RACHEL HESS
WHY I SERVE F
orty-three individuals volunteer their time and talents as members of one of the five boards of directors overseeing Landis Communities and its affiliates. Tis column features a member of one of the boards and lists those who serve with the highlighted individual.
Tell me a little about yourself: I grew up in southern Lancaster County in a large Mennonite farm family. Service was a central value promoted and practiced by my parents. Tat value was a significant motivation for me as I sought out opportunities to engage with others working to reduce poverty in our world. Tis led me to a varied and wonderful career with a range of Mennonite related organizations - MCC, Ten Tousand Villages and MEDA.
When did you first hear of Landis Homes and Landis Communities?
My mother moved to Landis Homes in 2001 and spent the final years of her life there. We visited her often and appreciated the care she received.
How did you come to join the Landis Homes Board? I loved the work I was doing to support greater opportunity for people living in poverty in other countries. But I also began thinking about the needs within our own community. One issue that looms for us collectively is the aging of our society. I am particularly concerned for those entering their older years with limited resources. In 2014, I met with Larry Zook to learn about the Landis Communities vision for providing services to a broad range of older adults. I appreciated the idea of developing a community of affiliated agencies designed to offer a range of services based on individual needs. Not long after my first conversation with Larry Zook, I was invited to join the Landis Homes Board.
What was the first thing you noticed when you joined the board? I was impressed by the complexity of the long-term care business and the
Rachel Hess, Vice Chair of the Landis Homes Board of Directors
Cultivating Life, Together
arduous regulatory environment in which Landis Homes operates. I have great respect for the attention to detail and deep commitment to quality that is indicated in Landis Homes strong industry ratings. I also noted and appreciated how the organizational values are regularly integrated into our meetings.
How has your role with Landis Homes affected your life? One of the most valuable experiences I have had as a board member was participating in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging task group. Tis process challenged us to think about all aspects of Landis Homes practice and culture, both formal and informal, and envision how our community will be stronger when a broader range of people feel they belong here.
What goals/dreams do you have for the organization? Tere are at least two initiatives underway that I believe will be increasingly valuable for Landis Homes. Te first is the drive for greater awareness of our organization’s carbon footprint and actions that can reduce our contribution to climate change. Te second is the focus to deepen our excellent services to those living with dementia. I look forward to seeing these develop in the years ahead.
Why do you serve on the Board of Landis Homes? Every life is valuable all the way to the end, even as we lose cognitive and physical abilities. Landis Homes staff and residents, volunteers and board members demonstrate deep commitment to celebrating that value. I am honored to be a part of this.
LANDIS HOMES BOARD MEMBERS
• Glen Moffett, Chair • Rachel Hess, Vice Chair • Ken Moore, Treasurer • Lisa Clark, Secretary • Janet Breneman
• Bill Davis • Gerald Horst • Sherwood Lingenfelter • Jenn Orantes • George Stoltzfus
Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2023 • 23
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