Centered & Connected, November 2022 FiftyForward Newsletter

FiftyForward is grateful to all who have served our country, including our many center members who are military veterans. Sandra Norris, a member of FiftyForward Donelson, is proud of her service in the U.S. military and fondly looks back at her time in the Army

In the early 1970s, Sandra went to a local mall, meeting with each military branch before ultimately enlisting in the Army. After basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, she trained at Presidio in San Francisco for her position as a hospital food service worker. She was responsible for cooking food for service members on special diets or who suffered injuries.

This training would help her later in life. Sandra said she appreciated her unique, "hands-on" training and loved that, in the Army, "When you get out of your training, you do your job. You don't sit around." She was permanently stationed at Fort Campbell in Clarksville and served three years in the military She remembers a supervisor assigning her to peel a vat full of onions on her first day. Sandra started peeling, and the onions made her cry so much that a supervisor noticed and told her to stand in the freezer Her supervisor wanted to assign someone else to finish that job. Still, Sandra didn't want to be sent home or to get a reputation for being favored, so she completed every assigned task, including peeling all those onions

When Sandra enlisted in the military, women could not fire a gun or serve on the front lines. Also, when she joined, she was the first female to train at Presidio, where she graduated at the top of her class As part of the drill team in basic training, Sandra traveled around South Carolina, introducing the military to young high school girls. Through her service, Sandra made lifelong relationships and still exchanged Christmas cards with her former supervisor and mentor, Carol Miller They built a strong bond in basic training as they worked hard to complete all the obstacles. She still misses that special comradery.

Sandra believes veterans don't get enough respect for dedicating a portion of their lives to their country. She hopes each veteran receives the rights and benefits they have earned through their service.

Important Center Information

Australia) where the flu season is just wrapping up, to see what might be in store for us. This year, they experienced about three times the normal level of flu which could mean that our flu season will be a hard one, too. The flu is hard to predict so we can’t be sure what our flu season will be like. Our best bet to stay as healthy as possible this winter is to take these steps:

Receive the flu vaccine, Receive all the COVID 19 vaccines and boosters for which you are eligible, Follow proper protocol to prevent illness, Wash hands regularly, Cover your mouth and nose, Stay home if you’re not feeling well, Avoid close contact with people who are actively ill,

Click here for more information from the CDC about how to protect against the flu.

As of this time, masks remain optional at FiftyForward locations. Everyone who chooses to wear a mask will be supported completely. We continue to pay close attention to guidance from government and health officials, and our mask policy may change again in the future if the situation with COVID-19 transmission in our community changes.

November Virtual Programming

To participate and connect to any of these virtual programs below, please sign up in advance via the Membership Portal to receive Zoom links and additional information. The hosting center is listed to the right of the program name (unless the program is only on Zoom).

Writers Group (Knowles) Mondays in November, 1 p.m.

Join the FiftyForward Knowles Writers group, a meeting where writers share stories, poems, and experiences from your life or from your imagination.

Bold & Golden Men’s Retirement Group (Knowles) Tuesdays in November, 1:30 p.m.

Join this men’s group to develop friendships, share experiences, talk about similar interests and simply spend time with other retired men.

Meditation with Kelly (Donelson Station) Wednesdays in Nov., 10 a.m.

Please join us for a 45-minute class focused on slowing our minds, becoming aware of our bodies, and allowing ourselves to cultivate relaxation. All levels are welcome!

Armchair Travel (College Grove) Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m. Get those passports ready!

Come travel the world with your friends, all from the comfort of the College Grove center. Call the center if you would like to watch from home. This month we will explore Alaska!

Neighbor 2 Neighbor “Ignite Your Neighborhood Passion” Discussion ( J. L. Turner)

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 11:30 a.m. Join local nonprofit Neighbor 2 Neighbor as they provide Nashville residents an opportunity to become more engaged in their neighborhoods. “Ignite Your Neighborhood Passion” is designed specifically to cultivate leadership skills among residents who are age 50 years and older, who are seeking to become more actively engaged in their neighborhood Documentary Friday (Martin Center) Friday, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. Join us to watch documentaries that cover history, nature, and much more! You will see fascinating shots from the deep seas and up in the air, capturing great stories and pictures from everything our beautiful and interesting planet has to offer.

November Virtual Programming

To participate and connect to any of the virtual programs below, please sign up in advance via the Membership Portal to receive Zoom links and additional information. The hosting center is listed to the right of the program name (unless the program is only on Zoom).

Bluebird Café Senior Show (College Grove, Knowles & Martin Center)

Monday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. We’ll stream a virtual performance of the monthly Bluebird Café Senior Show! Armchair Travel (Martin Center)

Monday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. Get those passports ready! Come travel the world with your friends, all from the comfort of the Martin Center. Call the center if you would like to watch from home. This month we will visit Laos!

