Committees: N-W

Nature Coordinating to index

The MLRA Nature Coordinating Committee meets quarterly, in September, December, March, and June in the week preceding meetings of the Estaugh Arboretum Oversight Commmittee. Meetings are attended by the leaders of each of the subcommittees described below. Members of the Landscaping Crew also attend.

The Bird Club meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m in the Activities Room for programs involving speakers or films. In addition, they go on trips to likely locations to see birds. More about the Bird Club

The Farm provides spaces where residents maintain plots on which they grow flowers and produce. The landscaping crew helps them with cultivating, manure, straw, etc. to index

Wildflower walks are held on Saturday mornings when the wildflowers are in bloom and the weather permits. The number in attendance varies. The more than 150 species of wildflowers at Medford Leas are portrayed and described in the wildflowers section of this website.

The Woodlands Group meets every Tuesday. Much of the work consists of making, marking, mapping, and maintaining some five miles of trails in the Nature Preserve on the Medford Campus. Also undertaken is the control of poison ivy and green brier and eradication of exotic plants such as phragmites and Ailanthus.

Arboretum Guided Tours are conducted by residents when outside groups visit the Barton Arboretum. to index

Courtyard Mapping - In each courtyard there is a map of the plantings in the courtyard. As changes are made in the plantings, the maps are revised. to index

Lumberton Trails and Site Committee oversees the nine wooded trails in the 45 acre wetland area below the Lumberton campus. They also oversee the paved walkway, the canoe dock, the meadow, the benches, the community vegetable garden and general outdoor areas with the cooperation of the Medford Leas Landscape and Maintenance Departments.

Nature Bulletin Boards are maintained in the hallway between the kitchen and the bank, and in the covered walkway leading to the lower-numbered courts.

The Nature Library is located in the Nature Center. It supplements materials belonging to the Master Gardeners.
to index

Posters are displayed at public events, such as the annual Barton lecture, so that visitors can see Arboretum materials

Tree-tagging no longer involves residents. The landscaping crew is producing up-to-date maps, installing new labels at the base of the significant trees, and entering data into computers so that specific trees can be located.

The Barton Arboretum is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Garden Association and, as such, welcomes visitors who learn of Medford Leas through the Association's publicity.

Meetings of the Nature Coordinating Committee are devoted to receiving reports from each of the subcommittees. These reports are then summarized and shared with the Estaugh's Arboretum Oversight Committee.

Nominating to index

The Nominating Committee is defined in the MLRA bylaws

Plant Sale to index

Purpose:
1. To provide flowers for Medford Leas residents who would like to buy flowers but who have transportation problems.
2. To encourage beautification of Medford Leas apartments and gardens.
3. To raise some money for the MLRA "flower fund" that is used during the year to pay for flowers that decorate the atrium.
4. To offer plants at good value to Medford Leas residents and employees.

A chairman, and assistant chairman, organize the sale, beginning in January when the date is put on the calendar and continuing through the next four months until the Plant Sale takes place in early May. About 25 volunteers are recruited to help with the sale. Most of them contribute about two hours of time on the day of the sale.

Publications to index

Medford Leas Life The committee produces ten issues of the 12-20 page newsletter Medford Leas Life each year. The newsletter is distributed to all residents and mailed to subscribers and those who receive complimentary copies: the waiting list, other CCRCs, area newspapers and individuals and organizations with whom Medford Leas Life wishes to maintain contact

Leas Lit The committee produces Leas Lit, a literary magazine which is published each December and June. Its purpose is to serve as an outlet for the creativity of authors and artists from among the residents of both campuses of Medford Leas. A further purpose is to provide reading pleasure for the entire Medford Leas community. A group of editors read all manuscripts anonymouskt in order to select or reject by consensus each one that has been submitted.

Website The Website Committee was set up to organize, update and technically support the MLRA website (mlra.org) as a tool for residents and the committees and activities of the residents' association to communicate and connect with information about the local community and the wider world community.

The Content Subcommittee assures that the website has interesting, relevant Medford Leas information using a variety of media, such as images, articles, audio programs, and videos. The technical subcommittee provides outreach and training to ML community leaders to ensure better use of developing technologies of the 21st Century.

The residents' Website Committee works with management to correlate with the Medford Leas Website (medfordleas.org) and management goals aimed at improving Medford Leas quality of life and Medford Leas as a viable CCRC.

Visit Website Committee's Room - minutes are archived there.

