By Ralph McFadden
Forum 2016 of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes took place at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif., on April 19-21. The forum was hosted by Matthew Neeley, CEO and president, and attended by 21 people. Of the 22 retirement communities in the fellowship, 13 were represented.
Participants in the Fellowship of Brethren Homes Forum 2016.
The agenda for the two days included fellowship time, in-depth discussions on fundraising and development, reflections on the state of the industry, marketing, and social accountability. Business items encompassed a rich variety of topics: the budget and fee structure of the fellowship, election of the executive committee, updates on Fellowship of Brethren Homes presence at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Boonsboro, N.C., this summer, a video proposal from David Sollenberger, and an invitation for Forum 2107.
The executive committee for 2017 will include Jeff Shireman, CEO/president of Lebanon Valley Brethren Home in Palmyra, Pa.; Chris Widman, executive director of Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria, Ohio; Maureen Cahill, administrator of Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center, Iowa; Ferol Labash, CEO of Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris, Ill.; and Carma Wall, CEO of the Cedars in McPherson, Kan.
David Lawrenz, administrator of Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester, Ind., invited the Fellowship of Brethren Homes to Timbercrest for the 2017 Forum. The dates for Forum 2017 will be April 17-21, 2017.
— Ralph McFadden is executive director of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes. Find out more about the fellowship and the Church of the Brethren-related retirement communities at www.brethren.org/homes .