Last update:  04/01/10

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bullet Dean Meeter reports that Bethesada Christian Counseling has moved its offices to  400 S. Sycamore, Ave., Suite 105-3, Sioux Falls, SD  57110.
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Don Dinsmore reports that he did a summer unit of CPE at U of Chicago Hospitals for Terry Becker, and that he is scheduled for hip replacement surgery on Sept 8. Six or seven weeks later he will have the other one done.   He advises that he is full of arthritis and that his condition has degenerated rapidly, and requests that colleagues keep him in our prayers.  He sends his regards.
bullet Jeff Billerbecks father, James, age 80, died on August 5th with services held August 12th.  He is survived by his five children and 8 grandchildren.  Our condolences to Jeff and his family. 
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Dan Duggan's mother, Pricilla Marie Duggan, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack June 9th in St. Louis.  She had had some surgery recently, but was recovering well and was planning to leave on a several week long trip to San Diego where she once lived in a few days.  Dan comes from a large family--he has 10 siblings, most of whom are in the Kansas City area.  Dan will be travelling down there to be with them prior to the funeral.  Our condolences to Dan and his family.  This is their second loss in a short period of time.  Dan's father passed away about 5 years ago.
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Kate Sullivan's mother died on June 6th after falling ill a few days previous.  Kate was in Boston at her mother's side when she died.  The wake is tomorrow with the funeral on Thursday.  Kate will return to work in Milwaukee on the 16th.  Our condolences to Kate and her family. 
bullet John Thomas will have a new mailing address effective Monday, May 10: 333 West Main Street, Apt. 506, Madison, WI 53703-3114.  Everything else remains the same:   jthomas489@aol.com;  608-283-6221
bullet Our condolences to Chuck and Carol Weinrich on the death of Carol's mother on April 17t.   She was a resident of The Village of Manor Park where Chuck is employed and had entered their Ruth Hospice some time ago.  Chuck reports that her last words were her whispered accompaniment with him of the Lord's prayer.  She had prayed for a long time that God would take her, and he finally "granted her request that she go to sleep and not wake up".  
bullet Our condolences to Gary Sartain  and Allen Dundek who each lost a parent during the week before Easter.  Gary's father died on Tuesday, April 6th,  after a brief hospitalization and his memorial service took place on Friday, April 16th in International Falls, MN.  Allen's mother passed away on the 10th, and her funeral was in Ohio on April 14th. 
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Jim Corrigan shared the following via email on March 23:

 "I am saddened to share with you that Dan Gridley died yesterday afternoon at Christ Hospital. His death was a long and difficult process. About four weeks ago MDs surgically put in a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVD) in his heart. He responded well post operatively for a brief period of time as he got off the ventilator, sat up, and managed to take some ice chips. However, he quickly slipped back and had to be reintubated with little or no progress for the last three plus weeks. Yesterday his family, per Dan's own advance directives, made the decision to remove him from life support, and he died shortly thereafter. Per Dan's wishes, his body has been donated to medical research. There will be a Memorial Mass for him at Mary Seat of Wisdom parish in Park Ridge, IL on Saturday, April 3 at 10am. I will be coming in for the service. At Dan and his family's request I am privliged to be the principle celebrant of this mass in memory of Dan.

 
I have been honored to know Dan so very closely for the past 40 years, as well as to have shared something of these last difficult days with him and with one of his sisters/brothers-in-law. For most of his life Dan had to swim upstream. He faced this most recent challenge with full knowlege of the possibilities and with an incredible courage and peacefulness of spirit.  Dan has touched many of people and his accomplishments in life have truly been awesome. You all were significant people in Dan's life. He treasured your friendship and support. His wishes were that the everyone have a party after his memorial mass. And so, with a definite tear as well, I hope we can honor and remember him in this way."
 
bullet Harvey Berg reports that his email address in the last NCR newsletter was "slightly incomplete".  The correct address is bergh41@bigplanet.com.  (The "h" was missing.
bullet Fairview CPE Center, Twin Cities, reports that Sheryl Lyndes Stowman has accepted a position as a supervisor.  This is a "coming home" in that Sheryl will once again be working at Fairview Southdale Hospital.  She will be responsible for the supervisory in training programming along with other supervisory responsibilities. 
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David Middleton reports that he served as interim pastor for our congregation [First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville] from Thanksgiving through January. "Really enjoyed preaching and interacting with the congregation at a level that I had not done for 33 years."
 
David is also serving as a consultant again and is helping prepare a new center in Springfield, IL in doing a feasibility study for candidacy.  This center has already hired Larry Brandon from the East Central Region, and he will be moving to Springfield in July.  Dave writes:  " We hope to have the study in progress before Larry arrives.  The center is a system of Retirement Homes, with 14 sites in four states [also three regions], but most are in Illinois with one in Iowa and others in Indiana and Missouri.  We plan to start out in Springfield and Lincoln and possibly spread to other locations as the program develops."

 The previous CPE program in Springfield was affiliated with the South Central Region, but Dave persuaded them to seek accreditation with our region, as the rest of Illinois centers are. 

 
In addition to the above activities, David is also doing some grief counseling and volunteer work with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.  And he claims to be retired????

 

bullet Dan Gridley has been in the hospital for the last six weeks or so with congestive heart failure and not responding to treatment. About 10 days ago they transferred him to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn where they did surgery to put in a Left Ventricle Assist Devise (LVAD) He initially seemed ro respond well, however he has subsequently deteriorated and remains unresponsive and in renal failure.   Dan has been a long time clinical member who up until the last few years remained active with the Clinical member group.

February 20th update from Mary Wilkins: 
  "I visited Dan this morning.  He did not awaken but when I began to talk with him and told him that the news was out to the NCR and that we were all praying for him, his breathing did quicken and deepen perceptibly.  There are many good memories of him in his CPE Residency at University of Chicago.  He had a way of connecting with people and often got invited to the doctors parties that none of the rest of us were invited to."
 
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Gene Sitzmann reports that Bob Alexander was hospitalized recently for a minor stroke “which complicated an already ongoing and accelerated aging process”.  Bob has been discharged from the hospital to a long term care facility in Cherokee, IA, which will now be his home:  The Rev. Robert C. Alexander, Careage Hills, 725 N. 2nd Street, Cherokee, IA  51012.  Bob is reported to be in very good spirits, but cards or letters from our community as an expression of our care and prayer would be very much welcomed and appreciated.

bullet Received word that Emilie Wolf & Nan Aalborg were involved in a serious car accident on the way home from the Iowa sub-region education event the weekend of January 23-24.   We understand that they are recovering and both going to be o.k.--fortunate to be alive.  It happened near Des Moines and they were taken to Iowa Methodist where Lyle Greiner provided pastoral care to them.  Our prayers for a speedly recovery for both!
bullet Received a note and donation to the Region today (January 5) from Bill Derstine who writes "I appreciate your recent printed newsletter.  What good news--having been part of the journey for Amy, Ellen, and Mark, what a joy to learn of their passages into full supervisor status.  Goood news for the Region, too...Finley Brown and I continue to use our supervisory values and skills by directing the Undershepherd Ministry of fourteen lay members of Pleasant Hill Community Church.
bullet Mike Carlson has turned things over to Laura Kelley at Luther Middlefort Hospital, Eau Claire, WI and entered into retirement after a long and fruitful tenure there.  Even though his last day is January 2nd, he will be honored at a reception on Thursday, January 22nd (3:00 to 4:30 p.m.).  His new contact information:  E-mail: mike_marilyn1616@msn.com   Postal: Mike Carlson, 1616 Palomino Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
bullet Dan Duggan advises that his mother-in-law, Lauraine Miles Dinger, died, on Christmas Eve.  He writes:  "She was 94, in the nursing home, and had been ready to go home for a number of years.  On Christmas Eve, she got her wish, and her Christmas present.  Our present to her was to be by her side.  There was peace in that for us."  Our condolences to Dan, his wife, and his family, who have lost a mother and grandmother, which is still hard no matter how old the person is.
bullet  Here is updated address and email information for Sue Breiner:

Rev. Sue Breiner
ACPE Supervisor
Center for Spiritual Care
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Inc.
801 E. LaSalle Ave
South Bend, IN  46617
(574)  237-7241
(574)  472-6244  (FAX)
breiners@sjrmc.com

bullet Stephen Shannon has moved:  Rev. J. Stephen Shannon, 1226 Woodley St. E., Northfield, MN  55057.  Stephen was previously living in Howard lake, MN.
bullet Marlin Stene has a new email address:  arthst9@aol.com
bullet Robert Bergeson has a new email address:  sorberg@comcast.net
bullet We are saddened to report that Rock Stack passed away on Tuesday evening, December 9th from a very virulent colon cancer.  Rock had been in California working in a halfway house for recovering alcoholics runs by his nephew and began feeling fatigued just before Thanksgiving.  Test showed cancer that was so advanced that palliation was the only alternative.  Rock returned to St. Croix Falls  on Thanksgiving. and Charlotte and their two daughters, Rachel and Rebecca, were able to care for him until his passing.