Records to index

Album Service The committee provides a photo of each new resident to the Residency Planning Office as soon as possible, after being notified by a referral form of a resident's move-in date. AS also maintains photo albums picturing most of the residents on all campuses. Additionally, there are albums for those who have died or left the community. All album photos are labelled with month and year of move-in, name, apartment location and, when appropriate, departure date. The albums are placed on a credenza in the lounge and are updated frequently. The cost is shared by management (film and development) and MLRA (camera and all else).

Archivist The Archives Committee is one person. When mail is distributed to residents at the Front Desk, a copy of each item is placed on the Archives shelf. The Archivist collects those items daily and, at least once a month, files them in the Archives files. The files are temporarily located in the Maintenance hallway on the ground floor of the Community Building.

Dennis Koza, CEO, is anxious to have more complete and effective archival records, but the current archivist has not yet been able to do what he has in mind. It would involve locating as much historical information as possible, in the many places in Medford Leas where it may reside, and recording what exists, and where. In the case of historic photos (see below), it will be important to have long-term residents and staff attempt to identify early residents.

Historical Photographs Photo albums have been maintained since the establishment of Medford Leas. The committee meets once a month to sort through photos and place them the current year's album. They come from both residents and the administration -- especially Fitness, Community Life, and Marketing. The committee is in the process of evaluating how best to respond to the shift to digital photography. How much of the photographic record should be printed for albums and how much should be stored on the MLRA website?

Religionto index

Friends Worship The Friends Worship Group has oversight of the Friends meeting for worship which convenes every Sunday morning in the Activities Room. The committee consists of five or more residents who regularly attend meeting for worship; the chair (clerk), who is chosen from this group, should be a Friend. At the committee meetings, any concerns with the meeting for worship are discussed, and any matters needing attention are assigned or otherwise taken care of by the clerk. It is sometimes, when requested by residents, the committee's job to have charge of a Quaker memorial meeting; an outline of the procedure is filed with the Director of Resident Services.

Vespers The Sunday afternoon Vesper Service was instituted about 1976, although evening worship services and events featuring speakers on religious subjects had been held prior to this. The goal of the Vespers Committee is to provide an opportunity for regular worship for residents who are no longer able to leave the campus or do not have a local house of worship. Services are non-denominational and all residents are invited to participate.

A Vespers Service is held every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM in the Activities Room. The services are routinely listed on the Medford Leas monthly calendar and on the Medford Leas TV channel. From time to time notices appear in Medford Leas Life and every few years individual notices are distributed to all residents.

Resource Conservation to index

for suggestions on how to save energy and for links to Internet Resources, visit the Resource Conservation "Committee Room"

The Resource Conservation Committee began its work in 2005 committed to work with both residents and management to conserve energy and do our part to stem Global Warming. In 2007/2008 three showings of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, one at Lumberton Leas, gave residents an overview of the situation world wide. In January, a Forum lecture featured the environmental status of New Jersey with tips on how private citizens might help. Another Forum is planned for September to provide the national picture.

Twice the Committee has sold long lasting CFL Bulbs to replace incandescent ones and each spring and fall provided written information on how to use cooling and heating systems properly. Posters, monthly tips in Medford Leas Life as well as articles in the Lumberton Leas Chronicle provide hints on recycling, water usage, canvas rather than plastic bags etc.

Ideas from residents for energy conservation were the basis for a request by the Committee for an energy audit. The report in January, affirmed the need to follow up on weather stripping, purchasing energy star appliances, investigate the use of solar power and continue replacing light bulbs with CFLs in both community buildings and residences.

The Committee’s 15 members include technically trained persons interested residents who wish to do their part. Additional members or visitors are welcome to come to the monthly meetings at 3 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the MLRA Residents meetings. For further information contact chairperson, Gwen Crawley 3264 or gscra4@aol.com

Monthly Meetings of Committee — Thursday prior to monday of MLRA membership meeting at 3: P.M. in Private dining room (Red Room)

Sports Days to index

2006-7 Annual Report: The usual activities are to sponsor various sports on the lawn behind the main building on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Due to the construction begun in May of 2006 it has not been possible to have the Sports Day activities during the 2006-2007 year.

Special Events: to index

Each of the Special Events groups is self sustaining; they do not receive funds from the MLRA.

Ballet Twenty-four residents enjoyed the Pennsylvania Ballet 2006-07 season with Medford Leas bus transporatioin. They saw five Saturday matinee ballets: Romance & Revelry, Giselle, Carmina Burana, Modern Masters, Sleeping Beauty.

Opera Twenty three residents of both campuses attend four Sunday matinee performances. Participants are subscribers to the Philadelphia Opera Company who use Medford Leas bus transporation to the Academy of Music at $14.00 each round trip. to index

Philadelpia Orchestra Forty-three Medford Leas residents attended either the Series A and/or the Series B Friday afternoon concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2006-07 concert season. Transportation on the Medford Leas bus cost $13.00 per round trip.

