Residential Living Association

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be:

  • To form a cohesive line of communication among the residents and the Administration on matters directly affecting the interest and well-being of the residents of SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Shrewsbury community.
  • To provide a regularly scheduled opportunity for discussion of matters of interest to the Council.
  • To take such action as may be necessary to accomplish these purposes.

Bylaws

The Village at Shrewsbury Residential Living Association By-Laws

Revised February 5, 2023

ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Residential Living Association referred herein as RLA of SpinTrust Lutheran, The Village at Shrewsbury, also known herein by the informal name of “Cottagers”.

ARTICLE II
Mission Statement

The Board of Directors shall work with cottage residents to promote improved communications between community residents and administration to foster improved quality of life in the SpiriTrust Lutheran Village at Shrewsbury.

ARTICLE III
Officers

  1. The Association shall elect a total of five (5) voting board members and one (1) non-voting at-large member from the residential association members. The Board Officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications Facilitator.
  2. The Officers and the at-large member shall be elected to serve a term of two (2) years by a majority of the current RLA members. A board officer may succeed themselves in the same office one (1) time, for a total of four (4) consecutive years. A board officer completing four (4) years may be re-elected to a board position after he or she has been off the board for at least one (1) year.
  3. A nominating committee shall be established by the Board in September. It will consist of one Board officer and two residents. Names, addresses, and a brief biography of nominees shall be completed and submitted to the board by September 30 and will be published in the October Cottage Connections newsletter.
  4. Elections shall take place in November. An election year is determined by officers’ completion of two-year terms or by an opening due to resignation. Voting shall be by written ballot.
  5. In addition, nominations may be made by a Cottager. Consent must be received from the person being nominated, and the name of the nominee must be submitted to the Board two (2) weeks prior to election day so the name may be added to the ballot.
  6. The newly elected officers shall take office on January 1, after their election.
  7. The Board shall appoint two Board members to attend quarterly CILA meetings.
  8. Duties of Officers
    1.  President
      1. The President shall preside at all Board and RLA Meetings.
      2. The President shall produce agendas for all Board and RLA meetings with input from other Board members.
      3. The President shall act as a liaison with a second board member present between Cottagers and administration on issues of community-wide concerns.
    2. Vice President
      1. The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in his or her absence or inability to serve.
    3. Secretary
      1. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings and handle all correspondence pertaining to the business of the Association.
      2. The Secretary will forward the minutes of the Board meetings and Cottagers’ meetings to the Executive Director of SpiriTrust Lutheran Village at Shrewsbury.
      3. The Secretary will distribute the minutes to all Cottagers.
    4. Treasurer
      1. The Treasurer shall handle any financial matters necessary to run the Association and maintain records in an auditable format.
      2. The Treasurer will produce monthly written or electronic reports for all board and RLA members.
      3. The treasurer is responsible for collecting the dues, the amount of which will be proposed by the board and passed by a majority of the Cottagers present at a Residential Living Association Meeting.
    5. Communications Facilitator
      1. The Communications Facilitator will provide Board information via the Friday update and any further timely written means of communication.
      2. The Communications Facilitator shall act as the liaison between the Board and the editor of Cottage Connections, submitting pertinent Board information for each issue.
    6. Member At-Large
      1. The Member-At-Large will attend Board meetings and be available to substitute for a Board officer if needed.

ARTICLE IV
Administration and Meetings

  1. The board will set a definite day and time for future Board meetings not to conflict with other committee meetings and activities.
  2. An Association Meeting of all Cottagers shall be held bi-monthly on the third Wednesday at 2 PM in January, March, May, July, September, and November.

ARTICLE V
Committees

  1. Flowers and Gardens: To manage the community garden area and provide horticulture programs and projects.
  2. Dining: To review menus, events held in the restaurant, etc., and to advise recommended changes.
  3. Social and Recreation: To plan and promote social and recreation programs and projects along with the SpiriTrust Activities Coordinator.
  4. Spiritual Life: To embrace the SpiriTrust Lutheran vision statement to “compassionately care for the children of God”. To that end, the committee endeavors to identify, develop, promote, and support activities and practices which will enhance and grow the spiritual life of Cottagers.
  5. Welcoming: To visit and welcome new residents and orient them to the life on the campus.
  6. Cottage Connections: To publish a bimonthly community newsletter which will be reviewed by the Board prior to publication.
  7. Building and Grounds: To promote and enhance the environmental wellness and beautification of the Village Campus.
  8. The Board may establish other committees as interest and need may require by following the procedure for amending by-laws.

ARTICLE VI
Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at a regular meeting of the cottages upon a two-thirds vote of members present. Written notice of the proposed amendment shall be given to each Cottager at least two weeks prior to the vote. Any cottage resident may propose a by-law change.

