Over the last several months, WSNA has been sending out teasers about the upcoming April meeting. Well, April is almost here, and we’re excited to officially invite you to the WSNA April 4th General Meeting, hosted by our neighbors in the beautiful Capital Manor (CM) community!
In October of 2023, WSNA kicked off a new year with a newly elected board, loads of enthusiasm, and a new set of goals. Two of the main goals focus on improving and expanding our communication reach and increasing citizen participation levels in the association.
On the communications side, we’ve amped up our news and information output by submitting articles to the Westside Paper and Salem Reporter on a monthly basis. All updates are then posted on our website at www.westsalemna.com, along with other WSNA briefs on Land Use, the Glenn Gipson Water Shed, Parks, Transportation, and Houseless news.
The second goal focuses on expanding neighborhood participation in the NA. We thought if we could make it more accessible, you may be able to join us more often. So, we decided to shake things up a bit, and move a couple of meetings to various locations around West Salem.
With that said, WSNA started a conversation with Nikki Phillips, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Capital Manor near the end of 2023.After trading a few emails, Nikki and I met for coffee at the Urban Grange to get better acquainted and talk more about Capital Manor, WSNA, and the community we all share. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Capital Manor, it’s a beautiful non-profit Life Plan Retirement Community, located at the western edge of the Edgewater district. Capital Manor offers both independent and continuing care living for retirees focused on pursuing an active lifestyle while enjoying peace of mind for the future.
Nikki started working at Capital Manor in 2017, but it was apparent in the first few minutes of our conversation, that she didn’t just work at Capital Manor, she was connected to the organization and the almost 480 residents who call CM home and the 270 team members who are employed there. I could feel the intensity and sincerity of her words as she described the make-up of Capital Manor, and the personality and drive behind the people who live and work there.
The people who live at Capital Manor didn’t come here to retire, she told me. They came here to experience life with other like-minded people. They are people who have raised their families, finished their careers, and decided it was time to enjoy life their way. Capital Manor is a planned community committed to providing residents with just that kind of lifestyle.
CM and its residents are not only dedicated to having a full life within their own community (over twenty resident-run committees, five resident advisory committees, and six special committees), their compassion and generosity extend well beyond their own gates.
Each year CM selects four not-for-profit sponsorships to support. Each nomination has to have a staff and resident “champion” to represent the fundraising or educational campaigns on site. In 2023, CM had six nominations, then found a way to support them all. They have supported The Salem Art Association, World Beat, Acres of Hope, Marion Polk Early Learning Hub, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to name just a few. They are also members of Leading Age Oregon and LA National whose mission statement is Advocacy – Education – Connection. They are a non-profit national association dedicated to advancing quality aging services.
WSNA is thrilled to be partnered with Capital Manor in the support and continuing development of our WS community and the city of Salem. Please join us so you can learn more about your neighbors in Capital Manor, and what’s happening in your neighborhood. Thursday, April 4th at 6:30 PM, 1955 Salem Dallas Hwy, NW. Parking: Drive past the main entrance and follow the “Event Parking” signs.
PARK NEWS
March 19th was our official first day of spring! It’s time again for cutoff’s and flip-flops, daffodils and tulips, cherry tree festivals, and outdoor everything! Spring is also migration time for many of our favorite Oregon birds to return home from their winter habitats. Golden-crowned and fox sparrows, hermit, and varied thrush, yellow-rumped warblers, siskins, juncos, and the great flocks of cackling geese are a few that come to mind. But they aren’t the only ones making a grand return!
Salem Seekers is returning to Salem again this year! Last year, before Pamela Garland became our Parks Chair, she was the name and inspiration behind “Salem Seekers,” a project she envisioned and brought to life on the wings of little glass birds. Her vision was to “create a local activity – bringing people outside, reducing barriers and creating memories together, as a community.” And this she did, with enchanting success.
WSNA is very excited and proud to be one of the sponsors for Salem Seekers second annual event, running from June through September. Working in association with Glass Art Oregon, 120 glass blown birds will be “hidden in plain sight” in multiple Salem parks. Neighbors all around the city will be invited to walk in different parks, looking for the glass birds, and getting reacquainted with nature and our city. It was a huge success for the entire Salem area last year, and we are looking forward to another great “birding” experience this year.
Salem Parks Foundation (SPF) has again presented WSNA grant awards for making improvements in some of our local parks. We were awarded $1000 for a new Edgewater Park sign, $3500 for a new Kiosk to be added in the Edgewater Park, and another $1000 for new garbage cans to be installed next to the park benches installed last year in Edgewater Park (also using SPIF grant funds). There will be more information regarding the timing of these projects, including a possible “garbage can art” contest! Stay tuned for more details!
- Next meeting: May 2nd at 6:30 PM at Roths in West Salem. The Community Room, located upstairs, is accessible by stairs and elevator.
- SUMMER MEETING ALERT: WSNA will be hosting our monthly general meeting on August 8th at West Salem Park, located behind Safeway. Planning is underway for a great summertime event. Stay tuned for more information to come!
- For more information, please visit our website at www.westsalemna.com.
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