President’s Posts

July 24, 2024

I am honored and excited to step into the role of President of AJA 50+. For those who may not know me yet, my name is Doug Kalman. I have been a part of this wonderful community for 14 years, initially as Treasurer, then as Chair of the Finance Committee, and most recently as Vice-President. It has been a joy to see the many connections and friendships that have blossomed over time.

As we move forward, my goal is to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for all our members. Whether you have been with AJA 50+ for many years or are new to our group, your ideas and feedback are invaluable. I encourage you to share your thoughts on how we can enhance our programs and activities to better serve you.

I also want to take this opportunity to advise you that we are now accepting membership renewals for the 2024-25 year which starts on September 1, 2024. The fee is $70 and a charitable receipt will be issued. Please continue to spread the word to friends of yours who may be interested in becoming new members. Renewing your membership or joining as a new member ensures you benefit from the excellent programming and the camaraderie that comes from doing things together. Your support helps us continue to provide enriching experiences and maintain the strong sense of community that makes AJA 50+ so special. You can renew your membership online at https://aja50plus.ca/store/Membership-2023-2024-c28833003

I wish to salute all of those of you who have volunteered over the years by sitting on the Board, participating in Committees, or in many other ways. We have been fortunate to have had a number of selfless individuals who have given of their time over many years. I wish to also salute Sheila Osterer, our Executive Director. Day in and day out, she thinks of how to make AJA 50+ the best it can be. We are so lucky to be blessed with the continued dedication, energy and vitality she brings to our organization.

However, I would like to stress, that as we go forward, we need more of you to step forward to offer your time in keeping this organization healthy and strong. We currently have a number of Board positions sitting vacant (1^st and 2^nd Vice-Presidents, Finance Chair, Communications Chair and Website Chair). I look forward to hearing from you as to your background and interests with respect to any of these positions and or becoming members of one or more of our committees.

Thank you for your interest in AJA 50+. Together, we will continue to make AJA 50+ a place where everyone feels valued and engaged.

Warm regards

Doug Kalman

president.aja50@gmail.com

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July 14, 2024

Dear AJA 50+ members,

As my two-and-a-half-year presidency of AJA 50+ drew to a close at our July 3 AGM, I had the incredible privilege of presenting the inaugural President’s Award to recognize two outstanding volunteers in our community. Toby and Joel Yan received the award for their remarkable contributions to AJA 50+, our Creative Connections program, and beyond. I cannot think of two more deserving people.

Longtime members of AJA 50+, our recipients go way beyond the call of duty not only for us, but in the Jewish community at large. From serving on countless Boards and committees, to reaching out to folks in need, to adopting a Jewish senior as a surrogate bubby for their children, these folks have truly made a lasting mark on countless peoples’ lives.

For us, Toby has served on our Board, and co-chaired of the Program Committee for six years. Together, they lead regular musical programs for Creative Connections probably close to a dozen times a year, multiplied by countless years. They go the distance when it comes to performing in front of a group or sharing a moment one-on-one with our folks.

What they do for us at AJA 50+ is only a small fraction of what they do on a regular basis in the community. Their efforts have touched many – from seniors at Hillel Lodge, to juniors at Early Beginnings Daycare, to vulnerable populations at Tamir and Jewish Family Services. The are described as the couple who never say no.

We are moved by their music; awed by their dedication; and touched by their humility. Humble and modest to the core and with no regard for recognition, they do what they do for the sheer joy of giving back. And we are all better for it. Thank you, Toby and Joel.

As I bid you, our members, au revoir and turn the leadership of AJA 50+ to my successor, Doug Kalman, I remind you that this organization owes a huge debt of gratitude to the continuing and tireless efforts of our Board members, to those who hold executive roles, and to those who head up our committees.

Special recognition goes to our Executive Director, Sheila Osterer, who does so much more than that job title implies. She is the very heart and soul of AJA 50+. I couldn’t have done my job without her.

And finally, what can I say except it’s been an honour serving as your president. If there ever was a friendlier, more focused and connected organization to be part of, I have yet to find it. I am optimistic about the future. We have been around for just shy of 25 years and I am confident that we will continue to grow and evolve in the next 25.

Thank you!

Hannah Bernstein

May 15, 2024

This is a critical time for us at AJA 50+. We are about to launch our first online fundraising campaign in support of one of the key components of our organization – Creative Connections.

Our weekly Jewish social and recreational program for cognitively well seniors, Creative Connections, offers a day program that includes lectures, music, gentle gym, a kosher lunch and so much more. Friendship, social connections, and fun activities are a highlight of the week for many. For more information, check out our Creative Connections page on our website.

AJA 50+, like many other small charitable groups in this city and in our country, is facing a significant shortfall in revenues as a result of decreased outside funding. Sources and agencies that have been very supportive in the past have turned down our applications this year and we find ourselves in a serious crunch. You can help.

We invite you to open your hearts – and your wallets – to help us keep this vibrant community and much-needed connection alive. Stay tuned for more details.

We thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.

