Changes For 2012 – Center For Life Transitions
One of my favorite quotes is by philosopher, Jane Hirshfeld, “Everything is changing, everything is connected… pay attention.” I can’t think of a more fitting way to begin this message.
As another year of growth and challenge begins, we at the Center for Life Transitions are blessed to let you know that the Center is in transition. As of January 1, 2012, we contributed a substantial gift to North Branch Reformed Church in Bridgewater, NJ which will become an endowment and fund new counseling and eldercare ministries. Scott Pontier, former Vice President of the Center and Dona Lee Calabrese, former board Member, will be intricately involved in these ministries at North Branch.
The Center for Life Transitions came into being due to the belief and financial bequest of a long-time North Branch member, Ethel Kienz, who was on our original board. Ethel had a deep concern in her heart for the elderly, and long wished that North Branch Reformed Church had the financial security that an endowment provides.
We have worked and prayed hard since the Center’s inception in 2003. There has been much good work done in the past eight years, including programs, workshops, and retreats for groups, as well as individual counseling and coaching. After prayerful discussion, the board has made the decision to continue the CLT in Milwaukee under my continued leadership as an entity separate from North Branch Church. We are excited to see how Ethel’s vision and resources will continue to benefit others both on the east coast and here in the Midwest for many years to come.
I am very grateful to Scott and Dona Lee, dear friends and outstanding professionals, for their contributions to the Center for Life Transitions and for their hard work during this transition. I also want to thank Dr. Todd Buurstra, Pastor at North Branch who had also served on the Center’s board of directors from 2003 until 2006, and who provided leadership during this change.
The new board of directors for the Center is in place and includes:
- Chuck Hays, Vice President; former Right Management executive and President of Retirement Directions, L.L.C., Milwaukee
- Dr. Connie Popp, Secretary; Director of Campus Ministries at Alverno College, Milweaukee
- John Glaser, Treasurer; CFO at The St Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, Milwaukee
- Dr. Nadya Fouad, Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Angela Knight, Strategic Staffing Leader, GE Healthcare, Pewaukee, WI
- Dr. Bill Sneck, SJ, Jesuit Retreat Center staff, Wernersville, PA
I’m very grateful for their commitment to the Center and am excited to begin working with them to further the mission of the Center. Please contact me with any questions, ideas or suggestions you my have.
Sincerely,
Thomas Bachhuber, Ed.D.
President, Board of Directors
Another Successful Life-Shift
The Life-Shift: Work and the Christian Journey retreat drew 7 participants who committed to the weekend of September 23-25, 2011 at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Wernersville, PA, 30 minutes west of Reading, PA, to seriously and sincerely examine their work and spiritual lives. Their goals were of course individual and personal, but all participants engaged in sincere introspection, examined work/career options, and brought their faith and spirituality into the process.
Led by Dr. Tom Bachhuber, President of the Center for Life Transitions’ Board of Directors, the retreat participants engaged career-assessment worksheets, participated in group discussions, heard presentations, prayed together in conventional and creative ways, journaled, spent time doing individual work and also found time for some rest and relaxation.
Dr. Bill Sneck, SJ, spiritual director at the Jesuit Center, participated and led some of the retreat’s activities. He and Tom will be working together on future retreats as well as integrating the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius into the Life-Shift format.
Life-Shift will be offered in other places in the future including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (dates to be announced). The retreat can also be sponsored or co-sponsored by outside organizations and scheduled at mutually agreed on dates/times. Contact Tom Bachhuber for information.
Testimonies From This Retreat
“Tom was a wonderful speaker and facilitator. The information and materials were vast and exercises were very helpful. I also felt that the experience was uplifting and enhancing for my faith. It helped me to be in a group of like minded people on the journey.”
“I have been to many conferences and workshops over the years. This was wonderful. Tom was engaging, down to earth who manages to combine his extensive knowledge on career planning/transition with deep faith and spirituality.”
“The leader’s openness, expertise and passion made the retreat successful for me.
“Tom has a gift to communicate and inspire others.”
What Is Life-Shift?
Who Is Life-Shift For?