Philadelphia Chamber Music The yearly Chamber Music program consists of six concerts in the Perelman Theater at Kimmel Center. The performers are dfrawn from a roster of world-renowned players (eg. the Juilliard, Tokyo, and Orion quartets) Interest in the program grows through enthusiastic work-of-mouth reports and this year (2007-2008) attendees fill the 24-seat Medford Leas bus. to index

Short Tripsto index

During the 2006-2007 year the six-person committee made these trips available to residents, with transportation by the Medford Leas Bus or outside buses: Ben Frankling Museum, Camden Aquarium, Walking Tour of Haddenfield, Risei Lady, Cranberry Harvist, Pennsbury Manor, Tour of Burlington City, Philadelphia Murals, Drumthwacket Governor's Mansion, King Tut Exhibit, Bartram's Garden, and First Ladies at the Constitution Center.

South Jersey Orchestrato index Twenty to thirty persons attend three concerts a year on Saturday nights. The orchestra performs popular classical music. The fee includes transportation by bus.

Walnut Street Theatre We arrange for, and conduct, groups to theater programs on a subscription basis each season.

Special Interests:

The back of the Monthly Calendar provides up to date information on many of these Activities. These activities, which are coordinated by resident leaders, may or may not have a formal relationship with the MLRA council and they are called "groups" not "committees." Like the Special Events groups, the Special Interest groups are self-sustaining and do not receive funds from the MLRA

Bowling Car Pool The group leaves for the Medford Lanes on Tuesdays at noon.to index

Creative Writing (tbd)

Duplicate Bridge A duplicate bridge game is played every Wednesday at 7; 15 p.m. in the Activities Room. The game is run in accordance with Aiex Groner's Duplicate Bridge Direction.

Family Historyto index

The Family History series of thirty papers has been uploaded.

The Medford Leas Family History Group was formed in 2001 and, with the exceptions of Julys and Augusts, has been meeting monthly since then. It is directed by Professor Russell I. Haley, Prefessor Emeritus of the University of New Hampshire, and an active Family Historian since 1956. He has served as an officer of the Stamford, CT, Society of Genalogy, as a volunteer at the new England Historic and Genalogical Foundation in Boston, and as a volunteer consultant at the LDS Family History Library in Wilmington, Delaware. The format of our meetings is that of a Graduate School Seminar in Family History. The full course consists of thirty major topics in genealogy covered one at a time over a three-year period. For each topic a paper of from four to six pages is prepared and distributed to attendees. We are just completing our second full cycle through that series.

Attendees vary in experience from people who have been researching their family lines for twenty or more years to people who are just beginning their studies. Attendance per meeting averages around a dozen people per session. Meetings run for about an hour in length, the first half of which is normally focused on the topic of the month. The remaining time is made up of reports from individuals on conferences attended, problems encountered, and successes obtained. News of research resources that have recently become available is presented along with announcements of upcoming events of potential interest. Collectively we try to help attendees learn as much as they would like to about their ancestors. And we have a lot of fun in the process. 9/27/07

Folk and Line Dancing The group dances on Thursdays at 7:20. It is led by a resident, Bart Bartholomew and there is no charge.

Jigsaw Puzzles A committee of one sets up jigsaw puzzles in the Lounge. Residents should feel free to work at these puzzles at any time. Add just one piece, or finish the whole thing. to index

Progressive Bridge Friday evenings at 7:15 in the Activities Room

Social Dancing We have two social dances a year (October and April), provide live music, and charge $5 per person to cover costs.to index

Square Dancing From October through April, there is Square Dancing in the Activity Room from 7:30 to 8:30 (except for holiday weeks and on the Tuesdays when the room is in use by the Medford Township for elections). Dave Ainsworth, a non-resident, is a fabulous caller who always makes it a fun evening. The fee is $17.50 for the fall session, and $35.00 for the weeks in January through April. Residents are encouraged to come and try the activity at no charge for a a few weeks. to index

Tai Chi A professional Tai Chi instructor leads the group on Thursday Mornings at 9:30 in the Activities Room. There is a feeto index

Tennis & Indoor Tennis There are organized groups which play on the Lumberton and Medford courts in the summer and at a local indoor facility, with a fee, during the winter.

