Gazseniors mc 041713

2 Gazette SENIORS | April 2013

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April 2013 | Gazette SENIORS 3

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GAZETTE

SENIORSEditor

Graphic Design

Contributing Writers

Advertising Director

Prepress Manager

Special Sections Coordinator

Kimberly Bamber

Anna Joyce

Karen Finucan ClarksonEllen CohenScott HarrisJim Mahaffie

Neil Burkinshaw

John Schmitz

Ashby Rice

PUBLISHED BY THE GAZETTE/POST-NEWSWEEK MEDIA, INC.9030 COMPRINT COURT, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20877

Gazette Seniors is produced by The Gazette’s Special Sections andAdvertising departments. It does not involve The Gazette’s newsrooms.COVER PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/NYCSHOOTER

Do you know someone in Montgomery County 50 or older with aninteresting story to tell? Do you know of an organization that providesentertainment, travel or arts opportunities for older adults? We want toknow about it! Email us at [email protected]


“With more and more adults passionate about stay-ing in their homes longer, pet therapy can keep themfrom feeling isolated,” said M. Jane Markley, Charlie’sowner and a volunteer withTherapy Dogs Internation-al (TDI). For the past three years, Markley, a 61-year-old Derwood resident, and Charlie, a Shetland sheep-dog, have been bringing smiles to the faces of olderadults in both residential and institutional settings.

Those smiles, according to studies at the Univer-sity of Missouri, are the result of certain “feel good”hormones—such as oxytocin, prolactin and norepi-nephrine—that increase in the body when people in-teract with pets. “Research shows that petting animalscan lower blood pressure and relieve depression,” saidRuth Benker, director of communications for FairfaxPets OnWheels (FPOW).

Now in its 26th year, FPOW connects dogs, catsand bunnies with people living in nursing homes andassisted-living facilities. It is recognized by the Ameri-

can Kennel Club.The nonprofit, all-volunteer group,which serves 14 facilities in Northern Virginia, hasroughly“300 volunteers,both human and four-legged,”said Benker, who owns a Cavalier King Charles spanielnamedTeddy. FPOW’s volunteers donate some 8,000hours of pet visits each year, she noted.

Each pet visit is “unique to the individual,pet and facility,” said Benker. Some residents are in-terested in conversation with the owner, while otherswant only to spend time with the animal. “Some dogswill do tricks and make residents laugh, but mostly theygive a lot of love.”

“Although Charlie and I know where we’re goingand who we’re going to see, each visit can be differentdepending on what’s going on in the life of the personwe’re visiting,” said Markley. But regardless of their

SIGN ME UP

How Pet Therapy Can Improve Quality of Lifeu

When Charlie hears he’s going tovisit Teresa Hemline, he gets ex-cited. “His ears perk up,” said hisowner. Hemline looks forward tothe monthly visits as well. “I just

love being able to interact and have that closenesswith a dog, even though he’s not my dog,” said the54-year-old Silver Spring resident. Finances and dis-ability preclude Hemline from having a dog of herown. “For someone like me, with physical problemsthat keep me from getting out, the visits really meana lot; they make things more enjoyable.”

BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSONSee PET THERAPY, 24

ISTOCKPHOTO/BIT245

BY JIM MAHAFFIE

“T ennis is huge in this area,” said Carol Cohen,president of the Montgomery County TennisAssociation (MCTA). “We have the perfect

mix of all the factors that together make for exemplarytennis—facilities, weather, university tennis programs,outstanding pros, and, of course, a successful countytennis association offering year-round tennis for all skilllevels, ages and interests.”

“The popularity of tennis in this area is why there’s ahuge need for us,” said Ellen Johnson, membership sec-retary of the Fairfax County Golden Racquets, whosepurpose is “to promote the sport of tennis among seniorcitizens of Fairfax County,Va., as a means of recreation,physical fitness and the sharing of good fellowship,” ac-cording to their mission statement. The Golden Rac-quets, said Johnson, is designed mainly for retirees withmore flexible schedules that allow them to play only dur-ing the day.

MCTA and the Golden Racquets are just two ten-nis organizations offering organized league play in thearea.A search on nNetis, nnetis.com, a database that letsyou search for area courts, clubs and shops, finds threetennis organizations, about 10 private tennis clubs andmore than 1,300 tennis courts in Fairfax County.Thereare five tennis associations and more than 1,400 courtsin Montgomery County, according to nNetis, and morethan 4,800 courts are listed in the entire Washingtonmetro area.

“Generally speaking, our area managershave observed a decline in tennis court use by all ages,”said Matthew Kaiser, deputy public information officerfor the Fairfax County Park Authority. “Casual play hasbeen replaced by more organized groups of women andschools. Certainly, there are lots of people taking tennislessons.”

According to Johnson, seniors join tennis clubs andorganizations in order to find some diversity in oppo-nents. Golden Racquets assigns each of its more than300 members a rating, from 3.0— just good enough toplay games—up to 4.2—a very good player. Doubles-only matches are arranged by these ratings. “It takesall the work out of trying to find a competitive and funtennis game,” said Johnson. Members play at least oncea week at a number of indoor and outdoor venues in

places like Merrifield, Burke and the Fairfax RacquetClub inVirginia.

In 2012, according to Cohen of MCTA, 823 reg-istrations were received for the association’s 50 & overSenior League, Senior Mixed League and its Super Se-nior-60 and -65 leagues.That represented 13 percentof the total league membership. “We believe the actualnumber is quite a bit higher, since this estimate doesnot include anyone aged 50 and above who played onan 18 & over Adult League team—and we know manydid,” said Cohen.

There are many public and private tennisfacilities in the area. The Montgomery TennisPlex,which just opened its doors in September, is a 12-court, indoor/outdoor tennis facility at South German-town Recreational Park in Boyds.The tennis complexalready has a very active tennis ladder of more than


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In 2012, according to Cohen of MCTA, 823 reg-istrations were received for the association’s 50 & overSenior League, Senior Mixed League and its Super Se-nior-60 and -65 leagues.That represented 13 percentof the total league membership. “We believe the actualnumber is quite a bit higher, since this estimate doesnot include anyone aged 50 and above who played onan 18 & over Adult League team—and we know manydid,” said Cohen.

