11/06/2009 Report by Cora Foley on the Fall 2009 Pilot Program of the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW):
1. Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova on 11/6/2009 joined the tai chi class to encourage exercise/wellness programs for county seniors that could improve their quality of life.
The tai chi video with Chairman Sharon Bulova as a participant at the Burke United Methodist Church:
2. The line dancing class got together for group photos and performed marvelous line dancing steps at the Durga Temple.
3. You can see in the webpage of
BSSCWoW Photos the pictures taken on November 6, 2009 of the tai chi class with Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova as participant and program supporter. Chairman Bulova in 2007 was the first official supporter of the program and her support was critical to actual implementation of pilot programs in 2009. Photos of the line dancing class are also posted in the webpage:
4. BSSCWoW participants and friends have been invited to attend the December 7, 2009 BSSCWoW Recognition by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that will honor the three faith communities that hosted the summer and fall 2009 pilot programs: Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, Durga Temple and Burke United Methodist Church. The recognition ceremony is planned for 9:00 a.m. at the Board Room of the Fairfax County Government Center. More information will be posted about the 12/7/2009 program in the
BSSCWoW Calendar of Events.
5. Also on December 7, 2009, immediately after the BoS recognition ceremony, BSSCWoW participants and friends have been invited to join in an informal Christmas season reception (and to bring cookies) to honor and thank the wonderful BSSCWoW instructors: Susie Thomas (line dancing) and Kris Brinker (tai chi). We will also have an informal conversation on the Future of the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW).
6. For those interested in joining the blog on tai chi by Kris Brinker, the web addresses:
7. BSSCWoW participants and friends have been invited to participate in the 11/13/2009 wellness session on Muscle and Bone Building with Jillian Davis of the Fairfax County Government immediately AFTER the tai chi class is over. See
BSSCWoW Calendar of Events for details.
8. Reminder about 2010 Plans:
Starting in March 2010, BSSCWoW participants will pay $10 for a program series of 8 classes -- to help cover costs, make the BSSCWoW project self-sustaining and financially responsible, particularly in this period of severe budget problems for the county.
Many Thanks to Chairman Sharon Bulova for her strong support of BSSCWoW, particularly her participation on November 6, 2009 in the tai chi class.
More information is available in the website:
Onward and Forward with BSSCWoW. Cora Foley
10/30/2009 Report by Cora Foley on the Fall 2009 Pilot Program
of the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW):
1. The Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW)
participants were in top form today with outstanding line dancing led by Susie Thomas who is featured in today's youtube video opening the "Cowboy Twist" and the tai chi participants demonstrating higher level of performance in tai chi, with better balance and posture, garnering a lot of praise from the tai chi instructor Kris Brinker.
and
10/30/2009 Line Dancing at Durga Temple with Susie Thomas:
10/30/2009 Tai Chi at Burke United Methodist Church with Kris Brinker:
The BSSCWoW videos in youtube are posted in the website:
2. Participants (and their spouses and friends) have been invited to join next Friday's BSSCWoW brown-bag luncheon seminar on Building Your Brain with
Jillian Davis of the
Fairfax County Government at
Burke United Methodist Church at 1:15 pm on Friday (11/6)
AFTER the tai chi class is finished.
The schedule of brown-bag lunch wellness sessions through 11/20 - the end of the Fall 2009 BSSCWoW pilot session is posted in the website:
3. Both the line dancing and tai-chi classes filled up real fast during the registration period (underscoring the need for exercise/fitness activities for seniors in our area) and we had to establish waiting lists. So we are considering the expansion of the next BSSCWoW session starting in March 2010 to include five (5) program series (of 8 classes) with perhaps two (2) line dancing, two (2) tai chi, and maybe yoga.
4. We have received offers to teach hula dancing and to lead an art/crafts workshop for inclusion in the future BSSCWoW menu. Those are great offers that would begin incorporating even more of the diversity in our county in the BSSCWoW activities. We have also received kind offers of facilities for future BSSCWoW programs from organizations in our neighborhood.
5. Starting in March 2010, BSSCWoW participants will pay $10 for a program series of 8 classes -- to help cover costs, make the BSSCWoW project self-sustaining and financially responsible, particularly in this period of severe budget problems for the county.
6. The BSSCWoW volunteers -- notably Larry and Mary Mark -- have been very helpful in managing the program. Their experiences will be most helpful as we plan volunteer participation in designing the Future of BSSCWoW. Thanks to them and all the BSSCWoW participants who have helped set up and clean up so that our hosts would be so proud of us as their guests.
That is it for now. Enjoy the 10/30 youtube videos of BSSCWoW in action.
Do keep the suggestions coming for the best way to grow our project.
Onward and Forward with BSSCWoW. Best Regards. Cora Foley
More information is available in the website:
10/16/2009 Report by Cora Foley on the Fall 2009 Pilot Program of the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW):
1. It was raining and cold outside on Friday, October 16, 2009 but the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BSSCWoW)
participants came out in force to enjoy line dancing and tai-chi,
underscoring the fact that BSSCWoW is meeting the needs of senior residents in our neighborhood.
10/16/2009 Line Dancing at BSSCWoW on youtube:
10/16/2009 Tai-Chi at BSSCWoW on youtube:
2. Participants (and their spouses and friends) have been invited to join
at Burke United Methodist Church at 1:15 pm on Friday (10/23)
AFTER the tai-chi class is finished.
(Both the line dancing and tai-chi classes are full and have waiting lists -- that is why we are expanding the next BSSCWoW session in March 2010 to include five (5) program series (of 8 classes) with perhaps two (2) line dancing, two (2) tai-chi, and maybe yoga.)
Howard Houghton of the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging will lead the 10/23 BSSCWoW brown-bag luncheon discussion and provide an update on Medicare and the key points for older adults to make best use of the updated Medicare system.
3. BSSCWoW participants have been informed of plans to honor the three organizations (Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, the Durga Temple, and the Burke United Methodist Church) and the two instructors (Susie Thomas for line dancing and Kris Brinker (tai-chi) by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. I will be asking participants to join the recognition ceremony -- and bring some cookies for a reception after the recognition ceremony so as to have a festive celebration. We will invite Chairman Bulova, Supervisors Herrity and Cook to drop by and join the reception with the BSSCWoW participants. BSSCWoW participants will be informed of specific recognition details as they are finalized by the county.
4. A discussion forum with the BSSCWoW participants on "The Future of the Burke/Springfield Senior Center Without Walls" will be held immediately following the reception (see item 3). Many participants have expressed interest in becoming volunteers helping to manage the 2010 BSSCWoW program series. I have passed around the attached flyer during the BSSCWoW programs and I am collecting names of BSSCWoW Volunteer Corps participants.
5. Starting in March 2010, BSSCWoW participants will pay $10 for a program series of 8 classes -- to help cover costs, make the BSSCWoW project self-sustaining and financially responsible, particularly in this period of severe budget problems for the county.
6. Once the basic exercise/wellness programs of BSSCWoW have been established, then we will expand the menu to include programs reflective of the county's remarkable diversity. For example, the BSSCWoW menu could include Irish, Israeli, Greek, or Indian dancing in the future.
That is it for now. Enjoy the 10/16 youtube videos of BSSCWoW in action.
Do keep the suggestions coming for the best way to grow our project.
Onward and Forward with BSSCWoW. Best Regards. Cora Foley