Carmi Rotary Club meeting
Thursday, June 20, 2019
The Carmi Rotary club met at a different location on Thursday, as they made the trip to the Carmi Manor for a tour with Dixie McGill. Dixie told the Rotarians that she had been the regional sales person for the company that owns the Manor, but recently took the job as administrator of the company’s home in Ridgeway. Her husband, Henry is now the regional director for Stearn Rehab, the owners.
She told the group that the five men who make up Stearn Rehab are very hands-on owners, and that anyone visiting the Carmi Manor would likely see one of them. She said they are also very good people to work with, who truly want the best for the residents.
Stearn Rehab’s first Illinois home was the Carmi location, they have since added the home in Ridgeway and just purchased another home in Illinois (near the Iowa border) as well as a home in Marshall, Illinois.
Besides the Carmi Manor, the company also owns a four-bedroom home in Carmi that is being used as an assisted living type dwelling. The bedrooms can be rented, and the home is fully furnished. Anyone living in that home can also eat meals at the Manor.
Dixie told the club that the Carmi Manor is a 74 bed facility with around 55 residents currently. The Gallatin Home in Ridgeway is a 71 bed facility and currently has 39 residents. Both facilities are able to do almost all clinical procedures on-site. Dixie also pointed out that the therapists at the homes are employed by the homes, and are not contracted out. She stated this means the same therapist works with the same patient, so they really get to know each other.
After the brief talk, Dixie led the Rotarians on a tour of the home. The Carmi Manor has two dining rooms, a country store (staffed by volunteers), a beauty shop, the therapy room, and two central shower rooms. Dixie explained that smoking is permitted on-site, with an outside patio designated as the smoking area.
Dixie told the Rotarians that everyone at The Manor realizes that it is home to the residents, and the management and staff sincerely want the residents to feel at home.
In club business, the Rotarians voted to continue this year’s slate of officers for the next Rotary year, which begins on July 1st. Patrick Haskell will remain as President, Randy Douglass will stay on as Vice President, Lyn Stephens will again serve as Secretary, and Cindy Conley will remain as Treasurer.
The club firmed up plans to serve fish sandwiches, chips and sodas at the upcoming 4th of July Lion’s Car Show, which will be held at the White County Fairgrounds. Lunch will be served from 11:00am until 1:00pm. The cost of the meal combo is only five dollars.
The club will not meet next Thursday at noon, but will meet instead at the home of Morris McCall for the annual fish fry to kick off the new Rotary year.
The Carmi Rotary club normally meets every Thursday at noon at the First United Methodist Church on Main Street in Carmi. Anyone wishing to learn more about this civic organization is welcome to attend a meeting or speak with any Carmi Rotarian.
