NewsLetter
November 2008 / December 2008

ANNUAL BVIM
CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON!!

December 6 at 12:00 PM

Cocktails/wine served at 12pm, Luncheon served at 12:30pm.

Menu
Fish or chicken
Cesar salad
Garlic mashed potatoes
Fresh steamed vegetables
Cheescake w/ raspberry sauce
$25

We don't want anyone to miss this festive Christmas Luncheon simply because they can't afford the $25! We have received a small grant to pay for those members who cannot afford the $25 - and it's completely confidential!!
Please call Suzan or Barbara at
(415) 459-5066

Member News

The BVIM Volunteers who staffed our booth at the Senior Information Fair reported that it was an enjoyable, informative & very productive event: our booth volunteers recruited 2 new volunteer drivers! Thank you Virginia Dziomba, Christy Graham, Barbara Mitchell, Lita Heckman, Larriece Stuart, Les Oettel and Joan Yates. Also, thanks, in advance, to our 2 new volunteer drivers, Jaye Glesener and Ruth Drummond.

The November 12th BVIM trip to the Insights Exhibit, an art exhibit for low-vision and blind artists, was enjoyed by all who attended. This impressive showcase of artistic talent includes work by BVIM's own artists, Anabella Denisoff, Richard Mickley & Bobbie Gray (who won the Best Artist award!) Congratulations BVIM artists!!!!

Update on "The Move": It looks like we won't be moving until after the first of the year. Look for an update in the January Newsletter.

EVENTS

The Nutcracker
December 5
Friday, 12:30PM. Stapleton Ballet School performance; we have free tickets; please make your requests ASAP. (415) 459-5066.

Art Classes
January TBA
Back by popular demand! Exact date and time to be arranged. Call (415) 459-5066 to reserve your space.

BVIM Board Meetings

December 8 @ 1PM
1137 4th Street, San Rafael
Board member elections.

January 12 @ 1PM
1137 4th Street, San Rafael
Election of officers

BVIM Holiday Office Hours

The BVIM office will be closed:
November 27th & 28th for Thanksgiving and December 24th through January 1st, 2009 for the Christmas Holidays.

!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!!

!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!

November:
Peggy Cahill, Mary Cone, Alice Tobin and John Madison (89!!).

December:
Lila Biesinger, Marc Nelson, Josephine Bennet, Bobbie Gray, Carol Olivotti, Pamela Hurst, Edwin Lynch and Juanita Slater (99!!).

Welcome!!! New Members!!!

Bobbie Abramsattended the November Luncheon and will be joining Virginia's Support Group.

Ed Simonattended the November luncheon with his wife, Marilyn. He will join Anabella's San Rafael Support Group or Jeff Carlson's Men's group.

Beverly Vanni attended the September picnic and the November Luncheon with her husband, Mike. Beverly plans to join Virginia's San Rafael Support Group.

Good News!

Members on the mend: Marco Vidal is recovering from a bout with pneumonia and Phil Shepard is feeling much better after hip surgery!

Thank you Volunteers!
Nancy Peters-Janover, Nancy Cardinali, Bobbie Gray, Howie & Lorraine Herrin, Marge Hughes, Dennis Hurley, John Conway, Marilyn Denhart, Bill Mitchell, Gerry Bourguignon, Victor Hugo, Linda Sampson, Pam Firestone, Rich & Les Oettel, Bob & Rusty Sherwin, Virginia Dziomba, Chris Kern, Pat Gryson, Pat Carlisle, Lorene Miller, Christy Graham.

: : : BVIM Travelers : : :

Bob & Rusty Sherwin - recently returned from a trip to see their family in Washington state.

Marc & Linda Nelsen - traveled to Utah and Oregon for a family reunion in September.

Gerry Bourguignon - just returned from a 3-week trip to China!

Mary & Brian Kiernan - took a week-long cruise to new England and Canada.

Dick & Hilda Gotcher - are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary on a cruise to Hawaii!

Dr. Colenbrander - traveled to Holland!

Phil & Sharon Shepard - will be traveling to Wyoming in early December to attend their son's graduation.

Thank you generous Donors!
John & Carol Cowden (IMO Revis White), Olga Larsen, Barbara Mitchell, Jack Reed (IMO Revis White), Curtis Thor, Delphine Zeuli (IMO Revis White).

Song

by Anabel LaFrancois
(sung to the tune of
"Darling I am Growing Older")

Slowly eyes are growing dim
And our future's looking grim.
Sharing ups and scary downs
At our meetings banish frowns.
So we carry on with faith and hope
Learning clever ways to cope.
To this club we owe our thanks
We're not maladjusted cranks!

Anabel LaFrancois is a 90 year old charter member of the Novato BVIM Support Group and a talented writer and publisher of poems and children's books.

IN MEMORIAM

Long-time BVIM members, Mary Sentivany and Blanche Spelman, passed away in August 2008. Former BVIM Board President, Revis White, passed away in September 2008.
Our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of these BVIM members.