The purpose of the Committee is to provide a venue for those residents who wish to play progressive bridge. The group meets on Friday evenings in the Activities Room and plays from about 7:15 to about 9:30 pm. Usually there are three or four tables. 2014

Budget and Finance to index

The primary responsibility of the Budget and Finance Committee is to draw up a budget and secure funding for the MLRA and its varous committees, the Employee Appreciation Fund, and the Medford Leas Community Service Fund. It is also responsible for ensuring the proper invetment of legacy/bequest funds and that their use conforms to the wishes of the donors. The Committee meets at least four times a year, more often if necessary.

In May it meets to consider the budget for the MLRA and its commttees based on budget requests fromthe MLRA and its committees for the following year.

No tipping is allowed at Medford Leas, instead money is raised by the MLRA for an Employee Appreciation Fund.In October the committee begins its work on that fund-raising task, following specific guidelines and procedures concerning disbursements. Funds come both from residents' donations and from contributions from MLRA activities that raise money through providing various services such as the Thrift Shop, Gift Shop,Plant Sale, and Knitting and Sewing.

In February work begins on the Community Services Fund which contributes to seven or eight local organizations (police, fire, and so forth) that are important to the well being of residents of the Medford Campus. (The Lumberton Campus has its own Community Servides Fund.)

Bulletin Boards to index

There are several highly visible bulletin boards containing schedules, menus and other relevant materials for the purpose of keeping the residents well informed concerning the happenings in and around Medford Leas. To avoid clutter, postings on the resident bulletin boards is done by the Bulletin Board Committee in accordance with the procedures spelled out in the Residents' Handbook (pages 9.3 and 9.4)

Chamber Music to index

Visit the Chamber Music Page for the current schedule. The Chamber Music Committee provides an opportunity for Medford Leas residents to subscribe to a series of concerts of The Chamber Music Society of Philadelphia. The Medford Leas bus, seating 24, provides transportation for the series. 2013

Citizens Committee to index

The Citizens Committee looks to the world beyond our own campus. We keep abreast of issues and events that are of interest to our residents. This includes happenings in the towns adjacent to our campuses, and in the county, state and national governments. Environment, zoning, public safety, schools, health care, taxes; these are some of the issues we investigate and then relay pertinent information to our fellow residents.

We send representatives to local town meetings and they report back to the committee. We also take special interest in elections. We invite candidates for local, state and national offices to come here and present their platforms to our residents. From time to time we arrange for officials to speak to us in open forums about subjects of general interest. 2013

Computer Room Committee to index The purpose of the Medford Leas Computer Room Committee is to provide computig services to Medford Leas residents, their families, and visitos. These services are provided in the Computer Room adjacent to the Fitness Center on the Medford Campus.

Services offered by the committee in the Computer Room include, but are not limited to, email for residents who do not have a computer or their own email account; Windows Mac and Google Chrome computers, a scanner, and printers -- including an Airplay printer for printing from iPhones, and IPads. \ Computer assistance and instruction is also available. The Computer Room Committee and volunteers staff the Computer Room with assistance from the Medford leas I.T. Department. 2013. Computer Room Committee's page.

Copier to index

The purpose of the committee is to keep the residents' copier in condition for use at all time. The work involves maintaining a service contract, keeping supplies available, responding to calls for help, and working with the treasurer to deposit cash income and to record charges for copies made by MLRA committees. 2013

Courtyard Mapping to index A volunteer keeps an up-to-date map, identifying the plant material in the center of each Court at the Medford Campus. 2013

Craft Show to index

The Craft Fair has been created to serve a number of purposes. One of the most important is to raise money for the Residents Assistance Fund. What makes the Fair special is that it provides a way for residents to create a collective donation that is well beyond the financial means of many individuals. By residents using their craft and/or creative skills, items are made for sale at this annual event. Others can assist the event by volunteering to help with the numerous support activities required to produce it. The public is invited to shop at the Fair. To date there are about twice as many visitors as there are residents who attend. Another consequence is that visitors get to see and experience the facilities and residents from a perspective that often is different than what they expected. Thus potential residents realize that their hobbies do not have to be left behind and can serve a wonderful purpose.

The Medford Leas Blog, "Around the Leas" has a post with photos of each of the vendors at the December, 2013 Craft Show.

Creative Writing to index

The Creative Writers are a group of individuals who enjoy writing. They meet on the third Friday of every month, at 10:00 AM, in the Poplar Room. They share their work and critique each others writing in a helpful and gentle way. Many genres are represented. Some are writing their memoirs, others are writing poetry or short stories. From time to time, an assignment is given in order to stimulate the thinking process. Do pick up your pen and join us!

Display Case in the Atriumto index

For many years a committee led by Todd Butler provided about six different displays a year. Those from 2008 to 2010 are shown on this website. Following Todd's retirement from the job, there was a permanent Scrimshaw Display from 2011 to 2014. Mike Carrell, who photographs the displays made a video about that display, complete with music from "Victory at Sea" as the sound track.