There are many public and private tennisfacilities in the area. The Montgomery TennisPlex,which just opened its doors in September, is a 12-court, indoor/outdoor tennis facility at South German-town Recreational Park in Boyds.The tennis complexalready has a very active tennis ladder of more than

SIGN ME UP

TENNIS, EVERYONE?Why this sport is gaining popularity among older adults

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM GAVIN,MID-ATLANTIC MATCHPOINT

Dana Plude, of Rockville, atthe 2012 Mid-Atlantic SectionNational Tennis Rating ProgramChampionship Tournament


Most active tennis players across the U.S. are 41 to 50 years old, butthere are tens of thousands more who are 50 to 80 or older, accord-ing to research from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) LeagueTask Force, which was organized to examine the existing league structurein American tennis. Data comes from actual numbers of USTA Leagueparticipants reported for 2008, according to David E. Pullen, executivedirector of the Montgomery County Tennis Association.

80 players who challenge each other onreserved courts, moving up and down theladder in ability and competitiveness, saidLydia Xiao, an instructor, front-desk work-er and volunteer at the facility.

“We have adult classes and leagueswith lots of people of all different ages,”she said.“There’s a fairly competitive Sun-day league and also a doubles mixer onFridays, which is more social and fun.” Aprivate-public partnership between TheMaryland-National Capital Park andPlanning Commission and Jack SchoreTennis, Montgomery TennisPlex has nomembership requirements, according tofacility rules and regulations on montgom-erytennisplex.com.

The Aspen Hill Club on HomecrestRoad in Silver Spring is proud of its ac-tive senior tennis community. “Seniortennis is very strong and active, with bothdoubles and singles play,” said longtimeTennis Director Jeff Klein. “We’re actu-ally bringing senior beginners into thegame and that’s exciting too. It’s really a

lifetime sport.” The club offers beginnerto tournament-level play, both sociallyor competitively, instructional drills andvarious match play programs.

Organized tennis is one popular aspectof the game, but there are many more in-formal groups playing regularly in thearea. Bethesda-resident Catherine Sandsis a member of a group that’s been play-ing since the 1970s.“The cast has changedduring the years, but there have alwaysbeen six to eight of us,” she said. Thewomen, 68 to 75 years old, have had vari-ous physical ailments and travel a lot, “butthe amazing part is that we’re all playingreally well,” said Sands. Her group playson Friday afternoons at the indoor courtsat the Pauline Betz AddieTennis Center atCabin John Regional Park in Bethesda.

Information on indoor and outdoorfacilities, as well as public tennis instruc-tion programs in Montgomery County,can be found at montgomeryparks.org.Public courts in Fairfax County are listed

at fairfaxcounty.gov/living/parks.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM GAVIN,MID-ATLANTIC MATCHPOINT

TOP: Robert Vinson, ofLaurel, at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Section National

Tennis Rating ProgramChampionship Tournament

RIGHT: Tommy Heintschelof Rockville

ABOVE: The 20088.5 USTA Women’sCombo champion-ship team (L-R): LindaVinh of Bethesda;Ellen Wallendjack ofBethesda; BeverlyVayhinger ofUniversity Park; EveHelmer of SevernaPark; Kelly Moler ofMcLean, Va.; ChungBell; Debra Broadusof Hyattsville

PHOTOS: MONTGOMERY COUNTY TENNIS ASSOCIATION

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BY JIM MAHAFFIE

Montgomery is a large county—just over 491 square miles, ac-cording to the U.S. Census Bu-

reau. There are 418 parks, more than35,000 acres of parkland, and more than200 miles of both paved and natural sur-face trails, according to the county’s De-partment of Parks’ fact sheet. So there’sno excuse not to get out and about!Today’s seniors are not only 'the great-est generation,' they are also the walk-ing generation. Many have their favoritetrails, and use them regularly.

“For me, it’s the C&O Canal, particu-larly the stretch from Carderock to GreatFalls,” said Gene Granof, 76, of Bethes-da, who prefers to run or bike along thecanal. “Going from [Old] Angler’s Inn[in Potomac] to Great Falls on the detour(upper) trails provides some spectacularviews when the leaves are down.” He alsosaid that he enjoys the views of the Po-tomac River along the Capital CrescentTrail on the stretch from Fletcher’s Boat-house in Washington, D.C., to its termi-nus in Georgetown.

Nick Hefter, 79, walks daily to andfrom his Bethesda home in the Bannock-burn neighborhood and the C&O Canaltowpath, a walk that he has done formore than 40 years, he said. A meteorol-ogist who works at the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration in Col-lege Park, he also walks there, too.“I walklunchtimes on a wonderful paved trail bythe College Park Airport.” He said he ap-preciates the flat Northeast BranchTrail,which is part of a trail network between

Montgomery and Prince George’s coun-ties, as opposed to hiking the steep hillsalong the Potomac River.

Like a little more strenuous hiking?Edward Tilghman of Bethesda is 65and recently spent almost a year train-ing for a demanding climb he undertookup Mount Rainier, a 14,410-foot activevolcano in Washington state, accordingto the National Park Service. Locally,he likes the rugged Billy Goat Trail, arocky scramble along the edge of thePotomac River between Great Falls andOld Angler’s Inn within the C&O CanalNational Historical Park.

He also loves Sugarloaf, a smallmountain near Dickerson and Comus onthe border of Montgomery and Freder-ick counties. “Most of the time we’re try-ing to get some elevation with our prac-tice hikes (both ups and downs),” he said.“Sugarloaf is ideal for what we want, witha number of different routes up and back,and the trails are well marked.”

“We also have a number of pavedHeartSmartTrails,” said Melissa Chotin-er, media relations manager for TheMaryland-National Capital Park andPlanning Commission (M-NCPPC),the agency in charge of the regionalpark systems Montgomery and PrinceGeorge’s counties.

The hard surface, level paths are usu-ally a mile in distance and very suitablefor seniors to use for exercise. Chotinernoted that HeartSmart Trails are avail-able at Brookside Gardens at WheatonRegional Park, South Germantown Rec-reational Park and Martin Luther KingJr. Recreational Park in Silver Spring.

SIGN ME UP

TAKE A

HIKEE x p l o r i n g M o n t g o m e r y ’ s G r e a t O u t d o o r s

COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK


M-NCPPC Natural Surface TrailsConstruction Manager Bob Turnbull be-lieves the county has an excellent trail sys-tem. “We take care of 140 miles of naturalsurface trails, which include dirt paths,mulch paths and gravel roads,” he said.

Turnbull said terrain is varied and thusprovides different experiences.“Most trailsare designed with disabled guidelines, sothere are very few extreme grades,” he said.“Surfaces are usually at least 3-feet wideand most more than that.”

Turnbull recommended several hikingtrails; his personal favorites include theEquestrian Trail Loop at Wheaton Re-gional Park, a 1.5-mile trail that he said isaccessible from Glenallen Avenue, KempMill Road or the park nature centers.