Hannah

April 18 2024

Hi everyone and welcome to AJA 50+’s brand new website! We launched the site on April 15, and following extensive design work, testing, and feedback from our members, we couldn’t be more pleased to roll it out. Kudos to Dan, Deb and Sheila for their tireless efforts leading up to the launch.

The site offers a vastly improved ease of navigation and will hopefully make your interactions smoother and more efficient. It is still somewhat of a work in progress, and we welcome your feedback at any time at ajawebsitefeedback@gmail.com.

With Passover just days away, we wish everyone Chag Sameach, a happy and meaningful time with family and friends. During the holiday period over the next couple of weeks, please note that we will be taking a break, with our regular activities somewhat curtailed. If you are a member, please consult your weekly Agenda email for details.

If you would like further information regarding membership, please send us an email at ajafiftyplus@gmail.com.

Archived President’s Posts

Post from President Hannah Bernstein
Annual Membership Renewal
July 27, 2022

Dear members,

While it may feel like the dog days of summer outside, it is only a few short weeks until Labour Day, which, for many of us, marks the end the season. It is the time we start seeing ads everywhere for “back to school” and for us AJA 50+ members who aren’t going back to school in September, that still signals an important milestone: the start of a new program year.

Which is a roundabout way of saying it’s time to renew our existing memberships and welcome new members.
We have bravely weathered two-and-a-half years of a global pandemic during which we brought you virtual programming that educated, entertained, challenged, and amused us, and helped make our long days indoors more bearable.
As the situation improved and following public health guidelines, this Spring we offered a few in-person programs – chess, Scrabble, and ping pong – as a kind of pilot project to gauge the comfort level of gathering indoors in small numbers. We attracted enough people to give us the confidence to move forward and plan for the Fall to include hybrid programming, being the option to meet in person or watch virtually from the safety of your home.

I fully understand that many of you have missed the social interaction that is the hallmark of our AJA 50+ programming. If you fit into that group and have been hesitant to renew, please know that we are ever hopeful that the Fall will allow us to congregate safely, and plans are in place to do that.
Please also note that even though costs are increasing in every aspect of our lives, the Board has decided that there will be no membership fee increase this year. Dues will remain at $50, and as always, this amount is fully tax deductible. A tax receipt will be issued.

One final request. If you know of any over-50’s who are new in town or maybe have lived here all their lives but don’t know about AJA 50+, please reach out to them and encourage them to join. There is no better way to “sell” our organization than through the voices of our own members. In order to remain current, vibrant and sustainable, we need to constantly replenish and grow the rolls.
Click Here

Please access this link to renew your membership: https://aja50plus.ca/store/AJA-Membership-2022-2023-p381528574
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at ajapresident@gmail.com or our incredible Executive Director, Sheila, at ajafiftyplus@gmail.com

This year, more than ever, we are looking for your support.

Thank you.
Hannah Bernstein
President, AJA 50+

Post from President Gail Krochmalnek and Membership Chair Dan Sigler
August 16, 2021

Dear Members:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Active Jewish Adults 50+, we hope this finds you and your families well, double-vaccinated and eager to get life back to your pre-COVID normal. We may have been “Delta” challenging hand recently, but we can hope that the light we see at the end of the tunnel isn’t an oncoming train and begin to imagine putting away the masks for good.

With our AGM scheduled for August 23^rd (register by emailing ajafiftyplus@gmail.com]), we are reminded that another year on the AJA 50+ calendar has passed and so the time has come to renew our memberships. We think you will agree that we have done an amazing job of keeping our beloved organization humming along this past year, despite the profoundly-missed interpersonal connections that we so cherish. The outstanding subscriptions to the Zoom programs we have offered since the 2020 AGM are testament to both the excellence of the presentations and our need to be together, if only virtually. We have literally been “left to our own devices” but have thrived under these unprecedented circumstances, nonetheless.

The current nature of the pandemic necessitates a continuation of online programming until we can begin to consider hybrid in-person/virtual offerings as conditions permit. Plans are already underway to ensure that we will continue to meet the high standard of Zoom programs set since the pandemic began. We will feature more of what so many of you have enjoyed over these past few months: intrepid global journeys; enlightening museum visits; fun and brain-stretching trivia quizzes; encounters with fascinating personalities; uplifting concerts; thoughtful book discussions; and deep dives into Jewish heritage and culture. As the elements permit, we will safely gather for golf and healthy walks. Of special note, we will diligently carry on the critical effort to keep Creative Connections thriving for the benefit of our “senior seniors”.

So much of what we have accomplished is due to the tireless efforts of our colleagues on the Board together with AJA’s exceptional Program Committee and the too-numerous-to-count contributions of our Executive Director. But, as they say on the PBS telethons, none of this is possible without you, the membership. Like the proverbial tree falling in the woods, if we offered an AJA program and nobody signed up, would it make a sound? Let’s not find out! Let’s (renew our memberships AJA Membership 2021-2022) and keep the strong programming coming, even for those among you who may resume your travels south or west over the winter. Remember, you can Zoom from anywhere with bandwidth! Your membership is truly an investment in AJA 50+, your commitment to keeping our amazing organization strong and vital.

