Happy Veterans Day to our members and family members who served in the United States Armed forces on their special day this November 11, 2020. The above short but heartfelt video lists the names of our heroes. We invite you to join in the salute with a simple comment using a đ and/or, if youâre so inclined some words.
Recognizing that we have probably omitted members or family member(s) who have served. we apologize and request that you add yours or your family members name(s) in the comments so we all might recognized them this year as well as in the years to come.
We also encourage you to visit The Old Farmerâs Almanac to get a full history of Veteranâs Day as well as ten specific ways you can show your appreciation with simple acts like displaying a U. S. Flag or calling a vet to wish them Happy Veterans Day.
On most Thursday afternoons, nurse Sue Cox of Lakeview Presbyterian Church on the Northside of Chicago gathers the Lunch Bunch seniors on Zoom to share in Storytelling. After brainstorming on topics to write about, they then schedule when they will share their writing, usually, although not necessarily, a personal memoir of their experience of the chosen topic. The week of October 19th this year the Storytellers wrote on the topic of voting.
As a Cuban citizen Alicia Hadad lived through a dictatorship and a regime revolution rife with violence and violations of human rights. Today as a US citizen and resident of Chicago’s Northside, Alicia writes: “Voting for a US president for me is an act of gratitude and the least I can do to defend democracy a system that is not perfect, but it grants citizens the right to select their leaders that will change or resolve the issues they care about by their elected representatives. Democracy itself means rule by the people. Use, protect and appreciate our right to vote! Protect our freedom!“
Chicago Northside AARP Community Group’s Program Chair, Georgia Evans, shares the following encouraging words before our meeting next Tuesday, November 3: “With only days until the November 3rd election, Iâm not done yet, and may become a volunteer poll worker, like Jennifer, for Early Voting. Itâs policy-not just the politics- that will influence the rest of my life like Social Security & Medicare for which Ann Marie advocates, and social involvement with like minded and opposing view individuals that drives me. If my then one percent vision mother could stuff largest to smallest campaign literature for me to hand out with then senate candidate Obama, and ninety-three year old hospice neighbor can write post cards into a hotly contested race this year, how will you answer Betty OâShaunnesy  on Nov.3-âWhat did You Do for this Election?â. Itâs not too late-quoting a Nike campaign-âJUST DO ITâ!!!
Twenty-six members joined Chicago AARP Northside Community Group on Zoom for their October 2020 meeting and participated in a SOLE (Self Organizing Learning Environment). This SOLE sought to determine how participants can best use their time between this meeting and Election Day, November 3, to positively make their world a better place. Nine members share in How I’m Making My World a Better Place video above.
In the video, three members mention websites they will use to help them choose their candidates. One member told how he already voted. Two participants tell how they use social media and one member, questioning her own sanity, told of how she will again train to be an election judge at the polls this November 3.
A SOLE or self-organizing learning environment developed by the Indian educational theorist, Sugata Mitra attempts to meaningfully involve participants by: posing a question; breaking participants into groups of four or five individuals; and challenging them to answer the question using their own experience as well as Internet or other resources they have at their finger tips. In this particular SOLE, groups had fifteen minutes to answer the question. After the breakout session, all came back together and shared their findings which are summarized in the above video.
Dan OâDonnell retired from Chicago Public Schools where he taught at the now closed Montefiore Special School from 1970 â 1980 and then again from 1997 -2007. From 1980 to 1997 he sold life insurance as an Agent for the Mass Mutual and broker for many other companies. Presently Dan spends his days writing and developing online learning opportunities. During his sixteen-year hiatus from teaching he remained in contact with Montefiore serving on the PTA and Local School Council as the community representative.
To the total chagrin of his sister Marianne, a stay-at-home mother of four, Danâs proudest recognition came when Montefiore Principal Bernie Carlin nominated him as the Parent of the Year. Dan, as Marianne would tell you, never spent one night up with a colicky childâŚ
Danâs work experience taught him to respect and learn from people whose lifeâs paths differed from his own. Dan believes, that despite often feeling like an outsider, he belongs right where he finds himself, and that all that is gift.
Dr. Bill Komaiko sharing on Zoom October 6, 2020 Chicago AARP Northside Community Group Meeting
Dr. Bill, a retired member of the medical community reports monthly on issues he believes are pertinent and timely for our membership. This month Dr. Bill reports on the following:
Twenty-eight days to Election Day 2020, and I wonder, is it too late to make a difference in my world, a world I personally would characterized as on the brink of a new day. What that new day will look like depends on my willingness to act. I believe I must act today, because this is the only time I have. I can’t do anything about the time I’ve wasted in the past, nor can I rely upon a tomorrow that I may or may not be given.
