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REACHING OUT by Tom Benet
Like the warmth and sense of renewal that comes with the advent of Spring, there is no better tonic for body and soul than a sense of community and involvement with our fellow humans. That's what a number of programs sponsored by Episcopal Senior Communities aim at. Amy Brokering, the Program Coordinator, is succinct: "We want to reach out - to reduce isolation, to reduce depression."
As the great English novelist E. M. Forster put it: "Only Connect!"
The driving force behind these programs is contained in a statement of purpose to "strive to address unmet needs of elders...affording (them) an improved quality of life and the joy of knowing they are cared for."
Take Senior Center Without Walls. This program offers activities, friendly conversation and support groups to those who find it difficult to go to a community center. From the comfort of their own homes using their own phone, people can participate in a wide variety of activities. The subjects are nothing if not varied - they range from brain aerobics, to poetry, to word games to armchair birding. One participant describes it as "removing the walls between us - creating connections on the phone with people who would otherwise not know us." There is no fee and one can sign up at anytime during a three-month session. For more information, check the website www.seniorcenterwithoutwalls.org or call 510 444-5974, or 877 797-7299.
Another project, ElderWISE, provides volunteers to visit isolated, homebound seniors so they can have someone to play games, listen to music, read of just visit with. The web contact there is www.jtm-esc.org, or phone: 415 668-1823.
Here, clearly, is outreach with a spring to its step and humanity at its heart. The director of Episcopal Senior Communities Outreach to Elders is Josie McGann.
She can be reached at
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, or phone: 415 752-0139.
A REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT: OUR NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE by Gayle Geary
Our new committee structure fits in perfectly with the theme of this Newsletter – reorganizing and spring-cleaning. Just as individuals look to simplify and spruce up after the long winter season, so do organizations.
When I became the President of the Village Board of Directors, I looked at everything with a fresh eye, and a nervous one as well. While I had served on a number of boards, I had never chaired one before. I talked to a lot of people more experienced than I, and thought about the mission of the Village. We are an organization focused on increasing the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual well being of our members, and I felt that our mission should be reflected in the committee structure.
Plus, I didn’t want our board members, volunteers, and users bogged down with too many committees – and I wanted each committee name to truly express the vision of that committee.
Here are our five overarching committees:
Executive Committee, composed of the Executives of the Board – Gayle Geary, President; Mary Moore Gaines, Past President; Aurèle Carlat, Vice President; David Berg, Treasurer; Nina Huebsh, Secretary. Our job is to operate independently only when the full board cannot be convened. With email, this happens very rarely.
Governance Committee, chaired by Aurèle Carlat, and including Claudia Lewis, Susan Poor, Stephen Taber, Glady Thacher, Katie Cardinal (Advisory Council member). Governance oversees nominating, board development, contracts, evaluation, board recruitment, policies, legal/bylaws
Finance Committee, chaired by David Berg, and including Jack Herndon and Eva Auchincloss. Finance is responsible for the financial reporting and fiduciary oversight for the organization.
Member Enrichment Committee, co-chaired by Eva Auchinclaus and Nina Huebsch, and including Jeff Maltz, Marilyn Campbell, Gayle Uchida, Tom Benét, Marsha Robertson, Margaret Rafferty, Judy Langley, and others on an ad hoc basis.
Member enrichment is responsible for planning and providing relevant programs, hosting members’ meetings, communicating with our member community through monthly mailings and our eNewsletter, developing our Member Roster, recommending and recruiting new service providers to meet our members’ needs.
Its goal is to create and deliver a superior experience to our members. An important part of this is engaging our membership (all of you) in making sure this happens. One exciting new way we do this is through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor sub-committee, which helps members reach out and talk with one another on a regular basis, provides transportation for our members, and supplies computer assistance to anyone who needs it. It is 100% member-led and run.
Village Development Committee, co-chaired by Lynne Fox and Claudia Lewis, and including Glady Thacher, David Berg (both heading up fund development), Nancy Price, Jim Kimzey, Carol Crawford, Marsha Robertson and Gayle Uchida.
