Member Community Connections

Watch this space for new postings. See the Member Community Connections Instructions for more details on how to submit an item for posting. Past information is on the Past Updates page, and can be interesting reading to see what OLLI members have been contributing and doing.

Please note: The items found on Member Community Connections have been submitted by OLLI at Duke members and friends. Their inclusion on this website does not indicate an endorsement by OLLI at Duke or its staff, Duke Continuing Studies and Summer Session, Duke University, or the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Memory and Brain Stimulation Study Seeks Adults for Research

Diagram of the brain's neural network.

Duke University School of Medicine is seeking healthy adults (ages 60-80) for a study evaluating interactions of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with working memory. Participation in the the Memory and Brain Stimulation study includes an MRI. Compensation is available. Call today to see if you are eligible! 919-613-7665.

An Invitation from Duke University Retirees Outreach

All OLLI Members are invited to join DURO, Duke University Retirees Outreach. DURO is an organization founded in 1997 by a group of retired Duke Faculty and Staff to promote meaningful volunteer opportunities in the Durham community. Members contribute their time and expertise to support Lakewood Elementary School, a Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership school. They also volunteer with C2C, Crayons to Calculators. Twice a year DURO members meet to socialize and learn about Lakewood’s needs.

Projects at Lakewood

Academic Assistance DURO members are in great demand to tutor literacy and math. They also assist with school events such as Book Harvest Books on Break and Science Night. They serve as EOG test proctors.
Health and Wellness DURO volunteers help with the annual Field Day and Walk, Ride, Run Day.
The School Garden DURO constructed one of the first school gardens in Durham. Today it maintains a beautiful, productive garden that provides learning opportunities for students during and after school. Even in the summer Stepping Stones pre-K students enjoy garden classes. DURO members and occasionally Duke students assist the part-time garden coordinator. The garden and other DURO projects are funded by the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership.
School Beautification Along with the help of the Duke Alumni Board, the Duke Alumni Association and Duke Engage, DURO has built structures for the playgrounds and garden, improved walkways, mulched areas around trees and in the playgrounds, and painted areas both inside and outside the school.
The Backpack Program For the last seven years DURO has sent home groceries each Friday for the neediest Lakewood families. During the 2016-17 school year, it provided six to seven weekend meals for thirty families. Volunteers shop for the groceries and pack the bags that are used instead of backpacks. The primary support for this program is provided by The Forest at Duke.

DURO Volunteers at Lakewood Wellness Day

Volunteer at work in the Lakewood School Garden.

If you would like to volunteer or learn more about DURO, please contact Connie Winstead, cwinstead@nc.rr.com, or Margaret Hodel, mjhodel@gmail.com. To access DURO’s website, go to http://community.duke.edu/schools/duro

Strategies for Aging Well with Yoga

Carol Krucoff, an OLLI at Duke instructor, wrote an article in the Washington Post More Older People are Doing Yoga, but They are Also Racking Up Injuries in which she explains the upsurge interest in yoga and provides 5 strategies to help older people age well with yoga.

Start where you are, not where you think you should be.
Recognize that styles of yoga vary widely.
Find a well trained, experienced teacher.
Talk to your care provider.
Let go of excuses that you are too old.

You can read her complete article here.

Carol Krucoff is a yoga therapist at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C., and co-author of “Relax Into Yoga for Seniors: A Six-Week Program for Strength, Balance, Flexibility and Pain Relief.”

A Blog for Individuals Experiencing Limited Eyesight

Submitted by Lauren Tappan

My OLLI colleague John Logan and I taught a course at OLLI entitled "New Glasses for Old Eyes." This very successful low-vision blog has come out of that OLLI class. This successful blog has been going on for over 10 years and the content is for people who are experiencing limited eyesight for reasons including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, detached retina, etc. The blog has medical information as well as updated information on assistive technology devices that would be helpful for people who are struggling with their eyesight. Check out this blog at lvatug.wordpress.com/

Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteer Meal Delivery Drivers

Submitted by Jeanne Yocum

Meals on Wheels of Durham delivers hot, nutritious meals to Durham County seniors who are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. This is a great opportunity for OLLI members to get involved in giving back to your community!

Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver meals between 10:00 and 12 noon, Monday thru Friday. It takes approximately 2 hours, and they can accommodate any schedule that works for you. As a volunteer driver, you provide more than a meal. You also provide a friendly “Hello” and personal contact that enhances a local senior’s quality of life.

In addition to individual volunteering, a group or a pair can sign up for a set route and rotate volunteers through a schedule. This volunteer opportunity makes a huge difference in the lives of our seniors. What a great way to support our community!

Meals are picked for delivery from 2522 Ross Road, Durham, 27703. Call Meals on Wheels or stop by today to get started: 919-667-9424. An electronic volunteer application can be found on the Meals on Wheels website: https://www.mowdurham.org/volunteer-application

For additional information you can email: info@mowdurham.org

Durham Literacy Center - request for volunteers

Click to see larger version.

We are actively seeking volunteer tutors and instructors for our Adult Literacy, GED, ESOL and Computer Literacy Programs. See our website for more details or simply call or email us at volunteer@durhamliteracy to sign up.

*Depending on the program and volunteer role, volunteers may also need to complete a 12-hour tutor training).

Duke Sanford School of Public Policy – Connect Events

The Sanford School presents a rich range of public policy lectures. For the most part, the lectures are open to the public and free.

See the list of lectures by clicking HERE.

Submitted by OLLI member Jim Hollowood (RTAC).

Preservation Durham looking for volunteer guides for Tours

Preservation Durham has opportunities available for walking and bike tours of Durham. See information on their website.

WALKING TOUR VOLUNTEER – CONTACT DIANE AMATO diane@preservationdurham.org "Preservation Durham presents three fun and informative walking tours in downtown Durham's historic district: Tobacco Heritage, Civil Rights and Architecture and the Urban Landscape. We are looking for guides with a passion for history and a love of Durham. Free tours are given the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the month and we are also in need of guides who are available to lead groups mid week as well. Please contact Diane Amato at diane@preservationdurham.org if you are interested in becoming a tour guide."

BIKE TOUR VOLUNTEER – CONTACT NICK VERNA nmverna@gmail.com "Preservation Durham, The Nasher Museum, and The Museum of Durham History have created a bike tour of the historic murals around Durham. We anticipate one tour a month through November on the first Saturday of the month. We are looking for volunteers to lead the bike tours as docents and sweepers. The Nasher Museum has created the route and a script for each mural. Contact Nick Verna at nmverna@gmail.com to schedule a time to guide a tour or with any questions."

Submitted by: Carolyn Carney

NC State Driving Studies Seeks Volunteers
by Mary Alexion July 2018
I participated as a volunteer in NC State’s Applied Cognitive Psychology Lab’s Driving and Attention research study. I not only was able to provide a ‘test case’ for them, but, as I went through the test, I learned some interesting things about my driving habits. You may want to consider participating in one or both of the following studies.

Study 1: Inviting Participants for a Driving and Attention Study
Researchers at the Applied Cognitive Psychology Lab at NC State University are looking for healthy adults to serve as paid participants in a research project investigating human attention and driving. The experiment takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. You will receive remuneration at a rate of $20/hour for your time. We are currently recruiting participants of age 65–85. If you are interested, please email jrkasko@ncsu.edu.
Study 2: Inviting Participants for a Driving Simulator Study
The North Carolina State University Transportation Human Factors Team is seeking drivers over 18 years old to participate in a driving simulator experiment. The experiment takes approximately 4 to 4.5 hours, and participants will be paid $20/hour for their time. The experiment takes place on the NC State Driving Simulator Lab at the West Research Annex (3217 Ligon St., Raleigh, NC). Participants need to have a valid driver’s license and have 20/20 vision (or corrected vision). Please email mylau@ncsu.edu if you are interested in participating.

Newcomers Club of Greater Chapel Hill

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Moving to a new area means leaving old friends and connections behind. The Newcomers Club of Greater Chapel Hill, Inc., is here to help you find new friends and learn more about the area.

