a non-profit, comprehensive,
community mental health service

Vol. 2, No. 9
October 2011

MFS CHRONICLE

MFS Welcomes New Interim CEO

A Contribution from John Hann, Board Chair

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce we have hired Paul Gorman as the Interim CEO of MFS effective November 1st. Paul’s qualifications are impressive: He has served as both the CEO and Vice President of Operations at West Central Services in Lebanon, NH; CEO of the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord; Director of the Division of Behavioral Health for the State of NH; and Director at The West Institute at the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. Currently he is a Research Associate at the Dartmouth Medical School Psychiatric Research Center. MFS is fortunate to have Paul lead our organization.

In order to insure a smooth transition, Bob Rooney will continue as Assistant to the Interim CEO on a part time basis during November and December. In addition, the MFS Search Committee will continue to actively recruit a permanent, well-qualified CEO. Meanwhile we all will benefit from Paul’s extensive experience.

The Board also is grateful Bob Rooney is willing to continue in a leadership role during our transition. He has done a remarkable job as Acting CEO. We were fortunate to have his capable, thoughtful leadership.

Please join the Board in welcoming Paul Gorman to MFS. With your help MFS will continue to capably serve the Monadnock community.

Featured Program of the Month: Monadnock Adult Care Center

The Monadnock Adult Care Center, located in Jaffrey, is an MFS program designed to improve the quality of life of participants, families and caregivers while supporting an individual’s effort to remain independent.  The program offers structured care during the day to adults with physical, emotional or social challenges.  MACC helps participants to remain in their homes as long as possible, offers activities that maintain and improve the physical, mental and social well-being of the participant, and provides respite care for families.  With ten employees, MACC serves an average of 20-25 clients every day from fourteen towns.

Medical Services available include medication administration, daily health screening and monitoring, nursing assessment, and showers/personal care assistance.  Social Services include an exercise program, crafts and art projects, group discussions including current events, trivia and word games to exercise the mind, movies, piano/guitar sing-alongs, poetry and short story readings, parties, holiday festivities, community service projects, coffee hours, and community outings.  Services that are also available at the center include physical and speech therapy, podiatry clinics, a hair salon, and counseling for individuals and families.  Breakfast and lunch are provided.  Transportation to and from home is provided whenever possible.

MACC offers its clients a renewed interest in life by providing structure for each day of the week, promoting involvement in enjoyable activities and programs, and focusing on the present and future.  All of these services can help to renew the desire to continue living for adults who have experienced loss, isolation, an illness, apathy, or a major life change.

Last month, People’s United Bank generously contributed to MACC.  The donation will help to offset the costs of providing the critical services offered through the program.  MACC and Monadnock Family Services remain grateful to the People’s United Bank and other private and public supporters whose involvement contributes to the sustainability of this important program.

Located at 22 North Street in Jaffrey, MACC is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.  Fees for services are reimbursable through Medicaid and many private insurance policies, and a sliding scale is also available.  A program of Monadnock Family Services and proud to be a Monadnock United Way Partner, MACC is licensed as a Medical Adult Day Health Center and is a member of the National Adult Day Association (NADSA). If you are curious about the program and have further questions, please contact Christine Selmer, Program Administrator for further information at 603-532-2427. 

Family Resource Center Hosts Open House, Continues to Welcome Visitors

A Contribution from Mary Mullen-LaValley, BabyTime

On behalf of the Family Resource Center, thank you to everyone who was able to visit us at our Open House on Thursday, October 27th!  For those of you who could not make it or would like to visit again, an ongoing welcome is extended.  BabyTime is alive with the challenging yet rewarding interactions of self-empowerment and hope.

November Volunteer Opportunity from the Monadnock RSVP

This month, the Monadnock RSVP is seeking volunteers to help with blood drives in Keene and Peterborough.  These blood drives are usually in the late afternoons or evenings.

There is also a need for volunteers to assist seniors with grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or even taking them out for a drive.

If you have the availability and are interested in lending a hand with either of these tremendously important needs, please contact Geraldine Liebert at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You may also call the Keene office at (603) 357-6893 or the Peterborough office at (603) 924-7350.

What I Do for Workplace Wellness: Create an Inviting Workspace

The nature of our jobs dictates that we spend a significant portion of our time in our offices, whether we are scheduling meetings and appointments, seeing clients, or doing paperwork.  Why not make your office a comfortable, inviting, energizing place to be?  Feeling good about your office environment will help you sustain productivity, even when you are hard at work for hours on end.  Here are ten ideas to consider for making your office a wonderful place to work:

1. Clear out the clutter!  Make sure you have an open workspace by efficiently organizing old documents and resources.  There are usually many unused organizational and storage office supplies to be found in the supply cabinets.  With a clear workspace, you can focus on the potential for today’s work, not yesterday’s old business.

2. Add elements to inspire your mood.  For example, if you want to feel energized, consider hanging a brightly-colored piece of artwork on the wall.  If you want to feel comfortable and relaxed, keep a nice cushion or throw on your desk chair.

3. Bring in the sunshine!  As winter approaches and the days get darker, adding some desk and floor lamps to your workspace can improve your mood and counterbalance the effects of fluorescent lighting.  You might want to select lamps with bright colors, moving pieces, or attention-grabbing patterns to add visual interest in addition to light.

4. Consider hanging a mirror in your office.  They reflect the light, some of them have interesting frames that add an element of style, and you can check your teeth for food after lunch before your next meeting.

5. Decorate with plants.  While fake plants can be good options for those among us without green thumbs, real plants are even better because they significantly improve the air quality in your office.  If you have bad luck keeping your houseplants alive, try something hardy, such as a cactus or spider plant.  Many people already keep plants in their offices and might be willing to donate a cutting.

6. Bring in portable fans or heaters.  Depending on the season, some of the offices can get to temperatures that push your comfort zone.  Ensuring that the temperature is right for you will help you stay comfortable in your office for hours.

7. Engage all your senses – including smell.  Pleasant scents have a tremendous effect on making any space inviting.  This being said, be mindful that people near or visiting your office might be sensitive to certain scents.  Ask them before bringing in a basket of potpourri or a reed diffuser.  Natural scents tend to be less irritating than synthetic ones, so you might opt to put a vase of dried lavender on your desk or to keep a fresh lemon handy for de-odorizing.  As the holidays approach, you could stick whole cloves into oranges and hang them with ribbons.  Small pine sprigs make wonderful, fragrant decorations.  Remember to use candles safely with candle warmers rather than burning them.

8. Add a touch of home.  Decorate with photos of your family or pets.  Hang your kids’ or niece’s/nephew’s artwork on the wall.  Place mementos from your travels around the office.  Keeping reminders of who and what you love at work personalizes your workspace and can bolster your mood.

9. Create a stash of healthy, energizing snacks.  Whether stuffed in the back of a desk drawer, tucked onto a high shelf, or displayed attractively in a bowl, having snacks on hand keeps your blood sugar steady and your energy level continuous.  Keeping healthy snacks like fruits or nuts within easy reach prevents us from being tempted by high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks.  Healthy snacks contribute to positive weight management, good nutrition, and unflagging energy.

10. Check out your peers’ offices for ideas and inspiration.  Next time you drop by someone’s office for a work-related discussion, take note of what you see.  Many people have implemented innovative ways to keep their offices functional and welcoming.  You might be able to borrow your coworkers’ good ideas, and you might get to know them better by asking about their decorating choices.