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Reaping the Rewards of Living in a Community
by Lyn
During my recent surgery and recuperation there are many people to thank from Dos Pinos who provided loving care and conversation: First of all my dear neighbor, Patty (also an original member) who provided respite for my daughters for 6 hours in Sutter Davis Hospital. Also Lauretta, Ruth, Laura, Corinne, Sarah, Harriet, Jean, Doey, and Ana. A whole new appreciation for cooperative living is now part of my history and sense of gratitude. I will never forget you.
Thank You One And All
by Lauretta
2001 was a banner year for the contributions many of you made to the Senior Center, Sutter Hospital, Davis Community Health, and the Library. Those were the recipients of the magazines you left at my door. I don't know what the dollar value was of all the magazines, but I'm sure it was well over $1500.
Considering that most of the people who receive these magazines are on limited incomes, your generosity helped them keep up with world events and feel part of society.
You also helped save a few trees by recycling, which is extremely important.
So THANK YOU AGAIN, and please continue your good work for the year 2002.
Landscape Committee News
by Mary Lou
Looks like a rosy new year for the landscape committee. Everything is tentative at this point, but we are hoping to have Davis Master Gardeners come to Dos Pinos in January to demonstrate how to prune roses. It will be the landscape committee's regular workday and everyone is welcome to come and learn how to prune their own roses or those in the common area. All this through the intervention of Jean who made the connection with the Master Gardeners. As soon as the date is firmed up we will pass it on.
Structures Work Area Gets Started
by Bill
As the acting coordinator of the Structures Work Area, I am calling an open "brainstorming" meeting on Saturday, in the community room. The purpose of the meeting is to identify repairs and improvements needed for Dos Pinos structures. Initial focus will be on the exterior of living units and on repair and upkeep of the common structures.
Please come and share you ideas. Every suggestion will be recorded. As time permits we will try to prioritize identified needs along with a recommended time line for action.
Membership Participation Committee News
by Ruth
It's exciting to see people enthusiastically taking part in this community. Our system for keeping track of the number of service hours is working fine. All except a dozen households have responded to the monthly questionnaire.
It seems to be better to aim toward the 24 hours a year rather than two hours a month (a guideline previously stated) because some months are busier than others. For example, in November 19 units reported 139 hours, but during the busy month of December only five units responded with 29.5 hours. Even I didn't return my sheet this time so my service hours didn't get recorded. I'll add them in next month. Marge puts the request in our tubes and when they are returned to her, she tabulates them. She gives me a printout. Thank you, Marge. I report to the community and the board via this newsletter.
Cooperative communities similar to Dos Pinos request from 6 to 12 hours a month. Dos Pinos members are only asked to contribute 24 hours a year. Many people, however, give many more hours than that. We appreciate those extra hours. We could not keep going without them. You know who you are. Thank you.
Family Games Night
by Laurie
When I was a child, our family played some type of game nearly every day. We played card games,Rummy, Crazy 8's, Old Maid, War, Cribbage, Thirty-one, Speed, Slap Jack, Double Solitaire, Uno, I Doubt It, and Concentration. We played board games,Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue, Who Dunnit, Risk, Candyland, Balderdash, and Masterpiece. We played classic games like Checkers, Dominoes, and Yahtzee. We played party games,Pictionary, Taboo, Horse Traders, and Charades,and car games like Ghost, Buzz Fizz, License Plates, and I'm Going On A Trip. That is why I chose to host a games night for my contribution to the Social Committee.
If this list of nostalgia has reminded you of your childhood, or if it sounds like something you'd like to try for the first time, please join me in the Community Room from 6-8pm on Saturday. If you have a game you'd like to play, please bring it. If not, I will bring plenty for people of all ages and personalities to enjoy. I will also supply some snack foods to munch on while we enjoy each other's company. Please bring your own drink if you would like one. Come one, come all (especially the Dos Pinos Ninos!) and be prepared for a good time!
Soul Food Dinner
by Doey
Let me take this opportunity to thank those of you who supported our efforts for the Soul Food Dinner which was held on February 17th in the Margaret Brooks Community Room. I was gratified by the number of persons who attended (approximately 30) and by the wonderful support of those who assisted with the menu, setup and cleanup. Corinne, Lauretta and Lois assisted with food preparation; Gil, Allen, Larry, Bill and some of the cooks contributed to the setup and Jean was wonderful with the sweeper and the dish washer whose name I did not get was a big help. Again a big THANK YOU to all who made the event the success that it was. A bouquet to Emma, our new office manager, for some lovely white mums which added a special flair. If you have the opportunity, check the display case in the community room for some Black History.
My Son's Bright Hands
by Lisa
My son's bright hands
quick-grasp the handle of an old blue wheelbarrow,
reaching beyond the confines of his stroller
to touch another piece of the new world.
The hands I so often admonish,
"Don't touch, don't grab",
stretch past my warnings,
insist on their own desires
to greet each new moment
without hesitation, without reserve.
Even as I worry and walk past
the glaring of the childless gardener in our path
he defies us both,
is not part of the adults' silent conflict,
sees beyond to what's there:
a blue wheelbarrow on a sunny Spring day.