He also likes the 23 miles of naturalsurface trails at Little Bennett Regional

Park in the upper part of the county, inparticular the Western Piedmont Trail, anold gravel road that he said is closed totraffic and runs along a creek. “It’s justbeautiful for excellent bird-watching andscenic views,” he said, noting his crews arecurrently working hard on improvementsto the Little Bennett trail system. Otherfavorites for senior hikers tend to includeBlockhouse Point Conservation ParkCanyon Trail just off River Road in Dar-nestown and the more than 7-mile-longLittle Seneca Creek Greenway in Clarks-burg, he said.

On montgomeryparks.org, the M-NCPPCwebsite, hikers can find all trail informa-tion, detailed maps of most of the trails

available in the county, updates onconstruction projects and more.

TOP: The Rachel CarsonGreenway Trail is hike-

able now, but when fullycomplete, it will span 25

miles from Prince George’sCounty north through

Montgomery County toPatuxent River State Park.

RIGHT: The Seneca CreekGreenway Trail stretchesfrom Riley’s Lock on thePotomac River and C&O

Canal all the way to Route355 and then Patuxent

River State Park.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY PARKS


SIGN ME UP

BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

“Never in my wildest imagination did I dreamI’d be doing this” in retirement, said Rich-ard (Dick) W. Getzinger, a 75-year-old North

Bethesda resident. “It caught on with me and I’ve gradu-ally been consumed by it.The more actively involved I’vebecome, the more I enjoy and benefit from it.”

Getzinger’s experience as a volunteer with the RSVP/AARP Tax Aide program in Montgomery County seemsto bear out research showing that volunteers have lowermortality rates, greater functional ability and lower ratesof depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.The Corporation for National and Community Service(CNCS), which has reviewed numerous studies on thehealth benefits associated with volunteerism, noted thatcommunity service in older adults can “strengthen the so-cial ties that protect individuals from isolation during dif-

ficult times, while the experience of helping others leads toa sense of greater self-worth and trust.”

It is the bonds that have developed over his 10 years ofcommunity service that Getzinger finds most rewarding.“Part of the enjoyment is the repeat clients, those peoplewho come back year after year and get to know me person-ally.They’ll call and say, ‘I’d like Mr. Getzinger to do mytaxes again,’” he said.

The all-volunteer tax aide program is one of two spon-sored by RSVP, part of a national volunteer network forpeople 55 and over. “Last year, over 80 volunteers dedi-cated 13,000 hours to prepare 4,200 tax returns for free forlow-to-moderate income Montgomery County taxpayers,with special attention to seniors,” said Kathleen MeaneyStobie, RSVP program director.

The other RSVP program is Bone Builders, which of-fers classes designed to prevent or slow the development ofosteoporosis. RSVP also serves as an information clearing-ISTOCKPHOTO/ADAMKAZ

The Win-Win ofVOLUNTEERING


house for seniors interested in exploring volunteer oppor-tunities. Its 550 active volunteers, who range in age from55 to 102, reported 100,000 hours of community servicelast year, according to Stobie.

Not only do older adult volunteers make a significantcontribution to the local economy, having provided servic-es in the county valued in excess of $2 million last year, butthey are invaluable to many nonprofits. “It’s not just gruntwork” that they are doing, said Stobie. “RSVP volunteersare tax counselors, literacy tutors, Meals OnWheels teammembers, docents, grandreaders, consumer advocates, probono consultants, Brookside Gardens’ naturalists, long-term care ombudsmen and Bone Builders class leaders.”

Weather permitting, Jane Barrett can be foundsearching for non-native invasive plants along Sligo Creek,near her Silver Spring home. Barrett, now in her 70s, be-came a weed warrior for the Montgomery County De-partment of Parks when she retired.While she often workssolo, Barrett enjoys the company of students. “Last yeara group of first- and second-graders from Glen HavenElementary School helped me pull garlic mustard in thespring. It was fun and educational.The kids learned howto tell the good plants from the bad,” she said.

Barrett appreciates the benefits of volunteering.“Whenyou get older, you want your mind to be active as well asyour body. As a volunteer, I’m up and moving, not sittingin front of the television getting stiff and achy.Volunteer-ing lets me meet new people and helps me keep up with

what’s going on in the neighborhood.The satisfaction thatcomes from helping the community is very fulfilling,” shesaid. “I don’t know why more people don’t do it.”

Nearly 28 percent of Maryland residents 16 or oldervolunteer, putting the state 23rd nationally in 2011, accord-ing to CNCS. About a third of Marylanders between 55and 74 volunteer, as do a quarter of residents 75 or older.

Barrett also volunteers at Brookside Gardens, the JewishCouncil for the Aging’s Heyman Interages Center and theAudubon Naturalist Society.Through her work with thelocal Project Linus chapter, she has taught middle-schoolstudents how to knit, donating the supplies, and assem-bled hundreds of knitted and crocheted quilt squares intoblankets for sick children. Her volunteer hours in 2012came to about 600, putting her in the group that derivesthe greatest benefit from volunteering.

Individuals, especially those over age 70, who volun-teer at least 100 hours, about two hours a week, enjoy sig-nificant mental and physical health benefits, according toCNCS.Among Marylanders 75 or older who volunteeredin 2011, the average number of annual volunteer hourswas 100.

Some of Barrett’s volunteer hours come from beinga member of the RSVP SWAT (Seniors With AvailableTime) Team, which provides immediate, short-term as-sistance to nonprofits. “The beauty of it is that you cando things if and when they fit your schedule,” she said.

"...YOU WANT YOURMIND TO BE ACTIVE ASWELL AS YOUR BODY.

As a volunteer, I’m up and moving,not sitting in front of the television

getting stiff and achy.”–Jane Barrett See VOLUNTEERING, 26

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BY JIM MAHAFFIE

Neighbors Assisting Neighbors is an all-volunteernonprofit organization that supports seniors whowant to “age in place” in their community. The

national movement is, in fact, very local, with communi-ties around the country founding NAN programs for theirown friends and neighbors.

Miriam Kelty is president of the NAN organization inBannockburn, a community of some 500 homes in Bethes-da. Kelty retired as director of extramural activities withthe National Institute on Aging and has studied communi-ties with resources for aging in place, such as Beacon HillVillage in Boston and others in Australia and Scandinavia.She also serves on the Montgomery County Commis-sion on Aging and the Adult Public Guardianship ReviewBoard. Gazette Seniors spoke to her about NAN and whatthe organization has accomplished in her neighborhood.

u What is NAN? How did it come about?It’s a quickly growing, ‘It takes a village’ movement to

help people who need it, not only in their own homes, butalso in their communities.

