To: All
Point Richmond Village Supporters, Volunteers, and Interested Parties
From: The Point Richmond
Village Development Board
For Your Information
Point Richmond Village (PRV) will be
on hiatus. However,
the board realized that PRV's mission of making it easier
for seniors to stay in Point Richmond while meeting the challenges
of aging is similar to that of the Sunshine Committee of the Women's
Westside Improvement Club (WWIC). So, for the time being,
PRV members who are also members of WWIC will join the Sunshine
Committee. The Sunshine Committee will be visiting stay-at-home
WWIC members and dropping off desserts after WWIC meetings. Hand-knitted
lap robes and shawls will continue to be presented to long-time
members.
Future Plans
- Our expanded
Sunshine Committee will solicit suggestions from the WWIC membership. We
will plan WWIC field trips and social programs that will be open
to all people on the PRV database.
- PRV
funds will be maintained by the WWIC treasurer in a manner that
is consistent with other earmarked funds.
- At
any time when there is a body of committed individuals who wish
to develop Point Richmond Village or join with a nearby Village,
the PRV may sever ties with the Sunshine Committee in order to
support a Village.
- Various
other ideas are incubating at present. Stay tuned for more information.
Website Needed
In
the meantime, PRV has paid for domain names for a website. We
are actively seeking volunteers with the skills for developing
and maintaining it. Please communicate via email to www.prvinfo@gmail.com.
Bay Area Village
The Bay
Area is experiencing a lot of Village activity. San Francisco
has one operating Village and one in the planning stages. Marin
County is developing a countywide Village administration,
and will soon launch Sausalito Village. Oakland also has
a developing Village. Palo Alto has an operating Village
called Avenidas Village, and Alameda has one called Avalon Village. Closest
to home is Ashby Village in Berkeley; it is nearing its launching. For
information on Ashby Village go to www.ashbyvillage.org.
Village Movement
For
more information on the Village movement, go to the following websites
for starters: www.beaconhillvillage.org and www.capitolhillvillage.org. What
is a Village?
 The “Village” concept
began in Boston about a decade ago with the Beacon Hill Village
idea (www.beaconhillvillage.org),
and has spread to many cities in the United States and one abroad.
Villages are nonprofit organizations devoted to linking older
residents to neighborhood social/cultural activities, health-related
support, and reliable home-maintenance services with the purpose
of helping them to remain in their homes. They are organized
so that members only need to make one phone call to receive these
services.
Volunteers of all ages provide
a large proportion of the services and activities under the direction
of a paid administrator. The Village’s nonprofit board
of directors is comprised of local residents, and its operating
budget comes from donations and membership dues.
Why start Point
Richmond Village ("The Village")?
Ask around and you will find that most of our
neighbors want to remain in their homes as they grow older. Our
Village, primarily through volunteers, will enable Point Richmond
residents to retain their independence by providing help as needs
arise regardless of age. PRV is a multi-generational grassroots
organization started by community members for the purpose of supporting
all our residents. Our Village encourages and has held social/cultural
events to promote enjoyment and connectedness in our community.
Look for future events on this web page.
 As
money for services is cut, the need for informal networking will
increase. One of the strong points of Point Richmond is our informal
networks in neighborhoods and between friends. While there are
many agencies that assist seniors in particular, there are often
huge gaps in service. Para-transit is just one case in point. PRV
was formed to be a more formal way to fill those gaps and keep
our neighbors at home in the community we love.
Moving
Forward:
We are in the infancy stages, but day by day we grow.
At the heart of PRV is volunteering. It is a
volunteer-first organization. You are invited to become a PRV volunteer
to enjoy the rewards of working with others and bringing this pioneering
community service to Point Richmond. Volunteers receive support
from a member on our Development Board.
Join us and participate in shaping a Village
that will suit you! Before we can launch in 2010, here are a few
general ways you can volunteer.
- Spread the word.
- Provide administrative support.
- Raise funds.
|
- Inform us about service providers you
have used and like.
- Suggest a different way of helping.
We value your creativity, skills and knowledge.
|
Sept. 25, 7:30 PM
The Flu is Coming!– Harvey
Kayman, M.D. and MPH, Public Health Medical Officer for the California
Dept. Of Public Health
Flu season is fast approaching. This year it comes with the added
risk of the much publicized H!N! (swine flu) virus. Find out what
you need to know and what you need to do. Who is at risk? Will
there be a vaccine? Do you need it? Can you get it? Learn how you
and your family can prepare yourselves.
A Point Richmond resident, Dr Kayman is Acting
Sections Chief, Bioterrorism and Planning Section, Immunization
Branch. |
