(KASA) Kol Ami Staying Active

We are so excited to announce the following initial groups and activities to be led by your peers!   Each of the individual leaders will post updates in the KASA Facebook Group.  Please contact them directly for more information and to RSVP.

ECP READERS:  Jess Lorden    
Reading to our Early Childhood Program kids and participating in special ECP events!  What could be more fun?  Readers are welcome Monday-Friday, between 9:30 and 12:30. Contact Jess Lorden to sign up.  Special events will be listed on the KASA Facebook page.

STITCH & KIBBITZ:  Susan Rozin 914-479-7854 (cell) & Allison Buonomassa 
Do you have a “stash”?  Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, etc?  If so, join us once each month on Mondays in the Chapel in the Woods for 90 minutes of stitching and kibbitzing!    Any and all fiber artists, hobbyists and enthusiasts are welcome.   We will work on our own individual projects and from time to time take on group tzedakah projects that we can complete together.  Please note that this is not an instructor led group; however there likely will be more experienced “stitchers” who may be able to help you.

DANCE CLASSES:  Regina & Ken Berthold   240-393-2858 (cell)
Dancing instruction and fun times.  Learn how to dance.  Learn new dances.  Good for exercise, socializing, and memory.  We will begin with line dancing, then to East Coast Swing and Cha Cha.  The line dancing classes will be geared towards those without any dancing experience.  Other dances are possible upon request from participants. We will be meeting once per month on Tuesdays at 6:30pm in the Kol Ami Auditorium, starting in September.  

BETTER TOGETHER (Seniors working with the Kol Ami Youth Group):  
Who said senior citizens and teens/tweens have nothing in common?  Help teens in the Kol Ami community learn from the wisdom of their elders, and gives  seniors a chance to forge new connections.  Events take place throughout the year and will be publicized on the KASA Facebook page.

SCRABBLE:  
Scrabble Club at Kol Ami, meeting monthly.  Bring your own scrabble board and tiles.  Wednesdays, 1-2:45 in the Kol Ami Conference Room.

CURRENT EVENTS:  Beth Kava
Interested in talking about the issues making news?  We meet on scheduled Mondays from 11:00-12:30 to talk about local, state, national and international issues. The facilitator presents articles about recent events, and attendees raise issues for discussion as well. Occasionally there will be guest presenters. 

 We will begin the fall meetings on Zoom and see how we want to proceed. If you are interested, send your name and email to Beth Kava, the facilitator and you will get a Zoom link before the session.  

PAPER FLOWER MAKING:  Regina Berthold   240-393-2858 (cell)
A one time class to learn how to make beautiful, decorative paper flowers. Supplies  provided.  This group will meet on Mondays at 1pm at Kol Ami beginning in September.  Reservations will be required to ensure that there are enough supplies.  

MEDICARE ADVICE (coming soon):  Bob Ziff  914-815-3700 & Donna Joseph
Group Meetings and Individual assistance.  

BRANDEIS LECTURE SERIES:  Ruth Goldberg 914-949-6542
Ruth Goldberg brings Brandeis University to Kol Ami.  All Kol Ami members come free.  It's never too late to learn.  We bring lecturers to Kol Ami and offer varied Learning Opportunities to our members.  Refreshments will be served.

COOKING FOR THE HOMELESS:  Myrna Barzelatto   914-403-7434 (cell)
What is it called when a group in our kitchen prepares a delicious and nutritious dinner for 50-80 men in a homeless shelter?  An act of kindness that says “we care”…and traditionally we love nothing more than to “feed someone”.  Meets once per month on Thursdays at 10am. Thursdays from 10am-11:45am  Please register with Myrna so she can ensure she has enough of a crew.  

ENGLISH CONVERSATION:  Allison Buonomassa   alleybuo@gmail.com
Connect with Israeli citizens and Israeli students online, and help them practice their English speaking through conversation!  Your  sessions are 60- 90 minutes once each week with a minimum commitment of 10 sessions for each student.  No experience or teaching is required, just the ability to engage in an easy back and forth conversation.   

SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIES & SNACKS: 
Meets two times/month in rotating homes.   Homeowner selects and announces movie.  Guest Limit announced by host, depending on their seating space.    Person hosting will pay for movie (if not a freebie on Netflix or Prime.)  Serve coffee and dessert while discussing movie.  

GRANDPARENT GROUP:  Susan Davis   917-270-0287 (cell)
The grandparent's group meets on Zoom at 9:30 AM on the first Monday of every month except July and August. For anyone who is in the group, I will send out a Zoom link a few days prior to the meeting. The purpose of the group is to provide a comfortable space for grandparents to discuss any questions or issues that may arise around grandparenting such as making the most of grandparent-grandchild relationships, navigating tensions with the parents of the grandchildren, family story telling, and anything grandparent related that might come up. 

CULTURAL OUTINGS:  Steve Loewengart   914-589-1087 (cell)
This group will attend museums or stages offering one- time scenic / cultural events. Our visits will be in the nearby Hudson Valley and New York City. We will select from the many museums, exhibits and stages that surround us, and may often be right in our backyard. Exhibits and performances with a Jewish theme will be sought, but those that positively reflect our modern world will not be overlooked. Our intent will be to bring together one monthly event for everyone's enjoyment. KASA members are encouraged to propose and offer suggested outings that will add to our appreciation of the culture that is around us. There is much diversity surrounding all this and we expect to be enriched from it.

YOGA FOR SENIORS:  Myrna Barzelatto   914-403-7434 (cell)
A LITTLE STRETCH FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF WELLNESS!!
Melanie Lynch, renowned certified instructor, will teach a weekly class in the warm comfort of our Chapel suited to all levels of yoga experience.  Her expertise is to identify individual physical abilities, and modify instruction to build strength, increase flexibility, and guide you through a series of foundational yoga poses.  Focusing on the entire body, Melanie will move in and out of a wide range of poses to provide guidance and modifications for more experienced yogis.  Attention to mindful breathing will calm and focus your mind.  Melanie will start with class on Thursdays from 11am –Noon in the Chapel in the Woods at Kol Ami.  Bring a mat and water.   Cost: $10 per class.  

BOOK CLUB:  Doris Dingott   dldingott@gmail.com
KA Reads meets the first Wednesday of each month at 9:15 am.  For the past 3 years we have met via Zoom although we may decide to meet in person.  By consensus we choose books  2 or 3 months in advance.  The book should be "discussable."  It is preferred that someone volunteer to lead the discussion, and I  will send a "suggested" format. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:   Neal Keller   (914)-536-5315 (cell) Neal_Keller@yahoo.com
Looking to enrich your life by volunteering to help those less fortunate than yourself? Have time, skills, and interests you’d like to share and develop while helping others? This club will meet monthly via Zoom on Wednesday evenings. The leader will explain available not-for-profit volunteer opportunities in Westchester and the processes for locating and applying. Each month guest speakers will share lessons learned from their volunteer work. Neal will be separately available 1:1 for those active aging member congregants welcoming support during their search and volunteer work.  

Zoom Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82985692989
Meeting ID: 829 8569 2989