Committees: G-M

Giftshop to index

Mission Statement – The MLRA Gift Shop, operated by resident volunteers, is a financially independent, non profit business. The needs of the customer are considered when selecting inventory and establishing prices to optimally benefit and provide a convenient shopping experience for Medford Leas’ residents, staff, and visitors.

About the Gift Shop – Located in the Atrium, the shop is opened Monday through Friday from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Staffed by 31 resident volunteers who share the duties of banking, merchandizing, buying and selling, the gift shop offers a friendly shopping environment for residents and staff.

Residents who are no longer able to participate in the more physically demanding volunteer activities but who still desire to contribute to Medford Leas, are able to volunteer in the Gift Shop. They enjoy socializing and interacting with the residents, and the residents, knowing them, enjoy the personal service and attention. The shop offers new products as well as the customary staples. Volunteers also attempt to satisfy individual customer requests by searching on line for hard to find products that a customer may need and have difficulty finding.

The Gift Shop is expanding its participation in the Medford Leas community. Not only is it opened on Community Day but also for the Craft Fair in December. In addition, we have been working with the Wood Shop volunteers merchandizing and selling some of their crafts, and later this year, we will combine with the Knitting and Sewing group for a joint Holiday Bazaar to be held in November. The proceeds from all the sales are donated to a specific fund at Medford Leas.

Great Decisions to index

Great Decisions is a national program created by the Forieign Policy Association and sponsored by the World Affairds Council designed to help educate citizens and to promote discussion about timely and vital foreign policy issues.

The 2010 series will presented at Medford Leas on eight successive Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Theater beginning February 18. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome. Watch for posters in the Medford Leas lobby for weekly topics. -updated January, 2010

Haddon Greenhouse to index

Haddon Greenhouse is located on the ground level of the Haddon Building near the Thrift Shop. It is open from mid-October through May. Each fall there is a signup sheet for the 90 spaces available to residents for their potted plants. After spaces are assigned, but before any plant can be put into the greenhouse, each plant is inspected and sprayed by our volunteers so as not to bring in pests. Once plants are in the greenhouse, each resident is responsible for the care of their own plants and for keeping their area tidy. Volunteers help keep the greenhouse neat and clean, replenish supplies as needed, hose down the benches and floor, and keep their eyes out for any pests or other trouble in the greenhouse. In the greenhouse there is a potting bench with a potting tub and potting soil; there are tools, fertilizer and watering cans also for use by the residents. Whether or not a resident is a "space holder," everyone is welcomed to enjoy the greenhouse.

Health Care to index

The Health Committee is a standing committee of the Medford Leas Residents Association

The Committee concerns itself with the physical and emotional health, and safety needs of the residents and relays concerns of residents on the delivery of care from any department. Any health concerns should be referred to the Chairman of the Health Committee. Confidentiality must be respected at all times and at all levels. The Committee should be prepared to cooperate in the education of residents in matters of good health practices and accident prevention, either on an individual or group basis.

The Chairperson is selected by the Committee and is appointed annually, generally limited to three years. The MLRA sponsor may assist in the selection if needed. Members of the Committee are invited by the Chairperson and are appointed annually.

The membership of the Committee is comprised, primariy, of interested residents who have had professional experience in the health field and related areas. At least 60% attendance at meetings is expected. In addition, administrative staff and the nursing administration staff are asked to attend all meetings as well as the Chairpersons of the Health Care Volunteers, and other subcommittees. As the need arises, others may be invited to attend, e.g. the dietitian or pharmacist.

Members of the committee should familiarize themselves with Medford Leas system of delivery of health care and personal services, and should make recommendations for a change or improvements as needs are recognized. Members shold be particularly alert to the needs of residents who may be unable to either recognize problems themselves, or lodge their own complaint or grievance.

Volunteers in Health Care are a subcommittee of the Health Committee. The Health Care Volunteers Committee enlists volunteers to support the Active Living program, assisting the Physical Fitness Staff and the Licensed Areas Recreational staff.

They provide transportation and help as needed in the activities of these various areas. Included are:

1 Transportation to: The Pool, The Fitness Area, Physical Fitness, and Special Events for the Licensed Areas

2 Aid to residents in the Pool and in the Fitness Area

3 Interaction and help at special events

4 Specially trained volunteers help meet the emotional needs of
terminally ill patients.

5 Services also provided to Licensed Area residents: deliver in house and US mail, help in the Coffee Social,visit, read to, play cards with, and write letters.

Holiday Decorations to index

A committee of seasoned volunteers usually decorate for December holidays. Staff persons bring decorations up from storage and return them after removal. Usually the work begins around December 1 and is taken down in early January. Decorations for Hanukkah is later in December. Staff arranges for purchase of plants financed by MLRA. Photographs of the year's decorations are made available for the following year. -updated 11/10-

Hospitality to index

The Hospitality Committee assists both newcomers and those already in residence to become more involved in Medford Leas -- with emphasis on dining with other residents.

The committee staffs the Colonial Dining Room's "Friendly Table" Monday through Thursday, except for holidays and the months of July and August. We also co-sponsor, with Dining Services, a Christmas Day dinner for residents who would otherwise be alone on that day.

Interior Design to index

This MLRA committee, formed in September, 2002, is comprised of residents and a staff person and acts only in an advisory capacity.

The committee tries to be aware of design and decorating concerns within the Medford Leas communities. Both resident and staff input are valuable and are discussed as appropriate. The committee’s main focus is on the public areas of the Medford campus but is open to other areas when they come under review.

