Marin’s LGBTQ Seniors have a special relationship with Dana and not only because his recent birthday made him a senior. Many of us remember the way things were before he became Interim Executive Director and later Executive Director, when senior issues were ignored. Along with the advocacy of the Senior Advisory Committee, Dana met with seniors repeatedly and made The Spahr Center a welcoming place for us. And he responded immediately to the sheltering-in-place orders two years ago, creating more programming to keep us connected.  There’s a big agency-wide celebration of Dana and the Spahr Center’s new ED, Adrian Shanker, on April 14th that I encourage everyone to attend. Our Senior Send-off on March 8 will be a time for us to talk with him more personally and appreciate all he has done to create meaningful community among us.  March 8“Second Tuesday”at Mgt. Todd Senior Center To all those who miss being together in our discussion groups, please consider coming back! We’ll do our very best to make a safe space for you. First-timers welcome as well! Hill Community RoomA bigger space behind main building (see map below)Margaret Todd Senior Center1560 Hill Road, Novato 94947 Arrive 12:30 or after:feel free to bring your lunch. Discussion 1 to 2:30 pm Proof of vaccination required.Masks on when not eating, drinking, or speaking to the group. Some people may not be open to hugging;elbow bumps may be preferable.Be sensitive to each other as you approach, and declare your safety zone. Dress warmly, doors and windows will be open for safety. We’ll be spread out through the large room and use a new speaker system so we can all hear each other. If you would like to get a ride or share a ride to the event, please let me know:bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org

To be clear: We’re committed to continuing our zoom groups because many of us cannot join in person due to health or distance or disability. Community for All!

Roster of LGBTQ Seniors Last call for entries!  A year ago, we invited people to join a roster of seniors to help us all stay in touch during the pandemic. Thirty of us sent in the contact information we wanted listed as well as our interests we wished to have included.  Everyone included their email address, most listed their phone number, and interests varied from live theater to vintage autos, hiking to yoga, painting to music composition, reading to cooking to photography and beyond.  If you would like to join the roster or update your information, please send an email to me with the word Roster in the subject line. And let me know what information you want included in your listing.  The roster will only be distributed among those who are listed.  bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org

UPCOMING EVENTS(more info below) March 8 Senior Send-off of DanaIn-Person Second Tuesday at Mgt. Todd March 8 Birthday Celebration on zoom* March 10Readings for Each Other March 15 Games Day at Sam’s Place* March 17 Breakfast Club at Sam’s Place* March 29 Women’s Coffee at Sam’s Place* *Social Committee event, registration requiredby emailing them at socialcommittee@comcast.net

To join the Spahr Senior Groupon ZoomMondays, 7 to 8 pm, &Thursdays, 12:30 to 2 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart or here: 

Join Group

New participants are warmly welcomed!If you’re zoom-challenged, let me know and I’ll work with you!

Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm March 10 Readings for Each OtherDo you have a poem or short reading you especially love that you would be willing to share with us? Perhaps it’s something you have written; if so, you would get bonus points but we’re not assigning points, just entertaining and perhaps inspiring each other. Maybe your selection would be by Sappho or Whitman, Stein or Wilde, Mary Oliver, Alice Walker or James Baldwin. Writings by non-LGBTQ+ writers are welcome as well – there’s actually some good ones.  Whatever your choice, the idea is to share writings that have touched your heart or expanded your mind. We also need people to just listen, there will be no pressure to read. If we have time, we’ll also talk about writers that have inspired us and discover if there is a writer hiding within.

Living Room Mondays7 to 8 pm We share with each other about how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community.

Coronavirus Updates The Spahr Center has coronavirus rapid home test kits and they are available for free in the office – 150 Nellen Avenue, Suite 100, Corte Madera 94925; 415/457-2487. The office is open 10 am – 3 pm weekdays. Only vaccinated people may come to the office and masks must be worn inside the building. Any staff person can direct you to the kits. This is a great resource we are pleased to offer, please don’t hesitate to get these kits!  You can order your free at-home covid tests from the USPS by filling in the form here.  In order to keep track of new infections, the County asks that we report self-test results here.  To see Marin County’s latest pandemic information, click here.  The mask recommendations of the Mask Nerd– an aerosol scientist who studies mask effectiveness – are featured in this article and highly informative video.  May we all be safe and well!

Community Notices

Social Security Opens to Survivors of Same-Sex Couples Who Could Not MarryThe Social Security Administration now allows lesbians and gay men to receive survivor’s benefits if we can show that we were in a committed relationship and would have married had that been possible. More information here.

The Spahr Center’s Food Pantry is open to seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. We want to help! 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

Space for your Community Notice here. Email Bill with information at bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org.

The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. Everyone born in any month will be celebrated on the second Tuesday of that month – including your birthday if you’ll let them know when it rolls around! It happens this month March 8 @ 4 pm. Games Day is March 15 at 3 pm, the Breakfast Club9:30 March 17, and the Women’s Coffee, 10 am March 29, will all be held at Sam’s Place in Novato. They request that participants please be vaccinated and healthy.  Please register ahead of time as participation is limited to 20 people. To see their calendar & flyers for March, click here.  To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here.

Vivalon Resources for Seniors  Whistlestop, now renamed Vivalon, offers many resources for us seniors, now listed in this easy-to-print one-page guide. Access to rides, food, classes, activities, resources, referrals, and more. Membership not required for most classes and services during the pandemic. Some in-person events are being planned. To get Vivalon’s listings, click here. They also provide access to resources including rides for older adults. Please note: there is a 3-week registration process for the ride program so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. Click here for their website.

Building Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us!The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue everyMonday, 7 to 8 pm& Thursday, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom

To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:Join GroupAlways the same link! Try 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,6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296# If you want to be called into the group by phone, notify Bill Blackburn at 415/450-5339

California Department of Aging ResourcesThe CDA has a website that is packed with information and resources relevant to the lives of seniors in our state. From Covid-19 updates to more general care for age-related health issues, access to legal assistance to getting home-delivered meals to help with housing, you may well find answers to your questions by clicking: 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

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 youplus more! Bill BlackburnLGBTQ Senior Program Managerbblackburn@thespahrcenter.org415/450-5339