Nothing in these by-laws shall be contrary to any policy of the Board of Directors of SpiriTrust Lutheran or in opposition to the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Committees

If you are interested in joining a committee, please attend a Residential Living Council Meeting in the Zimmerman Place Café.

Residential Living Council
The Residential Living Council forms a cohesive line of communication among the residents and the administration on matter directly affecting the interest and well-being of The Village at Shrewsbury residents. The council serves as a liaison between village residents, the executive director, SpiriTrust Lutheran personnel and corporate headquarters.
3rd Wednesday of each month
2:00 p.m.
Zimmerman Place Café

Welcoming Committee
The Welcoming Committee serves as official “welcomers” to new residents on behalf of the Resident Council.
Meets on an as needed basis
Zimmerman Place Café

Duties and opportunities include:

  • Visiting new residents in their home within a reasonable time after they move to the village
  • Encouraging new residents to actively participate in the life of the village
  • Addressing concerns and questions of new residents by directing them to various personnel and resources available to them
  • Writing brief notes and make phone calls of encouragement
  • Inviting new residents to participate in community events in the early months of occupancy
  • Sharing with the community members the joy and satisfaction in being a resident of the village
  • Seeking out and implementing new and additional ways of welcoming new residents to the village
  • Keeping the Resident Council president informed of the committee’s work
  • Reporting on the committee’s activity at each Resident Council meeting

Spiritual Life Committee
The Spiritual Life Committee identifies, develops, promotes and supports life enrichment practices to enhance and grow the spiritual life of the community members.
Meets on an as needed basis
Zimmerman Place Café

Duties and opportunities include:

  • Encouraging and promote regular church attendance by community members, whether it is at a church off campus or at a worship service provided by the chaplain on campus
  • Encouraging community members to engage in daily bible readings, devotions and prayer
  • Engaging in a prayer circle for members of the village as special needs and desires are made known
  • Promoting the formation and participation in Friends and Followers Bible Study groups
  • Providing an opening devotional and closing prayer at each Resident Council meeting
  • Arranging for and encourage the practice of offering a meal prayer before meals in the Clubhouse
  • Supporting and advising the campus chaplain of his work
  • Keeping the Resident Council president informed of the committee’s work
  • Reporting on the committee’s activity at each Resident Council Meeting

Social Life Committee
The Social Life Committee promotes recreational and social programs for the community members.
3rd Tuesday of each month
2:00 p.m.
Zimmerman Place Café

Duties and opportunities include:

  • Serving as an advisory committee to the Recreational Coordinator
  • Assisting the Recreational Coordinator in encouraging participation in the various activities and programs planned for community members
  • Keeping the Resident Council president informed of the committee’s work
  • Reporting on the committee’s activity at each Resident Council meeting

Dining Committee
The Dining Committee promotes dining events and dining programs for community members.
Third Monday of each month
2:00 p.m.
Zimmerman Place Café

Duties and opportunities include:

  • Serving as an advisory committee to the Executive Chef by providing suggestions and input from the perspective of the community members
  • Assisting the Executive Chef in encouraging participation in the various programs planned for community members
  • Alerting the Executive Chef of matters that may have been overlooked regarding the food quality and assurance
  • Keeping the Resident Council president informed of the committee’s work
  • Reporting on the committee’s activity at each Resident Council meeting

Flower and Garden Committee
The Flower and Garden Committee promotes a viable community garden for vegetables and flower. Meet residents to discuss techniques and learn new possibilities.
1st Wednesday of each month
10:00 a.m.
Club House

Duties and opportunities include:

  • Getting people committed to helping
  • Laying out plot for garden
  • Inviting educational speakers to the community to speak to residents
  • Month to month planning
  • Maintaining the reference website list
  • Sharing flowers and vegetables from garden
  • Gardeners are responsible for taking care of the plot and cleaning up at the end of the season.

Cottage Connections Committee
The Cottage Connections Committee publishes a bimonthly community newsletter which will be reviewed by the Board prior to publication.

Building and Grounds Committee
The Building and Grounds Committee promotes and enhances the environmental wellness and beautification of the Village Campus.

Council Members

President

  • Richard Atkinson

Vice President

  • Pat Smith

Secretary

  • Mary Jane Deckard

Treasurer

  • James Heffner

Communications Facilitator

  • Pamelia Zimmerman

Member at large

  • Richard Myers

Schedule of Meetings

Upcoming Meeting Dates

The Residential Living Association Board meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 10:15 a.m. in Zimmerman Place Cafe.

An Association Meeting of all Cottagers is held Bi-monthly on the third Wednesday at 2 p.m. in January, March, May, July, September, and November.