VELVA The residents of Souris Valley Care Center in Velva are enjoying the sounds of a stately Howard Miller grandfather clock on the quarter hour, half hour and on the hour in the center's activity room.
"The residents really like it," said Emily Tescher-Johnston, director of Marketing and Human Resources at the center. "It has a nice soft chime."
The grandfather clock was delivered to the care center in January and was the result of the "pay it forward" holiday promotion by WGO/The Zoo Radio Station and Lien's Jewelry, both in Minot.
The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead.
Tanya Ammon, who lives on a ranch near Harvey and who is director of Health Information Management at the care center, heard about the promotion when she was driving to work in mid-December. Ammon suggested to Tescher-Johnston that a letter be written to nominate Roxanne Selzler, dietary manager at the center, for the "pay it forward" promotion.
Selzler has been the dietary manager at the center for more than 26 years. Her co-workers said she has never fallen into a status quo routine and she puts her "all" into each day paying special attention to each of the 50 residents who live here.
That involves getting to know each of the 50 residents and learning about their favorite meals and snacks. She also welcomes residents to their new home at the Souris Valley Care Center in a special way by making their favorite foods from home.
Her menus are varied in ethnicity from lutefisk and homemade lefse to sauerkraut and homemade knoephla and to tasty Italian favorites. Coffee time features sweet favorites of yesteryear such as date-filled cookies and homemade gingersnaps.
The staff is also on the receiving end of Selzler's kindness.
Last winter when the weather made traveling conditions challenging Selzler went out of her way to accommodate stranded care center staff members. She made "special order breakfasts" and sent special treats to the staff break area.
At the end of the nominating letter Tescher-Johnston wrote "And if we should happen to win the grandfather clock, we will Pay It Forward by giving it to the residents at the Souris Valley Care Center."
Only five of the nominating letters were chosen. Selzler received a pair of diamond earrings when the letter nominating her was chosen. The letters were then placed in the drawing, and the letter nominating Selzler was drawn out as the winner, resulting in the clock going to Souris Valley Care Center.
When Tescher-Johnston was notified of Selzler's winning, she sent Ammon to give Selzler the news.
Ammon said she asked Selzler, "Are your ears pierced?"
"Yes," was Selzler's reply.
Ammon told her, "That's good because you've just won a pair of diamond earrings."
"I'm honored," Selzler said. "I don't do the job alone. It wouldn't get done without the help of everyone (11 co-workers) back here."
She said state regulations forbid her to wear the earrings to work but she wears them at all other times.
"I appreciate the earrings and the clock is beautiful," she said. "It is such an honor."