Village Development does exactly what it says – it is building the Village through fund development, member acquisition, events, and partnerships. It is the committee that is responsible for outreach into the community through branding, marketing, communications and PR, presentations to community organizations, and fund raising aimed at individuals, foundations, and corporations.
I Invite You to Participate in committee work. It’s a wonderful way to meet people, to do good work, and make a difference in the lives of older adults in San Francisco. Please email me directly at
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SPOTLIGHT ON DON AND JUDY LANGLEY by Marsha Robertson
If you’re still contemplating what senior living should look or feel like in the years ahead, consider the story of SF Village members Don and Judy Langley, who took a big leap and didn’t look back.
Residents of San Francisco since the 1960s, the Langleys owned and loved a Pacific Heights Victorian home for 40 years, but gradually recognized the challenges that a big house (and its stairways) would present over time. Don, a veteran journalist/editor who ran the popular news magazine TravelAge West for 21 years and also served as West Coast Editor of Travel Trade, was scaling down to part-time consulting. And Judy, a fundraiser and community activist, was intrigued by the idea of senior housing that would offer services as needed.
But both were open to adventure, which may have been what led them off the traditional retirement path to Park Terrace, a modern, multi-generational condominium and townhouse development in San Francisco’s new Mission Bay neighborhood.
Completed in the summer of 2007, the 7-floor residence had attracted a diverse group of neighbors to a mixed-use community that is anchored by UCSF and biomedicine companies. Don laughs that it was home to as many dogs as people but they fell for a spacious 2-bedroom condominium and moved in the spring of 2008.
“We’ve had to learn to live together, “ jokes Don about the downsizing. In their Pacific Heights Victorian, they had their own offices and bathrooms. Now they share one of each.
“But to add a little charm to this,” says Judy, “our home faces onto Mission Creek and directly across the creek are the houseboats that have been there for 40 years. Our neighbors are diverse in all sorts of ways, but we’ve come together. “
But what about the senior housing with services that had once been on their wish list? SF Village fills that need for them.
A native Bostonian, Judy had followed the progress of Beacon Hill Village and recognized the value of a like-minded network in retirement years. “Right now we don’t need much in the way of services,” she says. “ We’re pretty independent. But the Village has helped us when we needed something simple, like a carpet cleaner and when we had trouble with our long-term care insurance.”
Eager to spread the good word about SF Village within their Mission Bay community, Don and Judy have volunteered to host the upcoming event on Identity Theft on April 12 (corrected date) at the Mission Creek Senior Housing Community - and they invite you to join them!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS
 Gail Sheehy Is Coming to San Francisco Village on June 15, 2010
Tuesday, June 15 Gail Sheehy will be speaking on our behalf about her new book, Passages in Caregiving. As many of you know, San Francisco Village and some of our members are featured in the final chapter of her book.
We are hosting a fund/friend raiser event at the Jewish Community Center San Francisco. There will be a VIP reception beginning at 5:30 ($125 per person – meet and chat with Gail, receive a signed book and ticket with preferred seating) followed by Gail’s presentation of her new book in Kanbar Hall at 7:30 PM ($25 per person) with a book signing after for those attending the presentation only.
We hope to see you all at this very special evening, and please invite your family and friends.
OTHER DATES TO SAVE
Friday, May 14
Join Mary Moore and George Gaines for Very Warm For May by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, presented by 42nd Street Moon. www.42ndstreetmoon.org
8:00 pm, Cost: $34, a reduced price for SFV members and their guests
Eureka Theater, 215 Jackson Street. Some of us will gather for dinner at L’Oliver’s Restaurant, easy walk from the theater. Call 415-387-1375 to rsvp and to ask for or to offer to give a ride. SFV will buy a block of tickets.
Wednesday, May 19th
Special San Francisco Village outing: a member picnic at the beautiful Woodside grounds and residence of Jean Phleger, 11:00 to 2:00. Carpooling will be arranged.
