Hello members and friends,
I hope you are enjoying this lovely weather.
I am writing to update you on our continuing efforts to remain connected while recognizing that covid is still very much with us. Beyond the many Zooms, we have been working hard at offering options for engaging with others, stimulating our minds, and encouraging socializing.
When covid came, we offered weekly check-in calls to members at the Neighbor and Villager levels, even though Neighbors normally can have two services a year. As always, Villagers who wished to have companions were matched with a volunteer to meet, though virtually or in the park at a distance. Now these services continue and companions and Villagers can meet however they choose.
We started a "Chat" group which has turned out to be a women's group. We already had a thriving men's group. While we are now doing in-person services (members and volunteers must be vaccinated and masked), we have not been able to have in-person programs/workshops and social events. However, the chat group and the men's group have chosen to meet in person in each others' homes. Villagers and Neighbors can join those groups and if they are full we can start another group or place someone on a waiting list. The writing group, Spanish conversation group, intergenerational book club and the US History groups continue to meet. The groups decide their own agendas and meeting places.
We are looking forward to the possibility that we will be able to move our Zoomed programs to in-person or maybe a hybrid version in "22. At the present time there are no spaces that offer those possibilities. The locales we always used before covid came, ie. the libraries, the Chamber of Commerce, community rooms at high-rise residences, meeting rooms at First Presbyterian Church, etc. are not yet available.
Tomorrow we have a program called "Let's Talk" which is a socialization opportunity. Please consider joining us. So far it's a small group with interesting and engaged people. In December we will be hosting a virtual holiday party as we did last year.
We all are hoping for winter illnesses to be mild this year and that we will begin to feel a sense of normalcy returning in '22.
Take care,
Jane Eleey
Executive Director