Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Approximately 50 senior citizens attended the Senior Jubilee "Lifting Rural Voices" led by Judy Bonnell, Senior Jubilees Director. A lovely breakfast buffet was provided and after everyone got their food and settled down, Perry Lawson, Community Education and Outreach Director of COPE, made a presentation entitled "A Place Where Even the Pillows Smell Safe" telling of experiences at the shelter for abused individuals and children being cared for there.
After a short break and a snack, the next presentation covered "What Seniors Can Bring to the Stage" by Perry Lawson, actor, Carla Kerr, actor, writer and President of the Theatre on the Hill Guild, and Bob Trowbridge, playwright, actor and set designer. Each spoke of their experiences in the theater and urged seniors to check out the Theatre on the Hill perhaps creating an opportunity for them to try something they have always wanted to do but just didn't know how to get started. They were also told about acting classes at NMSU-A and the fact that the cost is minimal and seniors are always welcome.
Perry talked about Joylyn Mercouris who would have been at this event and about her recent passing. He also treated everyone to a video of Joylyn and Monica Helm in a portion of "Senior Moments". It was hilarious and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. This was a fitting tribute to Joylyn and her accomplishments at the Theatre on the Hill.
Monica Hunter, administrator of Access Home Health LLC, and her group answered many questions from he attendees about home health care access and how medicaid fits into the picture. Then their physical fitness instructor gave examples of low-impact exercise suitable for seniors such as once every hour to sit in a chair, raise arms with hands clasped overhead, breathing in through your nose, then lowering your arms hands still clasped as you purse your lips and breathe out through your mouth. Do this five times and it oxygenates your blood and you get fresh blood to your extremities as well as the rest of your body. The other exercise is still sitting in a chair, once every hour, raise the heels of your feet so you are on your tippy toes, relax, then raise your toes so you are on your heels five times. This helps get rid of nightly leg cramps. He also said to just walk five minutes each hour around the house if nothing else and before you know it, you've walked a half mile in a day. Apparently "five" is the important number for these exercises.
A delicious luncheon buffet was provided for all attendees and Perry Lawson did a wrap-up of the day's events and talked about ways seniors can help others who are in need.
It was a well-run event and Perry did a great job of providing the program for the event even changing it up at the last minute to make a tribute to Joylyn Mercouris. One of the best things about this Senior Jubilees besides making new friends and learning about new opportunities is the whole event was free.
Thanks to Judy Bonnell and her crew, Judy Hatfield, Ken Bonnell, Lynda Emmel, Nina Walker-Saenz and Debbie Riley, First Presbyterian Church for providing the venue and Monica Hunter for her presentation.
One little side note: As I was washing my hands in the restroom I noticed a sign beside the sink that read "For those who are weary, lean on the Lord, not the sink!"
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| Attendees listening to Perry Lawson |
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| Perry Lawson |
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| Another shot of attendees |
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| Judy Bonnell, Senior Jubilees Director |
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| L to R: Bob Trowbridge, Carla Kerr and Perry Lawson informing seniors what they can bring to the stage |
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| Carla Kerr relating her acting experiences |
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| Monica Hunter and her team from Access Home Health LLC |
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| Ken, with some exercises that make sense for seniors |
Judy Bonnell stated at the end that they are always looking for new venues for this event and if anyone is interested in hosting (primarily churches in the area) you can reach her at liftingruralvoices.com
Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.
This is all I have to say for now.
