To join the Spahr Senior Groupon Monday, 7 to 8 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart. New participants are warmly welcomed!

Topical Thursdays 12:30 to 2 pm October 8:Internalized AgeismCan we accept and even appreciate the changes that aging brings? Yes, we may have more wrinkles and aches and pains. But what about our wisdom, or the release from so much striving that our advancing age can bring? How can we be better allies to ourselves and each other as we share this experience together? Check-in Mondays 7 to 8 pm We catch up with each other on how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening.

It’s LGBTQ+ History Month & opportunities abound! The Spahr Center is once again sponsoring a film at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I Carry You with Me won the Innovator Award and the Audience NEXT Award at Sundance. This true story, here told with dramatization and documentary footage, is the tale of love between men who become separated by the border. It is streamed on Friday, Oct. 9 at 10 pm and Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 pm. Run time is 111 minutes. Trailer and tix here. This is Trans Empowerment Month. The organization Stand with Trans has a month’s worth of events: here. The Spahr Center honors the Transgender Day of Remembrance, Friday November 20th at 5 pm. Watch for more details. The SF Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates its 43rd year with an online concert that features a world premier by Andrew Lippa and presents the Inspiration Award to Chasten Buttegieg for his advocacy for LGBTQ Youth. Oct. 17 @ 6 pm. The event is free but you must RSVP here. OUTwatch Wine Country LGBTQI Virtual Film Festival streams four documentaries this year. It features 1989’s Tongues Untied, a powerful account in poetry and prose of black gay identity and the difficulties experienced in the straight Black community and the overall gay community. Tix and more here.  October 11 is National Coming Out Day. Is there someone in your life who you might yet come out to?

The Social Committee has been creating community for Marin LGBT seniors for the past 5 years. Here is a link to their activities for October:Social Committee October Activities Now they’re asking us to help them help us. They would love to have you fill out a simple survey asking us about what events we want them to offer us. Please write to them to request a copy of their survey at socialcommittee@comcast.netAnd sign up for their emails if you haven’t yet!

Also in this email:Volunteer opportunities to work from home to get people registered and committed to voting in November’s vital election. Spahr has skilled therapists ready to work with seniors on a sliding-scale basis.Rental Assistance available.Nutrition ResourcesBisexual Support zoom group forming at The Spahr Center.

Creating Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us! The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue every Monday, 7 to 8 pm on Zoom

To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 7 pm:Join GroupTry it, it’s easy!

To Join Group by Phone CallIf you don’t have internet connections or prefer joining by phone,call the following number at the start time, 7 pm:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296# If you want the meeting to call you to bring you into the group, notify Bill Blackburn 415/450-5339

Volunteer opportunities!Work from home to get people registered and committed to voting in November’s vital election! For Democrats and Independents:https://democrats.org/take-action/ http://m.floridadems.org/phonebankhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/postcardsforAmericaCA/ for sending postcards to swing districtsFor Republicans:https://www.gop.com/get-involved/volunteer/

Spahr’s skilled therapists are available to work with seniors on a sliding-scale basis. Write toinfo@thespahrcenter.org.  A Bisexual Support Group is forming with The Spahr Center, facilitated by a therapist. Let Bill Blackburn know if you are interested. Whistlestop, recently renamed Vivalon, provides access to resources including rides for older adults; there is a 3-week registration process so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. They also offer free classes including zumba, yoga, chair exercises, & ukulele! Click here. Adult and Aging Service’s Information and Assistance Line, providing information and referrals to the full range of services available to older adults, adults with disabilities and their family caregivers, has a new phone number and email address: 415/473-INFO (4636) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays473INFO@marincounty.org

The Spahr Center is opening its Food Pantry to seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. Items such as fresh meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. Contact The Spahr Center for more information: info@thespahrcenter.org or 415/457.2487

Trouble paying rent? Check out these short videos from Marin County:1. Marin County Eviction Ban2. If you can’t pay your rent3. Paying the rent that you owe4.Help is available Marin Center for Independent Living is offering various kinds of support to people with disabilities as well as older adults to prepare them for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).Click here: MarinCIL Has your employment or business been impacted by COVID-19? Check out these local resources…click here: WorkForce Alliance Snap Back Assistance, up to $800 for COVID-19 affected workers:Call: 415/473-3300  Free Covid-19 Testing  Questions? Assistance?  We have resources and volunteers for:grocery deliveryfood assistancehelp with technology issues such as using zoomproviding weekly comfort calls to check in on youtherapy with Spahr therapists on a sliding scale basisplus more! Bill Blackburn, Senior Program Coordinatorbblackburn@thespahrcenter.org415/450-5339