Residents’ Council

RESIDENTS’ COUNCIL

Residents’ Council plays an integral role in our vital community

Resident guidance is actively sought at EastView in both day-to-day operations and strategic planning. Formed by our residents within a year of EastView’s opening, the Residents’ Council meets monthly, oversees numerous resident committees, and the Chair provides regular updates at EastView Board meetings.

Meet three founding residents who formalized vehicles for ongoing delivery of resident input and appreciation.

Holly

Tapping the Wisdom of Life Experience

Ralph

Heartfelt Resident Appreciation

Roberta

The Doctor is In

Among the many talents within the initial group of Residents who pioneered the launch of EastView was the knowledge of parliamentary procedures. During our start up years, several early residents recognized the importance of establishing an official Residents’ Council.

Holly accepted the challenge of crafting its governing documents and today remains a steady guiding voice. She was instrumental in the formation of GardenArbors, a collaborative resident/staff effort to enhance and maintain nine community gardens across EastView’s campus and oversee our treescapes. Holly is an avid gardener, volunteer reading partner with Everyone Wins, and an accomplished poet.

EastView’s strict no-tipping/no gifts policy for all employees left Residents yearning for a meaningful way to offer sincere thanks to our extraordinary team for their exceptional service. Residents’ Council member Ralph Noyes responded to this challenge by launching EastView’s Employee Appreciation Fund. Broadened and renamed in 2020, the EV Annual Giving Fund focuses on enhancing the lives of our employees.

Resident-driven, with nearly 100% participation by Independent Living residents and additional support from Residents and families in our Health Services neighborhoods, these gifts have continued to allow us to thank and support our employees in unique and heartfelt ways.

A pediatrician who also served as Vermont’s Health Commissioner, Roberta and husband Larry, also a physician, moved to EastView in 2012. Roberta quickly endorsed our community’s commitment to vitalism by guiding our resident-led Health & Wellness Committee as Chair.

Throughout the year, the committee organizes diverse programs that empower self-wellness and safety. They organize an annual in-house flu immunization clinic and continue to provide counsel on devices that support hearing. They also provide feedback and guidance to the Executive Director and Health Services team as wellness and care-related ideas and questions arise. Roberta also served a three-year term on EastView’s Board of Directors, and as an active member of the Art Committee.