Calendar

Women’s Conversation Group (D2U)
Featuring Ace Volunteers Alex & Leslie Pellegrini
Weekly on Wednesdays, 1 – 2 pm:  December 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30

Alex and Leslie continue their popular facilitated weekly women’s conversation group.

This has become a highlight of the week for women wanting to have a weekly anchor event to keep them laughing and connected (via a safe, socially distanced Zoom gathering!).

This is a special community for women who want to join a close knit and welcoming weekly group. You never know what questions will be asked as you learn more about each other’s interests, values, and lives.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/NEXT-Reg

Stress Busters INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS – 5 Steps to Deal with Stress

Stress comes in many ways. It’s that uneasy feeling we get when we’re upset — whether it’s because we’re angry, worried, depressed or disturbed for other reasons.  For many of us, it’s hard not to be stressed and anxious in the midst of challenging times.

In Stress Buster workshops, we’ll learn how stress starts and a simple effective method to handle your reaction to situations. You’ll learn a five step process to reduce stress and help you better respond to any situation in a helpful way, instead of getting upset. Stress Busters (also known as Ding Sum) has been serving seniors in San Francisco for over 30 years, reaching 900 people through monthly in person seminars, and now via Zoom!

This weekly series is fun and practical. Leave each session with new practical insights on how to better handle whatever life throws at you. This Introductory series is for anyone who hasn’t done Stress Busters before, or for anyone who would like a refresher!

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS

Learn the basics about the 5 steps and how to apply them (1. Stop, 2. Assess, 3. Decide, 4. Do, 5. Re-evaluate) in this 8 week series. OK if you need to miss some meetings in the series – join again when you can!

Intro Workshops are on Thursdays at 1 PM
Topics for each week are below. Please note dates in Nov and Dec are not consecutive due to 2 week breaks for Thanksgiving & Christmas/New Years Holidays.

MONTHLY DISCUSSION GROUP

Informal discussion group to provide an interactive opportunity to share and discuss concepts from the workshops:

• Thursday, Dec 10 at 3 PM

MONTHLY “INTERMEDIATE” WORKSHOPS

These workshops delve into more detail on how to apply the 5 steps successfully. You’re welcome to join in as you’ll get value from them even if you haven’t done all of the Intro courses.

• Thursdays, Nov 19 and Dec 17 at 3 PM

_________

List of the Stress Busters five steps can be found at http://www.123dingsum.org/how-to-ding-sum

Speakers – Eileen Chan and Gary Ow are native San Franciscans. Both have volunteered with Stress Busters since the organization was founded over 30 years ago. Eileen is trained as an optometrist and Gary Ow works in computer technology. They are married with three grown children. 

Zoom login & phone dial in number will be sent in reminder email from NEXT Village 24 hours prior to event.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/NEXT-Reg

Stress Busters workshops or discussion groups alternate on Thursday every 2 weeks to help us get through the pandemic and beyond together!

In our monthly Stress Busters workshops, Eileen and Gary provide lessons on 5 simple steps you can use to reduce stress. December workshop date: 3PM Thursday 12/17

In addition to workshops, each month they offer an informal discussion group to provide a more interactive opportunity for us to share and discuss concepts from the workshops in more depth. December discussion group date: 3PM Thursday 12/10

Discussion groups have become a wonderful monthly gathering for people to compare notes on what has been stressing us out, how we reacted, and learn how we might apply the Stress Busters techniques to future situations.

If you haven’t been to a Stress Busters workshop before, the 5 steps can be found at http://www.123dingsum.org/how-to-ding-sum

Speakers – Eileen Chan and Gary Ow are native San Franciscans. Both have volunteered with Stress Busters since the organization was founded over 30 years ago. Eileen is trained as an optometrist and Gary Ow works in computer technology. They are married with three grown children.

Zoom login & phone dial in number will be sent in reminder email from NEXT Village 24 hours prior to event.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/NEXT-Reg

We invite everyone to join us to learn about and celebrate together the first night of Chanukah (Hanukkah).

Edith Kaplan will introduce us to the Jewish Festival of Lights. You don’t have to be Jewish to attend! Everyone is welcome to come and learn about the holiday, its history and traditions.

This year Chanukah begins at sundown on December 10. Edith will light the first night candle at 4:30 pm to begin the eight day celebration. We also welcome anyone who has a menorah to light theirs also!

Afterwards, we hope you will stay on the Zoom to share traditions and stories, or ask questions about the holiday, in informal conversation.

Presenter: Edith Kaplan, MSW, LCSW, Retired. Edith has lived in San Francisco for many decades and enjoys traveling, participating in social and cultural events of the City, and involvement in numerous volunteer activities. In addition to being a NEXT Village member and District 2 University advisor, prior to retirement she had over 30 years’ experience working in various aspects of the mental health and aging fields, with a specialization in Alzheimer’s Disease and other memory disorders.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/NEXT-Reg