The committee recognizes that many issues of design are personal and we acknowledge that it is not always possible to satisfy everyone’s concerns.

Large Print Library to index

The committee maintains a large print library of books and periodicals as well as the NY Times Large Print edition. As needed, large print materials are delivered to residents in the Medical Facilities.

From the 2009 Annual Report:
There is a new librarian and a group of very dedicated volunteers. There is still a shortage of shelf space. In order to make more space, each book was assested and if had not been checked out in the last five years, it was either given to other libraries or discarded. The library collection has been considerably supplemented by frequent and welcome gifts. Twelve new books were purchased in 2009

Leas Forum to index

Leas Forum, scheduled twice a month and offered in the Theater at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, is a varied program of speakers – professors, authors, actors and actresses, photographers, and others. The presenters may be invited guests or residents – all with a story to tell.

The success of Leas Forum depends on independent efforts of individual committee members and on the resourcefulness of the committee. Other MLRA members also contribute by recommending speakers or volunteering to share from their own experience. Collectively Leas Forum Committee evaluates ideas and plans a schedule. A committee member then assumes responsibility for overseeing a particular program. The Medford Leas Residents Association supports Leas Forum through the Activities Fund. all with a story to tell.

Library & Magazines to index

The Library, under the direction co-chairpersons Joanne Greenspun and Bob Hambleton, maintains a good collection of hardcover books, paperbacks, and classical music CDs for circulation among the residents. There is also a good reference collection. Eight faithful volunteers handle the check-in of books, the circulation cards, and the shelfving of the books, as well as other tasks involved in maintaining the collection.

There are about 6000 volumes in the collection. Annually about 100-120 are added by purchase, and an equal number through residents' donations. Circulation of the books and CDs averages about 600 per month.

The Library is also responsible for the newspaper and periodical collection in the Lounge. We subscribe to most of the newspapers and to several magazines. Residents have donated a few magazxine subscriptions, and the rest of the periodicals are given by residents after their use of them.

Low Vision Committee to index

The Low Vision Committee is really a Support Group. Its purpose is to provide a setting where those with low vision can learn more about ways to live with low vision through sharing difficulties experienced and the ways residents have dealt with these problems. Guest speakers such as optometrists and occupational therapists explain what actually happens to the eyes and brain when one has eye diseases. The therapists give advice about purchasing visual aids and may set up appointments with low vision residents to help them learn how to use these aids. They may make suggestions about ways to increase safety in the resident's apartments and arrange for better lighting. On occasion persons selling optical equipment will talk to the group and demonstrate how the visual aids work. Talks are given on the psychological difficulties that come with low vision and how to handle them. Occasionally trips are taken to events relating to Low Vision.

Medford Leas Singers

Medford Leas Singers now is one group of both melody and harmony singers. Starting in September 2011, we meet at 11 a.m. in the Linden Room on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of each month, September through May. All are welcome. If you can’t come every time, that’s ok. Come when you can.We do not plan to do performances. Our program includes show tunes, old favorites, spirituals, hymns, or whatever we want to sing. We are open to suggestion. We sing for the pleasure of singing.

Medford University to index

Purpose: To provide college-level courses on campus open to all residents and their guests, members of the Medford Leas Waiting List, and local citizens.

Origin: In 2000, the president of the MLRA Council met with Kris Dixon, Assistant Dean of Cultural Enrichment at nearby Burlington County College, to explore the possibility of bringing some of its faculty to Medford Leas for teaching courses to residents. Dean Dixon was very enthusiastic and helpful. Courses, without homework or exams, were set to be five to six weeks long with 90-minute weekly classes. In addition, a series of four weekly lectures, one hour in length, was scheduled in the summer. The first course was taught in spring 2001 to 90 residents. Faculty are now drawn from four-year colleges and universities in the area.

Courses: A six-week session is held in the fall and another in the spring, with a lecture series in the summer. They cover a wide spectrum of topics. Some titles have been: Views of the Ancient World , American Musical Theater , Our Founding Fathers, Forum on Science and Religion, Film Studies, Aspects of Modern & Contemporary Art, Bad Boys of History, Mozart & the Age of Enlightenment, Issues & Institutions of American Government, and The New Face of Psychology.

Faculty: Some of the Colleges and Universities represented by professors who have taught at Medford University are: U. Pennsylvania, University of the Arts (Philadelphia), Drexel, Temple, Richard Stockton College of NJ, LaSalle, New York University, Ohio State U., and Millersville and Kutztown State Universities.

Medford University is supported entirely by modest tuition fees. -updated January, 2010

Memorial Committee

The committee prepares four sets of announcements for the deaths and memorial services of residents. A vase of red silk roses accompanies framed announcements and together they are placed on a table at the entrance to the Atrium Lounge, at the entrance to the Garden Dining Room and on a table near the entrance to the Large Print Library. Also there is a notice on the Atrium Bulletin Board. -updated January, 2010-

Movies to index

There are two committees that select, publicize, and show movies. One is
responsible for once-a-month Monday Night Movies in the Theater. These are
relatively recent releases. The other committee is responsible for weekly
Saturday Afternoon Movies in the Activities Room. These are mostly older
classics.

Music to index

The Music Committee arranges for the presentation of classic music programs (classical music, jazz and folk) for Medford Leas residents and their guests.

The Committee, operating within a budget approved by the MLRA Board,, selects performers, negotiates their contracts, schedules performance dates, reserves the Auditorium, gives notice of each performance to those responsible for the events calendars and the Auditorium Committee, writes any necessary work orders, publicizes each event and requests checks from the MLRA Treasurer to pay performers' fees.