Happy New Year 2020!
Happy New Year!
Written by Scotty King
Something fabulous has happened — I have taken on the position of Transportation Coordinator for the Sebastopol Senior Center! In my new role, I match seniors that need a ride with volunteer drivers. The tag line for the program is “Remember when giving a ride was the neighborly thing to do?” I am thrilled with this transition. Not to worry, I will continue to be our LGBTQ Liaison, helping with the dances and providing resource information to our LGBTQ community. I will also be looking for folks that want to drive for us, so please contact me if you like to drive and want a rewarding volunteer position.
The huge benefit of this program is that it helps seniors stay in their home and stay independent. The drivers also tell me of the wonderful connections they have made over the years helping seniors get to where they need to go. And now I get to be part of this. I feel very lucky — I am so grateful!
Now Is Your Chance, Volunteer for Us! We Need You!
VOLUNTEER drivers Needed:
I am looking for additional drivers. If you would like a rewarding experience helping seniors, and like to drive your car, please call me to learn more.
LGBTQI Elder Resource Center Volunteer Needed:
We work very hard to list many LGBTQ resources on our website (see below). But everything changes and we are now looking for a volunteer to review these listings to make sure they are still up-to-date. Would you like to help me do that? Click here to find out about the LGBQI Elder Resource Center.
Dance Party Volunteers Needed:
We also could use a few more volunteers to help at our upcoming dance.
If you are interested in any of these - Please email me or call me at 707-829-2440.
LGBTQI Dance Party Coming!
Get this on your calendar. It our big Mardi Gras Dance, Saturday, February 22, 6:30-10 p.m. We are transforming the Senior Center into a Mardi Gras extravaganza! Come be dazzled and energized with outstanding dance music, delicious food, bling, and wild and beautiful Mardi Gras decorations! We will also have fortune tellers, a King and Queen costume contest, and beer and wine for sale for a modest price. Advance tickets for sale now $12; and will be $15 at the door. To get tickets drop by our front desk or call 707-829-2440.
Dancing is Great Exercise!
A recent study, published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, linked dancing to improved integrity in the brains of older adults. Dancing also plays a key role in memory and learning, as well as keeping one’s balance. So please come to our dance at the Senior Center on Feb 22nd!
Click here to watch an inspiring video, showing a mature couple dancing.
We have many classes here that the Senior Center where you can get the exercise you need, include yoga, Pilates and our popular balance class.
The Latest Bad Idea: A Phone App That Tells You How Gay You Are
Yeah, I didn’t believe it either!
“Within weeks of a major study identifying genes associated with homosexual behavior, a programmer had launched a phone application called “How Gay Are You?”
Controversy ensued. I am glad to report that this gaydar app didn’t survive the controversy!
LGBTQ Resources for You
The other day I got a call from a man newly out of the LGBTQ closet. He asked me if I could share resources for him to connect with our local LGBTQ community. I will share that list here with you.
Here is a local LGBTQ counseling service that might be great for you:
Santa Rosa: Free LGBTQ-friendly Counseling
When: Mon, 1pm – 6pm 707-251-9432 Santa Rosa
My new fun thing to do on Tuesdays:
“Give Back Tuesday” social event held every Tuesday 6-9PM, at the Rainbow Cattle Company in Guerneville. It is a lively mix of men and women where dinner is served for $5 and there is a big raffle to raise money for a local charity. (This is the oldest gay bar in Sonoma county, opened in 1979)
https://www.facebook.com/RainbowCattleCo
Check out our LGBTQI Elder Resource Center that is loaded with local and national resources:
https://www.sebastopolseniorcenter.org/lgbtqi-elder-resources
Here is the link to my past blogs with other links: https://www.sebastopolseniorcenter.org/lgbtqi-blog
Golden Guys
An informal monthly gathering of friendly gay men for an afternoon potluck on the second Sunday of each month. To receive the email advisories of the time and location of these monthly events, contact Doug Yule: dgyule@comcast.net.
Click here to sign up (enter your email) for the Billys emails so you will know about their local potlucks, and the 6 gatherings each year held at a resort near Clear Lake.
GayDar
GayDar is for men and women and here is a link to get on GayDar on Facebook: or their webpage.
Here is a link to get on the GayDar meetup group.
LGBTQ Activities Calendar
Check out this handy calendar which lists MANY LGBTQ activities!
Course for Older LGBTQ Adults
Instructor: Gary “Buz” Hermes MA
Discover LGBT aging strategies and community support as you share your unique life experiences and sense of humor with your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender peers! Buz has facilitated workshops, classes, and discussion groups for the LGBT community for over thirty years. He now loves sharing his passion for empowering aging strategies with his LGBT peers. More info at https://profiles.santarosa.edu/gary-hermes.
Come to any meeting and check it out! If you want to continue, Buz will assist you with registration. There is no class fee, but the Santa Rosa City Dept. of Parks & Recreation Charges a Facilities use fee of $3for Non-Members per class.
Thursdays, 11 - 1, January 16 to May 21, 2020, Finley Center Person Senior Wing, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa
For Fun!
I’ve always been fascinated by homosexuality in the animal kingdom. When I first came out, I read everything I could find on the topic. Finally, this answered my biggest question. “No species has been found in which homosexual behavior has not been shown to exist.”
How romantic!
“The females stare into each other's eyes while mating”
Another Good One
A Rare Bald Eagle Trio—Two Dads and a Mom—Captivates Webcam Fans
Even after their first mate died, the two males remained faithful to each other, and are now raising three eaglets with a new female named Starr.
Next time you are at the Sebastopol Senior Center, please drop by my office and say “Hi.”
Sincerely,
Scotty King