Rock's Memorial Service took place Saturday morning at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Taylors Falls, MN.  There was a Mass followed by a time for sharing.  Rock's daughter, Rebecca, gave a moving testimonial to her Dad that celebrated his giftedness, but did not skirt his struggle with alcohol and the cost of that to him and to others.
 
The NCR was represented by myself, Clyde Burmeister, Dick Gerber, Dan Duggan, Gordy Grimm, Ron Leslie, Curt Rotto, Max Maguire, Bob Bergeson, Marlin Stene, and--all the way from Illinois on a rush turn-around--Alice McLaughlin. Oz Anderson was present the night before at the prayer service.  (If I missed anyone, my apologies.) 
 
Ron, Dan, Gordy and I all had opportunity to speak and there was a lunch following.

 

bullet Larry Murtagh's correct address is  839 Park Ave. S., Brookings, SD  57006-3570.  His phone number is  605-692-1919
bullet Linda Bronersky is Vice President, Spiritual Services for Wheaton Franciscan Services, 26 @171 Roosevelt Road, Weaton, IL  60187.  Her new email address is lbronersky@wfs-inc.org, and her new phone number is 630-784-2810.  Wheaton Franciscan Services is interested in developing a system CPE program.
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Ron Mahnke, Chair of the NCR History and Research Committee, has left Trinity/St. Joseph's in Minot and moved to Sauk Centre, MN, for health reasons.  His new address is 110 Getty Street, Sauk Centre, MN  48373; phone:  (320) 352-2978; fax:  (320) 351-2978; email:  rbmahnke@mainstreetcom.com

bullet Diane Greve is now established at Fairview-University Medical Center.  Her new email address is dgreve1@fairview.org and her office phone is 612-273-4483.
bullet Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center has changed its corporate name to Rush University Medical Center as of September 10, 2003. 
bullet Rev. Dr. Ron Erickson, 73, of Olathe, KS, died unexpectedly on 24 August 2003. Ron was Chaplain and CPE Supervisor at Midway/Mounds Park Hospitals in the Twin Cities from 1966-1984. Survivors include his wife, Ann Sieving-Erickson; children, Elizabeth, Dan, Steve, Jeff, Randy; and seven grandchildren. Please send your memories and pictures of Ron to Ann Erickson >c/o Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111
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Dan Bergeland writes:  Please greet my "old" CPE collegues and friends.  I had hoped to be with you folks this year.  However, I am back in the saddle for a brief time as the Interim Sr. Pastor at First Lutheran Church, Duluth, which is also our home church.  It has been good for me.  We have an excellent staff and strong membership.  All that CPE stuff is back in practice, as well as the learnings I had at LSS in program development, management and supervision. 
bullet Bill Miller writes:  Marilyn's illness (the rare skin disease) is improving, finally.  (It has been l4 months since it began.)  She still has considerable areas of skin problems on her body (and has lost most of her hair due to disease and medication).  Dermatologist is optimistic and pleased with progress--thinks Marilyn will be recovered in another year or so.
   I had a hernia repair last month, and will go into Methodist Hosp. for a total knee replacement (right) on Oct. 6.  Plan to spend 7-10 days in nursing home (rehab) after that.
   We "observed" our 50th wedding anniversary on August 8.  Maybe next year we can "celebrate" it.
 
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Stephan Brunelle's work email address at Gundersen Lutheran ist swbrunel@gundluth.org.  Please use that for all future CPE related correspondence.
 
bullet The new seminary rep at Saitn Francis Seminary is:

Barbara V. Schauer D. Min.
Director, Pastoral Formation
Saint Francis Seminary
3257 South Lake Drive
St. Francis, WI 53235

414-747-6431
e-mail: bschauer@sfs.edu       Welcome Barbara!!!

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I have received a change of address card for Fr. Roger W. Schmit, O.S.B., effective 8/26/03: 
New address:        Fr. Roger W. Schmit, O.S.B.
                            Church of Saint Patrick
                            1086 North 94th Street
                            Kansas City, KS  66112-1514
bullet  Gordy Grimm advises that he and Esther have a new email address:   gordyesther@usfamily.net
bulletMark and Donna Anderson have sold their house in Minneapolis and moved to a condo in Edina, MN.  (Mpls. suburb).  They will split their time between the North Shore and the condo when in Minnesota and not in the Virgin Islands (tough life, right!).  Their formal mailing address will be 97 Hut Point Rd., Grand Marais, MN  55604.  Phone there is 218-387-2803.  The Edina address is 6300 Berrie Rd., Edina, MN  55434.  The phone number there is 952-920-7512
 
bulletGene Sitzmann phone number change:

Gene advises that, at this point, it is best to reach him at his home number which is 712-225-2131. His office phone number is now 712-224-2594, extension 2429. Please no longer use 712-225-6929, as that has been reassigned.

 

bulletKathy Turner is Paris bound!  Her address for the next year is:

                       The American Church in Paris
                       65 quai d"Orsay
                       75oo7 Paris, France

                       Email:   pastortgt@acparis.org

 
bulletWe are happy to report that the surgery for Edith Finsaadal's husband, Eric, went well and that everything turned out to be as anticipated.   Eric has gone home from the hospital with a very positive prognosis!  Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.
 
bulletDick Gerber has a new summer address & phone number, effective July 11:
                195 East 5th Street, #2503
                St. Paul, MN  55101
              Phone: 651-224-0728
 
bulletEdith Finsaadal's husband, Eric, will be having surgery for removal of a mass from one of his kidneys on Monday, July 7th.  The surgery will take place at University of Chicago Hospitals.  The surgeons are quite sure the mass is malignant, but also confident enough that it is encapsulated that they anticipate removing only part of the kidney and that the surgery will be curative.  Even with a good prognosis, however, these are stressful times.  Prayers for a sense of God's presence in the valley and for the extension of God's healing hand are requested for Eric, and for the others in our community struggling with various illnesses, many of whom are named below:
 
bulletSue Breiner will not be having  major surgery after all because less radical intervention has produced promising results with her renal cell carcinoma.  She will be followed very closely and will only have the kidney removed if things regress.  She will now be able to proceed with preparing for her move.  She writes:  "I have been overwhelmed with the tremendous amount of support all of you have shown me.  I appreciate it so very much.  I'll keep you posted as I prepare to leave for Indiana near the end of July."
 
bulletClyde and Pat Burmeister are back from Alaska and Clyde writes:  We had quite an Alaska adventure....On June 7th I had a laminectomy at L4 and L5.  Problems with would healing and fever resulted in the debridement and further surgery on July 11th.  Fortunately the final culture results were negative for staph."  Pat and Clyde got back to Minnesota the evening of the 16th.  He is resuming his supervision of the residency group at North Memorial by having the students come to his house for the next couple of weeks until he can drive again.  "With the help of two canes, I am up and walking and trust that improvement will continue.  A follow-up at the doctor's today was encouraging."
 
bulletStephan Brunelle, the new Supervisor at Gundersen Lutheran, has purchased a home in Onalaska, WI.  His home address is W6060 Bucklin Road, Onalaska, WI, 54650.  Phone is 608-779-5390.
 
bulletDiane Greve will be moving to the Fairview CPE Program on October 27th.  Her last day at City of Lakes will be October 10th.  The future of the City of Lakes program is unknown at this juncture.  There is a move afoot to create an umbrella group of long term care facilities in the Twin Cities area to continue offering training in that venue, with a meeting scheduled for July 23rd.
 
bulletLinda Bronersky writes that "we are moving forward on creating a Wheaton system CPE Program.  I am quite excited and will find it a new challenge!"
 
bulletOur condolences to Jack Kouth who reports that his mother, Mary E. Backus died on May 6 in Massillon, Ohio. She would have turned 93 on June 13! Jack reports that he and his siblings had some quality time with her in her dying process and goes on to say that the funeral "was a good celebration of our Mom who really loved her family and gave herself in many ways for all of us." Jack ended up not running a CPE unit this summer due to a last minute withdrawel—"a good chance to continue to process Mom's loss and to catch up on a lot of neglected projects."
 