Chat & Chew (Bordeaux) Thursday, Nov. 17, 12 p.m. on Zoom.

Join Bordeaux Center Director Melvin Fowler, for a current events discussion.

Master Gardeners of Davidson County Present Soil Preparation (Madison Station) Thursday, Nov. 17, 1:30 p.m.

Join Master Gardener Paul Prill for a presentation on soil preparation and the importance of caring for soil. Set yourself up for success by the time spring gardening rolls around!

In-person Zoom

Membership Portal Video Library

Did you know that access to the Membership Portal includes a video library filled with programs, including Arts & Crafts, Fitness, Health & Wellness, Lifelong Learning, Entertainment, and Resources? You can access these programs by logging into your account here: https://fiftyforward.org/member/#myaccount

November Center Day Trips

If you are interested in participating in any of the following center day trips or would like more information, please call the hosting center, sign up in the Membership Portal, or refer to each center’s calendar.

Chair Yoga at Bordeaux Library

Bordeaux

Tuesdays in November, 10 a.m., Cost: FREE Lunch Bunch to Biscuit Love

Donelson Station

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal

Immersive King Tut – Martin Center

Thursday, Nov. 3, 12 p.m., Cost: $35 Immersive King Tut – J. L. Turner Center

Thursday, Nov. 3, 12:15 p.m., Cost: $35 Estate Sale Shopping – Donelson Station

Friday, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m., Cost: $10 Medicare Annual Enrollment with TN

SHIP – Bordeaux & J. L. Turner Center

Turner: Friday, November 4, 8:15 a.m., Cost: FREE Bordeaux: Friday, Nov. 4, 10:15 a.m., Cost: FREE Nashville Symphony Dress

Rehearsal – Knowles

Friday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m., Cost: $10 Monthly Grocery Shopping Trip

Bordeaux

Friday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m., Cost: $5

The Marvelous Wonderettes Lunch Matinee College Grove

Friday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $45

The Marvelous Wonderettes Lunch Matinee

Martin Center Friday, Nov. 4, 12 p.m., Cost: $45 Frist Art Museum – Bordeaux, Turner, Donelson Station, Madison Station, Martin Center Turner: Monday, Nov. 7, 9:15 a.m., Cost: $10

Bordeaux: Monday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m., Cost: $10 Donelson Station: Monday, Nov. 7, 12:30 p.m., Cost: $10 Madison Station: Monday, November 21, 9:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + lunch cost at Jasper’s following museum Martin Center: Monday, Nov. 28, 9:15 a.m., Cost: $10 Walk with a Doc and All of Us Research Program – Bordeaux, Knowles Wednesday, Nov. 9, Cost is FREE at all centers

Bordeaux: Departs 9 a.m. Knowles: Departs 9:30 a.m. Two Rivers Mansion Tour – J. L. Turner Center Wednesday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m., Cost: $15 Eating & Shopping on Your Own in The Gulch

Madison Station Wednesday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal and/or purchases Page High School Veteran Appreciation Event

College Grove Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:15 a.m., Cost: FREE

November Center Day Trips

If you are interested in participating in any of the following center day trips or would like more information, please call the hosting center, sign up in the Membership Portal, or refer to each center’s calendar.

Historic Granville - Donelson Station

Thursday, Nov. 10, 9:45 a.m., Cost: $20

lunch

Christmas Village & Lunch at Smokin’ Thighs

Martin Center

Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m., Cost: $25 + lunch

Friendsgiving and Veterans Day Celebration with Seniors in Antioch

Knowles

Friday, Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m., Cost: FREE Lunch Bunch at Slim & Husky’sBordeaux

Friday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal

Lunch Bunch to The Paper Mill

Donelson Station

Monday, Nov. 21, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal

New Members Lunch – Donelson Station

Monday, Nov. 28, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal

Holiday Shopping Trip

Donelson Station

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + meal

3D Acrylic Painting Class at FiftyForward Knowles

Madison Station

Eating at Cracker Barrel

J. L. Turner Center

Monday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10

meal

Lunch at The Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Madison Station

Monday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m., Cost: $15 + lunch and any purchases 2022 Elder Care Expo

College Grove Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m., Cost: $10

Mystery Lunch - Donelson Station

Thursday, Nov. 17, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + lunch Supper Club - Donelson Station Thursday, Nov. 17, 5 p.m., Cost: $10 + dinner

Local Police and Fire Department Thank You - Bordeaux Monday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m., Cost: FREE

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $30 Shopping at Trader Joe’s

Madison Station Wednesday, Nov.30, 9:30 a.m., Cost: $10

purchases

Do you own a traditional IRA and take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? Did you know you can donate to FiftyForward and other charities directly from the IRA and reduce your taxable income?