NAN came to Bannockburn in 2007 when HelenPelikan, a neighbor, sent an email out on the neighbor-hood Listserv thanking the community for their helpduring a period of health issues. Neighbors had broughtmeals, took out their trash and shopped for them. Helensuggested that others in the neighborhood might needsupport, too. I responded along with others and togetherwe formed NAN.

Coordinated by block managers and volunteers, NANassists neighbors—not just seniors—who need transpor-tation, errands, equipment loans, household organization,help with chores or just a social visit.We became a 501(c)3nonprofit, charitable organization in 2009. NAN is alsoapproved for community service learning credits fromMontgomery County schools.

u What kinds of things could neighbors dependon NAN for, for instance?Almost any aspect of their lives, really, as long as we

have a volunteer to help.You may need meals for shortperiods of time.You might need other resources, such ashome care or social service agencies. Chores, repairs andmaintenance—one thing people seem to appreciate is hav-ing someone help with these decisions. Can it be fixed

easily or do they need to hire a pro? And when the con-tractor comes, can someone stay with them at their house?Older people worry about being taken advantage of.

NAN also puts on at least one social or educationalprogram a month for the purpose of fostering socializa-tion. A big issue with aging in place is social isolation andloneliness. So these events are aimed at people of all ages,with kids and younger adults, too.This neighborhood isfull of experts in various things, like writers and musi-cians.They’re eclectic and interesting people, and whenthey share with others, it becomes another way of keepingpeople involved.

u So what has NAN accomplished latelyin your neighborhood?Here in Bannockburn, drivers take people who need

transport to physical therapy. Another neighbor who is le-gally blind gets driven to her sculpture class at Montgom-ery College, and another gets taken to a county civic groupmeeting. Our neighbor Marianne Ross conducts a wateraerobics class at the neighborhood pools. People show upthen have coffee or lunch afterward—and that’s healthyfor body and the spirit.

Our Wise Elders program pairs Bannockburn el-ders with high school students. After a series of inter-

views, the students develop a presentation to illustratetheir elders’ experiences and achievements throughouttheir lifetime. I’m particularly proud that our NAN isintergenerational, with all ages participating. After all,you can’t depend on people in their 80s to help thosein their 90s.

u How do you keep awareness of NANin the community?Events & Services notices go on the neighborhood

Listserv every few weeks, which goes to 700 families.Depending on time of year and what’s going on, we tellpeople about job search training for seniors, volunteer andfor-pay snow shovelers, area people who offer rides to theairport, or special notices about things like medical ID andmedical alert bracelets.

A few years ago, we asked the Glen Echo Fire Stationto do home safety inspections for anyone who wanted one.They offer them free, and found a shocking number ofhouseholds with issues—not just smoke detector prob-lems, but exposed wires, slippery rugs, etc. People wereso grateful!

For more information, visitbannockburncommunity.org/nan.html.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED AND MIRIAM KELTY

Walt Whitman High School student Hannah Stahl interviews Bannockburn resident EstherDelaplaine for the Wise Elders project, one of the initiatives of the Bethesda neighborhood’s

Neighbors Assisting Neighbors organization.

SIGN ME UP

Neighbors

NeighborsHELPING


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COUNTRIES VISITEDBY JIM MAHAFFIE

It’s hard to tell which one of the Augustines of Po-tomac has more of a wanderlust. They come fromvery different backgrounds and experiences. But putthem together, as marriage did 51 years ago, and youget a couple that simply loves to go different placesand do interesting things.

Meg, 76, was born in Sweden, and as a teenager, trav-eled all over Europe, buying inexpensive railroad ticketsand staying at youth hostels. She said she always had afeeling of fascination with America. Answering an adfrom a family looking for an au pair, she came alone tothe U.S. when she was 19 with $50 and two suitcases.

Norm is 77 and grew up in Colorado. “Until I went

to college, I thought the East Coast was Wichita, Kan.,”he said.“But I always had a curiosity about other places.”Beginning his career as an engineer with the DouglasAircraft Company, he traveled for business to places likeParis, Berlin andTokyo, “and discovered that I really en-joyed the learning experience.”

When Norm was in graduate school at PrincetonUniversity in New Jersey, Meg dated his roommate. Onesummer, she answered another ad looking for someoneto drive a car across the U.S. She figured, “Why not seea bit of America?” So she drove from NewYork to LosAngeles by herself.

“When I think of my kids doing that, I have heart fail-ure,” she joked today. Norm was in Los Angeles workingfor Douglas Aircraft at the time. “My former roommate

asked me to show her around, so I’m still showing heraround,” he said. Meg later became an airline hostess,giving her another way to see more of the U.S.

That zest for travel has never ended for the Augus-tines. Norm became interested in places like Tanzania,Togo,Timbuktu and the Pacific Islands, and just had tosee them. His curiosity extended all the way to the Northand South Poles. “There’s not much there other thana research station at the South Pole,” he said. “In fact,you’d never know you were at the North Pole unless youhad a GPS. But there are lots of birds and animals andscenery to see going there and back.”

Norm said the research center at the South Pole is“doing truly fascinating work,” and he chaired the U.S.Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel established by the

TRAVEL

White House to assess U.S. activities there.With a lifelong appreciation for engineer-ing and science, Norm’s career path hastaken him from Douglas Aircraft to lead-ership positions at Martin Marietta, theOffice of the Secretary of Defense, thenonto the U.S. Army and Lockheed MartinCorporation, where he retired as chairmanand CEO in 1997. Among many other po-sitions, he was chairman and principal of-ficer of the American Red Cross, chairmanof the National Academy of Engineering,president and chairman of the Associationof the United States Army, chairman ofthe Aerospace Industries Association andchairman of the Defense Science Board.He is also a former president of the Ameri-can Institute of Aeronautics and Astronau-tics and the Boy Scouts of America.

Today, he’s just as busy with an aston-ishingly long list of mostly pro bono com-mitments for various associations, chari-ties and the U.S. government.This in turnkeeps him on the road constantly, whichhe doesn’t mind as long as he gets backto Potomac often to see his grandchildrenwho live nearby. He counts 111 countriesvisited, and said Meg is close to that, too.

Norm and Meg agree that Africa istheir favorite destination, and have been

to the continent many times. On theirlast trip, they explored the slave historyof Togo. They’ve twice been to Rwandato see the mountain gorillas.They lamentthat places like Timbuktu in West Africaare too dangerous to visit today, as theywould love to return.