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Bill Derstine has a new email address:  wderstine@frontiernet.net
 

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Sue Breiner has advised that she has been diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma and will have a kidney removed on June 24.   She is expecting to begin her new position at South Bend at the end of August now, rather than in July.  She writes:  "I will appreciate thoughts and prayers!  Thanks!"  Sue can be reached at sue@carlover.org or at her home address of  2533
31st Ave S   Mpls  55406

 
 
Also, Gene Leffingwell is going to have surgery for bladder cancer on Wednesday, June 3.  I talked to his wife this morning--he was off doing his CPE group--and she advised that the surgery should be curative, provided there is not surrounding lymph node involvement.
 
In both cases, then, there is both hope and liklihood that there will be positive outcomes.  Nonetheless, this is fearful and life-threatening stuff that inflicts physical pain on the ones who are ill and emotional pain on both them and their circle of family and friends. We all know well the power of prayer.  Let's lift up a chorus for these two friends and colleagues and their families and friends to help with the healing of both body and spirit!!!! 


 

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Edith Finsaadal has a new email address:
etfinsaadal@lakeforesthospital.com.  (the initial "t" has been inserted in her
name).  The kinks have been worked out and this is her official, working email
address!

 

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Wilbur Hughey's email address is now whughey@mchsi.com.
 

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Dan Duggan advises that Stephan Brunelle will be joining the Gundersen Lutheran supervisory team on June 30th.  Stephan was certified as an Associate Supervisor in November of 2002 and is currently working at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, where he did his supervisory training. 
 

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Sue Breiner has just advised that the CPE program at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis will be closing and that there will also be deep cuts in the chaplaincy department.   This is a sad day, and though not entirely surprising given the current financial milieu, unacceptable.  We will be attempting to work with HCMC and other religious groups to try to restore some of the funding that was lost, precipitating this action.

Sue will be going to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend, Indiana in August.  she accepted that position on Monday of this week.   She's excited about the possibilities there, but I trust shares our ambivalence about departing our community!!!.

She's trying to stay focused on staff/resident support right now:

Sue Breiner, Director of Clinical Pastoral Education
Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Ave S      Minneapolis, MN 55415

Personal Office      (612) 347-3679
FAX                       (612)  904-4480
Chaplaincy Office  (612)  347-2260

 

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Ken Siess advises that his email address has changed to kesiess@attbi.com.
 

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Mary Albing, a Supervisory Candidate, has received a call to Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in the Twin Cities and will begin as pastor there on May 12. She has been at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and with the Allina CPE program, but will be done there April 30. After the 12th of May you may email her at pastor@lccronpenn.org
 
bulletDavid Middleton had a successful quadruple CABG (Coronary Arterial By-Pass Graft) surgery April 10, 2003 at Decatur Memorial Hospital.  He is expected to recover fully from the surgery prompted by
myocardial infarcts on Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the surgery. He was discharged from hospital on Sunday, April 13th (one day earlier than originally projected).  His home address is:          Rt. 4, Box 102D
    Shelbyville, IL  62565

The support and prayers of the Region have been deeply appreciated.  Please continue to keep David and Vera, and all their family members in prayer.
 
bulletMargaret Neal advises that she has just completed her course work for a doctorate in clinical psychology.  She will not do an internship after which she will have to work in that field for a year in order to be able to take the exam for certification.  She hope to do some CPE supervision in the interim and ultimately to find a position which will allow her to utilize both skill sets.  Margaret is currently reachable at PO Box 4046, Carbondale, IL  62906, phone 618-549-1563.
 
bulletAlice McLaughlin advises that she received an email from Bill Baldridge < b1baldridge@msn.com> advising that his wife, Linda, died of cancer on Wednesday, March 12th. The funeral will be on Friday, March 14th in Oklahoma.  Bill worked in our Region both at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines and in the Hennepin County Correctional System in Minneapolis. He left our Region to teach in a seminary in Kansas City. Many will remember how Bill helped our Region grieve Jim Anderson well through his playing of his peace pipe at Jim's Memorial Service. Let's now be with him in his hour of need through our notes, thoughts, and prayers.
 
bulletMike McMillen's mother passed away on Saturday, February 22nd.  Prayers are requested for him and his family:  The Rev. Michael Redden McMillen SCJ Elmhurst Memorial Hospital 200 N Berteau Ave Elmhurst IL 60126-2966 Work Phone: (630) 833-1400 x 44964 e-mail: mmcmill@emhc.org
 
bulletRomi Manching advises that Resurrection Health Care has moved their CPE Offices to another location within the system, no longer at Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois.  Effective immediately, the following is their new address, etc.:

                 RESURRECTION HEALTH CARE
                     CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
                     2900 North Lake Shore Drive
                     Chicago, IL 60657
                     Tel.  773-665-3869
                     Fax:  773-665-4952
 

bulletLarry Ulrich called today to advise that he was finding it necessary to retire from active Supervision because he has been diagnosed with advanced chronic renal failure that will likely necessitate dialysis within six months.  Larry reports that he is a candidate for a transplant, so that remains a possibility.  He requests our prayers as he adjusts to this new, limiting reality.  His address is 600 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, IL  60148.  His phone number is 630-620-4044 and his email is lnulrich@aol.com.
 
bulletDan Bergeland's email address is changed from  danbergela@AOL.com  to  danbergeland@charter.net
 
bulletGeorge Franke had a hemi-colectomy surgery last week  (January 16th) that included the removal of a large benign growth, caught in time.  He is apparently headed home for a recovery expected to be up to six weeks in length.  Thanks for your prayers to date.  Your continued prayers are sought.
 
bulletJanet Labrecque has left North Memorial in Minneapolis to join the Fairview CPE System.  Her new contact info is as follows:

Fairview Southdale Hospital
6401 France Avenue S.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55435-2104

Phone (612) 924-5738;  E-MAIL  jlabrec1@fairview.org
 

bulletJim Gibbons began working on his 8th decade on December 21st.  Congratulations, Mr. President!!!! 
 
bulletGeorge Franke is now publishing the Retired Supervisor's Newsletter.  He can be reached at 4556 Sunshine Circle, Loveland, CO  80538.  (Thanks to John Thomas who handled that task from 1992.
 
bulletDan Duggan has a new email address:  drduggan@gundluth.org;  Dick Gerber's email address is incorrect in the national directory.  It is jrgerbs@msn.com.
 
bullet Welcome home, Russell!   Supervisor Emeritus, Russel Struffler moved to Minnesota in June.  He writes:  "For about 40 years I was a Director of Chaplaincy and Chaplain Supervisor at two large United Methodist Hospitals in Iowa.  Retired in 1987 to Arkansas.  Was very active in the North Central Region for many years.  I probably have the first issue of the NCR News, and .always attended the NCR meetings.  I received the current issue of the ACPE News of the North Central Region, and was very impressed with the quality and content of this issue.  It is good to be back in this part of the country, and hope to meet you some day.  Visited with Max McGuire the other day, and rehashed early memories." (and no doubt get subjected to a good number of jokes?)
                     
