Valley Manor 40th Anniversary

July 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of Valley Manor's first year of operation back in 1971. Organized in 1967, the Presbyterian Residence Center Corporation opened the doors to Valley Manor 40 years ago as New York State's first full-service retirement community.


On Saturday, September 10, 2011, we held a special 40th anniversary celebration to commemorate this wonderful milestone with our residents, staff, families, board of directors and other friends of Valley Manor.

















We were blessed with a beautiful evening that was just perfect for pre-dinner fellowship in the lovely Valley Manor courtyard, where the Mayor of Rochester proclaimed the day as "Valley Manor Day" and reflected on his own fond memories of when his father lived at Valley Manor.




























The Valley Manor food service staff then treated everyone to a first-class dinner experience that showed off the culinary and customer service skills that Valley Manor residents enjoy every day.




























The evening was capped off with a dessert and coffee bar followed by a formal celebratory program that recapped the history and highlights of Valley Manor's past 40 years and included remarks from board Chairman, Sam Huston, Resident Association President, Reverend David Dubois and past Valley Manor President and current President Emeritus, Michael C. Walker.




























I concluded the program remarks with my own congratulations and reflections since taking over the CEO reins shortly after the 1999 affiliation between Valley Manor and Kirkhaven under the newly established parent umbrella organization of Seniorsfirst.

In my remarks, I commented on the 3 primary reasons for this affiliation:

1. To provide a more seamless continuum of services for our residents.



2. To better compete with other senior care communities who were offering a similar array of senior services and levels of care within their own organizational structure.



3. To benefit from cost saving by cost-sharing certain "back office" functions that were being duplicated in both organizations.

I then commented on the 5 keys to success that have guided us for the past 40 years:

1. Location: located in the heart of Rochester's Arts & Cultural district in a real neighborhood, just a short walk to shops, restaurants and many of the city's finest attractions. For the best in city living on beautiful historic East Avenue, Valley Manor is the only logical choice!



2. High-Rise Convenience: Every amenity is just a short elevator ride and a few steps away. The views are incredible. The one-foot concrete walls provide unparalleled privacy, soundproofing, security and safety. They just don't build them like that anymore!



3. Custom Apartment Homes: As individual as our residents, every apartment is customized to meet the unique desires and needs of its occupants. Other communities give you paint and carpet choices, but at Valley Manor we can offer complete floor plan reconfigurations that truly enable you to make it your home!



4. Arts, Culture & Lifelong Learning: Our residents are active, vibrant and engaged. Our full calendar of special events, social gatherings, wellness programs and day trips in collaboration with leading arts and cultural venues is a tribute to the active lifestyle of our residents. No other community offers as much and as rich a lifestyle as Valley Manor.



5. Customer Service: Our people make the difference and after 40 years of experience, no one does it better!

Yes, 40 years is a long time and we have certainly come "a long way baby". Over the years we have experienced peaks and valleys, challenges and successes, consistency and changes. Although the past is never a guarantee of what the future will hold, I suspect it will be much the same.

We know we have an aging building that while still has an historical and quaint charm to it, also needs constant restoration and upkeep. We'll continue to keep our fingers on the pulse of senior desires and trends and adapt accordingly. We'll monitor which way the winds of the economy are blowing and shift our sails to enable us to keep moving forward.

But most importantly, we'll continue to stay focused on the 5 keys to our success that have led us over the past 40 years.

Happy 40th anniversary Valley Manor and may I say, "you look marvelous!"