“I love to get a feeling for different cul-tures,” said Meg. “Every time you travel,you realize how much there is to know.Youlearn something new all the time.”

Meg said they try not to do anythingfoolish in their travels, “but we are will-ing to lean out there a little bit.” Theyhave hurtled down a half-mile zip line inCosta Rica, dogsledded in the Arctic andrafted in the Grand Canyon. They gotlost recently in the jungle in New Guinea.Crossing a vine bridge over a ravine dur-ing a downpour, their guides thought theyhad accounted for everyone, but the Au-gustines had been left behind. Norm, anEagle Scout, managed to track the rest ofthe group and got himself and Meg back tocamp before dark.

“We’ll travel as long as we’re able,”vowed Meg. “I never want to have anyregrets, wishing I could have gone some-where and done something I really wantedto do.”


PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORM AND MEG AUGUSTINE

ABOVE: The Augustines have been twice to see the mountain gorillas inRwanda in Africa.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Meg and Norm Augustine visit the Great Wall of Chinawith daughter René, son-in-law Mark, and grandchildren Christian,Alexander and Isabella.

Norm Augustine on a Zodiac inflatable boat trip in Antarctica, wheremany nation’s have research facilities, and indulging in his photographyhobby in Israel.

The Augustines visit a Montana ranch where “The Horse Whisperer”movie was filmed.

1889151

BY ELLEN R. COHEN

There’s a brand-new senior com-munity on Darnestown Roadin Rockville. “Open just since

Feb. 4, Brightview Fallsgrove is fill-ing up quickly,” said Executive Di-rector Kelly Harms. “Our reputationprecedes us. We are the 23rd com-munity for Brightview Senior Living(BSL), but the first in MontgomeryCounty. BSL has a strong reputationfor providing excellent service, so wehave been welcomed by the com-munity. People saw the model apart-ments and loved them.”

A subsidiary of Baltimore-basedThe Shelter Group, BrightviewFallsgrove joins more than 20 othercommunities located in eight states,according to the BSL website, in-cluding Maryland and Virginia.The Brightview Fallsgrove commu-nity is created for residents in needof assisted living and specialized Alz-heimer’s and dementia care. Thereare some couples moving in, butthere are more singles, according toHarms. Pets—25 pounds or small-er—are also welcome for residents who can carefor them. Of the 94 rental apartments, accordingto Harms, 70 are designated for traditional assistedliving and 24 are part of the on-siteWellspringVil-lage, a specialized area of the community for de-mentia care.

The three-story Brightview Fallsgrovebuilding offers residents many comforts and ame-nities. “It’s your home; we just work here,” saidHarms. Monthly rent includes laundry and house-keeping services, dining, medication management,programs and activities, scheduled transportation,and utilities. A nurse is on-site every day. Addi-tional personalized care services, including de-mentia care, are tailored to the individual needs,said Harms.

The community also features a café/bar, a beau-ty salon and barber, an exercise and physical thera-py room, and a variety of scheduled activities—daytrips, creative projects, classes and fitness programs.

“We look to residents to fill theircalendar with lectures, outings andeven some volunteer programs,which enable the community to giveback,” said Harms. “Our Ambas-sador Program helps new residentsmeet people and learn what activitiesare available.”

Apartments range from 300 to850 square feet, with studio, com-panion and one-bedroom floor plans.Large windows, individually con-trolled heating and air conditioning,full bathrooms, and kitchenettes withgranite countertops, a refrigerator/freezer and microwave are some ofthe apartments’ offerings. “There isno oven, but there’s no need to cookmore than a light meal,” said Harms.“It’s a new lifestyle to enjoy.Time tostop working, spend time with friendsand family, and let someone else pro-vide expert service.”

Mary Ann Young moved in“pretty close to opening day.” She se-lected Brightview Fallsgrove becauseher son lives nearby and watched theconstruction process. “There are al-

ways things to do here and I don’t have to cook,”saidYoung. “I don’t have to think about groceryshopping, what to eat and what to prepare. It’sgreat! It’s so easy to go down to the dining area.There are always people there and the chefs arefantastic. I haven’t heard any complaints, which ispretty amazing.”

According to Harms, most residents are fromRockville, North Potomac, Potomac, Darnestownand Kensington.“Many come from other assisted-living communities,” she said.

Albino “Al” Pecoraro, who moved in Feb. 4,transferred from another community because helikes the fact that Brightview Fallsgrove is strictlyassisted living.“We’re all in the same boat here; ev-eryone is going through the same thing,” he said.

A Montgomery County resident for 60 years,he worked in Washington as a shipping managerfor The Upjohn Company, retiring after the phar-maceutical company merged with Pfizer.


LIVING

BRIGHTVIEW FALLSGROVE

Opens in Rockville

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIGHTVIEW FALLSGROVE

TOP: Brightview Fallsgrove is a brand-new senior communitylocated on Darnestown Road in Rockville. ABOVE: Residents can

enjoy happy hours and teas in the Activity Room.

NEW COMMUNITY

Pecoraro enjoys “the 4 p.m. cocktailhour at the Bistro and the camaraderieamong the residents.They’re still shy, but Ithink time will heal that,” said the 92-year-old.With leg problems, said Pecoraro, “I’min a good position to be here.” Despite hisage, he “has all his faculties,” he said, andstill drives to the Rockville Senior Center.

Resident Dona McNish also said sheappreciates “having people to talk with andto do things with … Having a large commu-nity here means there are people around.The staff at Brightview Fallsgrove is justwonderful. Everyone is young and they’reso willing to help.We have good food andthe facilities are lovely,” she said. McNish,who is blind, enjoys her favorite activities,trivia and bingo, and has memorized hercards. She, like Pecoraro, attends happyhour in the Bistro. “With the fireplacegoing, it’s very pleasant,” said McNish, alifelong Montgomery County resident.

The community is “a godsend for me,”said Pecoraro.“I am so pleased to be here andso contented.The best is yet to come.”

Brightview Fallsgrove9200 Darnestown Road, Rockville 20850

240-314-7194brightviewfallsgrove.com


TOP: A Computers101 class is heldin Brightview’scomputer room.

FAR LEFT: A residentpractices puttingduring a programcalled “Tea and Tee”held in the commu-nity’s Activity Room.

LEFT: SeveralWellspring Villageresidents celebrateValentine’s Day.

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HEALTH

The bad news is that many seniors have a hard time regularly getting a good night’s sleep.

The good news is that a few commonsense solutions can get sufferers back on track—without

necessarily needing to see a doctor or take new medications.

