We had nearly 60 members, volunteers and friends come out to Ft. Ward Park for our potluck picnic! Steve and Bill were our grillers and other folks brought some fabulous salads, sides and desserts. And, the weather was most agreeable. It was great to see everyone!
We had a packed house on July 15 for a great workshop on downsizing presented by Joel Danick of TAD Relocation. We thank Goodwin House at Home for opening up their lovely facility to co-host this workshop with AHA.
We had a fantastic AHA event, watching the Alexandria birthday fireworks from the balcony of the Alexandria House on July 11. While our group noshed on finger foods and bevvies, we enjoyed the fireworks display over the river.
Many thanks to Rick, Barbara and Sharon from the Au Domaine wine shop for sharing its profits and hosting a wine tasting for AHA. We had a wonderful time and look forward to our next adventure together! Au Domaine specializes in smaller and lesser-known vineyards that produce excellent wines. This tasting featured varietals from two French vineyards.
Major General Robert Latiff fascinated an AHA crowd with his May 17 lecture “The Ethics of War.” Before switching from the Army to the Air Force, Latiff commanded an Army tactical nuclear weapons unit. Since his retirement from the Air Force, he has lectured and written extensively on advanced technology before corporate, government and university audiences.
AHA Board Vice Chair Jane King will be honoured with the Annie B. Rose Lifetime Achievement Award of the Alexandria Commission on Aging for her years-long devotion “to significantly enhancing the community, especially to advancing social justice and ageing concerns.”
King chaired the Commission for our years and oversaw the role of the Commission in developing the Strategic Plan on Aging.
The award will be presented on Tuesday, May 12 at 6pm in City Hall.
Board Member Alan Dinsmore will be honored on May 23 with the Celebration of Life Award of Mary’s House for Older Adults. Mary’s House is a facility still being developed in the District of Columbia to provide affordable housing for older members of the LGBT community.
Dinsmore is an openly gay member of the Alexandria Commission on Aging.
The award recognizes individuals who work “has been instrumental in decreasing social isolation among LGBT elders.”
Mitch Opalski, a member of AHA’s Advisory Council, has won the Lois Van Valkenburgh Excellence in Aging Award from the Commission on Aging.
The award recognizes a person who “has made outstanding contributions to elevating the quality of life for older Alexandrians.” The award ceremony will be Tuesday, May 12 at 6pm in City Hall.