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| Volume #5, Issue #3 | www.grsc.info | March 2010 | ||||
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| This issue is sponsored by these Business Partners. Please click on their cards for more information about them. | |||||
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| Our volunteers are absolutely indispensable, and they may be sharper and healthier for it |
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| by Harvey Stern, Executive Director | ||||
| The Golden Rainbow continues to grow: we are now offering 30 to 40 programs per week. Our new "Living a
Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" is filled to capacity with a wait list for the next offering. We are the only older adult
center in the valley with trained and certified facilitators for this nationally recognized program. Our Intermediate Spanish class also
filled up, with the proceeds shared with Aids Assistance Program in support of our both providing food to our most vulnerable of our
community. A beginning drawing class was also sold out as was our new Lavender Scrolls project which documents the history of our older
adults' coming out experience. The most gratifying aspect of these programs is not only are we providing a service to our community, but they are all volunteer-driven. Each of these mentioned programs is successful only due to the generosity of our volunteers. The center is truly blessed in having an army of volunteers that are the backbone of our organization. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation recently released 'Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues affecting LGBT Elders'. The report speaks passionately and eloquently to the challenges and opportunities confronting this population, as well as to the benefits of volunteerism, as evidenced by the following excerpts. |
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"Too often, older adults in the United States are regarded as a population with little prospect for
learning, growing and contributing to society. Aging often is viewed largely as an assemblage of losses and needs, with elders seen as
burdens, soaking up resources that could be better used elsewhere. The reality is far different from these popular misconceptions: older
adults in fact retain the capacity to learn, to develop the wisdom of experience, and to make positive contributions to their communities
as volunteers. In addition, a considerable percentage of those ages 65-plus remain productive in the economy, either by choice or
necessity." "One of the forces working to reverse the widespread stereotype of older adults as social burdens is the civic engagement movement, which focuses on the strengths and contributions of older people. One advocate explains civic engagement as ‘actions wherein older adults participate in activities of personal and public concern that are both individually life enriching and socially beneficial to the community.’ Such civic engagement not only serves the people, organizations and communities with whom older people work, but also helps older adults themselves: Studies [P. Cullinane, The Journal on Active Aging, 2006] have shown that older adults who regularly volunteer lower their risk of mortality and have better physical and mental health." |
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| New movement focuses on older adults’ strengths, contributions | ||||
| "Many LGBT aging organizations were founded and built to a significant degree by LGBT older adults, and are thus emblematic of the extraordinary benefits of civic engagement. Anecdotal evidence suggests that LGBT people in midlife and older adults continue to play vital roles as community organizers, policy advocates, nonprofit board members, and frontline volunteers in an array of initiatives across the country. Recognizing the value of sustaining and building such involvement, a handful of LGBT groups have launched programs to formally encourage civic engagement among elders; at least a few non-LGBT organizations have likewise made targeted efforts to involve LGBT older adults as volunteers in initiatives that reach beyond the LGBT community." | ||||
| Anti-gay discrimination is built in to the so-called federal ‘safety net’ | ||||
| "Anti-LGBT discrimination is built into the federal safety net for elders and as a result, older LGBT
people are at high risk for financial insecurity in their later years. LGBT elders facing these inequities may already find themselves
standing on a shaky financial foundation due to the economic consequences of workplace discrimination over the lifespan." In response to this inequality, the Golden Rainbow launched its food pantry in 2008 for financially challenged LGBT older adults. Each Wednesday morning, 15 volunteers arrive at 6am to set up for our food distribution. We set out the food on shelves in aisles so that participants can have the dignity of "shopping" for what they want. We serve over 170 people each and every week within two hours. The effort that goes into the set-up, distribution, and breakdown would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers. The distribution takes place between 8:00 and 10:00 and each person is greeted and welcomed. The room is then broken down quickly to make room for our weekly Tai Chi class. |
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| I am personally touched each time I visit the program, not only for people getting the food they need but also
to witness our volunteers. I noticed that they have formed a great support system among themselves, and have become a family of choice.
They socialize together and have become bonded. I guess assembling food for 170 week-in-week-out creates a bond between people! One
volunteer told me that for the last five years he’s lived in Palm Springs, he visited the bathhouse every Christmas and Thanksgiving.