Dr. Russell C. Striffler, 2925 Lincoln Drive, Apt. 118, Saint Paul, MN 55113, Juneruss1@aol.com
 
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Jim Gibbons advises that Mary Wilkin's mother (technically step-mom) has suffered a heart attack, and that Mary has traveled to Virginia to be with her.  Jim asked that the prayers of the Region be sought, knowing they would be much appreciated.
 

bullet

Clyde Burmeister had total knee joint replacement surgery at Rochester Methodist Hospital on November 13th.  He was able to return home on the 17th, where he will continue to recuperate.
 

bullet

Gene Mace now lives at 22952 Grosenbach Road, Washington, IL  61571.  You can call him at 309-699-3354.
 

bullet

Congratulations to Gene Leffingwell who received the Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Chaplaincy Commission at its Annual Conference on October 21 at the Heidel House, Green Lake, WI.
 

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"Chaplaincies in Wisconsin Institutions" by John Thomas is now available at the Wisconsin Chaplaincy Commission of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, 750 Windsor Street, Box 620, Sun Prairie, WI.  53590-0620.   The price is $8.00, including postage.
 

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Joe Czolgosz is yielding his role as convenor of the ACPE Reasearch Network to John Eamon.
 

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Oz and Jean Anderson returned to Eau Claire in mid-October from a month long trip to Norway and Iceland (their "first trip to the land of our routes"), and were observed by Mike Carlson to be doing the snow-bird thing of packing up to get ready to migrate south.
 

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Larry Murtagh's new address is 839 Park Street, Apt. # 1, Brookings, SD 57006
 

bulletSeveral of our Supervisors are currently facing difficult and trying times with illness and loss.  Our prayers go out to the following who were unable to be with us at our annual meeting for the reasons listed:

Bill and Marilyn Miller - Marilyn is suffering from a very painful and debilitating skin disorder called Pityriasis Ruba Pilaris, which Bill reports was likely triggered when Deep Woods Off got into her blood stream.  Recovery is going to be a very long and slow process.  Bill likened the situation to having a perpetual sunburn on your whole body.  Please continue to remember Marilyn in your prayers.

Phil and Jean Olson - Jean is struggling with back problems that precluded their attending the annual meeting in Chula Vista where Phil was to belatedly received his distinguished service award bestowed upon him in 2001.  Phil writes:  "Thanks much for all the prayers and concerns of you and the region for Jean's recovery. Being on the other end of pastoral care reaffirmed the value and importance of our teaching and practicing of ministry. I can say I now know why persons who had received sensitive pastoral care never got over thanking you for it. Just to know you were praying for her, keep my fear and anxiety under some control.  The prayers seem to have been answered.  Instead of performing a surgery, they decided to give her an epidural steroid drip to alleviate the pain.  It has worked so far,  though the docs are not too optimistic. But she is getting back to her old self in the last few days; after over eight weeks of pain and medications. Keep her in your prayers."

Sue Ott-Holland -  After having lost her brother earlier in the year, Sue has now lost her mother as well.  While her mother's health had been in decline over the past year, the death was not expected.

Nancy Wigdahl - Nancy's nephew died unexpectedly.  He was in his mid-twenties.

John Bollinger on the death of his aunt.

Charlie Goldsmith - Charlie is recovering from a fall.  He writes:  "Gary - sorry I am sorta out of the loop.  On Labor Day Weekend I fell off of a stool, while changing a light bulb, and broke my right arm (humerus bone) and am trying to recover.  I finally was able to get to Alexian Village this week,  where Gene Leffingwell is filling in and taking over the CPE program, so I can finally get retired. My physical therapist tells me I have a month or so of therapy left to get my arm working (reasonably).  It is very difficult to see myself out of a CPE program after all of these years, but I guess the time comes."

Audrey Zimmerman - Audrey's mother, Margaret Dickey,  was in the dying process from a terminal illness and was transferred from a nursing home to hospital on the weekend of the annual meeting.  She died on October 27th.
 

bulletOur thanks to the following NCR members whose terms of office will conclude at the end of the calendar year:

NCR Board:  Will Wagner & Susan Gullickson
Accreditation:  Chuck Weinrich & Arnie Enslin
Certification:  Lyle Greiner & Mary Sacco
Development:  Bob Alexander
Theological Education:  Otto Bucher
Standards:  Mary Ann Weigel
Budget & Investment:  Phil Olson, BJ Larson, Jim Tonneson (committee disbanded)
History & Research:  Larry Shostrom
REM:  Joe Czolgosz
Clinical Members:  Len Lewy

 
bulletThere is information of Chicago area CPE Program resident stipends & benefits on the sub-region page.  Click on the sub-region tab.  The 2003 slate of officers and committee members can be found by clicking on the NCR Leadership tab.
 
bullet
Dick Gerber's address in retirement:

The Rev. Richard J. Gerber

11267  50th Place N.
Plymouth, MN 55442-2295
Phone: (763) 553-9687
bullet

Congratulations to New Candidate Supervisors Jan McCabe, Alexian Brothers; Nan Aalborg, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and Mary Yangsook Ahn, Advocate.
 

bullet

Mark Hart's new address is 8108 Pimlico, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX  78015.  Mark moved from our Region to be closer to his family, given his mother's terminal illness.  She died the third week of August.  Our sympathies to Mark and his family.
 

bullet

The Fairview System honored Dick Gerber on his retirement at a reception in his honor on Monday, September 16.  Dick's last day was October 1.

They write:  "Dick did a spectacular job of developing a system wide program even before Fairview  functioned as a health system. The CPE program ultimately became a model for system initiatives across Fairview. Dick has consistently nurtured creativity into effective, enduring structures for education and ministry. His leadership will be missed, though we hope his teaching will continue.  We hope you can join us on September 16th."

bulletJohn Thomas writes:  "The August RSN NEWSLETTER personal information section carried the news that I had not "flunked" retirement for I had submitted my letter of resignation to the church, effective December 3lst or earlier if a replacement was found.  After 21 years as part-time assistant pastor after my 16 years at Mendota Mental Health Institute, I figured it was time to "graduate!"  I submitted my letter early in hopes that an available pastor could be interested.  Fortunately, the pastor that I had hoped would succeed me was available earlier, and in a meeeting with the head of staff, he indicated he could, in fact, begin September 8th.  Dismantling my church office when Margaret reports that there is no room in our apartment here will take some doing!

Effective immediately, please change my mailing address to read:
bullet110 South Henry Street, # 411
Madison, WI
53703-3158

Phone is 608-283-6221 & email is <jthomas489@aol.com> "
bulletJohn Katonah would like his colleagues in ACPE to know that his mother has just been diagnosed with lung cancer with metastasis.  She lives in New York City so his  family is shuttling back and forth from Illinois to offer support and help her make important decisions.  He writes:  "Although this is "breath-taking" news it also has given us time to feel and express a tremendous amount of gratitude for so many ways this vibrant 86 year old woman has touched others and been touched by God's blessings.  I appreciate the chance to share this with my NCR community."

bulletED MAHNKE, CPE Supervisor, former Director of the Department of Pastoral Care at UT-MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and previously at University Hospital in Minneapolis, died Tuesday afternoon, August 20, 2002.  He was in hospice care in Houston, TX.  His funeral service will be Monday, August 26, at 2:00 PM at St. Matthew's Lutheran church, 5315 Main St., in Houston.  Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Sunday at Earthman's at 6700 Ferris in Bellaire, TX.  There will also be a viewing in the narthex of St. Matthew's at 1:00 PM on Monday before the funeral.  Memorial gifts for may be sent to the following:     Memorial Endowment Fund, Chaplaincy Fund Inc., P. O. Box 691284,     Houston, TX. 77269-1284.  This fund is for the benefit of the CPE training program at UT/MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  

bulletGene Leffingwell reports that he has retired from St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he has been CPE Supervisor for the past twenty-some years.  He will be semi-retired because he plans to begin to do part time CPE supervision of extended CPE programs at Alexian Village of Milwaukee, part of the Alexian Brothers Health Care system. Both his personal and professional contact information will be his home:  

