gore is a long-time Shenandoah

Valley resident, having lived most of the time in Clarke County. A

member of Mountain Baptist Church in Bluemont, VA, she enjoys

reading, needlework and spending time with her beloved feline

companion, Sammi.

During her career at Shenandoah Gas, she recalls when the original

survey for interest about building a retirement community (what

would become SVWC) in Winchester was distributed and she thought

that would be wonderful for the seniors of the area.

When her husband, Joe Royston, died, she decided a retirement

community would be in her future. She review some literature she

already had from Baptist Homes in Virginia, all some distance from

the Winchester area. Then she remembered that SVWC had indeed

become a reality; she could stay in the area. So she came for a tour and

put her name on the “Futures” list, but had to wait 8½ years to “grow

up” before she could come.

“I love living here. This is such a caring community and I know if I

had to leave, I would be devastated. I would hate to see anyone else

have to leave,” said Gore. “It’s our responsibility to look out for each

other. We should

all do our part

to make sure no

one would have

to leave due to

financial stress.”

Marvin, her late

husband whom

she met at SVWC,

was also a strong

proponent for

the Fellowship

Fund. So to help

further a passion

that they both

care about,

Gore decided to

include the SVWC

Fellowship Fund

in her will.

Thank you Mrs. Gore for your kindheartedness and continued support!

We are very blessed by your thoughtfulness and generosity.

The SVWC Legacy Society was recently established to honor donors

who have designated SVWC in a will, trust, charitable gift annuity

or other planned giving arrangement. Our current Legacy Society

members are:

Mr. & Mrs. George Burgess Mr. & Mrs. William Jones

Miss Amy Fielder Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kalogeropoulos

Mrs. Marguerite Gore Mr. J. Robert Vakiener

Major & Mrs. James Herbert Mrs. Theresa Yoder

If you are interested in joining the SVWC Legacy Society, please

contact Stephanie Landes, Director of Development at (540) 665-5923

or slandes@svwc.org.

Fall 2012

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Fall 2012

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New Piano for Blue Ridge HallWe owe a big thank you to Mrs. Margie Sheppard for responding to our request in the

last newsletter for an upright piano! Mrs. Sheppard has given to SVWC her player piano,

several music rolls and a beautiful custom cabinet crafted by her late husband, Dr. George

Sheppard. Some of the songs in the collection include George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in

Blue, and J. Lawrence Cook’s renditions of Boogie Woogie and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.

Thank you, Mrs. Sheppard, for such a wonderful gift that will provide very-appreciated

entertainment for our community. If you would like to see, hear or play the piano, it can be

found in the Activities Room in Blue Ridge Hall.

Snapshots from the 25th Anniversary Gala

Marguerite Gore

Thanks to Attorney-At-Law Suzan Herskowitz for answering questions and offering estate planning advice at our June Development

Seminar. 25 current and future residents attended the session and asked questions ranging from will/bequest details, to Power Of

Attorney privileges, to best practices in planned charitable giving. Thanks Suzan and all those who attended – we hope that the session

was helpful for you!

Estate Planning Seminar Well Attended & Appreciated

WestburyThe Legacy WestburyThe LegacyFall 2012

PAGe 6

Fall 2012

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Thank you to all of those who have donated to our 2015 Fellowship Fund

Campaign! As of the beginning of September 1, we have raised over $973,000

– putting us so close to the halfway mark of $2M! It is through your caring and

generosity that we are able to provide financial security to residents who would

otherwise be faced with having to find a new home. Thank you for embracing

your fellow neighbors and sharing the wonderful life and services available to

those here in need.

2015 Fellowship Fund Campaign

Update

Wanted: Fundraisers to join the SVWC Development Committee! As we near the second half of our 2015 Fellowship Fund Campaign, we

are in need of additional help to reach our $2M goal! If you or someone

you know is interested in helping us increase awareness, understanding

and monetary support for this important cause, please contact Stephanie

Landes, Director of Development, at (540) 665-5923 or slandes@svwc.org.

Friday, the 13th of April, brought murder and mayhem to The SVWC Abbey!

Chef Claude, Mike Barta of Dining Services, the surprise guest actor,

was stabbed, and Actress, Alice Tate, Amy Fielder was poisoned. The

“usual suspects”, Elizabeth Crandall, Lucia Barbour, her ex-husband,

Judge Sydney Crandall, Bart Hansen, topped the list. Or could it be

Noah, Don Jones, the angry jack-of-all-trades at The Inn in Tampa,

Florida who committed the murder? Chef Claude had insulted him.

Perhaps Sophie, Janet Waller, a rival chef and competitor had done

the deed. Gossipy neighbors and catering clients, Anne Crocker, Ruth

Carter and Cari Sherwood added fuel to the mix of clues resulting in an

evening full of fun.

Reprising their roles of Detectives Foley and Adorn, Bill Mills and Fritz

Trombore, along with the help of Sandy Evans, owner of The Inn,

Joan Claybrook and her criminology-student niece, Janie Jason, Farley

Massey, the murders were solved.

All the evidence pointed to Dina, Jean Trombore, Chef Claude’s under-

paid, over worked assistant who used her skills as a former medical

student to end his life and poison poor Alice, because “she knew too

much”. Dina was led away in hand cuffs by Detective Adorn.

The evening’s event, sponsored by The Fellowship Committee for

Special Events, was enjoyed by 115 crime solvers. It netted a total of

over $2,400 benefitting the SVWC Fellowship Fund. Thank you to all

our supporters!

Murder In The Abbey! by Joan Claybrook, SVWC Resident

See more great photos of the

event on page 5!

sVwc celebrates 25 years! -- (Continued from page 1)

Bistro Concert Series showcased the Vitali String Quartet, all former

students of Shenandoah University.

From just a vision of a few in 1980 to the thriving community it is today,

Westminster-Canterbury has been providing unparalleled services to its

residents since 1987. For 25 years, we have remained connected to our

residents, our spiritual values, our community, and the dynamic, vibrant

lifestyle SVWC offers. As we look toward our next 25 years and beyond,

we will all remain “Connected for Life.”

Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury welcomes BB&T as the

sponsor of the retirement community’s Bistro Concert Series. Open to

the public, the series showcases musicians – regionally, nationally, and

internationally acclaimed – performing a variety of musical genres at

monthly concerts at Westminster-Canterbury.

The Bistro Concert Series routinely attracts full-capacity attendance in

the retirement community’s open bistro area, with typical audiences

numbering from 80 to more than 100, including many non-residents.

Westminster-Canterbury asks each concert attendee for a $10

donation, a percentage of which goes to Westminster-Canterbury’s

Fellowship Fund. The Fund offers a financial safety net to residents

who face financial hardship while living at the retirement community.

In 2011, proceeds from the Bistro Concert

Series totaled $13,280, with a $4,376 donation

to the Fellowship Fund. Since the series began

in December 2008, audiences and sponsors

have donated $42,019, with the Fellowship

Fund receiving $13,891, covering 45 concerts

as of August 2012.

“We’re very excited to support this prestigious musical series at

Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury,” says BB&T Blue Ridge

Regional President John C. Williams. “The community’s Fellowship

Fund is a tremendously worthwhile charitable program, and BB&T is

proud to help advance its mission through the Bistro Concert Series.”

bb&T sponsors sVwc bistro concert series