The Newcomers Club facilitates a variety of social activities and interest groups that will allow you to find people who share your enthusiasms, whether hiking or wine tasting, dinner groups or book clubs. If you are in the Chapel Hill or surrounding towns (Durham, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Cary etc), check us out at http://www.newcomersofchapelhill.org

Join us to find out more about Newcomers at our next “Meet and Greet,” usually held on the first Monday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Crossroads Bar located in the historic Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill. Check the Newcomers website for the exact dates.

Submitted by OLLI member Norma Giddens.

New, Self-Guided and Guided Walking Art Tour at Duke Medicine Pavilion

Click to see full brochure

Arts & Health at Duke Presents: New, Self-Guided and Guided Walking Art Tour at Duke Medicine Pavilion (DMP)

Downloadable tour pamphlet for smartphones available here.

30-Minute Guided Tours (third Wednesdays of the month), at 2:00 p.m., DMP Lobby

Arts & Health at Duke is pleased to announce the first in a series of Self-Guided Walking Art Tours for the Duke Medicine Pavilion. Pamphlets for the Art Tour will be available at the main lobby of the Duke Medicine Pavilion, or directly downloaded to your smart phone. Next in the planned series includes tours for Duke North, Duke Clinic and the Duke Cancer Center.

These tours are intended to offer tranquil distractions for patients, visitors and staff of the hospital campus while encouraging movement and activity. Each tour highlights artwork from the Duke University Permanent Art Collection as well as quiet and designed spaces intended for reflection. Steps and distance are also included in the pamphlet.

30-minute Guided Tours will be offered at the Duke Medicine Pavilion on the third Wednesday of the month, starting June 22. Tours will start at 2:00 p.m. from the main lobby of the Duke Medicine Pavilion, located on Duke Medicine Circle. RSVP is not necessary. For more information, contact Bill Gregory, Visual Artist in Residence, at (919) 684-2007.

Visit the website for Arts & Health at Duke.

Submitted by OLLI member Kerry Harwood.

Other Learning Resources of Interest to OLLI at Duke members

One of our instructor members, Dick Chady, shares with us a listing of resources for the Life Long Learners in OLLI. Click on THIS LINK to download a PDF document.

Volunteer with Duke Cancer Patient Support Program

Duke Cancer Patient Support Program volunteers play a critical role in the day-to-day
activities at the Duke Cancer Center. Volunteers provide conversation and comfort,
offer refreshments, and help locate areas and resources in the clinics and hospital. If
you wish to share your compassion and kindness in support of the Duke Cancer Patient
Support Program’s mission, the possibilities for volunteers are endless.

Join our team, contact Holly Vincitorio at 919.684.3651 or Holly.Vincitorio@Duke.edu

Click on image to see a larger version

Vegan Pot Luck Dinner
3rd Saturday every other month (Sept., November, January, etc.) from 6:30 PM-10:00 PM. Free--bring a dish.

Pot Luck Dinner featuring all vegan (NO animal derived ingredients, e.g cheese, whey, casien, eggs, etc.) Bring a dish to share that will serve at least 4 times the number in your party. We provide table service and serving spoons; you please help with clean up after the meal!
Located at Solterra Common House; 98 Solterra Way, Durham (in Solterra Co-housing Community).
Doors open at 6:30 and we eat at 7 sharp. Attendees are welcome to stay and visit until 10 PM. Call Sue at 919-489-8162 or emailandresen.sue@gmail.com for more info.

For our Military Veterans: Veterans Oral History Project

OLLI member Jim Kinney met with Bernardine Donato, Volunteer Collector of Veteran Oral Histories, for about an hour to learn how North Carolina volunteer interviewers record the stories of veterans who have served in any branch of the service in any era. If you'd like to know more about this project, give her a call, or email JimRKinney@aol.com.

Bernardine Donato, USN/USAF
Volunteer Collector of Veteran Oral Histories
562-889-1621

Duke Exercise & Nutrition Study
Participants 55+ Needed!

If you are 55 or older, have at least two risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes), and have experienced recent changes in your memory, thinking or concentration, you may be eligible to take part in an exercise and nutrition study. Participants receive medical assessments at no cost and compensation for time and travel expenses.

For more information: Call 919-681-4747.

Submitted by Susan Schaffer

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