How to Get Better

SLEEPG

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HO

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INK

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BY SCOTT HARRIS

Chronic insomnia, obstructivesleep apnea and Willis-Ekbomdisease—commonly known asrestless legs syndrome—are the

most common sleep-related afflictions inseniors, according to MarkW. Miller, M.D.,sleep specialist at MedStar MontgomeryMedical Center’s Sleep Center in Olney,and Thomas LoRusso, M.D., a sleep spe-cialist at Fairfax,Va.-based Northern Vir-ginia Sleep Diagnostic Center.These threeafflictions also affect seniors more acutelythan other segments of the population.

“Sleep disorders can increase in inci-dence as we get older,”Miller said.“There’sless interaction socially, less exposure tosunlight and less exercise.These all play arole in our ability to sleep.”

Inadequate or irregular sleep can alsooccur as the indirect by-product of othermedical conditions or prescription medi-cations. “As you get older, you tend tohave more conditions associated with painor insomnia,” LoRusso said. “And theretend to be a lot more mood disorders.Thatcan play into sleep. Some medications canhave a negative effect on sleep, too.Thereare some medications that can have stimu-lating properties.”

According to the National Sleep Foun-dation, medications that can lead to insom-nia include those taken for colds and aller-gies, high blood pressure, heart disease, thy-roid disease, birth control, asthma and painand depression—especially certain types ofantidepressants.

The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC) estimates that morethan one-quarter of the U.S. populationreports at least occasionally not gettingenough sleep, while nearly 10 percent ex-perience chronic insomnia, which is a dis-order that makes it hard to fall asleep, stayasleep or both. Stress, anxiety, depressionand pain can all cause insomnia, accordingto the National Sleep Foundation website.

A 2009 CDC survey found that about45 percent of Americans 65 or older hadunintentionally fallen asleep during the dayat least once in the previous month—morethan any other age group.

Obstructive sleep apnea, accordingto the Mayo Clinic, occurs when throatmuscles relax during sleep and block theairway. Snoring is the most common signof this condition.

“[M]uscles get floppier as you get older,”said LoRusso.“They can collapse while yousleep and obstruct the upper airway.”

Willis-Ekbom disease, a neurologicaldisorder that often occurs in the evening,can also stymie sleep. According to theWil-lis-Ekbom Disease Foundation, the diseaseaffects as much as 10 percent of the popula-tion and is usually characterized by an irre-sistible urge to move the legs, which is oftenaccompanied by sensations of “creeping,”“tugging” or “pulling” in the legs. Millersaid that iron deficiency is one of the morecommon causes of the condition.

Fortunately, several relatively easy(and free) lifestyle adjustments can helpsleep-starved seniors get back in the groove.Good “sleep hygiene,” in a nutshell, in-volves staying active, staying on a routineand staying clear of distractions before bed-time, according to Miller and LoRusso.

Completely eliminating television andcomputer time one hour before bed helpsprepare the mind for sleep, said Miller.Also, exposure to sunlight within about 30minutes of awakening, when possible, canhelp the body get into an effective sleepingand waking cycle, he noted. Adding or al-tering personal habits like these is one stepin the larger process of establishing a moresleep-friendly routine.

“Try to keep as regular a schedule aspossible,” Miller said.“Go to bed and wakeup at the same time every day.You shouldalso avoid napping for more than 15 min-utes a day.”

Alcohol and nicotine should also beavoided.“You want to limit alcohol andtobacco, especially before bedtime,” Lo-Russo said. “Alcohol can make it easier tofall asleep, but you can also wake up moreeasily when alcohol is onboard.”

Engaging both the body and the mindhelps ensure that both are ready to rest atthe end of the day. Both Miller and Lo-Russo recommended about 30 to 45 min-utes of moderate aerobic exercise each day,as well as intellectual and social stimula-tion. “A more active brain sleeps better atnight,” Miller said. “It can cause problemsif you’re sitting around all day looking atthe television.”

If problems persist, sleep specialists maybe an appropriate option.Technological ad-vances in the field of sleep medicine havemade testing and treatment more conve-nient for doctors and patients. For example,LoRusso said that tests for obstructive sleepapnea can be done in the home, rather thanin a sleep lab.

Regardless of the root cause or the ul-timate treatment path, sleep deprivation isa problem that shouldn’t be taken lightly,particularly among seniors.

1888820

“…IN THIS WORLD,”wrote Benjamin Franklin in 1789, “noth-ing is certain but death and taxes.” Andit’s not unusual for the two to go hand inglove. “You can choose to say, ‘It’s not myproblem,’ as these are taxes you’ll neverhave to pay,” said David Galinis, a partnerwith Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman &Darby LLP in Gaithersburg, “but it willreduce (your heirs’) inheritance.”

For those looking to leave more to theirheirs and less to the government, thingsbecame a little easier as a result of the fis-cal cliff deal, the AmericanTaxpayer ReliefAct, reached by Congress at the end of

last year. The law preserved the existingfederal estate tax structure that allows anindividual to bequeath up to $5 million,adjusted for inflation, without anythingowed to Uncle Sam.That exemption wasscheduled to revert to $1 million at theend of 2012.The change means that just3,780 estates nationwide will owe such taxin 2013, according to an estimate by theTax Policy Center.

“Most middle-class people will nothave to worry about the federal tax,” saidRichard N. Ruprecht, a 59-year-old prin-cipal with Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd.in Bethesda, who has seen the exemption

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rise from $60,000 to the current $5.25million over his lifetime. During the sameperiod, the top estate tax rate droppedfrom 77 to 40 percent. Amounts that ex-ceed the exemption are now taxed on agraduated scale, ranging from 18 percenton the first $10,000 to 40 percent on $1million or more.

Making it even less likely that anyfederal estate tax will be due is a provi-sion known as portability. The law allows“property and wealth transfer to a survivingspouse or charity in an unlimited amount,”said Ann Jakabcin, principal with SteinSperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC inRockville.As a result, the first spouse oftendoesn’t make a dent in his $5.25 millionexemption. “Any amount that’s unusedmay be transferred to the surviving spouse,which could leave (the spouse with) asmuch as $10.5 million.”

The key to portability, according toRuprecht, is letting the Internal RevenueService (IRS) know you intend to take ad-vantage of the provision. Portability is notautomatic. “You have to make an electionwhen the first spouse dies,” he said. “Youmust file an estate tax return, even if noth-ing is owed.”

