A new plan for seniors

JANNETTE EDMONDS

At 85 years of age, Marjorie Groberman is not content to sit on the sidelines of life, nor is she willing to allow, for lack of information, other seniors to do so either. Which is why she has started up a planning committee in conjunction with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, aimed at promoting the many seniors' programs offered and, hopefully, spurring increased attendance at them.

"I wanted to think up a big event which would get people out and then we could tell them about all that is offered," she told the Bulletin in an interview. "So I thought of what a common theme would be and so I thought of the role of grandparents."

So she and her committee are gearing up for The Role of Grandparents, the first of what she intends will be several events to rally seniors. The event will feature Dr. David Freeman, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia school of social work, a specialist in family theory and therapy, and the author of six books on the subject. Groberman considers it a coup that she got him to come.

"I told him I was having a special birthday [85] and I am giving myself a present and that present is to try and help the JCC with their seniors programs, so he said he would give me a birthday present," she laughed. "And he agreed to come for free."

The focus of his therapy is encouraging family elders to become guides and mentors in helping the younger generation deal with life challenges. He thinks grandparents have a role to play, which makes him a perfect speaker for the event, according to Groberman.

"We need to get at least 100 tickets sold," she said. "We are sending out flyers in January and I am sending a speaker to every meeting that is happening, whether Hadassah or whatever. We need people to talk about it, promote it and sell tickets."

The centre offers a plethora of programs for seniors, including bridge, which Groberman started and calls a success. There is also dancing, arts and crafts, a walking club, discussion groups and more. Groberman says Linda-Yael Iny, program co-ordinator for the seniors department, is doing "a bang up great job" but says that she cannot do it all herself and needs help.

That's where Groberman comes in. She is at the centre every Tuesday and Thursday and saw that many of the programs were poorly attended. She also started to realize that there were many newcomers in the community who didn't know what was available.

"The women I chose to be on the committee are all great and excited to do a wonderful job. But it was an eye-opener for me to see that many of them were new to the community and had followed their children in moving here.

"This is for people who don't know what is available, and that they can come and meet new friends. People who have lived here all their lives don't need this," she said. "They have their friends and roots, but a lot of newcomers have no roots. They need companionship and their kids are too busy."

This is a way to help seniors, help the centre and reach out to newcomers, she said. "I always said that when I found something I wanted to do I would do it."
Besides planning more events with speakers, Groberman also wants to build on programs that are available at the centre.

"We want to instigate some nice luncheons, which are important. The seniors have a Chanukah luncheon Dec. 13 and we are going to try and get people to come out."

Groberman is no stranger to community involvement. She has been chair of Combined Jewish Appeal, originated the Hadassah Bazaar here 53 years ago and set up other bazaars in 14 cities.

"I have always been involved in the community and I like it," she said. "I like what I do."

She admits to being a "doer" and is still active in Hadassah. She plays bridge and, although she has lived alone for many years as a widow, she likes to cook and entertain, has movie nights when she invites friends over and sees a lot of her four grandchildren. Her community is important to her and, she adds, "I am getting as much pleasure out of this as I hope it will bring to people. I have had a good life and I have enjoyed it. And I want to improve the lives of other seniors. Why not? I have the time!"

Besides Groberman, committee members are Miriam Bromberg, Harriet Joachim, Betty Hershberg, Golda Ostroff, Ida Vechter, Marion Welch, Shirley Stein, Mary Powell, Ari Racz and Sarah Richmond. The Role of Grandparents takes place March 11 at the JCC. For more information on that event or other JCC activities for seniors, call Iny at 604-257-5111, ext. 208.

Jannette Edmonds is a freelance writer living in North Vancouver.

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