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Newsletter - Summer 2022

In this Issue
Message from Board President
Looking Good: Helpful Village Software Migration
NEW Community Sponsor: Wilshire Health & Community Services
Community Outreach Donation: Unitarian Universalist, SLO
Executive Director Opening at SLO Village
Meet SLO Village at the Octagon Barn Recap
Events & Activities

Message from the Board President

As Board President, I am frequently called upon to make clear the value of SLO Village. On the surface, the value of what we do is obvious. We help older adults age in place, we make aging better.

This purpose is supported by social opportunities and services that our Village provides. Our value was made immensely evident during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

This value can be validated by a simple conversation with any of our members or volunteers. Helping older adults age in place and stay connected to their community is a compelling value.

However, I think a less obvious and more compelling SLO Village value is that of helping our community maintain a connection to older adults.

Our members are former professors, artists, doctors, activists, accountants, and homemakers. Today our members are still actively engaged, sharing their life experiences, knowledge, time, and talent with others. They volunteer, teach, protest, and help shape our community.

Communities that focus on healthy connections to all their people are resilient and more vibrant. Those who have strong relationships with older adults significantly benefit from the experience and knowledge of these connections.

By helping older adults stay connected to our community, SLO Village is helping our community stay connected to its’ older adults.

Dave Kuykendall

Looking Good!

After 5 years of operating with home-grown software, SLO Village has migrated to Helpful Village. Helpful Village is the premier provider of software for the Village movement, designed specifically for Villages.

For our visitors, the first sign of the migration is a fresh new website. The clean and spacious layout makes it easy to navigate. Embedded links allow you to find more content as you read.

For our volunteers, there is a new portal and a weekly email that can display all the open requests for the week. Volunteers are finding the new portal easy to use.

Migration can be challenging. We owe a special thanks to our volunteers for their help and their patience resulting in a smooth migration for our Village.

Spotlight Community Sponsor:
Wilshire Health & Community Services

At Wilshire, they believe in serving the Central Coast with integrity, trust, and innovation. Seventy-five years of experience in the healthcare industry have taught them that these values are integral to being supportive healthcare and community-based agency. Together these values encourage their team as a whole, no matter the role, to go above and beyond to do “whatever it takes” for their patients and clients. This allows you to get back to living a better life so that we can be there for you, your family, your neighbors, and your friends.

We are ecstatic to have Wilshire as a community sponsor for SLO Village. We encourage all to learn more about Wilshire's mission and its various services at www.wilshirehomehealthcc.org.

To become a community sponsor for SLO Village, contact our office by email at office@slovillage.org.

Community Outreach Donation:
Thank you to Unitarian Universalists, SLO

Another example of SLO Village’s adaptation to pandemic conditions was the live presentation scheduled for May 15 which became a Zoom presentation, when the minister of the Unitarian Universalists came down with COVID. With encouragement from North County volunteer Susan Robinson, SLO Village was selected to receive the UU Community Outreach offering. Our former Executive Director, Kerry Sheets, wrote a message for the UU newsletter and gave a talk, with two of our members contributing to their positive experiences during the session. As a result, the congregation donated a very generous contribution that was close to a thousand dollars. We are most grateful to the congregation of the Unitarian Universalists for their support of SLO Village.

Photo features Dave Kuykendall, SLO Village Board President (Left), and Judy Hornaday, Chair of Community Outreach Offering Committee for UU, SLO (Right).

Executive Director Opening

SLO Village continues to seek to fill the leadership role position of Executive Director. This year, our Village had found an eligible candidate to fill our Executive Director position. Although the candidate had experience and a strong set of non-profit skills, they did not fit our Village's current needs.

Our organization is seeking an Executive Director who has a passion for our mission of supporting older adults to age actively in their own homes and communities. This is a part-time position with flexible hours and schedule.

If you or someone you know are interested in this position, please let the SLO Village office know.
Job Details

Meet SLO Village at the Octagon Barn Recap

On May 10, 2022, 82 eager participants including SLO Village and Land conservancy members and volunteers as well as many who came from the interested public got to visit this beautifully restored facility and hear more about SLO Village and the history of the Octagon Barn. The event was widely advertised in the Tribune and the response was overwhelming! Thanks to a Cultural GIA (Grants in Aid) from the City of SLO, the event was free of charge to the community!

First, while gathered in the Milking Barn, all were able to learn firsthand about the activities and help that SLO Village can afford to our active older adult population, and then they were treated to a talk by the Land Conservancy historian on the history of this famous landmark in SLO. This was followed by a gourmet lunch of an orzo/roasted veggie salad, a strawberry green salad, and a chicken slider on the patio. Finally, those that wished to do so were invited to tour the fully restored barn and learn even more about its history.

Despite its rather windy location, a great time was had by all. We are indebted to the City of SLO for the funding and to the Land Conservancy for sharing their lovely facility.

Events & Activities:

Upcoming Events

2nd Annual Summer Picnic
August 31, 2022, from 12 - 1:30 PM @ Meadow Park, SLO

Join our Village in celebrating the end of summertime. Bring your lunch and invite a friend. SLO Village will provide drinks and dessert. It is encouraged to carpool and bring a foldable chair with support. RSVP by clicking here or calling the office at 805-242-6440.

Monthly Activities

NEW ACTIVITY: 2nd Tuesday
"Let's Do Lunch"
11:30 AM-1 PM PST @ Local Restaurant in SLO

Kick-off Monthly Lunch will be on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at The Del Monte Cafe - 1901 Santa Barbara Ave, SLO. There is a parking lot and/or nearby street parking is free. Separate checks will be issued. RSVP is required, space is limited.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays
Coffee & Conversation
10-11:15 AM PST @ Lucy's Coffee Co in SLO

Photo Featuring SLO Village's Coffee & Conversation group at Lucy's Coffee Co., SLO.

Check for all upcoming community activities & events on our Events page on slovillage.org.

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