To quote John Lennon,
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
We had been so busy making “other plans” – those plans being our intent to open our Rainy Day Village virtual doors on May 1st, 2020.
And then, the unanticipated and disorienting change in our lives and circumstances intervened. Clearly, our launch date has been postponed indefinitely, given that we are all dealing with various categories of uncertainty. The Steering Committee is in touch with our “hub” Villages NW and is pursuing ideas about how to engage and support our community while direct contact is not possible during this time of physical distancing. We are all following CDC Guidelines as well as State and Local Health Authorities.
When business as usual shut down we were in the midst of training volunteers and scheduling introductory visits to our prospective members. Some of these activities may proceed “virtually” such as on-line volunteer training but others that require face-to-face interactions and home visits have been put on hold. Since we have not formally enrolled members at this point, all of those who have expressed interest in Rainy Day Village are considered “villagers”.
Although this gives the Steering Committee some breathing room to dot our I’s and cross our T’s, get our documents finalized, spend a little more time fine tuning our policies and procedures, it also means revisiting our mission and ways in which we desire to serve our village community. For more about that, go to www.rainydayvillage.org
For now, we are refocusing our energies on connecting our villagers through virtual gatherings and the social element that villages can provide prior to providing direct services at a later date. We are currently doing this through the Zoom platform with Zoom’s updated security safeguards in place.
We have some exciting (and comforting to those who desire more contact while isolated) ways to join in Rainy Day Village social activities. Since these are online activities, registration is required. See events below for details.
While we are under Stay At Home directives, Rainy Day Village is refocusing our energies on connecting villagers through virtual gatherings and the social element that villages can provide. We are following state and local guidelines to determine when we can become fully operational and begin providing direct services.
We are always happy to meet new neighbors, have fun, share our enthusiasm for the Village and answer any questions. All are welcome. Be well, stay safe, stay connected!
Since these are online activities, registration is required. We are using the Zoom platform with Zoom’s updated security safeguards in place.
Virtual Coffee Conversations
May 13th at 10:30 a.m. RSVP by Monday May 11
May 26th at 2:30 p.m. RSVP by Friday May 22
RSVP required
To RSVP, email Owens Hill at rainydayvillageowens@gmail.com. RSVP for the May 13th Coffee Conversation by Monday, May 11. After you RSVP, Owens will email you an invitation with a link and instruction to join the meeting via Zoom.
Coffee Conversations are designed to provide an opportunity to find out what’s happening with Rainy Day Village Network, to meet new people and to get together with old friends. You are encouraged to ask questions, give us feedback and perhaps join us as we prepare to become fully operational.
Virtual Book Group
May 20th at 10:30 a.m. RSVP required
To RSVP, email Cindy Kenne at therainydaylady@gmail.com. Cindy will send invitations with a link and instructions to join in on Zoom to those who RSVP.
A book group (online for now) is forming! The first book to be discussed is, “My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Person Journey” by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. It is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning book published in 2008. The author is a Harvard-trained and published neuroanatomist. In it, she tells of her experience in 1996 of having a stroke in her left hemisphere and how the human brain creates our perception of reality and includes tips about how Dr. Taylor rebuilt her own brain from the inside out. RSVP to Cindy Kenne at therainydaylady@gmail.com to join the discussion.
Rainy Day Village is committed to helping one another maintain vibrant and connected lives in the communities we love. We believe in living our lives with pride, grace and independence in safe, healthy and socially connected ways.
Visit https://rainyday.helpfulvillage.com/ to learn more about Rainy Day Village.