What Will I Experience At Life-Shift?
Join Us At Life-Shift: Sept 23-25
Life is about facing and managing change–career, personal, family, spiritual. This is an opportunity to reflect on your life and your faith, exploring avenues for new opportunities.
Start Your Life Changing Journey
With Us September 23-25, 2011
We begin Friday at 4 PM and depart Sunday at 4 PM.
Limited seating. Reserve your seat today!
Click for complete details and to register online.
This workshop will be lead by Dr. Thomas Bachhuber, President of the Board of Directors for The Center for Life Transitions, Inc. and also Director of the Career Development Center at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee where he also started the UWM Career Transitions Center for adults facing career change and job loss.
New Workshop Series: Taking Care Of Yourself
The Center for Life Transitions is pleased to offer 4 exciting new workshops to help relax, restore and renew YOU!
- Laughter Is The Best Medicine
- Organizing The Clutter In Your Life
- Art Therapy For Happiness
- Meditation To Connect To Your Spirit Within
These 4 workshops will be held at the Center for Life Transitions in Bridgewater, NJ. Advance registration is required. You can reserve your seat online.
Taking Care Of Your Parents Workshop Series 2011
The Center for Life Transitions will repeat 4 popular workshops from our Taking Care Of Your Parents series. They are:
- 5 Secrets To Starting and Finishing Tough Conversations
- Organizing The Clutter In Your Parent’s Life
- They Just Seem Different: Dealing With The Changing Behaviors Of Elderly Parents
- Getting Your Parent’s Legal Matters In Order
These 4 workshops will be held at St. Ann Church in Raritan, NJ. Advance registration is required. You can reserve your seat online.
Taking Care Of Your Parents 2011 NJ Workshops
Back by popular demand, this series, “Taking Care Of Your Parents: Heartfelt Advice from the Experts,” received excellent reviews last Fall! Seating is limited! Online registration will begin this month.
5 Secrets to Starting (and Finishing!) Tough Conversations (March 23, 2011)
Learn how to talk to your parents about decisions to be made in their best interest.
Understanding & Dealing with the Changing Behaviors of Elderly Parents
(March 30, 2011)
Learn about the stages parents experience and when they need us to step in.
Organizing the Clutter in Your Parent’s Life (April 6, 2011)
Discover collaborative strategies to get control over your parent’s affairs and clutter
Getting Your Parent’s Legal Matters in Order (April 13, 2011)
Learn key documents & issues to be settled to ensure your parent’s wishes are met.
Program Times: 7:30 – 9:00pm on dates outlined above
Investment: $5.00 per workshop (refreshments included)
Location: St. Ann’s Church, 45 Anderson Street, Raritan, N.J. 08869
REGISTRATION:
[Registration is Closed]
These workshops will be offered by the Center for Life Transitions in partnership with the Somerset Office on Aging and Disability Services and the Community Visiting Nurse Association.
Listen To Workshop: Safeguarding The Elderly
Safeguarding the elderly goes far beyond making sure they have a lock on the door. In today’s society, safety means a proactive campaign where family members become familiar with the latest scams so they can protect their parents from financial or physical peril. Family members must also help protect once self-sufficient seniors lose their independence.
Listen to this free workshop and discover:
- The 4 BIGGEST SCAMS that can Endanger your Parents.
- How to put PROACTIVE Emergency Systems in Place.
- Key Factors for Extending your Senior’s Independence.
- How to Protect Your Parents physically, emotionally and financially from a distance.
Recorded 11/16/2010, Presented By:
Joan Smith
Rehabilitation Manager
Community Visiting Nurse Association
Joan P. Smith P.T. is a licensed physical therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience as well as extensive experience in a variety of clinical settings including acute care, sub-acute, geriatric and home care. Presently Joan is the rehabilitation manager at Community Visiting Nurse Association in Somerville, NJ where her home care experience has made evident the vital importance of home safety and fall prevention.
Laurie Rowe
MS, Eldercare Educator
Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services
As the Eldercare Educator for the Somerset County Office on Aging, Laurie addresses the common and complex challenges seniors experience through education, intervention and knowledge of available resources. Laurie is committed to finding solutions for problems using a fresh perspective, creative problem solving and humor.