Estate tax portability is not recognizedin Maryland, where the exemption is $1million per person and the maximum taxrate is 16 percent. “You either use theexemption or lose it,” said Jakabcin, not-ing that it doesn’t take as much as onemight think to accrue $1 million in assets.“If you’re a single individual in the D.C.area who owns a home and has a job witha retirement plan and life insurance, itdoesn’t take long to cross that $1 millionthreshold.”That’s not to mention cash inthe bank, stocks, bonds, cars, jewelry andhome furnishings.

What’s not included as part of a Mary-land resident’s estate is real estate ownedelsewhere. “Real property owned in an-other state is not subject to Maryland law,”said Galinis. “You have to open up a sepa-rate estate in the other state.” That couldbe good news if the property is inVirginia,which does not levy an estate tax, or a con-cern if it’s in New Jersey, where the individ-ual exemption is $675,000. Fifteen statesand the District of Columbia currentlyhave an estate tax, although Delaware’s isset to expire on July 1, according to theCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities.

While the state of Maryland’s $1million exemption is not portable, thereare ways to allow an individual’s assetsto be tapped by the surviving spouse yetprevent them from being taxed upon that

spouse’s death. “A credit shelter trust ba-sically shelters that $1 million credit,” saidGalinis. “Instead of giving everything tothe surviving spouse, you take the millionthat you could give away tax-free and putit into a trust for the kids.The spouse getsall the income from the trust and can getto the principal for health, maintenanceor support.”

Another way to bring estates closer to orunder the $1 million exemption is to givegifts, as Maryland does not have a gift tax.“If you are financially secure, you can de-crease the size of your estate by giving awayassets during your lifetime,” said Jakabcin.

While there is no federal gift tax per se,the amount of an individual gift exceeding$14,000 in 2013 counts against the $5.25million estate tax exemption. This uni-fied approach to gifts and bequests effec-tively lowers the amount a person’s estatecan claim as exempt upon his death.TheIRS requires the annual reporting of giftsabove $14,000.

When bestowing a gift that is somethingother than cash—such as stocks, bonds or

When inherited, theproperty’s value is generally

what it was worth on theday of the owner’s death...When gifted, the property’svalue is worth what it was

when the gift giveracquired it.

RYAN MCVAY/PHOTODISC/THINKSTOCK

See GIFTING, 22 1888942

real estate—there are other considerations.An important one is appreciation, accord-ing to Ruprecht. Because the value (costbasis) of the property differs, dependingon whether it is gifted or inherited, theamount of state income and federal capitalgains taxes owed when it is sold by the newowner can vary greatly.

When inherited, the property’s value isgenerally what it was worth on the day of theowner’s death.This is known as a stepped-up basis and any appreciation is rolled intothe amount. When gifted, the property’svalue is worth what it was when the giftgiver acquired it. Ruprecht offered this ex-ample: “Suppose someone buys a house for$100 and at his death it is worth $400, that($300) appreciation is considered part ofthe tax basis. If the heirs sell the house for$401, they only pay tax on $1. Had the par-ents given the house to the children prior todeath, the children don’t get that stepped-up basis.” They would pay tax on $301.Multiply this by thousands—to reflect thecost of a home in Montgomery County—and the difference can be significant.

Although the cost basis of inheritedproperty may be stepped up, the propertymay be subject to state inheritance tax.Maryland is one of eight states that levy aninheritance tax and is one of two—alongwith New Jersey—that have both inheri-tance and estate taxes.

“It’s not really a double tax,” said Ru-precht. “There’s a credit against the Mary-land estate tax for any inheritance taxpaid.”

The state inheritance tax applies tothose who are not “bloodline descendentsor siblings (of the deceased) and is fixed at10 percent,” said Jakabcin. “While the lawsays the recipient pays the tax, the writerof the will can shift the tax burden to theestate.” Maryland levies the inheritancetax on individuals whether or not they arestate residents.

There is no federal inheritance tax.

Although same-sex couples inMaryland can legally marry, they currently

are not entitled to all the death tax exclu-sions available to a husband and wife.Thatis “because all of the (Maryland) legislationdealing with estate taxes builds off of thefederal estate tax and the federal govern-ment has yet to recognize gay marriage,”said Jakabcin. As a result, gay spouses maynot avail themselves of the right to trans-fer both unlimited assets to the survivingspouse and the unused portion of their$5.25 million federal estate tax exemption.

The federal law, the Defense of Mar-riage Act (DOMA), defines marriage as“a legal union between one man and onewoman,” thereby preventing same-sexspouses from sharing federal benefits.Thatcould change, depending on the U.S. Su-preme Court’s decision in United Statesv. Edith Schlain Windsor, which was ar-gued in March. Windsor, an 83-year-oldNewYork resident, had to pay $363,000 inestate taxes on property that she and hersame-sex spouse had accumulated dur-ing their four decades together. At ques-tion, according to Windsor’s legal brief,is whether DOMA “violates the FifthAmendment’s guarantee of equal protec-tion of the laws as applied to persons of thesame sex who are legally married under thelaws of their state.”

A surviving same-sex spouse does nothave to pay Maryland inheritance tax, saidGalinis, as the law is not tied to a federalstatute. Although there is no case law, “theinheritance tax should not be a problem(for gay spouses),” he said.

Given the various death taxes andthe differing requirements at the stateand federal levels, “tax planning strategiescan often be at odds with each other.Yousometimes have to pick the lesser of twoevils,” said Ruprecht.That is where an es-tate planning professional is invaluable.

When it comes to planning one’s es-tate, Galinis’ advice is “if your assets are ata million or over, let’s talk about it—whatthe options are and what it will cost to dothings. If they’re in excess of $2 million, itbecomes a decent idea. At $3 million, itmakes sense, and at $4 million and above,it’s a no-brainer.”

GIFTING, continued from 21

ALTHOUGH SAME-SEX COUPLES INMARYLAND CAN LEGALLY MARRY,

they currently are not entitled to all the death taxexclusions available to a husband and wife.

1860981

1888936



Prudential Financial’s latest biennialstudy “Financial Experience andBehaviors Among Women” found

significant differences in the financialstyles and priorities of women versus men.Among the findings:

u Married/partnered women are morelikely than their male counterparts tosay they share financial decision-mak-ing equally (35 percent vs. 21 percent).

u Married men are far more likely tosay they are taking control of financialdecisions (38 percent) than marriedwomen (19 percent).

u Women worry most about householdexpenses, debt and ability to save forretirement.

u Men are more focused on external fac-tors, such as the state of the economy,

followed by household expenses andretirement.

The survey also noted that only 10percent of female breadwinners feel veryknowledgeable about financial productsand services, and are only half as likely tofeel as well prepared to make wise financialdecisions as men.

