Letter from Board President
Andra Lichtenstein
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As Ashby Village grows into a larger organization, it’s important that the Board be transparent and open, encouraging our members, volunteers and greater community to understand who we are and how we’re organized. Below is an overview of the Board of Directors, the first of many articles intended to provide a more in-depth look at Ashby Village leaders and infrastructure. Stay tuned!
Ashby Village Board of Directors: Who We Are and How We Operate
Our History
Our Village is lucky to have a dedicated and talented Board of Directors. Just as Ashby Village has grown from an idea hatched by neighbors over coffee, our Board has evolved over time. When we started over 10 years ago, our Board of Directors was an active founding Board. We had one paid staff, an interim Executive Director. Everyone was involved in programming, staffing, and events. Since that time, we have evolved from a founding board to more of an institutional board, one with a more formal structure and a focus on policy and the long-term financial health of our Village.
Our membership
For a list of Ashby Village Board members
click here
.
The Executive Director and a representative of the Program Leadership Team sit on the board.
Over 10 years ago, when Ashby Village was just starting, our Board of Directors was an active founding Board. Everyone was involved in programming, staffing, and events. Since that time, we have evolved from a founding board to more of an institutional board, like any other nonprofit board of directors. Where once we were involved in the day-to-day activities of Ashby Village, we are now focused instead on policy and the financial health of our Village.
Our Work
The Board of Directors is responsible for governing Ashby Village, ensuring the Village has the necessary financial and human resources, and establishing key policies. Our Board charter lists the following responsibilities:
- Establish and evaluate the organization’s vision, mission and direction.
- Oversee, ensure implementation, and revise the strategic plan as needed.
- Ensure that the organization is operated in compliance with all relevant laws and within the framework of its mission.
- Make and oversee policy decisions.
- Ensure the financial health of the organization, including monitoring and approving the annual budget.
- Maintain effective relations with the Community and other stakeholders.
- Hire, evaluate and support the Executive Director.
- Ensure programmatic excellence.
Our Structure
We currently have 12 Board members, 9 of whom are Ashby Village members. We can have up to 15 members, and our nominating committee is active in recruiting new members, especially those with experience in fundraising and the wider Aging community. Board meetings are held monthly. The Board Minutes are available to anyone who requests them from the Executive Director. Much of our work is accomplished at the committee level:
- Executive Committee -- sets Board agendas, also acts as Personnel Committee
- Governance Committee -- responsible for health and functioning of the Board and nominations of new board members
- Finance Committee* -- oversees all finance-related activities and works with the Executive Director to create the annual budget
- Development Committee -- provides strategy, leadership, planning and support for all fundraising
- Planning Committee -- responsible for long-range planning and developing strategic initiatives and partnerships in the broader community. A member of the PLT (Program Leadership Team) sits on this committee.
*The Finance and Development Committees are open to any members of the community who have relevant experience and interest in participating.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at
andralich@gmail.com
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Your Story, Your Power as Frontrunners
A Talk by Peggy Reskin
Friday, May 3, 3:00-4:00 pm
Ashby Village
1821 Catalina Ave., Berkeley
Peggy Reskin will speak about her book “Barefoot Frontrunners: Sex, Women & Power.” She writes about the history and perspective of the impact of the sexual revolution as lived thru by women & men of the 1960’s.The book is based on the interviews and research about the generation of those women and men who came thru the politics of the 1960’s and led the country to new political and social practices and organization of marital and family patterns.
The event is open to all.
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Sunday, May 19 , 2:00-4:00 pm
Richmond
RSVP for location
Invite a friend to join our Living Room Chat!
They'll have the opportunity to hear what Ashby Village offers to our members and volunteers, how it enhances their quality of life, and why it helps them develop peace of mind about the future.
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VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
EVENT!
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, June 15, 2019
2:00-4:00pm
More details to follow!
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Hearts N' Hands Thank You!
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I am very pleased with my clearer yard and with the sense of possibility that this new space gives me. Thank you very much.
~AV Member Charlotte Shoemaker
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Upcoming Hearts N' Hands Events
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Window Washing
Wednesday May 1, 2019
10:00am-2:30pm
For this event, volunteers will meet to wash the windows of two members' homes, one after another!
Come and join us! Light lunch provided.
RSVP
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Gardening Project
Wednesday June 20, 2019
9:30am-2:00pm
For this event, the
project will include weeding in the back yard.
Come and join us! Light lunch provided.
RSVP
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The Hearts N' Hands program provides volunteer assistance to Ashby Village Members when they need a hand
Volunteers gather for a half day to complete multiple
jobs at once.
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Ashby Village Elder Action
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Elder Action is an Ashby Village interest group that advocates for social justice issues. We believe we can make our voices heard regarding local, state and national issues, but we also have determined that we can be most effective at dealing with statewide legislative initiatives and ballot measures. Our three areas of focus are revision of Proposition 13; expansion of low-income housing opportunities (specifically for the growing number of newly homeless elders); and the statewide expansion of health care coverage.
Because the revision of Proposition 13 is a concrete proposition with a clear deadline, and massive financial implications for the state, we have decided to focus most of our attention at this time on this very important reform of the California tax code.
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WANTED: Your Speaker and Performance Recommendations!
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Some of Ashby Village's most successful events have come to the us by way of member and volunteer recommendations and offers - in other words, they came from you!
