End of Life Concerns Club

SPRINGTIME IN ROSSMOOR

CASSIE TZUR, OUTGOING PRESIDENT

As I wind down my time as President of the End Of Life Concerns Club, 

I want to offer gratitude to the board members who have assisted me.

VALERIE HAAK, my Vice President, has been a confidant and friend as we worked together obtaining rooms for our programs and films, and as we discussed the trajectory of our club’s offerings. She has also made posters for our films and worked on updating our by-laws. She will remain on the board as a "Member at large".

   Thanks also to RICHARD NAEGLE for being Treasurer and handling our finances, and also creating our well-received Dia de Los Muertos program, in conjunction with Entre Amigos Club. RICHARD additionally created and led our first board retreat in November 2024.

I want to say a big thank you to our Death Cafe team, BESS CHOSAK and JIM GREENBERG who have made this gathering so welcoming and inspiring for the 30 to 40 people who have participated with us each month. These gatherings have touched our hearts and souls with the intimate sharing, provocative questions and the reading and reciting of poetry. Jim is also helping to create a website for us, and as I wrote last month, he has agreed to step up and be our new President.

    Although SHAKTI ROSE will be rotating off the board with me, I

want to thank her for her dedicated service as Secretary. She has 

been able to capture our lively discussions quite succinctly. 

    Another person who has been a hard worker is SALLY KENNEDY, our Film Chair. She had dedicated her volunteer service with our club to the memory of her son. She will remain on the board in a new role (for her) as Secretary. Thank you Sally!

    A strong and skillful board member is MARCIA LIBERSON, our

Program Chair. She has created numerous excellent educational

programs in the past few years, and will continue to do so. Her

knowledge of Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) has been a great help

to us, and her ability to lead programs is extraordinary.

    And finally I want to acknowledge MARLEY MIDDLEBROOK, 

who is still working part time as a psychologist, and has become our Membership Chair. Membership Chair became a new board position in 2024. She has reached out to the Rossmoor community, gotten new members, and created a seamless membership operation. Additionally, she has agreed to become the editor of our monthly newsletter. Her positive spirit is a great asset for her and for our club.



   All my best to the 2025 EOLC Board team! 

CASSIE TZUR, Outgoing President, EOLCC 

JIM GREENBERG AND BESS CHOSAK, CO-FACILiTATORS

Our last Death Cafe met on Valentine's Day, February 14, at the Hillside Club"s Vista room. Our next Death Cafe will be on Friday, March 14, 3:30 at the same location.

The following poem evoked many of our members to share peaceful insights to their personal dance of life.



Here is the poem read by Bess at the last Death Cafe:

The Larger Circle

By Wendell Berry 

We clasp the hands of those that go before us,

And those who come after us.

We enter the little circle of each other's arms

And the larger circle of lovers,

Whose hands are joined in a dance

And the larger circle of all creatures

Passing in and out of life

Who move also in a dance

To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it

Except in fragments.

Update on Bess: You might be aware that Bess had a fall, she wants you to know she is recovering well with the help of intensive physical therapy. Bess expects to be back home in mid-March.

Jim Greenberg, our new EOLCC President, would like to share this link he received from the Hemlock Society

Our Next Free Public Meeting

Aging and Independent Services

Sunday, March 16th

1:30 to 3:00pm PT

On Zoom

Do you feel alone and overwhelmed by aging, end-of-life issues, or disabilities? Need support to remain independent or assistance for a loved one? Join our next Zoom meeting to discover community resources for choice, dignity, and control in our daily challenges and at the end of life. 

Guest speaker Matthew Parcasio from San Diego County Aging & Independence Services will provide an overview of approximately 30 programs and services offered by his agency and other community providers. Mr. Parcasio holds an MA in Gerontology and has extensive experience in caring for older individuals and adults living with disabilities.

Most local governments provide services for senior and disabled populations. If you do not reside in San Diego County, you will still gain insights into similar programs available in your own county. Following the presentation, there will be a Q & A period. We are interested in hearing if you have utilized any of these services, either in San Diego or elsewhere. Additionally, given recent government budget cuts, we would like to know if these programs have been reduced or eliminated in your area.

Let's examine the struggles so many people face alone and discover community solutions. We welcome your valuable participation in this meeting as we collectively strive to uphold autonomy and independence.

Please share this invitation with anyone

who may benefit from this meeting.

Register for the Zoom link: 

Click Here

GLORIA GLUSKIN, FILM CHAIR

 FILMS

The next film "Tuesday's With Morrie", starring Jack Lemon and Hank Azaria, will be on Monday March 17th at 1 pm in the Peacock Theater.  Check Newspaper for more details. 

For any questions or suggestions about films that you might like to recommend please contact Gloria Gluskin at ggluskin1@gmail.com or text to: (407) 415-8682.

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"Tuesday's with Morrie" 3/17/25 1PM

Marcia Liberson, PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Our April 21st program will be in the Club room at Creekside. Watch for details next month.

MARLEY MIDDLEBROOK, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

We continue to receive your membership renewals. Thank you for supporting our work at the End of Life Concerns Club.

Currently, we have 96 renewed or new members.

Thank you Cassie for steering the club for the last four years.

If you haven't renewed as yet, you may do so at the next Death Cafe, or drop off a check to the Gateway mailbox. Membership is $20 per year and is a great way to be involved in the community.

Contact Marley Middlebrook at marleypsyd@me.com or (925) 385-0336

Cassie Tzur, President, Jim Greenberg, incoming President

endoflifeconcerns@gmail.com

(925)285-4071