Starting Tuesday, January 3rd, we invite
you to come in and renew your Downtown
Oakland Senior Center membership for
2017. Our Membership Committee and
volunteers are already hard at work updat-
ing forms, and coming up with ways to
make the membership process fast and
pain free.
Membership is still only $12 for the
ENTIRE year—such a deal! We will host
the Membership Drive for two weeks start-
ing on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. The
Membership Drive will be held on the main
floor in Hall 3 between 9:00 am and 3:00
p.m.
Here’s some tips to make the Membership
Renewal process quicker:
If you want to purchase a parking sticker,
you will have to pay an additional $3.00.
You must also bring the current DMV
Registration for that vehicle. The vehicle
must be registered in the member’s name.
No. We’re sorry that we cannot accept
your vehicle insurance, or your driver’s
license. We must have the current DMV
Registration.
Look around and locate your plastic green
membership card so that we can affix a
new 2017 label to it. No worries if you’ve
misplaced the card; we are more than
happy to give you a new one.
Come with the name and telephone num-
ber of an emergency contact. This is vital
information that we must have.
If a medical emergency occurred
while you were here at the Center,
we want to be able to contact the
right person, and apprise them of the
situation.
Members always ask why we need to ask the same questions each year. The primary reason is that things CHANGE. People move, emergency contacts relocate or pass away. We must have your up-to-date information so that we can continue to provide you with the best
service.
We came close to breaking our membership record this year, but we are determined that it will happen in 2017. We want 1,400 members in 2017, and you can help make this
happen. Here’s how:
Encourage your senior friends and family members to join DOSC. You
enjoy coming here...they will too!
“Gift” a membership to a senior
friend, family member or neighbor.
2017 Membership Renewals Begin Jan 3
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Volume 10 Issue 5
December 2016
The decorations are in place, the holiday music is playing, folks are out
shopping and moving about...but, for many older adults, the holidays
can be a desperately lonely time. Here are some tips to keep the
“blues” at bay:
Don’t isolate yourself! It’s good to be around people. Go ahead and
accept invitations. These are wonderful opportunities for you to get out
and socialize.
Get in Touch with Family and Friends. Carve out some time, pick up
the telephone and call family members and friends. This will take your
mind off whatever it is you think is missing. Instead of sitting at home
alone and watching television, write letters and send holiday cards.
Domestic and International
Guided Group Travel
We feature Guided Group Tours with our
respected travel partner, Collette. Every-
thing has been pre-planned for you to
ensure worry-free, exciting and memora-
ble travel. Find your travel partner, and
reserve your sea today.
What’s included: Transportation to/from
airport, airfare, top hotels, most meals
and best “must sees” of each destination.
Each tour allows leisure time to do some
exploring on your own.
Take advantage of early booking dis-
counts when you book 6 months in ad-
vance! Don’t miss these exciting travel
opportunities. Find your roommate and
reserve a seat today.
Don’t Miss the
Slide Show
Presentation
Please join us for our next
slide show presentation on
Monday, January 9 at
2:00 p.m. in Hall 1
We will highlight a
special “Washington, D.C.
Tour,” and the new
National Museum of
African American History
and Culture
Page 2
Travel Adventures Await You
T HE SE NI OR AGE NDA
2017 Featured Tours
Best of Eastern Canada, 6/13/17
Northern Nat’l Parks, 8/14/2017
America’s Music Cities, 10/8/17
Niagara Falls to New York, 10/13/17
Washington, DC, 10/18/17
British Landscapes (England, Scot-
land and Wales), 10/17
For more information, reservations or to
have a brochure with the pricing and
complete day-by-day itineraries mailed
to you, please call the Group Tour
Coordinator, Deborah Neal, at
(510) 499-5900.
Keeping the Holidays Cheerful
Be Grateful - Sure, your situation may not be perfect, but don’t dwell on that. Instead, be grateful that you have shelter, food, and
a place to go. Millions of people don’t.
V OLU ME 10 ISS U E 5
Beginner & Intermediate Computer Training
Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays
January 18 - March 1
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
It’s time you joined the 21st century and learned how to use the computers. This class was especially designed to teach senior students starting from the beginning stages of learning how to use the new Windows 10 operating sys-tem and using programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as e-mail and the Internet. In no time at all, you’ll enjoy using and exploring all of the features of our personal computers. The pace is designed to get you
engaged and comfortable with the learning process.
To guarantee your spot in the class, please sign up at the Reception Desk, or call us at (510) 238-3284. Don’t wait! This class is limited to 20 students. Bring a Flash/Jump
Drive (USB Drives of 4 gigabytes or more).
George Wilson is the instructor. The cost is only $30.
Fee payable to instructor on first day of class.
Please note classes begins and end on a Wednesday.
Digital Camera & Adobe Photoshop
Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays
January 18 - March 1
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Smile and say “Cheese.” Not only will we learn how to take great pictures with our digital cameras, we will also learn how to enhance the appearance of our digital
photographs using Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Bring your digital camera to class - make sure batteries
are charged and camera is fully operational.
Bring a Flash/Jump Drive (USB Drive of 4 gigabytes or
more).
Class size limited to 20. Sign up at the Reception Desk,
or call us at (510) 238-3284.
Cost is only $30. Fee is payable to instructor on first day
of class.
George Wilson is the instructor.
Please note classes begin and end on a Wednesday.
Friday, January 27th at 12:00 Noon
Only $10 for all 18 games!
Page 3
NEW Computer Classes Start on January 18
BINGO Returns on January 27
Our CASH PRIZE BINGO games return on Friday, January 27th. 18 rounds of BINGO are played upstairs in Hall 1. Join other eager players as we start the new year on a cash & carry
roll. Who knows? You might be the big winner.