SFV'S ART OF LIVING WELCOMES ELKE TEKIN by Mary Moore Gaines
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it — Marcus Aurelius Antoninu
On April 8, 1:00-2:30 pm, at Eva Aurchincloss’s home, SFV welcomes Elke Tekin as our guest at the monthly Art of Living series. Elke will facilitate a conversation about “Conscious Aging in a Changing World.” Elke is Executive Director of AgeSong at Laguna Grove, offering specialized care for high needs assisted living.
The AgeSong model of care was inspired by the diverse backgrounds of its founders — three brothers who combined their respective expertise in psychology, theology, and law into a passion for changing the vision of elder care. They were later joined by their sister Elke and AgeSong grew to attract leading professionals in the field of aging.
By integrating our inner community with our outer surroundings, and by offering residents encouragement, support, and opportunities for growth, AgeSong community programs counter loneliness and isolation, and encourage learning and community involvement.
Our communities serve as exemplary training environments for students, interns, volunteers, international visitors, and others. For instance, our gero-wellness program is a model of process-oriented, existential training for many universities here and abroad. Through this program, interns join with residents to create a truly intergenerational exchange.
To learn more, visit AgeSong.com and reserve your place for April 8. Call Gayle at 387-1375. Please bring a friend or another member.
 REFLECTION by Mary Moore Gaines
Now I become myself. It’s taken Time, many years and places; I have been dissolved and shaken, Worn other people’s faces . . .
May Sarton, “Now I Become Myself”
May Sarton (1912-1935), novelist, poet and memoirist, author of fifty-three books, lived her last years on the coast at York, Maine. Her 1961 novel The Small Room was a meditation on teaching and a shrewd analysis of the price of excellence in women's education.
The theme of this month’s Newsletter is ‘renewal,’ ‘fresh start,’ ‘spring cleaning.’ Perhaps the best place to begin renewal is with ourselves. I’ve often thought that spring is a better time for resolutions, change, renewal than the New Year, a time of dark, quiet, of hibernation. Spring is the time for planting, for fresh shoots, new ideas and new beginnings.
I am wondering how San Francisco Village (SFV) is nurturing you this spring? Is SFV providing new opportunities for you to see and do new things? To reach out to others in new ways? To become more yourself, with an invigorated vision of aging and of how the wisdom of older adults can be mined in our American society? Are there new stirrings of joy, of freedom, of possibility?
I have been reminded of how important music and dance are to me and to my well being, joy and sense of possibility. And, wouldn’t you know it, we have a new and splendid opportunity to enjoy that great art form, the American musical comedy. On Friday, May 14, at 8:00 pm, 42nd Street Moon has invited SFV to the musical “Very Warm for May,” by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, at the Eureka Theater, 215 Jackson Street. Some of us will gather at 6:00 pm for dinner at L’Olivier, 465 Davis Court, easy walk to the theater.
Ticket prices, already reasonable, will be further reduced for SFV members. Call the office to let us know you are coming and we will buy a block of tickets. To learn more, call the Moon box office 415-225-8207 or e-mail www.42ndstreetmoon.org. If you need a ride, can offer a ride, or want to go with our partners SilverRide, please let the office know. I’ll be there . . . please come with me!
TAX SMART from Tammy Haygood, Jones Financial Advisor
Paying too much to Uncle Sam? Here are some basic “tax-smart.” strategies to consider:
1 Invest in tax-free municipal bonds. If you’re in an upper income bracket, you might benefit from owning tax-free municipal bonds. The interest payments from “munis.” are typically exempt from federal income taxes and may also be exempt from state and local taxes, depending on where you live. (However, the interest from some types of munis may be subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT)
2 “Max out” on your Roth IRA. If you qualify for a Roth IRA, try to fully fund it every year. Your earnings grow tax free, provided you’ve had your account at least five years and you don’t take withdrawals until you’re at least 591/2.
And as of 2010, everyone can qualify to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. If you convert in 2010, your conversion amount will be split and reported as income for tax years 2011 and 2012, unless you elect to report the entire conversion on your 2010 taxes.