Water Volley Ball Year round on Friday afternoons in the Medford Pool. In the summer, Thursday mornings at the Lumberton pool. to index

Teas to index

MLRA holds three annual Teas: Fall, Spring and Winter, usually held in October, February and May. They are very successful in enabling new residents an opportunity to meet many of our Medford Leas residents and staff. Each tea has a Chairman responsible for the specific event and selecting thirty or more volunteers as hosts. The Tea Director supervises and evaluates the three teas. Medford Leas dining staff always does a super job of providing and serving wonderfully elaborate and delicious goodies in the Lounge and Activities Room. Most of our male residents seem to enjoy these gatherings as much as the ladies, contrary to the common misconception of "ladies' tea." Lively background piano music, and beautiful floral arrangements enhance the lovely seasonal festivities.

Thrift Shop to index

The Thrift Shop is open to receive donations on Monday mornings between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. At other times, contributions may be left in or near the Contributions Box located next to the Shop door.

On Mondays volunteers sort, price and arrange items for sale. Sale days are every Tuesday 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Items of special value are sold at bid. The Bid Box is on the wall at the end of the hall to receive bids during the week, and is opened at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The winners are notified and may then pick up their items. Household goods and furniture which have not been sold are divided between Extended Hand of Mt. Holly and Goodwill Industries. Resident volunteers deliver smaller items to Good Will. The Maintenance Department handles Extended Hand deliveries. Dressier clothes are given to St. Vincent's Thrift Shop in Medford. All resident offices may receive whatever is needed from from the Thrift Shop stock without charge.

Exceptionally valuable furniture and jewelry may be sent to Freeman's Auction House in Philadelphia.

The volunteer staff numbers approximately 45.

As shown inthe Annual Report for the fiscal year 2006-07 Thrift shop proceeds were $34, 195.95. Future proceeds will go to the Medford Leas Scholarship Fund, the Medford Leas Appreciation Fund, and the Medford Leas Reserve Fund.

Transportation to index

The primary goal of the MLRA Transportation Committee is to provide optimum transportation opportunities to all residents of Medford Leas and satellite campuses.

The committee will keep abreast of transportation issues to adapt our resources to meet changing needs of residents.

Vid-U

Vid-U tapes and DVDs come from The Teaching Company. About 20 to 30 residents attend on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in the Third Floor Haddon Lounge, except for the eight weeks in February, March, and April when Great Decisions takes precedents for most residents.

From January to mid-May, 2006, the tapes dealt with "The Americas in the Revolutionary Era." From May 26 through August 10, the series was "Great World Religions: Islam." From August 17 through November 2, the lectures were on "The History of Scientific Medicine." Starting November 9, 2006 and continuing well into 2007, is a 60-lecture series, "The Joy of of Science."

Because the Teaching Company is no longer producing lectures in the VRC format, a DVD/VCR player was obatined for 3rd Floor Haddon.

Video Library to index

The Video Library was established in September 2002. Its purpose is to make available to residents an eclectic collection of video tapes that are donated by residents. At this time there are no plans to request funds to purchase new tapes.

Vid-U to index

Vid-U meets every Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Third Floor Haddon Lounge except for the eight weeks in February, March, and April when Great Decisions takes precedence for most residents.

Vid-U was started by the late Elsie Lisovitch, who bought educational videotapes from The Teaching Company. The tapes are still ordered from The Teaching Company. Depending on the announced topic, as many as 30-40 people may attend, though some topics have drawn as few as five.

Workshop to index

From the 2006-07 Annual Report:

The committee accepts requests from residents to build or repair furniture, rewire lamps, repair jewlery and understake other jobs within the ability of its members. Medford Leas property (diing room chairs, etc.) are also accepted. Under special circumstances, Medford Leas staff members my be accommodated, but no work is undertaken for individuals or organizations outside the community. Residents are asked to pay for repairs or other work at the cost of materials plus $4 per hour for labor, but Medford Leas furniture is repaired with no charge for labor, and work for the Thrift Shop, the Fitness Center and certain Medford Leas committees is also done at no charge for labor.

]The Workshop is open to residents of Medford Leas, male or female, for their own work at no charge except for materials used. We try to supervise such residents and instruct them in the safe use of the equipment.

The workshop is well equipped with a variety of hand and power operated tools including table saws, radial, band and scroll saws, drill presses, routers, a lathe, and miter saw. We also have a central dust collection system.

In each of the past two years, 2005 and 2006, the Workshop contributed $2000.00 to the appreciation fund. During the 2006-07 year the committee:

• gave an illustrated presentation at an MLRA meeting to publicize our work
• added two new committee members
• obtained a firm estimate for a dust collection system and may a formal request to the MLRA board for funding
• began doing electronic equipment setup service for residents.