Committees: N-W

Nature Coordinating - NCC to index

The Nature Coordinating Committee (NCC) is a umbrella organization covering a list of groups or individuals contributing Volunteer services to the Lewis W. Barton Arboretum at both campuses of Medford Leas. The NCC Committee's webpage provides a description of each of the NCC activities and has links to other pages which illustrate Arboretum related activities with photoessays, slideshows, and a video.

The NCC reports to the Estaugh Arboretum Oversight Committee, meeting roughly a week before that group's quarterly meeting.

Nominating to index

The Nominating Committee is defined in Section 3.03 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 of eight residents produces ten issues of the 12-20 page newsletter Medford Leas Life each year. The newsletter is distributed to all residents of both campuses and mailed to subscribers and others who receive complimentary copies: the waiting list, other CCRCs, area newspapers and individuals and organizations with whom Medford Leas Life wishes to maintain contact. It reports news of residents, community life, and information deemed likely to be of interest to residents.

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 anonymously 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

Archivist The Archives Committee is one person A copy of any item that is distributed to all residents 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 located in the MLRA Office on the ground floor of the Community Building.

Complete and effective records are essential for archives, but the current archivist has been unable to do what that requires -- locating historical information 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), long-term residents and staff may be able to identify early residents and events.

Besides the documents mentioned above, there are many albums of pictures stored in the Archives. Because recent photography is by digital camera, the products are often not printed, or, if printed, are retained only by the person or group who took them. Means need to be found to make these digital pictures available to the Archives.

Historical Photographs
Photos were maintained in albums from the establishment of Medford Leas until summer 2008 when this work was discontinued. Now photograph are archived on this website at mlra.org/albumarchives.htm

Recreation and Fitness

Link to the Recreation and Fitness Committee Page

The committee, with members from the Medford and Lumberton campuses, is charged with encouraging and overseeing enjoyable self-regulating recreational activities that enhance sociability, well-being and personal fitness. They include badminton, bowling, indoor and outdoor tennis, square and social dancing, Tai Chi, ping-pong, pocket billiards, indoor and outdoor shuffleboard, croquet, water volleyball, and Wii games including bowling, tennis and golf. Water volleyball players compete in resident versus staff tournaments, and in tournaments with other Quaker-related communities. The committee sponsors the community’s New Year’s Eve Party with games, music, movies, dancing and refreshments. In January the committee and the Fitness and Aquatics Department co-sponsor an annual Fitness Day with demonstrations, presentations, posture screening, spa activities, a lecture and a community luncheon. These activities complement the department’s balance classes, strength-training classes, yoga classes, water aerobics, and personal fitness programs. Except for July and August, the committee meets at 4:00pm on the first Monday of the month in the Linden Room that adjoins the Pool and the Game Room. Interested persons are welcome to attend.

Religionto index

Friends Worship The Friends Worship Group has oversight of the Friends meeting for worship which convenes every Sunday morning in the Holly 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. For more information about the Religious Society of Friends click here.

Vespers The Sunday afternoon Vespers Service at Medford Leas was instituted around 1976, although evening worship services and events featuring speakers on religious subjects had been held before that. 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 and weekly calendars 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.

The Vespers Committee also arranges for an annual Christmas Eve service of carols and readings.

Resource Conservation to index

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

HISTORY:
The Resource Conservation Committee began its work in 2005 committed to work with both residents and management to reduce energy costs 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.

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 most effiently. Posters, tips in Medford Leas Life as well as articles in the Lumberton Leas Chronicle provide hints on recycling, water usage, and use of 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 (deletion) affirmed the need to follow up on weather stripping, purchasing energy star appliances, investigating the use of solar power and continue replacing light bulbs with CFLs in both community buildings and residences.

PRESENT:
The Committee takes a strong position towards implementing Burlington County’s mission to reduce, reuse and recycle by:

1. Monitoring all recycling being done–both residential and administrative–on both campuses.
2. Encouraging the reuse of paper when email is not appropriate.
3. Encouraging the turning off of lights and other electric and electronic equipment when not in use.
4. Encouraging administration towards being ‘green’ on updating existing or new projects.

The Committee’s members include technically trained persons and other interested residents who wish to do their part. Visitors are welcome to come to the monthly meetings. For further information contact:
Co-chairs Suzanne Frank 3063 or suzstef@medleas.com or
George Trought 3045 or trought@medlead.com
Monthly Meetings of Committee at 2: P.M. in Private Dining Room

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 may enjoy transportation to the Saturday matinee programs of the Pennwsylvania Ballet. Residents should contact the chairperson before buying their seasonal tickets to make sure there is a seat on the bus for them.

Thhis season, 2009-2010, we will see "Thems and Varians and Rodeo" on 10/24/09; "The Four Temeraments and Carmina Burana" on 3/6/10; Square Dance" and "Afternoon of a Faun" on 5/8/10; "Romeo and Juliet" on 6/5/10.

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-four Medford Leas residents attended either the Series A and/or the Series B Friday afternoon concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2008-09 concert season. There are nine concerts for each series. Transportation to the concerts is provided to Medford Leas residents by using the Medford Leas bus, and the fare for this convenience is $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.

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 MLRAto index

Creative Writing 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!

Duplicate Bridge A duplicate bridge game is played every Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. in the Activities Room. The game open to all residents and their friends. The rules set forth by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) are followed. However, this is not a sanctioned ACBL game so no master points are awarded. The scoring is done by computer and the results of the winners are posted after game.

Residents who would like to join the group should contact Gil Goering at 654-3697. - updated 12/08 -

Family Historyto index

The Family History series has been uploaded - 50 articles.

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, Professor 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

Sports Days to index

Sports Days are held on the mornings of Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day on the lawn behind the Arts and Social Wing. We have volunteers sponsoring Croquet, Shuffleboard, Bocci, Horseshoes, and Bandminton for all who are interested in playing. We provide music and refreshments for the players and for the spectators. Some photos of the 2008 Labor Day Sports Day are presented both in a photo album and in slideshow format.

Sports go to Recreation and Fitness

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 Holly Room 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

Tuesday sale hours 10 am to noon.
2nd & 4th Wednesday evenings: 7 to 7:30 handicapped, then 7:30 to 8:30

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.

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.

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

The volunteer staff numbers approximately 45.

Proceeds go to the Medford Leas Scholarship Fund and the Medford Leas Appreciation Fund.
-updated January, 2010

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 DVDs are purchased from The Teaching Company. Some 20-35 residents attend on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in the Linden Room, except for eight weeks in February, March, and April when Great Decisions takes precedence for most residents.

In 2008-2009, Vid-U offered a 60-lecture series, How to Listen To and Understand Great Music. That series was followed by three shorter series that were devoted to the lives and music of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. In 2010, a new series will begin on Broadway Musicals, to be followed by a series on Geology.

The Teaching Company is no longer producing lectures in the VCR format, so all presentations are now on DVD.

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

The committee accepts requests from residents to build or repair furniture, rewire lamps, repair jewelry and undertake other jobs within the ability of its members. Medford Leas property (dining 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.

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, 2008 and 2009, the Workshop contributed $2000.00 to the Appreciation Fund and made significant contributions to the Reserve Fund. Recent activities have included:

• Exhibited and sold items made in the workshop at the annual Medford Leas Craft Fair
• Fabricated PVC shoe racks for the pool locker rooms
• Built storage shelves for the Fitness Center Activity Room