Gene Leffingwell
2525 S. Shore Drive, Unit 19D
Milwaukee, WI 53207

Phone: (414) 481-2944
    Fax: (414) 481-7808
E-mail: geneleff@aol.com

bulletScott McRae will be full time at Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, MN effective September 9th.  Until that time he will be splitting his time between Methodist and his previous site, Mercy/Unity in Fridley, MN:
6500 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55426 
952/993-6050
952/231-0260 Pager
 
bulletWe are saddened to learn of the death of Sue Ott-Holland's brother in June and the subsequent recurrence of cancer for her mother.  Our prayers are with Sue and her family.
bullet"Using Concepts of Coaching in Supervision" will be the continuing ed topic at the Minnesota sub-region education retreat on the North Shore, September 21-23.
Scott McRae and Tim Thorstenson, who have received training as clergy coaches from (former supervisor) Al Nohre's organization for performance coaching, will lead the group in a conversation about how to utilize and adapt the concepts to CPE supervision."   There has traditionally been a gathering and meal on the Friday evening before the event starts as well as a golf outing on Saturday morning.  We will assume that those will be held as usual. More details will be forth coming.  It is important to pre-register for this event as we need to plan for food and accommodations. Dan Duggan is serving as event coordinator at this point.  If you are planning to attend please email him at dduggan@gundluth.org, or call at 608-782-7300 x 3624."
                                                                                                  
bulletJohn Serkland's retirement address is 1762 N. Blue Spruce Circle, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001.  His phone number is 928-214-0072.  He is doing well and hopes to do a CPE unit for some interested people in his area.
         

bulletMark Hart has announced his resignation at Gunderson Lutheran and NCR Certification Chair. Steve Corum has agreed to take his place until our annual meeting in October. Mark writes:

Dear North Central Region Family,

It is with a measure of some sadness and excitement that I announce my leaving the North Central Region and my resignation as Manager of CPE here at Gundersen Lutheran. Shannon and I have decided to make a move to San Antonio, Texas. It comes after about a year of toying with the idea of moving closer to our families. With the distance from Texas, it has been difficult to maintain deeper relationships with our extended families which is important to us as our parents and family age. Even though we've been thinking about this for over a year, my mother's diagnosis with a glioblastoma last year provided more motivation. She formally went on hospice care last week with the discovery of another tumor hot spot. We've been here for nine years and it has been our home in the best sense of the word and the only home our boys have known. I have experienced nothing but warm welcome, collegiality and true friendship in these nine years from many of you here in the Region. Dan and I have done solid work in developing Gundersen Lutheran's CPE program here in Western Wisconsin. I have personally enjoyed the community relationships here in La Crosse with the various churches, board member with the Spirituality Center and with Parish Nurse Ministries. The hardest good-byes have been and will continue to be with my colleagues/friends in the Pastoral Care Department. Thank you all...

Steve Corum has agreed to serve as chair pro tem of NCR Certification until other nominations can be received and a formal vote taken at the October Annual Meeting. I want to especially thank the Certification Committee and Steve for their hard work with me in these last several months.  

One of my problems in the transition will be translating exactly what "ufdah" means to my Texas neighbors. I look forward to speaking with many of you in my remaining days. We have a month left here at Gundersen Lutheran and I'll be starting at Baptist Health System in San Antonio around the first of September as the Director of CPE. 

bulletRock Stack's corrected address  is 11933, Hwy 48; Frederic, WI  54837.  His phone number is 715-327-8705.
bulletMary Wilkins' new address is 222 North Marion St., Apt. 1L, Oak Park, IL  60302; phone 708-848-8940; email:  mwilk222@msn.com
bulletGeorge Franke writes: Greetings from Loveland, CO! Barb and I closed on our house in Beach Park on June 7 without a hitch and arrived in Loveland on June 9. The van arrived on June 12 and we have finally unearthed the computer and found a new e-mail address. We are gradually working our way through the many boxes and deciding what goes where. There have been quite a few projects to get settled in so making contact with friends has been postponed until now. I am now getting tired of the isolation and feel the need to make contact. So this brief message is to let you know where I am and that we are adjusting to this life change. We are not in the part of Colorado that is burning although we have seen some of the smoke. We do have restrictions on watering our lawn and it has only rained once since we arrived. So we are now in a "desert experience" in life. Fortunately we have friends and colleagues who provide sustenance. George E. Franke - 4556 Sunshine Circle, Loveland, CO 80538 - Phone: 970-203-0904; email: gbfranke@aaahawk.com.
bulletTherese Becker is now at University of Chicago Hospitals:

Therese M. Becker
Manager, Pastoral Care
University of Chicago Hospitals
5031 S. Maryland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

773-702-6574
tbecker@uchospitals.edu

bulletFrank Brown, retired chaplain and ACPE Supervisor, has just published a 277 page book of 52 sermons entitled "Sermons for All Seasons:  Autobigraphical with Illustrations from Pastoral Care".  It was published through Minnesota Heritage Publishers and may be purchased by sending a check for $16.95 (price includes postage) payable to Frank Brown to:

    Frank M. Brown
   
23 Bluebird Court
    North Mankato, MN  56003

bulletOur prayers go out to Dick Gerber (Fairview CPE Program) and his family.  His 60 year old brother died May 17th from a cancer.   Dick reports that he spent a week in the Cleveland area with family for the funeral. "It was a hard, but good time together."
bullet Our prayers also go out to David Carlson (also at Fairview).  David's older brother died on May 25. The funeral was on the 29th. David's mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's and lived in Augustana Home in Minneapolis was not doing well, and she also died the day of the funeral.  Dave's brother was a bit older than Dave and had been suffering from a bad heart for a number of years.  Neither death was  imminently expected, but they were not an "out-of-the-blue" surprises, either.  Still, David has experienced the loss of two close family members within the space of a few days, which has got to be very difficult even if there has been some anticipatory grief.

bulletBeth Burbank to leave NCR; resigns as Regional Chair;  Tim Thorstenson take over:

Writes Beth:  Dear Colleagues in the NCR,

I am writing to let you know that I am resigning as chair of the North Central Region. My family and I have decided to move to the Northwest—Port Orchard, Washington—across Puget Sound from Seattle. We are moving to be closer to my family and to have more time together. It is an idea that took us by surprise initially, but developed steam after 9/11, and my father’s illness and death. We have felt led by the Spirit to pursue this move and had the support of a Clearness Committee [for discernment process] in our Quaker Meeting.

I have been a part of the NCR for 19 years. I have appreciated particularly the collegiality of the NCR and the character that our region has represented in ACPE life. It has been an honor to serve on the board for the past several years. While the timing of this move may seem awkward for the region, the NCR has elected a strong regional board, so I know you will be in good hands.

My last day at Rush is June 28th. I’ll be traveling the first half of July, but otherwise will be available for any questions. I’m taking a sabbatical from CPE to work with my husband, but look forward to working with you in the future. My address and phone in Port Orchard will be:

7230 Long Lake Road SE

Port Orchard, Washington 98367

[360] 871-3387

I will hold all of you In the Light. Blessings upon you and come and visit!

Writes Tim:   Beth reminds me on the phone this morning that her resignation is already in effect, and that I am now the chair.  My goodness!  The task with which you have entrusted me appears somewhat daunting from this perspective, so I count on all of you for both guidance and support.  That said it will also be a pleasure and a privilege to serve in this capacity with you.

bulletNils Friberg's new email address is <nfriberg@mn.rr.com>.
bulletDon Dinsmore is trying to get Wartburg Seminary (see below) to underwrite the cost of a flight home from Singapore next fall to do interviews for a few days, because he misses us!  He writes:  "We have been here three months now, and all is well.  Starting to get involved in a bunch of things outside the home.  We will participate with an International Chorus in a concert the end of the month. Greetings to my sisters and brothers of the NCR."  (Don better not sing a wrong note.  We've hear "caning" is the penalty!)  
bulletWartburg Theological Seminary and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque IA have scheduled CPE Interviews on both campuses for October 7-8 (Monday-Tuesday), 2002. 
bulletWe are saddened to learn of the death of Beth Burbank's mother-in-law in Chicago. on May 7th.  Our condolences to Beth, her husband, and her family on this second death of a parent for the couple in a very short period of time. 

bulletRev. David Sorensen's current address is 8073 S. Chapel Hill Drive, Franklin, WI, 53132-2429.  
bulletDixie Potratz Lehman's contact info:

Rev. Dixie Potratz Lehman
1115 30th Ave. S
Fargo, ND 58103

Ph: 701-297-3532 FAX : Same as phone #, but call first.e-mail: vlehman229@aol.com

  

bulletJim Tonneson's mother died unxepectedly early Friday morning,  March 1, at the Mason City Hospital in Mason City, IA.  She had had two surgeries to replace veins in her legs with new artificial ones. Those surgeries had gone smoothly.  A funeral was held in Forest City Iowa Sunday afternoon, March 3, with a second funeral where she grew up in Newburg, ND at Dovre Lutheran Church Tuesday morning, March 5.