3 Distribute assets between taxable and retirement accounts. You’ll want to review all your investments to determine if they’re working together to help you achieve your goals. But in considering ways to help control investment taxes, you may also find it useful to look at two separate categories: your tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as a traditional IRA or 401(k), and your taxable accounts. As a general rule, you might consider putting income-producing securities, such as taxable bonds, into a tax-deferred retirement account. When you ultimately take out this money, presumably at retirement, your withdrawals will be taxed at your income tax rate, which may be lower by then. Conversely,
you may want to consider adding growth-oriented securities, such as stocks, to a taxable account. As long as you hold these assets at least a year, you’ll pay the long-term capital gains rate, which is currently 15% if you’re in one of the top three tax brackets. (This rate may soon rise).
4 Sell your “losers” throughout the year. If you own investments that have lost value and that you don’t need to keep for other reasons (such as portfolio balance), consider selling them throughout the year. Your losses can offset any capital gains you might have achieved; if you don’t have any gains, the losses can offset up to $3,000 of your regular income. Plus, any losses you don’t use in a given year can be carried forward indefinitely for use against future capital gains. Before embarking on any of these strategies, consult with your tax advisor.
Some “tax-smart” moves may not be appropriate for your situation. But if you’re concerned about the impact of investment taxes, it can pay to explore all your options.
 San Francisco Village Programs
Come and bring a Friend. For more information or to RSVP for a SF Village sponsored program, call us at 415-387-1375 or email us at
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Thursday, April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Beginning Yoga Class
9:00am -10:15am, Cost: For SF Village members $7/class
Location: 120 St. Germain Avenue near Twin Peaks
Hosted by: Aurele Carlot
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP. for questions, all Aurele 415-425-5086
Thursday, April 1
Lunch Bunch Goes to Sears Fine food and Macy's Flower Show
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, Cost: Self Pay $12 - $15
439 Powell Street near Union Square
Hosted by: Marilyn Campbell and Nina Huebsch
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP
Thursday, April 8
‘Art of Living’ Monthly Series – Second Thursdays
Fourth Session – “Conscious Aging… In A Changing World”
Facilitated by: Elke Tekins
1:00pm - 2:30pm, Cost: Free to SFV members; non-members, donation requested
3620 Lyon Street near Exploratorium entrance (good parking)
Hosted by: Eva Auchincloss
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP
Monday, April 12
“Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Prevention,” Sean Do, Consumer Fraud Division, DA's Office, Presentation moderated by Tammy Haygood of Edward Jones
1:30-3pm Presentation & Questions, Cost: Free
Mission Creek Senior Community, Corner of 4th and Berry Streets
Followed by refreshments at the home of Judy and Don Langley
Hosted by: Judy and Don Langley
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP and for parking options. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PREFERRED.
Wednesday, April 14
Play Reading Group
5:00pm – 7:00pm, Cost: Free
2843 Webster Street #304 between Union and Green
Hosted by: Jean Halvorsen
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP
Thursday, April 15
Debut of SF Village Ongoing Discussion Group: “Things That Matter As We Age”
4:30pm – 6:30pm, Cost: Free
3979 Washington Street at Arguello
Hosted by: Glady Thacher and Sarah Goldman
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP. For questions, call Glady 415-751-1731.
Monday, April 19
San Francisco Village Book Club
Home by Marilynne Robinson
10:00am – 11:00 am, Cost: Free
2372 Pine Street (between Fillmore and Steiner)
Hosted by: Margaret Johnson
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP
Wednesday, April 28
Spirituality Group
5:30pm – 7:30pm, Cost: Free
San Francisco Foundation, 225 Bush Street near Sansome
Hosted by Glady Thacher and Diana Arsham
Call 415-387-1375
Thursday, April 29
San Francisco Village Chat
6:00pm-7:30pm, Cost: Free
Call 415-387-1375 for more information.