In late 2013 a new committee was formed so that once again there would be a new display every two or three months. In Decemer, 2013 first of the new series was installed: a collection of Byers' Choice Carolers

Front Row: Happy Scrooge caroling in red cap, Ghost of Christmas Past in white,
Girl with Cake, Mrs. Cratchett, Bob Cratchitt with Tiny Tim on his back.
Back Row, Sad Scrooge, Christmas Future in Black (hidden),
Marley's Ghost in Grey.

Diversity to index

The Diversity Committee seeks to increase understanding and encourage appreciation of people regardless of their faith or religious beliefs, their physical disabilities, their age, their ethnic or cultural differences, their sexual orientation or any stigma that society has put upon them.

We try to choose events and programs that will enable us all to:

• Grow in our understanding,
• Increase our awareness and appreciation of the gifts of others,
• Take action to support and advocate for those persons who are the victims of unjust exclusion and separation from the rest of society.

In that spirit we sponsor a special event to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in January. This has been done for the entire community and has included speakers, drama and a video collage.

"Leas Reads" is another yearly event in which all residents are invited to read a book that highlights a major issue. Most recently immigration was the focus. An opportunity for discussion follows "the read".

An ongoing project of the Diversity Committee is to encourage residents to act as mentors for children who have special needs. The program is called T.I.M.E. Individuals who volunteer for this program work with one child through the elementary school system in Mount Laurel.

Our continuing hope is to be responsive to the needs of the marginalized and the disenfranchised.

Family History to index

The Medford Leas Family History Group was formed in 2001 and, with the exceptions of Julys and Augusts, it met monthly until 2011. It was directed by Professor Russell I. Haley, Professor Emeritus of the University of New Hampshire, and an active Family Historian since 1956. The format of those meetings was that of a Graduate School Seminar in Family History. The full course consisted 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 was prepared and distributed to attendees. There are now over 50 papers by Russ Haley which are archived on the Medford Leas Family History Page.

The group stopped meeting after Haley's retirement as leader. Currently a new leader is exploring resident interest in reactivating the committee.

The Farm to index

"The Farm" is the Medford Leas community garden. It gives residents the opportunity to have and tend their own gardens. Plotsof all sizes are available so that gardens can be as large or small as a resident wishes. all sorts of vegetables, flowers, and sometimes fruit, can be found growing on The Farm. There are spigots throughout The Farm. Fertilizer, lime and tools are available in the Farm shed. In the spring Maintenance supplies bales of staw and also rototills plots if requested through the Chairs. The paths between the plots are kept mowed. There is also a great supply of composted leaves available. The Chairs assign plots, redefine plots and paths as needed, maintain unassigned plots,and coordinate with Maintenance. They also keep the resident farmers informedof farm information an news as well as supplying tips through an "as-needed" newsletter. 2013. Link to the "Down on the Farm" photoessay

Financial Review to index

Established at the recommendation of the Estaugh in 1973, the Financial Review Committee is a committee of residents with diverse financial backgrounds and udgetary experiences both from the profit and not-for-profit business community.

The purpose of the committee is to

1. Know, analyze and understand the finances of Medford Leas, based on reports submitted by the Administration.Know and understand Administration operating ecisions as they affect residents.
2. Respond to the Administration1. when appropriate from a resident perspective.

To fulfill the Mission, FRC:

1. Meets on a regularly scheduled basis.
2. Interacts with members of the Administration1. on a periodic basis to discuss items of mutual interest.
3. Receives and analyses Estaugh approved financial reports, including Operating Statements, Balance Sheets and Benchmark indicators.
4. Responds to Budgetary Assumptions and Proposals during the Budget development process.Operates on a confidential basis.

It may include the CEO, CFO, members of the Estaugh Finance Committee or other members of the Administration. 2014

Food and Dining to index

Dining is an integral part of life for the Medford Leas Community and, for some residents, the highlight of their day. The Food and Dining Committee serves as a liaison between residents and the Dining Services staff. The committee provides monthly communication between its members and the Dining Services staff except for one month in the summer.

The committee chooses its chair informally from among its members. The chair in turn, includes one or more residents who eat regularly in any of the community dining areas to be on the committee. Meetings consist of a review of Put-It-In-Writing (PIW) forms submitted to the staff and shared for discussion. Members share their observations and comments from residents concerning practices in the kitchen, efficiency of the servers, and the menus themselves. Staff proposals for changes in menus and service are heard. Upcoming events are presented. Informal dialogue usually follows. January 2014

Friendly Visitors Program to index

The Friendly Visitor (FV) in a court, Bridlington, or Rushmore is the appointed representative of the Medford Leas Residents Association (MLRA). He/she is a combination of welcoming committee and "den mother/father" for the residents in his/her area. Each FV is selected for skill for creating a sense of community in the court. Each FV will have his/her own style and probably now two FVs will do it the same way. However MLRA has decided that there are a number of tasks and services that the FV perform, as indicated below.

• Initial welcome of the new resident
• Take the new resident to a meal in the dining room along with other members of the court
• Establish a system of safety checks.

Each FV will determine what activity new residents are interested in and assist them in contacting the appropriate committee activity chair.

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