This was the first year his newfound family invited him to share the holidays together. Workplace bias was socially enforced, legally permitted |
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| Quoting Outing Age again, "Researcher Lee Badgett of the Williams Institute has shown that employment
discrimination against LGBT people is widespread, with gay men on average earning at least 10% less than similarly qualified heterosexual
men. Women continue to earn seventy-seven cents on the dollar relative to men in the workplace, while lesbian and bisexual women encounter
economic consequences due to homophobia and biphobia as well. Transgender people are particularly likely to experience high rates of
unemployment and underemployment over the course of their working lives." "Most LGBT people who are currently ages 65-plus have spent the majority of their working years during an era when workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was both socially enforced and legally permitted throughout the United States. Job opportunities were limited, and the jobs available to LGBT people who were open about their orientation or identity or who had the misfortune to be exposed were less likely to include health benefits or pensions. As a result, many LGBT older adults have low incomes and limited assets. Although workplace discrimination against LGBT people is less universally accepted today, no federal law protects LGBT people from such discrimination. At the state level, 20 states and the District of Columbia prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation; 13 also prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity." |
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| Click here to view our Events Calendar |
| ‘This workshop put me back in charge of my life’ | ||||
| Healthy life program enjoys renaissance | ||||
| Due to an overwhelming demand this award-winning workshop, developed by Stanford University to help you better
manage chronic health conditions and live a healthier and happier life, is being offered once again at the Golden Rainbow Center free of
charge for GRSC members and $30 for non-members. Textbooks, a $20 value, will be provided free to participants. Who should attend? - Anyone with an ongoing health condition (e.g. diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, COPD) |
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| - Friends and
family of someone with a chronic illness - Anyone interested in becoming more physically or socially active During this program you will be taught how to: - Better manage your condition and lessen its impact on your life - Reduce fatigue, anxiety, sleep loss and pain - Build confidence and make daily living easier - Manage stress and learn to relax - Communicate better with your doctors, friends and family - Set goals to problem-solve to make positive changes for a happier, healthy life Previous participants have said: "The workshops put me back in charge of my life and I feel great. I only wish I had done this sooner" and "Now I have more energy than I’ve had in years. I’m calmer and more confident about my health." This workshop begins on March 23 and continues for six sessions each Tuesday from 3 to 5:30 pm. Please register by calling GRSC at 1-760-416-7790. |
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| The Golden Rainbow acknowledges with sadness the passing of Lars Hansen, arts leader and
visionary. He was the most recent appointee to the GRSC Board of Directors. Lars had a distinguished career in cultural arts management
and will be greatly missed by the LGBT community. Among his Palm Springs affiliations, he was President-elect of the Rotary Club of Palm Springs, a member of the Cathedral City Arts Commission and Vice Chair of Desert Pride Community Center. |
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| It’s
time to don those green outfits and head down to the Golden Rainbow’s Women’s Dance and Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. The fun begins on March 13 at 7 pm. Enjoy DJ music, quiet tables and refreshments. Open to women of all ages. |
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Tickets
are $7 for GRSC members and $10 non-members. Save the date for next month’s Spring Fling dance on April 16. |
| What’s the best health
plan for your situation? Desert Oasis Healthcare experts have answers |
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| It’s not too late; you still have time to choose the right health plan that best meets your needs for 2010.
