************ HAPPY 2016! ***********

Author Dan Buettner is a researcher of the world’s best practices in

health, longevity and medicine. He along with many other researchers in the health and longevity field have located zones in the world where a great percentage of the inhabitants live well into their 90s and 100s. What are the factors that create this longevity? I won’t go into the numerous habits and conditions that create these Zones, but I will mention a few that apply to us as volunteers. !. All of the oldest and healthiest Blue Zoners wake up each morning with a PURPOSE. 2. Each eats HEALTHY FOODS, usually home grown. 3. A STRESS FREE environment is found in most of the zones. 4. Many 90 and 100-year olds were still engaged in DAILY ACTIVITY, such as gardening or walking into their town. 5. Each had a circle of dedicated FRIENDS to enjoy, support, depend on, and visit regularly. 6. They put FAMILY FIRST. Without exception, the four Zones mentioned in the book (SARDINIA, Italy; OKINAWA, Japan; LOMA LINDA, California; and IKARIA, Greece) were extremely family-oriented. Most of the elders lived with the family as a help to family members, not a burden. They

VIA Newsletter NNewsletterA member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs

VIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2016.1 JANUARY 2016

PRESIDENT’SPROLOGUE

A new year; a fresh beginning. This is what we always associate with the turning of the calendar into another year. I have just finished a book given to me by one of my daughters. She heard it reviewed on NPR and wanted me to have it. The title is The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest.

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were very involved in the lives of the children remaining in the household, and were considered the wise, experienced counselors of the family. In this fresh New Year, I hope that each of you will take these thoughts and apply them to our work and enjoyment here at the VIA. We are able to do all of the work that we do because of a number of the factors mentioned in the book. We have a Purpose, most of us have sufficient Daily Activities to participate in the VIA; we try to keep our events and activities as Stress Free as possible; most of us are Healthy enough to participate in VIA activities; our circle of Friends grows with regularity; and I always stress Family First. It is a New Year, a fresh beginning. Let’s grow oldER together. Theda Blackwelder, President

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Healthier Sussex County – Motivate the First State The New Year is upon us! Where did 2015 go so quickly? As we move into a new year ritually we all make plans to do better, eat better, be more active, or even just to be kinder. This year Beebe, Nanticoke, and Bayhealth hospitals are helping us to keep track of our plan to be more active. Here’s the scoop: The three health systems have joined together in a collaborative way called Healthier Sussex County. They have chosen topics to make the biggest health change in the population by identifying and addressing health disparities, the needs for health education, and to impact health behavior positively. This year, the focus is on eating better and being more active. The program is called the January 2016 Challenge. So challenge yourself and family to start a healthier year ahead. Please go to the website http://www.motivatethefirststate.com. When you enroll, you keep track of your food, drink, exercise and enter to win your own FITBIT™ to track your activity for the rest of the year. During the month of January, you need to post three physical activities, three healthy meals cooked at home, and three days when you drink at least five glasses of water. Through your participation there will be funding to Delaware's Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and Special Olympics. Statewide, there has already been $46,000 donated to these groups. You don’t pay a thing; just have fun. Here are the steps:

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• Go to the website and enroll in the Healthier Sussex County team.

• It’s easy. The PLUS 3 NETWORK website takes less than two minutes to navigate and there is no charge. More than 1,500 people statewide have already done it, including me!

• In January, just log into the website and start to add your activities, and intake. You can add more than three occurrences.

That’s it! Good luck and stay active! Wishing you a healthy, happy, and joyous 2016,

Community Improvement Program, Colors of Hope Volunteer Opportunities

Please remember the projects where your help is important: Caring Stitchers. The group always welcomes new sewers or knitters. Please contact Ann Ward or Valerie Evans if you’d like to join this fun gathering! Resource Guide. If you are interested in researching the services in our area, please contact Kate McKenzie. The information will be put into a format for Tunnell Cancer Center’s patient’s Resource Guide book. Writing and Journaling. The writing and journaling sessions will begin again in April. Dates are: April 1, April 8, April 22, and April 29. Each session will be at the Clubhouse from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Contact Kate McKenzie. ART CART for Cancer Support Community (CSC). CSC is developing an Art Cart that will have activities that patients receiving infusion treatments at Tunnell Cancer Center can complete during the hours that they are at the center. Please contact Roxanne Nelson for more details. Sandy Roberts and Kate McKenzie, Co-Chairwomen.

UPCOMING EVENTS . . . BOOK CLUB – JANUARY 18

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life, with a steady boyfriend and close family. She has barely been farther afield than her tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for the Ex-Master of the Universe, Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident.

The January VIA Book Club will meet on Monday, January 18 at 1:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse. The book for this month is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

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A “Love Story” for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common. It’s a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks: What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart? If you have already read this book, After You is the sequel and tells Louisa's story after this book ends. Get ready for mystery on February 15, when we will discuss Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None! Guests are always welcome! Please let me know if you have questions! Kathy Osterholm, Chairwoman.