The inspirational author Roy T. Bennett once said, “Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” AJA 50+ has diligently followed this prescription throughout the pandemic. We can’t worry about what is beyond our control. We can shift our energy to create something special, moving forward together from strength to strength. Please join us on this journey once again.

Thank you,
Gail Krochmalnek, President, AJA 50+
Dan Sigler, Membership Chair, AJA 50+

Post from President Gail Krochmalnek
March 10, 2021

Dear Members:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Active Jewish Adults 50+ I hope this finds you safe and well. It is surely discouraging to acknowledge that with Year 2 of COVID-19 upon us, we must again plan to conduct seders over Zoom. But as our long winter will soon draw to an end, so, too, can we look forward to getting vaccinated and putting the pandemic behind us in the months ahead.

I think we can all take great pride in how AJA 50+ has not only weathered the COVID crisis to date but found ways to thrive in the face of enormous challenges. The necessary decision last spring to pivot to Zoom programming tested our ability to adapt to the new reality of lockdowns, bubbles and restricted travel. As we used to say back in our school days, AJA 50+ has aced this existential test, with an outstanding membership renewal rate and the enthusiastic embrace of virtual programming. As your president facing these extraordinary circumstances, I can honestly say that it has been gratifying and humbling to observe the devotion of our members and the “whatever it takes” attitude that has sustained us over these past months. It has been a particular joy to witness the fruit of the amazing efforts to nurture Creative Connections and the well-being of our “senior seniors” throughout this difficult time of social isolation.

The current nature of the pandemic necessitates a continuation of online programming until we can begin to consider hybrid in-person/virtual offerings as conditions permit. Plans are already underway to ensure that we will continue to meet the high standard of Zoom programs set since the pandemic began. We will feature more of what so many of you have enjoyed over these past few months: intrepid global journeys; enlightening museum visits; fun and brain-stretching trivia quizzes; encounters with fascinating personalities; uplifting concerts; thoughtful book discussions; and deep dives into Jewish heritage and culture. As the elements permit, we will safely gather for golf and healthy walks. Of special note, we will diligently carry on the critical effort to keep Creative Connections thriving for the benefit of our “senior seniors”.

Of course, the deep desire of members to keep the good ship AJA 50+ afloat had to be nourished by excellent programs to keep people engaged, entertained and educated. I think we can all agree that our program committee has done an outstanding job of meeting this challenge. We have tapped our in-house expertise to fabulous effect and reached out to a variety of local and distant resources to provide month after month of truly remarkable presentations. We have run the gamut of fascinating and inspiring programs from arts to science, history to the latest headlines, and philosophy to trivia. We have embarked on virtual tours of Ottawa institutions and museums half-way around the world. We have celebrated Jewish holidays and Jews in sports. I can assure you that it remains our pledge to continue meeting this mandate in the weeks and months ahead, hopefully to be supplemented shortly with distanced outdoor events.

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I thank you again for your ongoing dedication to AJA 50+ and ask for your continued support of our virtual get-togethers until the anxiously-awaited time when we can gather together again, live and in-person.

Warmest regards,
Gail Krochmalnek
President

Post from President Gail Krochmalnek and Membership Chair Dan Sigler
August 16, 2021

Post from President, Gail Krochmalnek
August 6, 2020

Dear AJA 50+ Members:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Active Jewish Adults 50+ I hope this finds you safe and well. As we emerge from the challenges of the past few months, it is appropriate to take stock of how we have managed the crisis and where we go from here.

In coping with COVID-19, organizations have had to be adaptable and sharply focused to meet the priority needs of their members. For its part, AJA 50+ has flexibly met its goal of continuing to provide the quality programming that is the hallmark of our association. As noted in our recent article in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, we refused to rebrand as “Inactive Jewish Adults 50+”.

Throughout the pandemic, AJA 50+ has offered its members dozens of programs via ZOOM. From talks to trivia, concerts to crosswords, our virtual gatherings have brought us together to learn, to laugh and simply to revel in the companionship we so dearly miss. The nicer weather has allowed weekly golf, a group bike ride and a neighbourhood tour or two. Happily, we have also kept our Creative Connections program Zooming forward, in some cases by providing our “senior seniors” with devices to access the technology to break the isolation and join in the fun.

Members have long regarded AJA 50+ as a “quality of life” organization for making friendships, staying active and working the mind. AJA 50+ is a lifeline to the community at-large for seniors to enjoy Jewish life in a secular setting.

In this spirit, I am reaching out to ask you to commit to AJA 50+ in the most tangible way by renewing your membership for 2020-21. We pledge to continue offering excellent virtual programming until such time as we can safely meet in person. With southern destinations likely remaining inaccessible, AJA 50+ will be there for snowbirds nesting in Ottawa this winter. All this, plus a tax receipt for the full amount of yearly dues, adds up to a great deal. We hope that you will answer the call and sign up for the coming year. You can do it online by scrolling to the bottom of the page at https://aja50plus.ca/store/
Collectively, we long for the days when Corona was just a beer, and a case of it was a good thing. For now, stay safe and we’ll see you online in the weeks and months ahead.

Sincerely,
Gail Krochmalnek, President, AJA 50+