Join the professionals of Desert Oasis Healthcare for one of two informative presentations to help you better understand benefits and
health plan options that are still available. A light snack will be served at each presentation. Presentations will be held on March 9 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm and March 12 from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. To make a reservation the person wishing to sign up must call Desert Oasis Healthcare at 1-760-320-5134. |
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| When gambling gets dicey, professional help is at hand | ||||
| It’s hard to imagine that an innocent lottery ticket or trip to the casino can develop into a destructive
financial and emotional problem similar to other addictions. In recognition of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 7 to 13, the Golden Rainbow invites you to attend a presentation by Gary Lange Ph.D., MFT, NCGC, for those concerned about their own gambling or the gambling of a loved one. Attendees can learn more about how this progressive problem affects seniors, youth and families. Discussions will include intervention techniques that can help bring honesty and hope to those affected by gambling. Dr. Lange is a Certified Gambling Counselor who specializes in educating and treating problem gamblers and their families. The presentation will take place on March 11 from 4 to 5 pm. Attendance is free, but we ask that you sign up by calling us at 1-760-416-7790. |
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| "We’ve been talking and we just don’t know what to do if something should happen to both of us" | ||||
| by Barbara Barrett | ||||
| Dear Counselor: We just don’t know what to do and hope you have some answers for us! My partner Jim and I have been together going on 40 years now. We met when we were 20. Can you believe that? Anyway, we moved to Cathedral City about 5 years ago. Sure we’ve met lots of people and really enjoy living here but we do not have any close friends. Our BFF’s (aren’t we hip) have passed away as has Jim’s close family. I haven’t spoken to anyone in my family for many, many years now and don’t intend to do any making up in this lifetime. We own our home together and have accumulated an estate worth about $1,000,000. We own everything in joint tenancy and registered as domestic partners a couple of years ago. My health is failing a bit but I know if something happens to me Jim will be okay financially. But we’ve been talking and we just don’t know what to do if something happens to both of us. |
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| We would want our money to go to a couple of our favorite charities. People have told us about living trusts
and we probably should do that but we still don’t know who would be handling our financial matters. Also, what if both of us become
incompetent—what happens then. It’s all very scary. What do you suggest we do? - Looking For Some Answers |
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| Dear Looking: Yes I can believe that you’ve been together for 40 years. I’ve met so many couples like you here in Coachella Valley. Congratulations to you and all the others for finding a true life partner. Your concern about what to do if both of you die simultaneously is real and believe me you are not alone. So many seniors in our valley are facing the same problems and it’s not just in the LGBT community either. The advantage of doing a living trust is that your heirs do not have to probate your estate—that saves money and time. Doing a probate, however, has the added security of having court supervision of the distribution of your estate. The court will monitor the activities of your appointed Executor and make sure that the Executor doesn’t run off with your life savings. Since the Executor would have control over your money it still could happen—he/she could book a flight to Costa Rica never to be seen again. But it is less likely to happen with court supervision. Having a Living Trust prepared for you would, however, in the end be the most economical way to proceed leaving more money for your designated charities. You can appoint the trust department of certain banks here in the valley (you will need to ask them first if they are willing to do this), a certified fiduciary, an attorney that you trust, and, of course, a friend. It is essential that whoever you appoint is trustworthy with the utmost integrity. The Successor Trustee will have the power to gather together all of your assets and then...either book that flight to Costa Rico or pay your bills, income taxes, burial costs and distribute the remainder to your beneficiaries. One way to protect against wrongdoing is to let your beneficiaries know that they are beneficiaries. Also, you can record your trust with the Riverside County Recorder’s office. This makes it a public document that anyone can access but it will help protect against theft. The more difficult question is what to do if you and Jim become incompetent. Who would be designated as your financial and health care attorney-in-fact? Professional fiduciaries can help. Legislation in California was passed in 2007 to regulate non-family member professional fiduciaries, including conservators, guardians, trustees, and agents under a durable power of attorney as defined by the Professional Fiduciaries Act. Professional fiduciaries provide critical services to seniors, disabled persons, and children. They manage matters for clients including daily care, housing and medical needs, and also offer financial management services that range from basic bill paying to estate and investment management. Please check credentials BEFORE you decide to sign any contract. Unfortunately, if someone doesn’t have any money to pay a professional fiduciary that person will have to rely on friends and community for support. Maybe the GRSC can form a support group for people looking for help and these folks can help each other. * * * * |
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| Barbara Barrett is a Palm Springs attorney practicing since 1983 in the areas of estate planning, probate, gay/lesbian dissolutions, and bankruptcy. Send your "Legally Yours" questions to her at bbarrett92262@aol.com or at 555 S. Sunrise Way, Suite 217, Palm Springs, 92264. | ||||