Delicious refreshments will be on sale, and you can buy your
daubers from us too!
18 games only cost $10 per person - You can’t beat that!
Let us help take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping. On Monday, December 12th, we’re sending a busload of shoppers to the beautiful Stoneridge Shop-
ping Center in Pleasanton.
Stoneridge has more than 165 stores featur-ing women, men and children’s clothing, fine and fashion jewelry, purses, belts and fashion accessories, Christmas ornaments and holiday décor, books, personal-care products. You name it; they’ll have it at
Stoneridge.
Page 4
Shop ‘Til You Drop Outing on December 12
Crafting Workshop Resumes on January 9
T HE SE NI OR AGE NDA
Join us on Monday, January 9 at 1:00 p.m. in the Art & Crafts Studio
located on the basement level.
We will work under the direction of a skilled crafter; Cassandra Johnson-Edwards. Class size is limited to 15 with preference given
to resuming students.
Cost is only $5 and includes all
materials and supplies.
The Crafting Workshop will be held in the Arts & Crafts Studio at 1:00 p.m.
until 4:30 p.m.
Crafting is for everybody! You don’t need experience. Let us teach you how to design and craft lovely, fun
and practical gifts.
Our crafting workshop is designed for beginners, but it’s also appropri-ate for all of you intermediate level crafters who want to polish your techniques, gain new skills and get
some new crafting ideas.
Bus will depart from DOSC at 9:30 am and
return about 3:00 pm
After you’ve shopped, then drop into one of the many eateries, sit down and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch. Restaurants in-clude Cheesecake Factory, Anderson Bakery, California Pizza Kitchen and
many more.
The cost of all this fun is only $3.00 for your round-trip transportation. Shopping and lunch is on your dollar! $3.00 due at
sign-up.
Do bring your own shopping bags!
Thanks So Very Much to DOSC’s Stellar Volunteers
The time and energy put in by the wonderful DOSC volunteers does not go unnoticed. We wanted to take this opportunity to let you, and all of our members, know just how very grateful we are to you, and how very much we appreciate all that you do for the Center
and its members.
Without your efforts, our senior center
could not function!
As this newsletter goes to print, we will be thanking you formally at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation
Luncheon on December 9, 2016.
We are proud to announce that we have more than 100 senior volun-teers. The generosity and creativi-ty that each of you brings cannot be measured. You are the cream
of the crop, and we thank you!
V OLU ME 10 ISS U E 5
We’re doing our best to make this holiday
season cheery and bright! Join us for a
delicious five-star lunch at the beautiful
Bellevue Club on Wednesday, December
14, 2016 at Noon.
Perched on the shores of Lake Merritt, the
Bellevue Club first opened its doors back
in 1926. The Bellevue Club is located in-
side of a grand old Victorian mansion.
You’ll enjoy seeing the lovely marble floors
and superbly gilded fixtures. Some of us
will walk over together at 11:30, but you
are welcome to meet us at Noon at the
Bellevue, located at 525 Bellevue Avenue.
Wednesday, December 14th, You can walk
over with a group from the Center, or meet
us there. Sign up at the Reception Desk.
The Annual meeting & Election will be held in Hall 3 at 11:00 a.m. in Friday, December 16th. All members
are invited and encouraged to attend.
Page 5
Enjoy a Holiday Luncheon at the Bellevue Club
Join Us for the Annual Meeting & Election on December 16
The Annual General Membership Meeting and Election
will be held on Friday, December 16th at 11:00 a.m.
This is your opportunity to elect the Advisory Council Members for 2017. Advisory Council Members work with the Director in planning our programs and services. Addi-tionally they serve as the Center’s “lead” volunteers, and chair and serve on a number of the committees including travel, special events, finance, and programs and ser-
vices.
If you are interested in serving on the Advisory Council, applications are located in the Center lobby. All applica-tions must be completed and returned by December 9th.
Volunteers can chair many of the Center's committees.
Lunch is only $29. This price includes your choice of entrée (Shrimp Louie, or Chicken Picatta with mashed potatoes and vegetable, or Spinach Ravioli with a spring mix salad). All entrees come with soup, dessert, and a
beverage.
This low holiday price in-
cludes all taxes and tip!
Please note that no jeans are allowed in the Bellevue Club Dining area, so please dress
appropriately.
Why Not Have Lunch Here at the Center?
Delicious and nutritious meals are served here at DOSC every weekday. The cost is a surprisingly low $3.75. Why eat alone when you can share the meal with other mem-bers? Great food and great conversation is yours for the asking. Menus are located at the Reception Desk. You do need to call us (510) 238-3284 and make a reservation at
least 24 hours in advance.
Return Service Requested
200 Grand Avenue Oakland, CA 94610
Downtown Oakland Senior Center
Staff and Volunteers
Jennifer D. King, Director
Michelle Gomez-Thompson, Administrative Assist.
Sam Mazid, Custodian
Juanita Tanner, Receptionist
Terry McIntosh, Receptionist
James Pagliei, Receptionist
Pamela D’Amato, Consignment Shop
Dominique Washington, Canteen Hostess
Elton Rivers, Custodial Assist.
Ricardo Rodriguez, Custodial Assist.
Henry Metoyer, Custodial Assist.
Donald Brooks, Dining Host
Jean Mundy, Volunteer Reception
Esmeralda Grant, Volunteer Reception
Terri McWilliams, Volunteer Admin.
Center Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Monday through Friday
(510) 238-3284
DOSC Book Club will meet Friday, January 6, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. The book selection is A Manual for the Cleaning Woman, the Pulitzer Prize best seller by Lucia Berlin. Please bring snacks to share
and your suggestions for the February book.