Listen To This Workshop
If you couldn’t attend, you can listen to an audio recording by clicking on the audio player embedded on this web page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen To Workshop: Being A Loving Presence
Experiencing “aging parents” is one of the most emotional and challenging transitions we face in life. Having the caretaker roles reversed is confusing and complex. Our love for our parents doesn’t change but our ability to help them becomes limited. In many ways, they don’t look or act like the parents we have loved our whole lives; but that doesn’t mean this time can’t be precious, significant and valuable for everyone.
Listen to this workshop and discover:
- Valuable resources in making the most of your shared family history.
- Exploring values, emotional strengths and spiritual insights at this time in life.
- How to look at end of life care and understand what everyone needs in this process.
- How to say what you need to say, while making peace with the past and preparing for a new future.
Recorded 11/09/2010, Presented By:
Anita Ciano, BS RN, Hospice Manager for the Community Visiting Nurse Association
As the Hospice Manager at Community VNA since 2001 and as a certified Hospice Administrator and Bereavement Support Group Facilitator, Anita has extensive experience in working with the elderly and has made providing expert and compassionate hospice support and understanding of hospice care in the community her highest priorities.
Listen To This Workshop
If you couldn’t attend, you can listen to an audio recording by clicking on the audio player embedded on this web page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen To Workshop: Planning Ahead For Your Own Senior Years
The last thing we want to do is leave our children with the overwhelming task of planning for us as we mature. This is an excellent opportunity to understand the things we need to begin getting in order for ourselves so our wishes can be fulfilled. It will help put YOU in control of your future while – eliminating guess work and stress for our children. This workshop will provide you with a checklist of key things on which to take action – NOW – to make things easier down the road.
Listen to this workshop and discover:
- CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS as you create your will and Power of Attorney.
- Decisions around who will take care of you and how you want them to do that?
- Long Term Care planning – Where will the money come from?
- Understanding the Medicare/Medicaid maze.
Recorded 11/02/2010, Presented By:
Kelly Finnegan, MSW, Eldercare Educator
Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services
Kelly Finnegan is the Eldercare Educator for the Somerset County Office, bringing over 13 years of experience working with seniors and their caregivers in a variety of settings including nursing homes, assisted living and in the community. As a former caregiver herself, Ms. Finnegan knows both the heartaches and the joys of caring for aging parents and uses this experience to connect with her audience.
Gary Cornick, Elder Law Attorney
Law Offices of Gary Cornick, LLC
Since 1991 Gary has served as an attorney and is active in several bar associations, including Co-Chairing the Somerset County Car Elder Law Section, National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – New Jersey Chapter. He has written numerous articles and is a regular speaker addressing elder law, estate planning and guardianship law issues.
Listen To This Workshop
If you couldn’t attend, you can listen to an audio recording by clicking on the audio player embedded on this web page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen To Workshop: Getting Your Parent’s Legal Matters In Order
One of the toughest conversations adult children must have with their aging parents centers on legal matters – a topic most of us are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with already. But the time to get our loved ones affairs in order is now, while they can still offer constructive input.
How do I guide my parents through all the red tape of getting their affairs in order? Anthony will provide a simple, step by step plan for key issues to settle to ensure their wishes are met and you and they are making good financial decisions for their welfare.
Listen to this workshop and discover:
- A Living Trust: A Popular PLAN for Avoiding Probate and Planning for “What If”
- The Medicaid Mystery: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together
- Is it too late? Estate planning for Alzheimer’s patients
- Asset protection: STEP BY STEP estate planning documents everyone should have
Recorded 10/26/2010, Presented By:
Attorney Anthony Digirolamo from DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis & Lehrer, P.C.
As an attorney for over 30 years, Anthony brings his extensive experience in estate planning, probate litigation, taxation, real property and commercial transactions to his clients, making him a highly sought after expert.
Listen To This Workshop
If you couldn’t attend, you can listen to an audio recording by clicking on the audio player embedded on this web page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen to expert advice from our