MEMBERSHIP ORIENTATION – JANUARY 15

Please remember that every prospective member must have one of her sponsors attend Orientation with her. Please call or e-mail Shirley Fleegle at 302 226-1681 or shirley728@live.com if you plan to attend the Orientation with a prospective member. Shirley Fleegle, Chairwoman. VIA DESIGNER SHOW HOUSE - MAY 2016

The Designer Show House has received a very generous contribution from Giancarla Churchman of Group J Design. She has donated her time and expertise to the Designer Show House, and has created a branding or logo that will establish instant recognition of the Village Improvement Association event. She has formulated the logo for many different functions including the large banner on the Boardwalk, stationery products, calling cards and an ad for the CURB program, to name a few. The example shown here is just one of the many applications. The VIA and the Designer Show House Committee thanks Giancarla and Group J Design for their very generous donation.

Carolyn Billingsley and Mary Jane Deets, Co-Chairwomen.

There will be an Orientation for prospective members Friday, January 15, at the VIA Clubhouse at 9:30 a.m.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

ARTS

VIA Paint and Wine Event. Join us on Thursday, January 28, 4:00 p.m. at the Rehoboth Art League for a VIA Paint and Wine event. Cost is $35 for RAL members and $40 for non- members. Space is limited to 20 VIA members. Reservations and payment can be made with Faith Lord, email: faithlord@comcast.net. Please bring your own wine and snack.

Biggs Museum Tour. We have made arrangements to visit the Biggs Museum on Friday, January 22, 2016, to see the current exhibit: Illuminating the Word, the Saint John’s Bible. It is the first time in 500 years that this rewriting has been done and it took 15 years to complete. We are fortunate to see it at the Biggs Museum with a guided tour scheduled. The tour and car pools to Dover are open to all VIA members. The size of the group will be limited, so get your reservation in promptly. Reservations may be made by email to rzknelson@yahoo.com, or at the January general meeting by stopping by the ARTs table. Payment may also be made during the January general meeting at the ARTS table. The admission costs are $8 regular, $6 seniors, and free for Biggs Museum members. These rates include a $2 discount for a group of 15 or more. However, THESE RATES DO NOT INCLUDE AN $80 TOUR GUIDE FEE, WHICH WILL BE COLLECTED ONCE IT IS DETERMINED AND DIVIDED AMONG THE NUMBER OF GUESTS PARTICIPATING. More information will follow via email blasts. Thank you for your patience as details continue to be arranged. Art of Reading and Research. The Reading Opens Doors program is in need of cloth books for tiny tots and books for middle and high school age children. There are plenty of books for other ages. These books will be distributed to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity partner families. Since 2007, Reading Opens Doors has provided 83 families and 205 children with over 5200 gently used, age-appropriate books, including resource books, and a bookcase. Please bring your books to the ARTS table at the January general meeting, or contact Roxanne Nelson to arrange delivery so children may learn the Art of Reading and Research! Thank you for your support. Roxanne Nelson and Joanne DeFiore, Co-Chairwomen.

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EDUCATION

Donna Mabry and Mary Folan, Co-Chairwomen.

HOME LIFE Holiday Happy Hour Gift Raising! Thank you for making the 2015 Holiday Happy Hour Gift Raising such a successful event. A total of 149 people (86 members and 63 guests) attended, and a grand time was had by all. The Clubhouse looked beautiful. The piano music was lovely - thanks to our talented and generous players, Maribeth Dockety and Chris Johnson.

Christmas Elf JoAnn DeFiore. The bags of gifts were then sorted and divided between the Community Resource Center, West Side New Beginnings, and Children and Families First (the Healthy Families America program). It was a wonderful FUN event!! Thank you for supporting it – without your support it would not have been possible! THANK YOU! Ann Sebastian, Chairwoman.

The food was wonderful-not a crumb was left at the end of the evening. Nage provided cheese and cookie platters; Beth Magnus and her trusty assistants kept wonderful hot hor d’oeuvres coming out of the kitchen, wine and punch flowed, and the punch bowl was refilled three times! Best of all, with the gifts collected by Nage, a total of 573 gifts were Raised! In addition to these gifts, we collected 66 individual gift bags with a sweater, jacket or hoodie for our children at West Side New Beginnings. Sprinkled in the large gift bags were additional coloring books, and lots of little fun items such as tiaras, crowns, magic wands, and stuffed animals.

Please check out DonorsChoose.org as a way to directly help students in our community, whose teachers are seeking funds to make their classroom education projects a reality. Please make sure your frequent buyer account is registered in The Giant's A+ Rewards program to support Rehoboth Elementary or any other local school you choose. Remember to clip and bring in those BoxTops for Education. If you need help registering, contact Mary Ellen Kenney.