Our prayers are with Jim and his family.  He can be reached as follows:

Jim Tonneson (Home) 218-736-3778 
(Work: 1st Lutheran: 218-739-3348)
cellphone 218-770-0742
31263 East Jewett Drive
Fergus Falls, MN  56537-7338
bulletBeth Burbank's father passed away on January 8th.  Our prayers are with her and her family as well.
bulletDisconcerting news from Bob Petite:  Hello Everyone: Some of you already know the information I'm about to share with you.  The past few months have brought significant health problems my way.  In December I entered hospital for a cardiac cath and angioplasty, but to make matters worse, on Jan 26 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  At this point I am uncertain about whether it is confined to the Prostate.  I may not know that unless I opt for surgery as a form of treatment.  The way is not yet clear.  There are several options for me but all of them involve radical treatment - surgery or radiation.  There is a lot of controversy out there about which is the better treatment and of course there are possibly significant side affects with both options.  My urologist has strongly recommended surgery (He is a surgeon).  So  has my primary care physician, largely because of my relatively young age.  In my case my expected life span leaves lots of room for things to go bad in time if I do not opt for a radical procedure.  So, on Tues. I'm seeing another surgeon for a second opinion and on the 21st. I'm seeing a radiation oncologist for a third opinion.  As you can imagine, the past few months have been extremely difficult for me.  I was devastated by this news but I'm beginning to feel better emotionally and spiritually and to start making plans.  At this point I'm favoring surgery but I'm not at all settled on this yet.  I am supported by my absolutely wonderful partner Mark, my family and my many close friends here in Chicago.  Please remember me in your prayers that I may be able to meet what is to come with grace and gratitude.  I am hopeful but fearful.  With warm affection.  Bob


bulletGary Sartain's mother passed away unexpectedly on February 6th from complications surrounding her kidney disease.  Gary was on the way to Florida for a visit when he was notified enroute of her loss.  A memorial service was held at his parent's retirement community in Punta Gorda, FL on the 8th with the funeral service in International Falls, Minnesota on February 12th.  When Gary and his father were being driven to the airport in Fort Meyers, Florida to come north, the vehicle they were being transported in had to make an emergency stop on the freeway when a vehicle several cars in front of them stopped dead on the Interstate.  A large motorhome right behind them did not stop and rear-ended them going 70 miles an hour.  Their vehicle was flipped end-for-end into the ditch, where it rolled three times.  Miraculously, the driver and Gary and his father walked away with only bruises and abrasions! 

bulletMark Teslik is now Chaplain at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, King, WI.  His address is P.O. Box 228, King, WI  54946.  His work phone is 715-258-5586, estension 2531.  His home phone is 715-258-2924.  New email address is markteslik@hotmail.com.

bulletWe are saddened to report that Shelly Bergstrom's husband, Eric, died on January 14th.  He entered hospital on November 2nd due to complications secondary to kidney cancer.  Continuing prayers are sought from colleagues in the Region.  You can write Shelly at 710 North Loomis Street, Naperville, IL  60563.

bulletAllen Dundek has a new physical address with HealthEast.  His email remains the same:

System Director for Clinical Pastoral Education
HealthEast Care System
1700 University Ave. West
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
651.232.3612

bulletClyde Burmeister underwent major surgery for prostate cancer at Methodist Hospital in Rochester on Tuesday, December 18th.  The surgery went well and the prognosis is positive.  Everything seems to be going well with his recovery, too.  He is not supposed to drive for a month, but is feeling well enough that Pat has to take the keys for the second car with her if she goes out, lest he "break curfew"--and go driving (or golfing the way the weather in Minneapolis has been!)  Actually, he hedged on the invitation for a golf date when I called the other day, so I know the recuperation is not easy, but it appears to be going well.  Clyde and Pat will be going to Florida for the month of March.  Their daughter, Sarah, is expecting her second child in the spring!  

bulletKen Siess notes that Barbara Bohrer, who was a Clinical Member of ACPE at one time, who was on the chaplaincy staff of the University of Minnesota Hospital sat one time, and who remained active in NACC, has died.  Her funeral was at St. Lukes Catholic Church in St. Paul on Sunday, January 7th.
bulletWe are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Lenzl, Edith Finsaadal's father-in-law.  He was a Professor Emeritus of the University of Chicago.

bullet
Harold Koenig writes:  I am a physician at Duke University Medical Center.   I've worked with chaplains at the national level to help integrate religion and spirituality into health care, and gave the keynote address to the Association of Professional Chaplains at the national meeting in Charlotte last year, so I am very familiar with your concerns.  I'm also the editor-in-chief of a newspaper, Research News & Opportunities in Science and Theology, which seeks to encourage dialogue and discuss the most recent research findings in the rapidly expanding field of religion and health, and in the broader area of science and religion.  And that's what I'm writing to you about today.

I think you'll find this 36-page monthly newspaper of interest to your work as a chaplain.  The area of religion, medicine, and health is a controversial one -- particularly with regard to the role of religion in the hospital setting.  In this newspaper you will find research that you can use to argue for the importance of religious issues being addressed in hospital and outpatient settings.  The kind of research that I have been doing over the past 15 years has focused on this topic -- see the most recent issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings to get a sense of what we are doing: http://www.mayo.edu/proceedings/2001/dec/dec2001.html

If you are interested in getting a free 6-month subscription to try our newspaper, just reply to this e-mail with your name and address and my assistant, Jocelyn Godfrey, will start your subscription.  Feel free to send us names and addresses of friends, family or colleagues who may also be interested. Or forward this email to them and let them reply to jgodfrey@nc.rr.com.

You may also check out our website at www.researchnewsonline.org, and sign up there for a free 6-month subscription.  Or you may call 1-866-363-2306 and mention code E10501.

If after receiving 6 free monthly issues, you decide that this is not for you, then simply cancel your subscription.  If after that you think you'd like to continue the newspaper it will cost you $10 per year.  The John Templeton Foundation is supporting 75% of the cost of publishing this newspaper, which allows such a low subscription price.

Give the newspaper a try -- I think you'll like it.

Sincerely,
Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Associate Professor of Medicine
Box 3400 Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina 27710
919-681-6633 (voice-mail)
919-383-6962 (phone and FAX)
FEDEX address: 415 Clarion Dr., Durham, NC 27705


bulletMax Maguire's new email address is mmguire2@msn.com.

bulletThe NCR History and Research Committee has extended the date for 2002 research grant applications to February 25, 2002.  Check the History and research page on this web for details.

bulletBill Miller writes:  I was pleased to see the list of regional retirees honored at the regional meeting; but I was sorry to see that I had not been included. Maybe my retirement wasn't recent enough, but I served all of my supervisory career (beginning in 1966) in the NCR. Happy holidays.  Bill Miller (ELCA) - Ord. 1958  You should have been honored with the rest, Bill.  Our sincere apologies for the oversite!

bulletNoel Brown, 2002 Regional Representation to the ACPE Standards Commission advises that his phone number is 312-926-8911.

bulletJohn Thomas reports that Father Mike Mack was murdered in what was apparently a robbery at the Servants of Paraclete, Jemez Springs, N.M.  Father Mack had a relationship to several of our professional associations.   He was an ACPE supervisor in the late 1970's and early 1980's at Mercy health Center, Dubuque, IA and then at Care and Counseling, St. Louis, (1983-85).  

