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Date: 2/1/2022
Subject: February NNN News and 3 Year Anniversary
From: Northwest Neighbors Network



We're thrilled to be marking our 3 Year Anniversary of helping our members thrive in their own homes and communities and ward off social isolation. We enjoy sharing the latest news with our members, friends, families and community members:
  • 3 Years of Growth with NNN
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Combatting Social Isolation - Partner Presentation Feb 17
  • Chinese New Year is Year of the Tiger
  • February: Black History Month
  • Tech Scams - Just Say No     
  • Free Covid Test Kit Portal - Round 2
  • Stronger Memory - Launching a Great New Program!
  • Social Outings in February 

snow
3 Years Ago When NNN Launched in February 2019:
  1. Gasoline was $3 per gallon (and the Seattle area was huddled indoors, blanketed by the worst snow storm since 1969)
  2. Zoom (which we now rely on so much!) had their IPO at $36 per share (it's now $143)
  3. NNN had 33 people involved in our village (21 Members, 12 Volunteers)
cake
3 Years Later -- February 2022:
  1. NNN has over 160 people involved (95 members and 73 volunteers) -- pretty GREAT news when you consider the challenges of COVID restrictions. Who knew we'd triple in membership in just 3 years?
  2. 12 Members who have joined in the month of February are celebrating their one or more year anniversaries w/NNN (thanks for your continued membership, darci, Don, Marty, Bruce, Rick, Martha, Dave, Al, Lynn, Eva, Robin, and Lois)
  3. We welcomed 14 new Members and Volunteers already in 2022 (Welcome, Amy, Isabel, Jeff, Robert, Madeleine, Darlene, Laurie, Paul, Sunny, Victor, Ron, Christine, Cindy and Muschi!!)

This Year... and the NEXT 3 Years Ahead
  1. This Year's Board: The NNN Board is looking to add 3 new Board Members! Are you interested? Would you like to help us reach even more seniors in our area? We'd love to have you join our team (or our newly formed Advisory Council). Questions? Contact Board President, Suzy Chandler: suzy@northwestneighborsnetwork.org
  2. This Year's Outreach: We continue to make new partnerships with community groups. Is there a group you'd like to see us more involved with? (Habit for Humanity?) Our Outreach Committee, led by Board member Tom Wilcox, meets monthly to engage with our community to ensure we're offering as many services as possible to our members and volunteers. Want to learn more? Email tom@northwestneighborsnetwork.org 
  3. 3 Years from now in 2025: Will we triple again in size? As we continue to build our strong volunteer base, we continue to feel very positive about reaching even more seniors in our community to help them thrive and age well in their own homes. (Interested in Volunteering? YOU pick the types of services and hours you're available for either in person helping members, or behind the scenes.) Contact Program Manager, Danie: info@northwestneighborsnetwork.org
Did You Know?
The first aging in place village launched 20 years ago, on February 15th, in Boston.

2022 marks 20 years since the launch of Beacon Hill Village, the nation’s first Village, in 2002. Since then, the Village Movement has grown to become a vibrant network of over 300 Villages, each serving older adults so they may remain at home and connected to their communities. In recognition of the positive impact Villages are having on the experience of aging, Tuesday, February 15, will be celebrated as National Village Day! The map shows all the Villages across the U.S. Village to Village Network 

Village to Village Map

Year of the Tiger

The Chinese New Year: 2022 is the Year of the Tiger 

This year, Lunar New Year lands on February 1st. Celebrations typically begin the night before, and extend up to 16 days. This Lunar New Year marks the transition to the Year of the Tiger, which is the third animal of the zodiac. Traditionally, New Year’s eve and New Year’s day are reserved for family celebrations, including religious ceremonies to honor ancestors. Communities celebrate with cultural dances, fireworks, and plenty of traditional foods such as niang gao (sticky rice cake) and fish, to symbolize a surplus in luck and wealth.
 
Lucky numbers for Tigers: 1, 3, 7
 
Are you interested in attending the rescheduled event? NNN is looking into planning a member/volunteer outing for the rescheduled LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (postponed from Feb 5).
 
From the Chinese International District website: After careful consideration of COVID-19 health and safety of our community members, CIDBIA has decided to postpone the Lunar New Year Celebration event to a new date: Saturday, April 30th, from 11:00am - 4:00pm. Vendor booths line the streets, dance performances and music on the main stage at Hing Hay Park, families walk along S. King St., you can truly feel the atmosphere of this cultural intersection. We look forward to celebrating with you soon! 

February is Black History Month
Many options abound for learning more, and immersing yourself in Black History Month. Learn more about the U.S. Army's 25th infantry's Buffalo Soldiers at the Seattle Armory. Gather more details about the music, art, politics, race relations, fashion and culture at MoPOP museum.  Grab a friend and go explore some of the many options in the Seattle area.
 
Here are links for a few ideas to get you started:
Visit Seattle website:
 
If you'd like to get more involved, with readings and panels offered:
Seattle Met website:

Edmonds Waterfront Center
Special Presentation: Social Isolation: Recognition, Impact, Solutions: Dialogue w/ UW Bothell School of Nursing Students
SAVE THE DATE! Sign up now for this February 17th event (1:00-2:00 PM).
Join UW Bothell Nursing students for a conversation about community and belonging. This workshop will discuss how to recognize signs of social isolation, its impact on health, and offer ideas and resources to help prevent or reduce becoming isolated from the community. This online event is sponsored by Northwest Neighbors Network, the Edmonds Waterfront Center and the University of Washington, Bothell School of Nursing, and is open to the public. (There are also a limited number of spaces available for in person participation for those choosing to do so.)