Today, I can look at my voting ballot by going to Ballot Ready.org where “Every Candidate and Referendum, Explained” to help me vote wisely as a citizen of the United States and to voice my opinion on issues facing my community. The first thing I am asked is to pledge to vote. That’s easy. Yes, I pledge to vote. Then I am asked to identify what I care about: the economy; education; healthcare; other. I personally press all four choosing to add “equality for all” in the “other” box. Once I promise to vote, I am taken to a page where I can check to make sure I’m registered, research my ballot by getting information on every candidate and referendum on my ballot.
So, I chose to add “equality for all” in the other box not just because of the very evident inequality my Black sisters and brothers experience and have experienced their entire lives, but also for the not so evident inequality women experience and have experienced their entire lives. If you are a woman, you know what I am talking about. If you are wondering, please view A political party for women’s equality an entertaining and informative 2016 TED Talk by Sandi Toksvig.
Today, AARP Northside Community Group will spend their meeting reviewing hands on BallottReady.org. Please join us. If you are familiar with the process, you can help someone who is not. Depending on the makeup of the group gathered, we will spend our time discussing referenda and candidates or just helping individuals through the steps of preparing themselves to vote responsibly using ballot ready.org.
Dan OâDonnell retired from Chicago Public Schools where he taught at the now closed Montefiore Special School from 1970 â 1980 and then again from 1997 -2007. From 1980 to 1997 he sold life insurance as an Agent for the Mass Mutual and broker for many other companies. Presently Dan spends his days writing and developing online learning opportunities. During his sixteen-year hiatus from teaching he remained in contact with Montefiore serving on the PTA and Local School Council as the community representative.
To the total chagrin of his sister Marianne, a stay-at-home mother of four, Danâs proudest recognition came when Montefiore Principal Bernie Carlin nominated him as the Parent of the Year. Dan, as Marianne would tell you, never spent one night up with a colicky childâŚ
Danâs work experience taught him to respect and learn from people whose lifeâs paths differed from his own. Dan believes, that despite often feeling like an outsider, he belongs right where he finds himself, and that all that is gift.
“What do you do when you don’t agree with someone?” This question challenges me whenever a disagreement arises. First, I simply want to dismiss the person expressing what sounds as ill-informed. Then I think of previous things that person has said that don’t square with my thought or experience.
I know I must get over these initial reactions and listen to the other’s opinion(s) trying to square them with my experience. Take President Trump’s response to the challenge that he doesn’t pay taxes. While he first dismisses the news as fake, they then boasts of just doing what the tax code allows and encourages. I agree with very little he says or does, but regarding his tax situation, i.e. not paying any for 11 out of the last 18 years, I must recall my own experience and thinking in that area. I actually made a living helping people “reduce” their current tax burdens by selling them insurance products that would defer these taxes if not completely avoid them in the future. President Trump has evidently mastered that art.
I no longer sell those products and I actually pride myself in being able to add to the common good today by paying taxes. Of course, I’m not alone in this. Two famous wealthy people think taxes are good:
Warren Buffett doesnât think the rich in America are paying enough in taxes. âThe wealthy are definitely undertaxed relative to the general population,â he told CNBCâs Becky Quick during an interview on âSquawk Boxâ on Monday.
CNBC Emmie Martin Squawk Box 2-26-19
jcc-manhattan, presents a number of good questions in the above Youtube video Voting, Elections and Citizenship: An Inter-Generational Conversation that you might want to ponder. Questions like:
How has your voting experience changed over the years?
What do you do when you don’t agree with someone?
What makes you think like you think?
What makes you want to vote for someone?
Can voting change the world?
What does being a good citizens mean?
Dan OâDonnell retired from Chicago Public Schools where he taught at the now closed Montefiore Special School from 1970 â 1980 and then again from 1997 -2007. From 1980 to 1997 he sold life insurance as an Agent for the Mass Mutual and broker for many other companies. Presently Dan spends his days writing and developing online learning opportunities. During his sixteen-year hiatus from teaching he remained in contact with Montefiore serving on the PTA and Local School Council as the community representative.
To the total chagrin of his sister Marianne, a stay-at-home mother of four, Danâs proudest recognition came when Montefiore Principal Bernie Carlin nominated him as the Parent of the Year. Dan, as Marianne would tell you, never spent one night up with a colicky childâŚ
Danâs work experience taught him to respect and learn from people whose lifeâs paths differed from his own. Dan believes, that despite often feeling like an outsider, he belongs right where he finds himself, and that all that is gift.
Northside AARP Community Group 