bulletJim Gibbons writes:  I will be retiring from Advocate Health Care on Dec. 31 of this year? Mary (Wilkins) and I are going to the Great Beyond at the same time.  Mary Wilkins writes:  I will be retiring as Director, CPE for the Advocate Health Care System on January 1, 2002.  It is my hope to supervise from time to time on a contractual basis and to stay active in the Region and in ACPE for the forseable future.  
bulletEd Foster advised that his Center has changed its name from Sinai Samaritan Medical Center to Aurora Sinai Medical Center.

bullet Steve Corum  advises he will be in France from 2 Nov through 19 Nov in support of the current military action going on in Asia.  He will serve as a chaplain with a KC-135 tanker unit near Istres, France (south, near the Med. Sea).  Since 1996, he has served as the Wing (senior) Chaplain with the SD Air National Guard in Sioux Falls.  He's  been a reserve military chaplain over 21 years.  Steve would appreciate the region's thoughts and prayers during this mission.
bulletDick Gerber has announced his resignation as Manager of the Fairview CPE Center in Minneapolis to take effect October 1, 2002.  He intends to move into at least partial retirement and be free to spend winters in the second home he and his wife, Jane, are building in the Hilton Head, South Carolina area.  Over the next several months, Fairview Health Services will be assessing in what direction they wish to proceed relative to the leadership of its CPE Center.  They are clearly committed, however, to keeping their creative system-wide CPE program strong, growing and vital.

bulletGary Sartain's father-in-law, Wallace Nystrom, passed away Thursday evening, October 18th.  While the death was not un-expected--he was on hospice care--it came sooner than anticipated.  Fortunately, family members had opportunity to bring closure to their relationship with him prior to his going into a coma, meaning it was a "good death", though he will be greatly missed.  A celebration of his life was held at Central Lutheran Church in Elk River, MN on October 23.  

bulletDon Dinsmore's address in retirement is:  517 Franklin St., Wausau, WI 54403, phone 715-848-3395, email: <dond@g2a.net>.

He writes:  FYI, I will be at the NCR,  and will attend the Standards meeting in Atlanta.  Following that we will travel to Virginia and Texas to visit our sons, and then return  to Wisconsin to visit our daughters  We are scheduled to fly to Singapore on Jan 30 to visit and live with our son and his family there for up to a year. As I'm sure you hear from many others, I am enjoying retirement so far, and have been very busy.


bulletCongratulations B.J!!!  Supervisor B.J. Larson (Fairview CPE Center, Mpls./St. Paul) gave birth to a baby girl last Wednesday, Sept. 19.  The little one's name is Ingrid Emelia Larson Gustafson.  She weighed 9 1/2 lbs. and was 21 1/2 inches long.  The c-section delivery went smoothly and all are well.  This is B.J. and husband Tim's second child.  Big sister Jenna arrived just before the ACPE annual meeting at which B.J. was certified several years ago.  Ingrid Emelia is registered for Chula Vista!

bulletWe are saddened to learn that Mark Hart's mother is seriously ill in Texas.  She will have surgery for a malignant brain tumor at the time of our NCR annual meeting, precluding Mark's attendance.  Prayers are asked for Mark  and his family during this difficult time.

bulletAl Toews died Sunday, Sept. 16th, at 6:30 P.M. As you may know, he had pancreatic cancer and has been on the Mayo Hospice program for the last three weeks or so. He was very much at peace as he approached his death, and today simply slept on -- his breathing getting more and more shallow until it stopped altogether.   Al's memorial service was held Wednesday, Sept 19th at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester with a private service of committal later that day in Mankato, MN.

 

bulletSusan Thornton is no longer serving as interim CPE Supervisor at Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis.  She can be reached at 952-886-9158 or email:  susan10540@cs.com  Her home address is 10540 Xerxes Ave. S.,                             Bloomington, Mn.  55431.

bulletThe North Central Region office has moved to University Good Samaritan Center, 22 27th Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN  55414-3198.  The office phone number is 612-766-9741; fax is 612-766-9742.  Gary Sartain's direct line is 612-766-9740.  His cell phone remains 612-270-3313.  The office email is ncracpe@good-sam.com.  Gary's personal email remains gsartain@good-sam.com.  We are please to announce that Cheryl Millette will be joining the regional office staff as "Administrative Coordinator" the end of August.  Look for details in the August NCR newsletter, which will also have the registration for our annual meeting at Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.
bulletScott McRae at Unity Hospital in the Twin Cities has a new phone and fax number:  763-236-4536 (phone)  763-236-3630 (fax).  His pager is 612-654-8980.
bulletMarlin Stene has a new address:  6711 Lake Shore Drive # 1003, Richfield, MN  55423-5305.
bulletRichard O'Donnell is at St. Camillus Campus, 10101 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI  53225-4814, phone 489-481-3696, email:  richodonnell@hotmail.com.
bulletLid Haugen-Strand is leaving St. Mary's Duluth Clinic Health System for a position with Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  We wish him well on his return to Canada.
bulletJohn and Margaret Thomas have move to Meriter Retirement Apartments, #411, 110 South Henry, Madison, WI  53703-3158.  Their phone number is 608-262-6221.  Email remains jthomas489@aol.com.
bulletLinda Bronersky has moved from Loyola to Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, wheaton, IL  60187, where she is Director of Spiritual Care.  Her work phone is 630-462-4530; fax 630-462-4442; email lbronersky@marianjoy.org
bulletI am asking for help in identifying clergy of all faiths who have had some experience seeing patients involved with genetic counseling.  The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics is seeking such clergy to participate in a telephone discussion that will explore the role of the clergy in genetic counseling. This research project is being conducted by The Park Ridge Center (www.parkridgecenter.org) and funded by the Human Genome Project of the National Institutes of Health.

The telephone discussion will explore whether and how clergy can help individuals cope with ethical and religious issues that arise in the course of genetic testing and treatment, and will attempt to identify the knowledge and skills clergy need to be effective pastoral counselors in genetics. We would like to hear the experiences and perspectives of clergy of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths.  The telephone discussion is scheduled for the evening of Monday, July 9. Participants will receive an honorarium and a summary of their session.  

Cynthia Hagen, Project Coordinator, Blarry House Research
(877) 591-4182 ph; (801) 340-9506 fx   
(6/19/01)

bulletSheryl Lyndes Stowman advises that her father died on June 12th after a long battle with lymphoma.  Our condolences to her and her family.
bulletThe NCR Nominations Committee is requesting nominations for Committee Membership to be voted on at our October annual meeting.  You may nominate yourself or others.  Deadline for nominations is August 1.  There will be a hard copy mailing.  However, the material is available in Adobe "Pdf" format on the web:  click here
bulletDeborah Whisnand, Regional Director, Southwest Region, called the national office today to give an update on the impact of the flood disaster in the Houston area. She described the area as being "like a warzone". In many places, including some hospitals, there is no electricity, no running water, and limited phone service. Deborah says its like being in the early 20th century.

Of the hospitals in the area, Memorial Herman Hospital has been impacted the most. Over the weekend, the hospital was shut down, and patients diverted to other hospitals in the Memorial System (CPE supervisors in this system are: Tim Van Duivendyk, Susan Nance, and Michael Doane) and to other hospitals in the Houston and Southern Texas area.

Methodist Hospital (Debroah Whisnand, Ted Harris, Tom Daughtery, Leo Blanchard) is about 2/3 closed -- operating out of two buildings. Many patients were evacuated over the weekend (some having to be walked down eleven flights of stairs), but there is considerable water damage to the buildings, no power, no potable-water, lots of fatigue, frustration and anxiety. It will likely be weeks before the full extent of the damage can  be assessed and months before repairs can be made.  Summer CPE was interrupted on its fourth day with this disaster and the interns are understandably disoriented. With 95 degree outside temperatures and no air conditioning and lights it is even at this point impossible for the supervisors to find a place where they can have a meeting with the students. 

St. Luke's (Lerrill White, Paul Bennett) is also only partial operational, experiencing some of the same problems as Methodist. Harris County (Mary Agnes Joy, Marlo Peterson) and M.D. Anderson (David Jenkins, Al Merwald, Michael Schirmacher) have absorbed the overflow of patients and the stress of trying to serve a traumatized community.