| DISCLAIMER: Information in this column is for general guidance only. Application and impact of law varies widely based on specific facts involved. Advice in this column is not a substitute for consultation with an attorney. Attorney Barbara Barrett and the Golden Rainbow Senior Center recommend that you consult with an attorney of your choice before making legal decisions. | ||||
| ‘Rock for Equality’ demands equal benefits for all | ||||
| Inequality in Social Security benefits against same-sex couples is one of the most under-recognized but harsh
forms of discrimination facing our community. President Obama just stated that "...the notion that someone who’s working really hard
for 30 years can’t take their death benefits and transfer them to the person they love the most in the world, and who has supported them
all their lives… that just doesn’t seem fair, it doesn’t seem right..." As part of the current budget battles in Congress, social security programs are being looked at anew. Will LGBT Americans be cut in or left out? The LA Gay and Lesbian Center and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force are fighting these unequal and unfair laws head on with Rock for Equality - a national rally and rock-in to demand equal Social Security benefits for LGBT Americans. We can change these laws, but we need to act now and we need you. For more information visit www.RockforEquality.org or call 213-388-ROCK (7625). |
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| Part of understanding
Alzheimer’s disease involves the overwhelming pressures placed on caregivers |
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| Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Although the course of AD is unique for every
individual there are many common symptoms, often the earliest observable ones are mistakenly assumed to be age-related. In the early stages
the most commonly recognized symptom is memory loss, especially concerning recent events. Management of patients is essential because the condition is degenerative and cannot be cured. AD is well known for placing a considerable burden on caregivers, often the spouse or a close relative; the pressures can be overwhelming, affecting most elements of the caregiver's life. Sunrise Assisted Living will be presenting a workshop at the Golden Rainbow Senior Center on March 10, from 10 am to 1 pm, to help you explore the many aspects of AD. |
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| Topics will include; how to maintain a healthy brain and lifestyle, understanding and accepting progressive
memory loss, when being a loving caregiver becomes unhealthy and recent advances that have been made in AD research. The workshop is free and a light lunch will be served. If you would like to attend this informative seminar, please call 1-760-416-7790 to register. |
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| Your planned gift can provide a lasting legacy | ||||
| The strategic plan completed last summer calls for continued growth in programs and services
at the Coachella Valley’s only LGBT center for older adults. Our social, educational, and wellness programming seeks to knit together a
varied and vibrantly aging community. Generous gifts from forward thinking donors are a vital component of our future development. We welcome your inquiries about opportunities for planned giving at the Golden Rainbow Senior Center. Planned giving is an investment in the Golden Rainbow that guarantees our programs and services continue long after your gift has been received. A planned gift creates a charitable bequest as part of your current estate and financial planning. One advantage of a planned gift is that both the donor and the recipient can celebrate the gift in advance of receipt. Another advantage is that a planned gift can often be larger than would otherwise be possible. At the Golden Rainbow, a Certified Financial Planner and an attorney specializing in wills, estates, and trusts are available for a confidential consultation to answer your questions and assist with planning. For more information, please contact Executive Director Harvey Stern at 760-416-7790, or email harveys@grsc.info. |
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Join our Getty gadabouts and check out their notably notorious Neapolitan nude |
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| by Dennis Jory | ||||
| Ah, picture yourself in a grand Italian villa surrounded by beautiful gardens, where ancient Greek and Roman
art treasures seem to be everywhere you gaze... It will be easy to turn this fantastic dream into a reality if you join the Golden Rainbow
Senior Center’s "Daytrippers" as they head for the unmatched splendor of the Getty Villa in Malibu on Wednesday, March 24.
For the low price of $45 for GRSC members, $60 for non-members, you’ll spend a fun-filled day with your LGBT pals as a luxury coach from Celebrity Tours whisks you away to this recently renovated seaside villa (amazing what a $275,000,000 facelift will do). To make your reservations, please call GRSC at 1-760-416-7790. Our recent trip to the LA County Museum of Art and La Brea Tar Pits was a sold-out event, so act fast so as not to miss out on what promises to be an experience you’ll long remember. |
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| Closed for nine years during its remarkable renovation, art and history enthusiasts alike have proclaimed it was well worth the long wait! Thanks to the generosity of billionaire J. Paul Getty, admission is free, but those who have previously visited this world-famous site know all too well that obtaining parking permits that are mandatory for entrance can be a months-long wait at best. So sit back, relax and leave the driving to us. Plan to munch on some tasty treats, enjoy a video and even sip a bit of bubbly on your journey to one of the most glorious museums in the world. | ||||
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Truly breathtaking from the moment you arrive, The Getty is a
replica of a 2000 year-old Roman villa, which once overlooked the Bay of Naples near Pompeii, Italy. Famous for its formal sculpture
garden lined by tall, white Roman columns and surrounded by an immense crystal blue reflecting pool, The Getty is the wealthiest museum