Registration is required.
To register for the online event, go to https://tinyurl.com/yty8hczj
*To register for the in-person event (space limited), go to https://tinyurl.com/4fa66zrv
 
In keeping with Covid-19 safety protocols, space for in person attendance is limited, masks and proof of vaccination are required. Confirmed registration is required. If you need help registering, email social@northwestneighborsnetwork.org or call 253-237-2848

We will record the event and will share a link to the virtual meeting in case you miss the live presentation.

Another Tech Scam to Watch For

It seems just when you get used to how to avoid the latest tech scam, another comes along. ((As always, we need to continue to avoid low-tech scams as well... just say NOthing when someone you do not know calls you on the phone. No need to "be polite," just hang up if it's someone you don't know.)  A few new ones in 2022 come via email or Facebook messaging... Just Say NO! No to clicking links, no to opening photos. It's challenging when you want to stay connected with friends, but the hackers sending these links are just trying to scam you or collect your private information. 
===Sample:

Email from a person you may have emailed in the past, or message from someone you follow on Facebook:

"Have had no chance to forward this picture to you sooner - so here it is now [link snipped]" OR...
"This is you in this video [LINK]"

WASHINGTON — Washington's portal for free COVID-19 antigen test kits reopened Monday, a little more than a week after the first batch of orders were delivered to 340,000 households across the state.

In a news release, officials said the first 1.4 million kits in the were claimed in just eight hours after the web portal was unveiled Jan. 21. Each household is eligible to receive up to five tests from the state's website, which are delivered for free by Amazon. "We are thrilled to be able to open the portal for the second time this month to increase access to these tests statewide," said Dr. Umair Shah, state Secretary of Health. "We thank our partners at Care Evolution and Amazon for their support in making this happen." With the second batch of tests, the state is aiming to reach another 120,000 households.

Stronger Memory Program
 
Are you interested in improving your brain health? Boosting your mental acuity? Stronger Memory is a program created by Goodwin House and introduced to other Villages two years ago. The program is designed to stimulate the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which governs our ability to retrieve memories. Participants spend just 20 to 30 minutes a day engaged in simple reading, writing and math activities. NNN is offering this free program to some of our members and volunteers this spring. In addition to your independent daily workbook exercises, we will meet once a week as a group to discuss our experiences, progress and ask questions.

Please mark your calendar to learn more about this program by attending an informational session by Zoom on April 8th from 1:00-2:00. Program administrators, Jessica Fredericksen and Peri Weinfield will introduce this free program to us as we prepare to launch our first NNN group! Special guest attending is Wendy Liebreich. Wendy lives in Portland and is the mother of the founder of the program. She has been using the program since its inception and is excited about how it helps her.

darci Beacom has volunteered to facilitate our first NNN group. We encourage anyone interested in being part of the first group to reach out to social@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org or call 253-237-2848 for more information. Our first group of no more than 15 participants will begin the week of May 1st (exact date and time to be determined). We expect to meet by Zoom unless the group decides otherwise. If you’re interested in helping facilitate the NNN group, please contact darci@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org.

Social Events with NNN
A few highlights below, and MANY, MANY more on our Events page website
4 walks each week - Coffee chats - Monday informal Zoom sessions - game time - lunches
(We'll send more details in our Members/Volunteers email - stay tuned for the inside scoop!)

Please use your own judgment and comfort level when deciding to attend indoor gatherings. NNN follows CDC and Washington State Department of Health guidelines. Participants need to be able to show proof of current vaccination status and wear masks when meeting in person.

Before heading out for an event, please check the Events page to monitor any updates or changes in date, time or location

Bingo
Members-Only: 3 Tickets Remain at the NNN Table for the SOLD OUT Show!
 
REGISTRATION REQUIRED ~ SPACE IS LIMITED ~ Only 3 NNN Reserved Seats Left!

Get ready for a wild and silly night of bingo with DragQueen Silvia O'Stayformore calling the shots for a night of laughter, fun, good food and adult beverages. NNN has reserved 8 seats (3 remain). The registration fee is $20, which you pay at the time you register on the Events page, includes a seat at the NNN table, entertainment and tasty loaded nachos. You can just come and enjoy the show or pay $10 for a bingo packet available at the door. Beer, Wine and soft drinks will also be for sale at the Center.
Join NNN volunteer host Rhonda Hill and her husband John at the NNN tables (look for the NNN table sign). Need a ride? After you've registered and pre-paid for the event, NNN members can request transportation via the link on this Events page, submit your request through services@northwestneighborsnetwork.org, or call 253-237-2848.

Lunching Together with NNN

We meet for lunch on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1:00. Lunch is at different locations throughout our service area. Members and volunteers receive a $5.00 members only “cash in your pocket”  lunch benefit to offset the rising cost of eating out. We are restarting lunch in person this month on February 18th. Meet at Aurora Borealis, 16708 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133


NNN wishes a very Happy Birthday to our members and volunteers born in 
February:
Mary Lynn A.,
Joan B., Catherine B., Ralph B., Sarah B., Eva F., Carol F., Pam M., Chelsea P., Ron R., Libby S., Suanna S. Sherry W., Victor W., and Lois W
 

NNN continues to serve our members and help them age well in their own homes. We follow the latest CDC guidelines to keep our members and volunteers safe. As always, if you need anything, please call our volunteer team at 253-237-2848 or email: Services@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org
253-237-2848