The staff of Community Connections at Findley Lake includes, from left: Donna Winfield, Dr. Marlene Garone, Judy Hunt, Dr, Lin Baylis, Christy Ball and Christine Cheronis.

Dr. Lin Baylis has retired as the executive director of Community Connections at Findley Lake, but the organization she helped to form will reflect her work for years to come.

In 2013, Baylis, Judy Hunt and Dr. Marlene Garone recognized the growing needs of the aging population in and around Findley Lake. They set out to respond to those needs by creating an organization which would provide such services as transportation, medical assistance, shopping, and prescription pick-up.

The result was the formation of Community Connections at Findley Lake. Through Baylis’ leadership, it has grown from a small two-employee organization designed to help older people remain in their homes, to being designated by New York State as a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, with a $250,000 annual budget and seven employees.

“When we first formed Community Connections at Findley Lake, we had no idea as to how far it would go,” Baylis said. “It was always our hope that we could provide the services and meet the needs of our community.”

The women allowed Community Connections to grow “at a grassroots level,” Baylis said. Instead of setting goals and trying to attain them, they allowed the needs to present themselves and took steps to meet them.

The first step was to hire Christy Ball to be the administrative director, Baylis said. “When I asked Christy to join us, she asked what she would be doing. I answered by saying, ‘I’m not sure. Let’s answer the phones and see where it leads.’ ”

The organization led Baylis and the others on an amazing journey. In 2019, Community Connections was given the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community designation and an annual grant of $99,999 for five consecutive years to expand its services. “The NORC designation was an incredible honor and financial boon for us,” Baylis said. “Of course, this came with many requirements and accounting responsibilities, but it also gave us the funding to hire more community nurses, home companions, etc.”

In 2025, Community Connections was chosen to be a part of a state documentary, “Aging in Community: A New York First Model,” a new film showcasing three NORC communities. Community Connections at Findley Lake was the first rural community organization to be identified as a NORC.

“To be included in their documentary was quite the honor. We were able to represent what it means to provide our services in a rural area,” Baylis said. “The showing of the film to our community was great fun and generated many thoughtful questions.”

But the heart of Community Connections has always been the people it serves, Baylis said. “The most rewarding aspect has always been the successful implementation of our in-home care programs,” she said. “To know that there have been many community members that have been able to remain in their homes, rather than leaving because they needed help with medical assistance, shopping, or transportation assistance has been very rewarding.”

Baylis said that her work has left her with many wonderful memories. “One of my best memories was that of a client who was quite stressed and in need of assistance,” she said. “I was at the home with our Community Health Nurse Advocate and, when we were leaving, the client asked for a hug because she had no contact with anyone for a long time. It is, and always was, the little things that make the biggest difference in someone’s life.”

My other great joy has been working with some of the most dedicated and selfless people I know,” Baylis said. “Our team approach is what makes (Community Connections) successful.”

Of course, there have also been difficulties, Baylis said. “One of the hardest struggles is that of not being able to help everyone who needs the help,” she said. “We are always searching for more volunteers to help with transportation, shopping, prescription pick-up and other services. Many times, our staff is stretched to their limits.”

Baylis said she was very pleased with the choice of Melissa Lyon to assume the position of executive director. “Melissa has volunteered with Community Connections, so she is certainly familiar with Findley Lake and our mission,” she said. “Her experience as Public Health Director of Erie and, subsequently, in Bucks County, Pa., will serve the organization well.”

Baylis will not be dropping out of sight, either, and will continue as Executive Advisor to the organization. “(Community Connections) is our baby, so I’m really not going anywhere,” she said. “My goal is to oversee the executive team from a distance and be of assistance to the team if they should need it.”

Baylis said she hopes the organization will continue to grow. “I would like to see Community Connections continue to be successful, using our foundation to grow upon,” she said. “Marlene, Judy and I purchased 7.5 acres of land to be used as a site for senior housing in 2019, so,my greatest hope is to see the completion of our Senior Pocket Neighborhood.”