in the world - and it shows. Inside the museum, there are 40 exquisite galleries, on two floors; rooms lavishly embellished with marble and gold - treasures in their own right even if they were empty rooms. Not to be missed is the very controversial bronze statue, known worldwide as "The Getty Bronze", "Victorious Youth", an ancient male nude that historians attribute to Alexander the Great’s personal sculptor and which was plundered by Roman soldiers around the time of Christ. Eventually lost at sea, it was discovered by Italian fishermen in 1964 and purchased by The Getty in 1977. Now part of an international scandal and trial (the Italians want it back), this beautiful sculpture has quite a history: found in the depths of the sea, buried in a cabbage patch and even hidden in a priest’s bathtub, it’s ours to marvel over on this terrific day trip. |
| Stop those scams! Supervisor John Benoit will offer identity theft, fraud seminar |
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| The Golden Rainbow invites you to attend a Scam Stopper Seminar, hosted by Supervisor John J. Benoit, on
March 19 from 10 am to 1 pm. Presentations are scheduled from local law enforcement, the Riverside County Curtailing Abuse Related to the Elderly (C.A.R.E.) Program, and consumer protection advocates. This seminar will cover identity theft, automotive fraud, investment fraud, "Gypsy scams" and county services for victims of elder abuse. A free lunch will be served immediately following the event. Please call the Golden Rainbow Center at 760-416-7790 to register for the event. |
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| Click here to View our Business Partner Listings |
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| Become a Golden Rainbow Business Partner - click on the image above |
| Let’s Draw... again | |||||
| We are pleased to offer Beginning Drawing 2, a continuation of the sold out Beginning Drawing
class. Students will explore the world of art in a stress-free, step-by-step, hands-on creative class that will stretch their creativity
and yield surprising results. Our new artists will continue their artistic progress using ink, pencil, charcoal and colored pencils. If
you have not had the pleasure of taking Beginning Drawing and feel you have the basics, please feel free to email the instructor, Dennis
Jory, at joryblack@aol.com to see if this class is a fit for you. The program costs $75 for members and $90 for non-members; includes all art supplies except colored pencils. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 pm starting March 8. Please call the Golden Rainbow at 1-760-416-7790 to register. |
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| Merely needing to commute back and forth to work is insufficient grounds for a temporary license | ||||
| by Stanley B. Parry | ||||
| Did you know that the term "to drive" has been upheld by the California Supreme Court to include,
not only the act beyond physical manipulation of moving a vehicle, but having physical control of the vehicle? Also, in the past one had
to be on a highway or elsewhere to be charged with DUI but the courts have now determined that, by the term elsewhere, it includes private
property. If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer for possible violation of DUI laws, always do the following: |
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| * Be courteous towards the officer and cooperate with each and every request asked of you. * Attempt to complete a field sobriety test to the best of your ability. * Do not argue with the officer if you fail a sobriety test. * At the earliest opportunity write down why you thought you may have passed the test, or why you could not complete or perform the test to the best of your ability. |
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| If asked to give a breath test, request either a blood or urine test so that, at a later date if necessary,
you can have the court order a split of the sample to be analyzed by your own independent laboratory. The results of a breath test do not
have a sample that could be analyzed at a later date and it is very difficult to prove that the breathalyzer machine malfunctioned or was
not calibrated correctly. If you are arrested you will be released later, either on bail or on your own recognizance and will be given a date to appear in court. Your driving privileges may be revoked, but you can apply to the DMV for a temporary license if you need one to perform your business activities. Merely needing a license to go back and forth to work is insufficient grounds for a temporary license. When you go to court you can request the services of a Public Defender to represent you if you cannot afford to hire a private attorney. My advice is to never represent yourself. Remember "He who represents himself has a fool for a client." The best advice is never drink and drive or have a designated driver to make sure you get home safely. |
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| Stanley B. Parry, Esq. is a Palm Springs Attorney at Law and Golden Rainbow business partner. He can be reached via telephone at 760-322-4772 or by mail at 400 S. Farrell Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. | ||||
| DISCLAIMER: Information in this column is for general guidance only. Application and impact of law varies widely based on specific facts involved. Advice in this column is not a substitute for consultation with an attorney. Attorney Stanley Parry and the Golden Rainbow Senior Center recommend that you consult with an attorney of your choice before making any legal decisions. | ||||
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| Become an Individual or Couple Golden Rainbow Member - click on the image above |
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| The Golden Rainbow Senior Center is located at
700 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 |
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| Across the street from Regal Cinemas. There is ample parking behind our building. | ||||
| Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, plus evening and weekend programs, as announced. |
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| Questions? Call us at 1-760-416-7790 or email us info@grsc.info | ||||
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