Taking advantage of a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), owners of a traditional IRA can instruct the IRA administrator to send all or part of their annual RMD to an operating nonprofit/charity. The IRA assets go directly to the charity, so donors do not claim the QCD as income. Consequently, donors do not owe taxes on the QCD even if the donor does not itemize deductions because the QCD is excluded from taxable income. Speak with your CPA, tax accountant, and IRA administrator to see if a QCD makes sense for you and your personal situation.

Hello, future travelers! Join us to hear more about the 2023 tour schedule for FiftyForward at our travel interest meetings. You'll learn about international tours, including Ireland, Egypt, Greece, Switzerland, and much more. Talks on domestic tours include Key West, Colorado, Mackinac Island, the Pacific Northwest, Utah, and Alaska. If you want more travel information, ask your local FiftyForward for free literature on all future tours, or join us at a travel interest meeting. So don't delay; travel today!

Squeeze the Day Podcast

Argentinian by birth, Nashvillian by choice: Fabian Bedne shares his passion for community and serving others to make the world a better place

In this series where we showcase the stories of older adults living their best life now, Fabian Bedne demonstrates how his life of service has come full circle.

As a community leader, he gives credit to his parents and his upbringing in Argentina, which he left after it became a dictatorship In this Squeeze the Day podcast, he shares about becoming a U.S. citizen and an elected official including his love for officiating wedding ceremonies. Bedne now works in the Nashville Mayor's Office to serve the community and uplift the voices of others, especially the immigrant population because he knows firsthand the challenges they face

This Squeeze the Day podcast lets us take a deeper dive into Bedne’s life to understand why he is using his skills to advocate for others and be a valued voice to represent our growing and diverse community

FiftyForward Exchange

In this special interview Heather Bodgal speaks with FiftyForward Program Manager Georgina Dench about her mother Janet, who attends our day services program. Heather said, "It lets me, be the me … before I had to be a caregiver” and as she shares how FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services has impacted her life and her mother’s wellbeing. Watch the full interview, where they discuss why these programs are so important and how they benefit everyone involved. https://fiftyforward.org/videos/

Be “One in a Million” with All of Us!

Come visit the FiftyForward All of Us team to learn more about the All of Us Research Program from the National Institutes of Health This exciting program seeks to enroll 1,000,0000 diverse people living in the U.S. in order to improve the health of future generations. Find out how you can join by visiting us at FiftyForward! Sign up in MembershipWorks to make a private appointment to enroll, or just drop by our centers for a casual conversation. For more information on the All of Us Research Program, please visit our website at www joinallofus org/fiftyforward

“One in a Million” with All of Us dates and locations: Nov. 8, 11 am.-1 p.m.—FiftyForward College Grove Nov. 10, 10 a.m.-noon—FiftyForward Bordeaux Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—FiftyForward J.L. Turner Nov. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—FiftyForward Madison Station Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—FiftyForward Martin Nov. 22, 1 p.m.-2 p.m.—FiftyForward Knowles, “One in a Million” Bingo Caregiving Today: A Look at This Vital Role and What it Takes Caregivers whether professionals, family members or friends—give so much for the wellbeing of those in their charge But who cares for the caregivers? On Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. join this virtual discussion moderated by FiftyForward Chief Program Officer Gretchen Funk This special event will focus on the health of the caregiver, needed resources, and how further research can support this important role. We’re excited to see you there! Panel discussion hosted by: FiftyForward, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and the Network of the National Library of Medicine Featured experts will include: Dr. Eboni Green, Jane Hamilton and Dr. Luz Maria Garcini. Register today at: https://caregivingtoday.eventbrite.com

Digital

TECH HELP SUPPORT is here for you! Intergenerational tech help support sessions are being offered for FREE (how magical!) at our Donelson Station, Knowles, and Madison Station centers. Who better to teach older adults how to make the most of technology than young adults who have grown up using and adapting to technology? A big shout out to students from Valor College Prep and Global Outreach Developments Int'l! FiftyForward partnered with these schools through a West End Home Foundation grant. The students are piloting the Tech Help Support program. Each student has participated in a volunteer training session and is committed to assisting our members with technology based questions and hands on learning. Students have helped with pairing hearing devices to a smartphone, explaining how to log in and connect laptops in home and public settings, understanding tips for using devices safely, using FaceTime and virtual options for communicating with grandchildren, developing a system for storing music, resetting an expired email, providing options for storage of data/photos, describing apps for functionality and fun, and how to use a Fitbit. Do you have questions about your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other basic everyday technology? Then, contact the center that best fits your schedule and register for FREE help.

Knowles: Wednesdays 3–4 p.m., Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30, Dec. 7, 14 Donelson Station: Wednesdays 12:30 2:30 p.m., Nov. 2, 9, 16 Madison Station: Wednesdays 12:30–2:30 p.m., Nov. 2, 9, 16

For questions about how to get involved with intergenerational volunteer opportunities with FiftyForward, please contact Traci Bennett Hobek at 615 742 4600 or thobek@fiftyforward.org.