UPCOMING EVENTS

Activities sponsored by Ashby Village

• Open to members.
• Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda in Berkeley.  There is a parking lot in the rear of the building, and street parking is available.
• Wheelchair accessible.
• RSVP here or call our office at (510) 204-9200.   
• Let us know if you need a ride. 

• Open to members and up to two guests.
• Bacheeso's, 2650 Telegraph Avenue (at Derby)
• Off street parking available. 
• Wheelchair-accessible.
• RSVP here, or call our office at (510) 204-9200. 
• Let us know if you need a ride.

Saturday, March 10, begins at 11:00 a.m. 

• Home of Carolyn North and Herb Strauss, 2447 Prince Street (near Bateman Park - look for the big cedar tree).
• Limited to 25 people. Friends from South Berkeley/North Oakland especially encouraged to attend.
• This home is not wheelchair accessible.
• RSVP here or call our office at (510) 204-9200.   
• Let us know if you need a ride.   

• Open to all.
• Details to follow in upcoming publications.  

• Open to members and up to two guests.
• Jewish Family and Children's Services, Suse Moyal Center for Older Adults, 2484 Shattuck Ave. (corner of Dwight Way). Street parking is available in front of the building for 90 minutes (there will be a break to move cars) or on Blake Street for two hours.
• Wheelchair-accessible.
• RSVP here, or call our office at (510) 204-9200.   
• Let us know if you need a ride.

Faces and Voices of Ashby Village Service Volunteers

 "I went over to a volunteer who needed someone to make chicken soup for her. When I got to her house, she surprised me by saying a neighbor had come by and had made the soup for her, so there was no need anymore. I asked her if there was a way to be helpful since I was already there. She said she had some ironing which she really couldn't do but had been hesitant to ask about and was that a possibility? I hadn't ironed in years, but I said I'd give it a try.  We set up an ironing board in her kitchen. I ironed, and we had tea and watched Chris Matthews on TV.  It was a very companionable time - we learned about each other's past, and I found out that I hadn't forgotten how to iron. Who knows - maybe I'll take it up again."

--Julianne Morris   

"Helping members is wonderful. But equally wonderful is getting to know our MedPal team of volunteers: Charlotte, Margie, Tom, Julie and Irene.  We met several times talking about what we want MedPal to become and to share our experiences. The team is so talented. They bring professional experience from social work and nursing to computer know-how. They have been assisting people in need for years and plan to continue to do so through Ashby Village volunteer activities. I feel blessed having worked with this excellent group of MedPal volunteers. Thank you." 

--Marion Anderson

--Luciano Corazza

"Organizing just about anything is fun for me, so I jumped at the opportunity to assist an Ashby Village member who was running out of space for project files in her office. She and I spent time discussing her current situation, what she wanted the outcome to be and possible solutions for file storage in her office and house. Together, we brainstormed ways to clear away the piles on the floor, add vertical filing space and store old files in the basement. It was a great experience to lend a hand with this project, and I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to an Ashby Village member."

--Sandy Simon

Does it get any better?

"I started volunteering with Betty in August of this year. Almost every Saturday I have picked her up at her house and driven her to the grocery or drug store, and/or the library.

Betty is a lovely woman and I am very lucky to have her as my first 

'client.' She is intelligent, kind and very sweet. However the one trait Betty has that  is the most endearing to me is her love of reading.  We discovered we are both book junkies and have agreed it is much more fun and enjoyable to read a book than eat!

So imagine how I felt when one day she asked if - on our normal get-together day - I would mind going to the library because they were having a book fair and she wanted to donate some books and possibly get some other ones! Does it get any better than that? We went, had a great time, both got some treasurers, and went home grinning like a cat who found a big bowl of cream. :)" 

--Valerie Yeakel

"The best part of my experience at Ashby has been meeting such a wide range of interesting people: fellow volunteers and Village  members alike.  Shared goals and a shared enthusiasm for life's little pleasures make it a constantly rewarding experience."

--Susan Chainey

"What is meaningful to me is getting to know many interesting people and developing a community to support aging in place and the spiritual growth that comes with compassionate aging."

--Hilary Lorraine

"Picture in your mind a gracious Kensington lady, her Irish ancestry showing in her beautiful, smiling face.   This is how Elizabeth greeted me yesterday, as I picked her up for her ride to the doctor.   To tell you the honest truth, I was not in the best of moods, not, that is, until we began chatting on the way to Alta Bates. Suddenly I was transported into the glee of an enchanting and surprising conversation.

Once in the car, Elizabeth asked, "Have you ever heard of Johnny Otis?"   'Johnny Otis! I was so saddened to hear he just died a few days ago. Johnny Otis was my GOD!'   Elizabeth:   'I, too, was very sad, but I loved him oh so much! My daughter gave me three Johnny Otis CD's.   I can never figure out how to play them, but when someone helps me out, I can't help myself, I just break out into a dance.   I just have to; I shake so hard, it's better than yoga!'

P.S. Elizabeth is in her mid-eighties, and still insists on walking alone up her stairway of rounded cement blocks, scattered at random up the steep hill to her street."

--Tom Boyden

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Do you own, work with, or know of a building with extra space? Ashby Village is now outgrowing our current space and is actively seeking another office. We would like three or more rooms (600-800 sq. ft.) and ideally access to an optional large meeting room. We would like it to be located in an easily accessible site in our service area. As a small nonprofit, cost is a strong consideration. Please contact Andy with any leads or with an offer to help the search. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.    

 Faces of our January Volunteer Orientation  

• Joan and Don Bernstein
• Josephine Rand
• Margie Pezzaglia
• Ella Hurst
• Pamela Drake
• Bessie Rabb
• Lisa Duhl
• Jane Hall
• Ann Basart
• Sheila Diehl
• Sidney Choate
• Thea Black
• Dennis and Jeanne Kuby 

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CONTACTS

Committee Chairs

MEMBERSHIP:  Betty Webster,  [email protected] 

COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND EVENTS:  Laura Peck,  [email protected] 

                                                                             Barbi Jo Stim,  [email protected] 

SERVICES:  Joann Sullivan,  [email protected]  

                       Judy Boe, [email protected]

                       Shirley Haberfeld, [email protected] 

SOCIAL SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE:  Roberta Pressman,  [email protected] 

FUNDRAISING:  Enid Pollack,  [email protected]

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Patricia Sussman,  [email protected]

MARKETING AND OUTREACH: Marcia Freedman,  [email protected]

LIVING ROOM CHATS SUBCOMMITTEE:  Jane Selby, [email protected]  

MEMBER SUPPORT: [email protected]

GENERAL INQUIRIES:  [email protected] 

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS:  [email protected] 

NEWSLETTER/DIGEST SUBMISSIONS:  [email protected] 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Andy Gaines:  [email protected]  

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR: Andrea Mok: [email protected] 

Board   

CHAIR:  Patricia Sussman

VICE CHAIR:  Shirley Haberfeld

SECRETARY/TREASURER:  Andra Lichtenstein

Bob Davis

Marcia Freedman

Laura Peck

Roberta Pressman  

Jane Selby

Barbi Jo Stim

Betty Webster

Marj Wolf