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INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

. The Malawi Project board has announced the conclusion of the Pill Container Collection program. Our collection of prescription bottles totaled 472 from 43 members. Sally Read and Jennice McCarty, Co-Chairwomen.

PUBLIC ISSUES Home of the Brave: Dinners are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month, beginning with January 19. Following are the dates for the rest of the VIA membership year: February 16, March 15 and April 19. Please call Diane Markman ((703) 615-2999), if you wish to participate. Safety: We have a number of easy 2016 resolutions for increased safety. In the home, make one improvement such as installing handrails for outside steps or vacuuming the dryer vent. Keep your car safe by having regular oil changes, having brakes and tire treads wear-checked. Protect against fraud by checking your credit card bills faithfully every month, and checking your credit report three times a year. Remember our military serving our country and our veterans by participating in an event, whether it is just a card or cookies to the Milford Retirement Home. They too have helped keep our country safe. A happy and healthy 2016! Susan Savarese-Dominguez and Diane Markman, Co-Chairwomen

FOR YOUR INFORMATION MEMBERSHIP As we end the year of 2015, I want to report on the membership numbers. The VIA has 235 members, and installed 23 new members. We had 10 members resign for various reason (moving, poor health, working full time, etc.). Unfortunately, we also had three members pass away. We need to give ourselves a big pat on the back. We have a wonderful organization and should be very proud. We have such a variety of projects with something for everyone.

Water Step received 72 pairs of shoes from 21 members at our December meeting. A few of these members had donated previously. Our total member participants for 2015 equal 68. Our total number of collected shoes is 3,144 pairs. This is 354 pairs higher than last year’s totals. Thanks for your participation. The February Newsletter will include the total number of participants, hours worked and In-Kind Donations for ISOP. This information will be mind-blowing.

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Also remember that when you bring a guest to a general meeting, you need to complete a 3X5 card with the correct spelling of her name. Please place the card on the Recording Secretary’s table in front of room. The 3X5 cards are on the table where the sign-in books are located. You will also have to sign-in both yourself and your guest. These two things (the sign-in book and the 3x5 cards) are the only record of your guest attending. Shirley Fleegle, Chairwoman. GFWC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Entries must be 8x10, unmatted, affixed to cardboard, Foamcore or similar backing and have required information on the reverse. Categories include: The World in Pictures Living Things Scenes Still Life Volunteers in Action A Year in Pictures (the calendar) Information can be found at GFWC.org. Scroll down, click Manual in lower right; click on Contests; scroll to Photography Contests. Please feel free to contact Elayne Cannarozzi at (302) 227-1958 or d.cannarozzi@comcast.net with any questions you might have. ITEMS NEEDED . . . Boxtops for Education – Bring to the January general meeting. Reading Opens Doors – Cloth books for babies; gently used books for middle and high school readers. Bring to the January general meeting. Cape Henlopen Food Basket - “Toilet Paper” (individually wrapped rolls, such as Scotts) for the

Home Life Committee. Bring to the January general meeting.

The Holidays are over and the decorations are put away. Now is the time to look over the photos that you have taken in 2015 and select those that you would like to enter in the GFWC Photography Contest. Entries are due February 10, 2016. They will be taken to the DSFWC Board meeting to be judged. Winners will be announced at the Convention in May in Dewey Beach. First place winners in DE will be sent to GFWC headquarters to be placed in national competition.

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SAVE THESE DATES . . .

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION – JANUARY 15. VIA Clubhouse, 9:30 a.m., details above.

BOOK CLUB – JANUARY 18. VIA Clubhouse, 1:00 p.m., details above.

HOME OF THE BRAVE MONTHLY DINNER – JANUARY 19. Details above.

BIGGS MUSEUM TOUR – JANUARY 22. Exhibit: Illuminating the Word, the Saint John’s Bible.

VIA PAINT AND WINE EVENT – JANUARY 28. Rehoboth Art League, 4:00 p.m., details above.

THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP . . . Leadership and Personality Leadership involves influencing people to cooperate, to reach a decision or consensus, and to conquer their self-doubt.Understanding how to influence people ensures greater development of a strong leader. People are influenced and motivated differently. Have you ever wondered why you can say one thing to one person, and get a certain response, then say exactly the same thing to another person, and get a different response? The basic reason for miscommunication is due to different personality styles, and each has a different way of thinking, working, and focus. Having identified your strengths and behavioral tendencies, you can improve your leadership skills and ability to influence others to bring about a desired outcome. Considering other’s personality style helps you to understand them and more effectively engage them in your organization. From the GFWC Manual, Leadership section. Elayne Cannarozzi, Leadership Chairwoman

Articles for the February Newsletter are due by Thursday, January 28. Send to juliedavis1606@comcast.net; sipie@comcast.net; theda11@verizon.net