AwardsThe Dr. James Ruble “Employee of the Year” Award |
Dr. James Ruble is one of Brookside’s founders. Dr. Ruble’s interest in a retirement center started years before Brookside was built in conversations with Max Friesen. The need for a retirement center was obvious; there was nowhere close by for Overbrook area residents to go to have their nursing-home needs met.
Max Friesen “Volunteer of the Year” Award
Max Friesen had a pivotal role, with Dr. James Ruble, in building Brookside Retirement Community. Max exemplifies the volunteer spirit in his daily life. Max was a Fire Chief for more than 25 years, a scoutmaster, developer of subdivisions, assisted with developing the sewer and water system of Overbrook and a longtime City Council Treasurer.
Also, Max has been a choir director and Sunday School superintendent at the United Methodist Church, a sextant at the cemetery, a substitute bus-driver and assisted with the volunteer team who built the local golf course. “As a member of the Rotary for 50 years (with perfect attendance), I have always lived by the motto, ‘Service above self.’ ” It is in this spirit of personal outreach that we name this award after Max whose life embodies this Rotarian principle.
Cliff Fisher “Service Excellence Honoree” Award
Cliff Fisher was Brookside’s original administrator. “When we started Brookside in 1965,” said Cliff, “long-term care in this area was just beginning. There was no history, no foundation on which to build. We were given the opportunity to carve out an example. Our success came from a group of outstanding, local, dedicated employees who were highly concerned about the quality of care for the elders in our community.” Employees are selected as Service Excellence Honorees for actions above and beyond the call of duty, for extra touches, profound commitment and/or exemplary acts of service.
“I was 24 years old” said Cliff, ” – at the time, the youngest nursing home director in Kansas, and most of my employees were old enough to be my mother. I could not go in manage like a know-it-all. Those early days at Brookside gave me the direct experience of how excellent a nursing home could be. Our reputation extended well beyond the state.”