Are you interested in sharing your subject matter expertise, or artistic and musical talents, or do you know someone who may be willing to share theirs?
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Plan Ahead to Submit Articles to This Newsletter
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Would you like your event or notice to appear in the Village Voices Newsletter? Use
this simple form to submit your material.
It takes us time to prepare each issue! Remember that the DEADLINE for each newsletter is the 15th of the previous month. Late submissions are not guaranteed placement in the next newsletter.
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Google Photo Albums!
Interested in learning about Google photo albums?
In this month’s “Tech Tips,” volunteer Bill Graham tells us how to make a Google photo album on your iPhone or iPad.
Click here to read the new article on Google Photo Albums!
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Would you like personal assistance from Technology & Electronics Volunteers?
Volunteers can help you with a
wide range
of devices!
Do you want to learn how to get more out of your smart phone or tablet? Call us!
Not sure how to get your TV hooked up? Call us!
Interested in finally getting your printer to work? Call us!
Are you ready to learn how to use Skype or FaceTime to have video calls with friends and family? Call us!
Have you had enough of that weird thing that keeps happening with your computer? Call us!
Click here to find technology resources on Ashby Village website.
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Neighborhood Groups &
Ongoing Activities
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Tuesday, May 7, 3:30 - 5:30 pm,
Elder Action at Ashby Village.
Friday, May 17, 2:00 - 4:00 pm,
Emery Bunch Mah-Jongg. Watergate Condominium, Emeryville. Contact Jean Goldman 510-207-6600.
Thursday, May 23, 3:00 - 5:00 pm,
Clarewood Igroup. Home of Bob Reynolds, Oakland. Call 510-597-1952.
Check out our
online calendar for the
full view of our upcoming meetings, activities and other
events.
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Reflections on Past Events
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Medication Management, a talk by Dr. Michelle Dhanak. M.D.
Story by Bob Waxmann
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On April 3rd, Dr. Michelle Dhanak, MD- Geriatrician talked about the value of consulting with a Geriatic specialist.
As we age, she explained, we often develop more “conditions”. Health matters become more complicated as a result of a variety of functions – physical, emotional, social and spiritual. It’s not just about “age”. A Geriatrician looks at how the older patient is functioning today and the current relevance of each medication. As a person ages, this results in a layering on of medications and often on a prescription cascade.
Doctor Dhanak offered one example of a “prescription cascade”:
> One pill can increase urination.
> Another pill might be prescribed to reduce urination.
> A drug might be prescribed for gout.
> Ibuprofen might be prescribed which may result in an increase in blood pressure.
> A pill is then prescribed to reduce blood pressure.
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For Harry Edwards, Sports is a crucible for social justice
Story by Rochelle Lefkowitz
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Some elders shrink into frustrated invisibility. At 6’8”, with white beard and flashing dark eyes, Dr. Harry Edwards doesn’t enter a room unnoticed. Yet from his first words, until our last standing ovation, it was the world-famous, pioneer sports sociologist’s powerful stories that caught and kept our attention on April 7 at the Ashby Village Arts & Culture Series at Berkeley’s Northbrae Church Sanctuary.
His profound presentation was a fast-paced, riveting ball game. Interspersed with mesmerizing, three-point shots of history, it gave many of us new ways to understand our world. No article could do it justice. For the beautiful, powerful experience, please watch the video (link to video), including his replies to our questions. Short of that, here’s a recap.
“When I was growing up, pro-sports were seen as a refuge. Society’s problems had no place at the game. Or did they?” Dr. Edwards, the leading authority on the intersection of race, sports and society, quickly upended that myth. He showed us how sports are infused with society’s cultural and political issues, and how that affects our political and social climate.
As founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, he’s best known for inspiring the “most well-known sports image of the 20th century”, the Black Power salute by U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. On Sunday 4/7, he introduced us to four intergenerational waves of black athletes prompted to activism within and beyond the sports arena.
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Have you ever considered a short-term houseshare?
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A friend of Ashby Village is looking for an interim rental as first step in relocating from Benicia to the East Bay to be close to her kids and grandkids who are part of the Ashby Village family.
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Berkeley Broadway Singers Upcoming Concerts
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Both concerts are free and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley at 1 Lawson Road in Kensington.
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Small Sewing Jobs Needed?
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Ashby Village has many talented volunteers.
Hilary
, in particular, likes to sew! She is able to manage buttons, hemming, mending and small sewing projects.
If you are an AV member and would like some some sewing help, please contact the office.
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Martin Friedman
June, 1934 - April, 2019
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Note from Martin's son Max
Martin Friedman died April 1 and he went as he wished: at home, without pain, in the arms of his children. Martin enjoyed being a member of Ashby Village and I often heard about his participation in activities, or accompanied him to some when I was in town. We are very grateful.
Martin lived his final chapter exactly as he wanted, brain cancer notwithstanding: at home, with frequent visits and calls from many friends, and always accompanied by at least one child (and often a grandchild or two). He read the entirety of Dostoyevsky's
The Idiot
for one last meeting of his book group, which he hosted, and he made sure to thoroughly indulge his sweet tooth. We were left with two kinds of ice cream, a box of chocolates, fresh rugelach, and some delicious lemon cheesecake. We miss him so very, very much, but we know he will always be with us, and with all who treasured his erudition, curiosity, wit, generosity, and compassion.
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Thank you to the Ashby Village volunteers who contributed to this issue of the Village Voices newsletter.
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