“The good news for women is that theyare more likely to ask for help from a finan-cial professional, a smart move no matterwhere you are in terms of retirement pre-paredness,” said Caroline Feeney, presi-dent of Agency Distribution at Prudential.“It’s not surprising to learn that womenwho work with advisors are more likely toreport being on track for meeting their re-tirement goals.”

–Brandpoint

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mood, Charlie is welcome. “They want topet him; Charlie’s fur is so soft. And thattactile stimulus is important; it’s a sooth-ing, comforting thing.”

While some residents prefer to cuddlewith the pets, others are motivated to move.Such is the case with one of Markley’s cli-ents, a resident at an assisted-living facility.“He’s her incentive. She loves to take Char-lie for a walk,” Markley said. It helps thathe’s accustomed “to walking with olderfolks and those who are handicapped.”

While both Markley and Benker havesmaller animals, therapy dogs come in allshapes and sizes.“We’ve had tiny, littleYork-shire terriers and large, 180-pound mas-tiffs,” said Benker. It’s not size or breed buttemperament and the relationship betweenthe animal and the handler that makes for asuccessful therapy dog, she said.

Both FPOW and TDI require, todifferent degrees, training,a demonstrationthat handlers are able to control their dogand a clean bill of health for the animal.Tobecome certified through TDI, Markleyand Charlie first completed the Ameri-can Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizenprogram. She continued to train Char-lie, making sure he was comfortable withmedical equipment—wheelchairs, walkersand IV poles—and smells. Although sheand Charlie passed the 90-minute exam,their entry into the pet therapy arena wasdelayed after a veterinarian discovered the

dog had worms.TDI requires that Mark-ley keep Charlie’s inoculations up to dateand certify his health annually.

Those choosing to volunteer throughFPOW take a slightly different route aftercompleting the online application. Theymust first attend an orientation, held thefirst Wednesday of the month at LeewoodHealthcare Center in Annandale.The nextstep is to have the animal’s temperamenttested and health examined by a vet, ac-cording to Benker.

In the meantime, Benker strongly en-courages handlers to visit a nursing home.“What we don’t want is for someone to gothrough all the steps only to realize this isn’tfor them …These visits can be fun, but alsodepressing.We’re not visiting folks at a re-sort in Florida. For most residents, this istheir last home.You may get to see themfor years or only a few visits,” she said.

The last step in the process is an on-site orientation, supervised by an FPOWliaison, for both pet and handler. As theliaison for Iliff Nursing and RehabilitationCenter in Dunn Loring, Benker requirestwo visits. That allows her to “make surethe human handler and pet are in sync;that the human has control of the dog, cator bunny; and understands the rules andregulations of the facility,” she said. “Thenthey may visit whenever they want, thoughwe ask them to commit to at least one houra month.”

One hour is generally the length ofa single pet visit. “I learned early on thatCharlie can’t do two visits in one day or

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTH BENKER, FAIRFAX PETS ON WHEELS

Fairfax Pets On Wheels connects dogs, cats and bunnies with peopleliving in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

PET THERAPY, continued from 5

1858

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more than 90 minutes in a day. An houris best. Otherwise, he’s exhausted,” saidMarkley.While one might think that lyingon someone’s lap or couch and being pet-ted is relaxing, Markley disagreed. “He’snot asleep; he’s on point.”

Markley and Charlie do between fourand six visits monthly. “There’s a lot ofprep work involved,” she said. Charlie is“bathed, brushed down and groomed be-fore he goes out in public. He also has ascarf that has to be washed between visits.”

Despite the work involved, both Mar-kley and Benker derive a deep sense ofsatisfaction from their volunteer efforts. “Itgives me a chance to make a difference in

somebody’s life and in my dog’s life,” saidMarkley.

“I’ve been doing this for 21 years, andin those years I’ve met hundreds of resi-dents. Some I’ve gotten close to and hadwonderful relationships with,” said Benker.“You get a very different perspective on lifefrom someone in a different generation.It’s very rewarding.”

To learn more about TDI, visit tdi-dog.org.For more on FPOW, go to fpow.org.Other organizations provide similarservices, including National Capital

Therapy Dogs Inc.: nctdinc.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF M. JANE MARKLEY

M. Jane Markley and her Shetland sheepdog Charlievolunteer with Therapy Dogs International.

“They want to pet him,

CHARLIE’S FUR IS SO SOFT.And that tactile stimulus is important;

it’s a soothing, comforting thing.”–M. Jane Markley

1859017

Much of the work available to SWAT teammembers is clerical. “I was an office man-ager for a biopharmaceutical company, soit’s something I can do easily.”

Don’t let a lack of skills limit yourvolunteer efforts, said Getzinger, as manyorganizations—such as the RSVP/AARPTax Aide, Bone Builders and Long TermCare Ombudsman programs—providetraining.While Getzinger, a former chemi-cal engineer, had done his family’s taxes,he had no background in accounting. “Allyou need is a bent for figures, numbersand intricacies, and a willingness to readthe literature and solve problems,” he said.Prospective tax counselors receive a weekof training to prepare them to pass the re-quired certification tests.

The most successful volunteers have “aheart to help” and a passion for a particu-lar cause or project, said Stobie. “Findinga good fit is important.”To that end, “weask about interests, skills, geographic andschedule preferences and explore someoptions. Then we direct them to the ap-propriate partner organizations to discussspecifics and determine if it is a good fit.”

RSVP partners with 40 organizationsthat embrace senior volunteers. They in-clude groups that focus on disaster services,economic opportunity, education, environ-mental stewardship, healthy futures, andveterans and military families, accordingto Stobie. Seniors who join RSVP are notlimited to the agency’s partners. Variouspositions are available on the Montgom-ery County Volunteer Center’s website,

montgomeryserves.org. RSVP provides itsmembers with free supplemental liabilityinsurance and recognition for their efforts.

“The rewards are there if you’re willingto invest the time,” said Getzinger, who isnow the tax aide program’s district coordi-nator. “I’ve experienced it personally and Icertainly intend to stay in the program foras long as I have the energy.”

Various positions areavailable on the Montgomery

County Volunteer Center’s website,montgomeryserves.org. For more

information on the RSVP senior volunteerprogram, call 240-777-2610 or email

[email protected].

VOLUNTEERING, continued from 11

COMSTOCK/THINKSTOCK

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHLEEN MEANEY STOBIE

Kathleen Meaney Stobie presents Dick Getzinger with a magic wand in 2011to use as district coordinator of the RSVP/AARP Tax Aide program.


1888957


1863309

Documents

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