She is uncertain about any personal damage to homes that our colleagues may have experienced.

Deborah solicits our prayers and encouragement for our colleagues and their communities during this time. She is also interested in hearing from any center that may have lived through something like this and found a way to adapt a CPE curriculum when the institution itself becomes a victim of a disaster. Her email is dwhisnand@tmh.tmc.edu or phone 713-790-2381. At this point, we are unsure about the communications access to those at the other hospitals. We Will immediately post any updates we receive.  (6/12/01)

bulletThe Acts Urban CPE Program in Chicago has a new address:  1164 E. 58th Street, Chicago, IL  60637-1550.  (The former address was 1178 E. 58th Street.)
bulletReceived the following email at noon on 5/31/01 from Jack and Mary Sue Kouth:

To let you know how things are at this point. Tue. surgery went well.  Doctors pleased with results. If things hold together for six months we are home free with this incident. He gave  Jack's eye the full package, laser repair, scleral buckle, vitrectomy and gas bubble. Jack's vision is limited until gas bubble dissolves and that will take two to three weeks or longer.  Got home Wed. morning. Jack is feeling his way around the house doing what he can do for himself and relying on Mary Sue for things that really need eyes. Minimal pain being addressed with tylenol. Jack is experiencing Mary Sue's love and care in her tender and patient ministrations. Deeply appreciate the concern support and prayers of family, friends and colleagues.  

Most of students Jack was to have in summer program, are finding placements.  At least two will defer their CPE until next summer possibly to take it at Glenwood with Jack then. 

These next few weeks are the most critical time and we appreciate knowing you all are "out there" for us. Will send more when there is more to send.  For now - just carefully waiting through the healing process. Thanks again to you all.

Jack and Mary Sue


Jack called on5/29 to report that he was having emergency surgery that afternoon to repair a retinal tear in his good eye.  This has necessitated that he cancel his summer CPE program scheduled to start tomorrow.  He is looking for alternate places for 5 students.  Please phone 712-527-2551 and leave a message if you have vacancies or would take on an additional student.

Jack wrote the following just the week before:  Dear Gary, et.al.:  I have been back to work since getting my new glasses on March 29th. Dr said I will never have 20/20 but I do have 20/30 and a renewal of my driver's license.  The strongest intraocular lens could only give me partial correction so the glasses supplement that to make me legal behind the wheel (but not necessary any safer!)  Have gone from "Coke bottle" lens with a correction of -14.75 to a -2.50 lens. Thanks for the concern, prayers and support from all. Have a full group of 6 students for the summer. 
(5/31/01)

bulletThe ACPE Annual Meeting concluded in Vail on Saturday, May 5.  There were several items of import:  First, it became abundantly clear that there was a strong consensus across ACPE that we did not want an organic merger with APC and/or NACC, but that we wanted to continue to explore less invasive forms of collaboration.  The Board of Directors took action to declare further exploration of organic merger closed.  We will remain ACPE!

Bills are currently in the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee that would expand medicare reimbursement for "nursing and allied health care professionals" to include non-hospital providers.  We will be asked to contact our congressional leaders in support of this, because it has significant positive implications for CPE.  There will be details soon in the ACPE News and on the ACPE website.

Congratulations to Jay Hillestad (Fairview CPE Center, Minneapolis, MN) and Augustin "JoJo" Orosa (St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI), who were granted Associate Supervisor status!  Congratulations to Dixie Potratz Lehman (Meritcare Health System, Fargo, ND) who was granted Full!   Congratulations to Edith Torveig Finsaadal and Lake Forest Hospital (Lake Forest, IL) who were granted Accredited Membership in ACPE.  (They were previously a satellite of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL.)

Congratulations to Finley Brown, Clyde Burmeister, David Middleton, George Paterson, and Rock Stack, who were granted Supervisor Emeritus by ACPE.

And, finally, congratulations to Oz Anderson, who was one of four 2001 recipients of the "Christus in Mundo" award for distinguished service in the area of specialized ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  He received his award at the Lutheran denominational breakfast.  Up to four awards are given once every three years at the Lutheran Triennial gathering for people in specialized settings, commonly knows as " Zion".  Oz was unable to attend that gathering, hence the use of this venue.  Two of this trienium's other recipients were also connected with ACPE:  Bryn Carlson and Peter Steinke.  
bullet2002 ACPE Fee Schedules are now available for budget planning purposes.  Click the tab to the left entitled "Fees:  ACPE & NCR".
bulletFor the last two years the Dakota sub-region has been developing an assessment tool for measuring student readiness for taking ACPE, using admissions data. In its ninth draft, two different formats of the current tool are now available on the ACPE website  for wider, experimental use.  (Click on  the "History & Research" tab.)

Form 9b seeks to compare a potential student's load (expenditures of energy and vitality, both internal and external) with their power (internal and external resources that they have to carry their load) in an attempt to measure what vitality is left (power over load) to add ACPE to their current schedule.

Form 9c is less statistical in nature and relies more heavily on supervisor assessment of the ten ACPE standards, on a Poor/Fair/Good/Excellent scale, to measure current student readiness for ACPE.

Supervisors are invited to further field test this assessment tool, using either format, and provide mail, fax or e-mail feedback as to value of the tool or recommended changes. Even marking changes on the form itself and sending it would be very helpful. Responses should be sent to Peter Holland by mail at Avera Health, 3900 West Avera Drive, Suite 300, Sioux Falls, SD 57108-5722, or by fax to 605-322-4799 or E-mail at peter.holland@avera.org.

Thank you in advance for participating in this ongoing research to more effectively assess student readiness for ACPE.

bulletShelly Hartsook Bergstrom, CPE Supervisor at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL, has cancelled her summer unit and taken a medical leave of absence to care for her husband, who has cancer.  She can be reached at 630-717-1729 or s.bergstrom@gateway.net.  Prayers and calls will be appreciated. (5/05/01)
bulletRev. Gunner Matthiasson, who did supervisory training in our region, returned for Iceland for the ACPE annual meeting in Vail.  Gunner is Chaplain and CPE Supervisor at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland.  He can be reached at gmatt@landspitali.is.  He left as an Associate Supervisor and hopes to reactivate his status with ACPE and become an international affiliate.  He is head of our Icelandic equivalent, but feels the need to associate with us for continuing education and accountability.  (5/05/01)
bulletJeff Billerbeck is pleased to announce that Kathy Turner has accepted a position with him at Meriter in Madison.  Kathy's tentative start date is July 16th.  (04/25/01)
bulletDavid Carlson (Fairview Systems, Twin Cities) underwent elective surgery March 13 for his scoliosis intended to prevent the onset of paralysis and, hopefully, alleviate some of the numbness he was experiencing.  He returned to work April 23rd and reports he is doing well, although "I'm needing more time to build up my energy level".  He goes on to say:  " I am so grateful for all the prayers and support - it has had a great impact on my good recovery and outcome!" (4/25/01)
bulletGeorge Fitchett writes:  "We are feeling a need to provide our students with specific behavioral descriptions/measures of the new CPE Outcomes, especially Level I Outcomes. If you have developed any such descriptions or measures I'd be grateful if you would share a copy. I would also appreciate it if you could share this message with other supervisors. Many thanks."  George can be reached at: <george_fitchett@rush.edu> (4/25/01)
bulletDavid Middleton has now moved into his home in Shelbyville:  Rt.4, Box 102D, Shelbyville, IL, 62565.  Telephone is 217-774-2834.  (2/13/01)
bulletGunderson Lutheran CPE and its supervisors have a new fax number:  608-791-6334.
2/05/01
bulletSusan Thornton is interim CPE Supervisor for Health System Minnesota (Methodist Hospital) in the Twin Cities:  6500 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN  55426; 952-993-6164; thorns@parknicollet.com  (1/27/01)
bulletSusan Gullickson, formerly with Mather Foundation, is now supervising with Lutheran General in Chicago. (1/20/01
bulletRomy Manching has email now:  rmanching@resheathcare.org  (1/20/01)

bulletDick Gerber advises that Fairview-University Medical Center, Riverside campus is changing its phone numbers:

    Dick's phone: 612-273-6457; Fax:  612-273-6111