In honor of Black History Month, we took a quick peek at Quaker History to better understand Quakerism’s role in abolitionism. Quakers were some of the earliest citizens to rebuke slavery in the colonies, going so far as to petition the U.S. Congress to abolish slavery in 1790. To put this into perspective, the 13^th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which abolishes slavery, was not ratified until almost a hundred years later, in April of 1864.

Women also played a vital role in the pursuit of a more equal America. Lucretia Mott, a Quaker suffragette, was a vocal abolitionist, going so far as to boycott the use of cotton, cane sugar and other goods produced by slaves. Mott also founded a women’s abolitionist society. In addition, Quakers were a vital part of the Underground Railroad. John Hopper, a Philadelphia Quaker, was one of many who hid slaves in various safe houses, and was known for finding loopholes to win court cases to help free slaves.

To read more about Quakers and African American History we recommend: Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African Americans, and the Myth of Racial Justice by Donna McDaniel and Vanessa D. Julye.

Angela Duckworth is impressive.

A McArthur Grant recipient and currently a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, writing a book might be Duckworth’s least impressive accomplishment. Grit, her debut publication, aims to highlight how grit, or that “stick-withitness” quality, is the key to success both personally and professionally. Duckworth shares insight into how effort is often forsaken in the name of talent – despite what we would like to believe – but how effort, not talent, is the key to success.

What The Lion King has in common with FSA Peer Groups.

“Pink pajamas penguins at the bottom. Pink paja-“

Oh... you mean those aren’t the words to the song at the beginning of The Lion King?

We polled staff at each and every FSA member organization to see what stood out for them most last year. The answers varied, but one thing was for certain: staff members sure are proud of what's happening at their organizations! Below are some highlights.

Tell us about an act of kindness you witnessed at your organization.

The end of year is always busy: projects come to a close and new ones are dreamed up. Here’s a quick recap of recent happenings, and a look to what’s ahead…

Happy Holidays from your friends at FSA!

Can we talk about your Board of Directors?

Like many organizations, your board is likely full of educated, insightful folks who are brimming with passion and dedication for the work you do. 

Yet even the most functional of boards is not immune to miscommunication, conflict or other snafus.

With this in mind, our President/CEO Jane Mack penned the article "Principles of Good Governance," a guide to the potential governance pitfalls that might occur−and how to avoid them. 

Meet the Board: Five Questions or Less
Dentistry, Surfing and Survival on a Deserted Island

Nonprofit consultant Dennis Russell has worked in healthcare management for more than 25 years, and currently serves on the FSA Board of Directors and Strategic Issues Committee. To learn a few new things about him, we sent him five random questions. Here's what he told us:

What are the book(s) you’ve given most as a gift and why? True North by Bill George. It is a book about discovering your Authentic Leadership Style vs. emulating or modeling someone else. It was very helpful for me and others seem to feel the same way.

Earlier this month, a group of FSA members gathered with co-facilitators Marsha Wesley Coleman and consultant Michael Gagné to talk about their organizations’ efforts to implement diversity programming. Gagné presented the following guidelines to assist organizations.

FSA Annual Meeting and Dementia Symposium. View photos here. Video of they keynotes and panel to come! 

FSA Appoints New Board Members, Board Chair

The Montessori Approach to Dementia Care, in Action at Rowntree Gardens

Dear FSA Members, Partners and Friends,
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR FSA!

I am thrilled to announce that, effective today, Friends Services for the Aging has a new name: FSA | Friends Services Alliance. This change has been a long time coming. Updates to our strategic plan and various measures have been in the works so we can reposition FSA as the organization it truly is:  A growing collaborative of organizations that serve seniors: Rooted in Values. Driven by Excellence. 

Dianna Rienstra has been reflecting on her career. As she finds herself on the verge of retirement from her position as Chief Financial Officer with Friends Life Care, she can say with certainty that she feels satisfied with the path she has taken and the impact her work through the years has had on others.

She’s come a long way. Starting off as an Accounting graduate from Montclair State University, flexibility was key as she made her way through a male-dominated industry. In one of her first positions, Rienstra was one of just two females in her entire company. When it came time for her to go out on maternity leave, there was no policy set. “The head of Human Resources—who was the other female employee—said to me, ‘how long do you think your leave should be?’ We figured it out from there!”

Through his career, Medford Leas CEO Jeremy Vickers has experienced the cultures of senior living organizations across the United States. In his travels, he has noted similarities among them: the way the organization is structured, the types of work they do. The most successful ones offer services that are reflective of their particular area’s standards and desires. “They have a local flavor that shines through,” he says.

He has also seen the differences. From simple contrasts like architecture—“in Los Angeles, everything is vertical”—to deeper distinctions such as an organization’s values and the philosophies that guide the way they go about their work. And how, despite seeing success in one region, a particular program or approach may fall flat somewhere else. 

Chef Steve Plescha is not afraid to try something new. A highly ranked graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in 1977, he has been bringing his culinary innovations to Pennswood Village for the past 13 years.  Anyone who has dined there would have no doubt of his technical ability, but his passion cannot be quantified. After speaking with him for just a moment, Chef Steve’s passion for his work is evident – his robust sustainable fishing program is bolstered by his knowledge, local connections, and the support of the community in which he works.

To ensure the quality of the seafood he serves to residents, Chef Steve takes a number of things into consideration. While being mindful of habitat, the effects of weather, and trends, he works locally with Samuels and Son, a Philadelphia based restaurant-quality supplier. “They have someone on the boat telling me the quality of the fish, the conditions in which they were caught, and how many they brought in.”