Ehatare needs Rosie!!

Open letter to the Board and Management of the Estonian Relief Committee in Canada and Ehatare!

Members of the Estonian Community in Toronto have had the good fortune over the past 30 years to be able to rely on the retirement and nursing home at Ehatare for their golden years—a place where their physical, medical, emotional and cultural needs are met with a team of professional and caring personnel.

Upon entering the Ehatare residence, the words of Henrik Visnapuu, "Oleme Maarjamaa oksad sügise kullas" are prominently displayed on the cornerstone. The main dining room is homey - the menu is distinctively displayed with its Estonian food choices for the residents, while the friendly staff, many not Estonian themselves, are able to converse in simple Estonian phrases and words.

The foyer has a definite Estonian decor, and signs and notices on the walls are in both "official" languages. After all, Ehatare is a residence for elderly Estonians. That is the most important function for this establishment - which otherwise would be only a building were it not for its caring staff and happy residents.

Until June 7, there was another distinctive Estonian element in the corridors and halls of Ehatare - a vibrant, effervescent and talented activity director. Last Mother's Day, one of the residents of Ehatare, who is 100 years old, presented Rosemarie Lindau, or Rosie as she is known, with a bouquet of flowers, and named her as the residents’ "mother," with a card signed by everyone.

Rosie has been an employee of Ehatare for 13 years. Her position as Activity Director was reflected in all the extracurricular activity at the residence: song, music, conversation, discussion, exercise, culture, training of volunteers and the like, were all organized and maintained by Rosie's presence, her smile and her always positive attitude.

Somewhere in the requirements of rules and regulations, mandated by the various levels of government, Rosie's position as activity director became mired in paperwork and she found she had less time to do what she most wanted to do - interact with the residents and have time to work with the staff who helped out in their activities.

For more than two years, Rosie has been asking for help with administrative duties that kept being added to her responsibilities as Activity Director. No help was provided. Finally, with no assistance available, and despite years of trying to get it, Rosie felt that she had an obligation to inform the residents of her dilemma, and so took the bold step on June 1 of telling them in writing of her inability to keep up with her activities, and of the impact of the situation on her health.

The result: an indefinite suspension on June 7.

On June 8, at the Estonian Relief Committee’s Annual General Meeting, the administrator, Ruth McFarlane, among other matters proudly listed all of the residents’ activities at Ehatare in the past year—numerous concerts, dance performances, get-togethers, visitors, functions, trips, exercise sessions, choir practices and so on. The administrator neglected to mention who was responsible for organizing and carrying out these activities.

During the general question session, members of the audience questioned the board as to why Rosie Lindau was not mentioned as the organizer of the events. Other members - many of them children of residents - stood up and spoke on behalf of their parents and relatives as to how much Rosie was appreciated, how her spark, good humour and positive personality influenced the moods of the residents, and wondered what she had done that was so wrong as to warrant suspension. The comments were all met with long and sustained applause.

The Board of Directors sat quietly at the long table at the front, many of them not able to make eye contact with those children. The president of the board made a feeble attempt to defend a decision that he wouldn’t talk about because it was an ongoing matter, yet he acknowledged that Rosie was a positive influence on the life and the lives in Ehatare, and then wondered aloud why Rosie wasn’t there herself to hear the praise, ignoring the fact that he had suspended her the day before.

Finally a member of the Board, whose own father benefited from many years of Rosie's care and love, stood up and tried to defend the "rules" and the Board’s actions if an Ehatare employee does not follow them, a veiled reference to Rosie and the fact that she had gone public with her concerns. Only one other member of the Board applauded the speaker.

The meeting ended uncomfortably after the president cut short further questions and discussion around this matter, and all were invited to partake of coffee and kringel. No clear explanation was given as to the reasons for Rosie’s suspension.

The next day Rosie was served with termination papers.

In the past year, no attempt was made by the Board to rectify the problems presented by Rosie. Now, no explanation has been given by the Board as to its actions. Meanwhile, those for whom Ehatare is maintained are unhappy and shocked by the fact that their "ema" is no longer working there for their well-being. They were only told by a letter posted by Ruth McFarlane - shockingly, after Rosie had already been suspended - that Rosie was sick. The residents are openly grieving.

We, the undersigned, as members and friends of the Estonian Relief Committee in Canada and Ehatare, are saddened and dismayed by the decision of the Board and its administrator. We advocate on behalf of the residents who want Rosie reinstated as Activity Director, and call on the Board to provide her with the resources she needs. If the Board is unable to rectify the situation, we ask for its resignation so that it can be replaced by a competent and caring Board that will take the time and effort to examine and rectify the current situation to make Ehatare a place where residents and employees are once again happy in their environment.