Munson Manor Welcomes the Hartzells New resident manager encourages community groups to make a meal
When a friend or neighbor is seriously ill, sometimes a person’s first impulse is to make a casserole or bake brownies for the family. That same impulse to help and comfort people has been guiding the lives of Brian and Terry Hartzell for more than 25 years.
He and his wife, Terry, have moved from Mobile, AL, to reside in an apartment on the third floor of Munson Manor. The Hartzells made the decision long ago that their life’s work would be to help people experiencing trying times because of illness.
Brian was vice-president of a public relations firm in Cleveland when he decided he wanted to do something more “soul enriching.” With the support of his wife, he became executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland. The Hartzells have been involved with hospital Hospitality Houses ever since.
“It just feels really good to help people — to give them shelter, a listening ear, to feed them, and provide them with some hospitality,” he said.
Hospitality: ‘More Than a Name’ Brian’s ideal would be to always have a pot of homemade soup and warm cookies waiting for the families of patients at Munson. He and Terry have great empathy for people who find themselves in an unfamiliar town with no friends or family nearby as they seek medical treatment for a loved one, or sometimes themselves.
Regardless of age or circumstance, guests at Munson Manor are often anxious and worried. “A Hospitality House is more than a name on a sign,” Brian said. “It’s how you greet families, how you provide their meals, and how you offer support.”
That’s where the community comes in. “I see a great need for many more organizations in town to be involved here,” he said. Currently, the Rotary Club and the Presbyterian Church provide monthly meals to the guests at Munson Manor.
“These meals bring people together,” Brian said. “People come out of their rooms to share food and conversation. When we post it in the elevator that there will be a meal, nearly everyone comes.”
Meals for about 30 people don’t have to be elaborate. Food can be prepared in Munson Manor’s huge kitchen, or off-site. Service clubs, student groups, churches, or individuals are welcome to host a dinner or a breakfast. Groups that don’t care to cook could host a pizza night or a movie night by providing a DVD player and some movies, Brian suggested.
Building on Success Brian succeeds Connie Nelson, who retired in June after a 30-year career as a nurse manager at Munson. She was Munson Manor’s first Residential Coordinator and laid the groundwork for a well-run hospitality house.
Since opening in November 2000, Munson Manor has accommodated more than 57,000 people. Terry said guests always remark about the beauty of the renovated historic building and its spotless cleanliness. As former president of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Brian visited about 80 hospitality houses, including Munson’s, which he found to be one of the larger in the nation.
“It reflects the size of the facility and the prestige of the medical institution we are serving,” he said. “The fact that most of the rooms are occupied indicates that it was built to the right size.”
Natives of Ohio, the Hartzells have enjoyed their first summer exploring northern Michigan and settling into their apartment, which they share with their 22-year-old cat, Leo. The move north allows them to be closer to their adult children — a daughter in Minneapolis and a son in Cleveland.
In order to focus his attention on Munson Manor first and foremost, Brian stepped back from his co-chairmanship of the NAHHH’s 2005 National Conference to be held in September in Orland, FL. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, West Michigan Chapter, and will be involved in raising funds and in-kind contributions for the Hospitality House in addition to his management duties.
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When a friend or neighbor is seriously ill, sometimes a person’s first impulse is to make a casserole or bake brownies for the family. That same impulse to help and comfort people has been guiding the lives of Brian and Terry Hartzell for more than 25 years.