SAVE-the-DATE for Upcoming Programs
Friday, May 14
Join Mary Moore and George for "Very Warm For May” - A lively musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein presented by 42nd Street Moon, www.42ndstreetmoon.org
8:00pm – 10:15pm, Cost: $34 (reduced price for SFV members and their guests)
Eureka Theater, 215 Jackson Street (between Battery and Front)
Call 415-387-1375 to rsvp and to ask for or to offer to give a ride.
Note: SFV will buy a block of tickets. Call the office before May 7th to sit in block.
Friday, May 14
Join Mary Moore and George for early dinner before “Very Warm for May”
6:00pm, Cost: Self Pay $25-$40
L’Oliver’s Restaurant, 465 Davis (between Washington and Jackson)
Call 415-387-1375 to RSVP
Wednesday, May 19
San Francisco Village Spring Member Picnic in Woodside
11:00am – 2:00pm
More details to follow.
Tuesday, June 15 --Gail Sheehy Is Coming to San Francisco Village
Gail Sheehy will talk about her new book – Passages in Caregiving: From Chaos to Confidence
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Cost: $25 per person
Kanbar Hall at the JCCSF, 3200 California Street
Hosted by San Francisco Village
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
More details to follow.
SFV Partner Programs for April
Mondays, April 5, 12, 19 and 29
“Always Active” Seniors Moving to Better Health Exercise Program
Hosted by Episcopal Senior Communities
10:00am–11:00am, Cost: Free
4620 California Street at St. James Parish Hall (between 8th and 9th Avenue)
Call 415-752-0139 to RSVP
Wednesday, April 7
The Brain Revealed, From Chemistry to Mystery (Series Debut) - ‘Brain Health and Neuroplasticity’
William B. Stewart, M.D. and Henry Mahncke, PhD
Hosted by the Institute for Health and Healing
6:30pm-8:30pm, Cost: Free
3200 California Street at Jewish Community Center (at Presidio Avenue)
Call 415-600-2120 for required registration. For series info check www.myhealthandhealing.org
Wednesday, April 7th
SilverRide Signature Event: The Jews in Modern China, San Francisco Presidio
1PM-4PM Cost: Price including admission & round-trip transportation: $55/person
Call to reserve (415) 861-7433
Wednesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28
“Always Active” Seniors Moving to Better Health Exercise Program
Hosted by Episcopal Senior Communities
9:30am-10:30am, Cost: Free
4620 California Street at St. James Parish Episcopal Church (between 8th and 9th Avenue)
Call 415-752-0139 to RSVP
Monday, April 12
SilverRide Signature Event: Golden Gate Express Garden Railway Golden Gate Park
1PM-4PM Cost: Price including admission & round-trip transportation: $55/person
Call to reserve (415) 861-7433
Thursday, April 15th
SilverRide Signature Event: Sicilian Puppet Theater, Cowell Theater – Fort Mason
7PM-9PM, Cost: Price including admission, cookies, and round-trip transportation is $70/person
Call to reserve (415) 861-7433
Monday, April 19
“How Safe is Your Home?” Martin Simenc of Home Safety Services
Hosted by Episcopal Senior Communities
11:00am-12:00noon including light lunch, Cost: Free
4620 California Street at St. James Parish Hall (between 8th and 9th Avenue)
Call 415-752-0139 to RSVP
Wednesday, April 21
SilverRide Signature Event: Bouquets to Art with High Tea, De Young Museum
1PM-5PM, Cost: (High Tea at 3PM) Price including admission, high tea & round-trip
transportation: $85/person
Call to reserve (415) 861-7433
Thursdays, April 22-May 27
Lip Reading Class with Judi Kaplan, Speech-Language Pathologist
Hosted by Episcopal Senior Communities and sponsored by City College of San Francisco
1:15pm-2:45pm, Cost: Free
4620 California Street at St. James Parish Hall (between 8th and 9th Avenue)
Call 415-561-1018 to RSVP and for more information
Activities of Interest for April
Sunday, April 11
Spring Concert - Handel's Semel
Presented by San Francisco City Chorus
3:00pm-5:00pm, Cost: $15-$18
Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Lakeside @ Eucalyptus
Call 415-701-7664 for more information
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