Vintage Update

Wednesday lunches continue, by reservation, as a County-supported subsidized nutrition program for seniors.  Saturday brunches have evolved from a self-catered, through brown bag, and now deliciously catered meals by Tito Echevarria and his crew. 

Menus are posted each Sunday for the coming week on the Vintage distribution list.  Seniors wishing to be added to the list can do so by request at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Recent speakers and discussions at the Wednesday lunches have addressed topics including: Legal and Financial Issues for LGBT seniors; Health Notes; Falls prevention; Social Security Update; The Political Conventions and Platforms; and a debate between two candidates for our District 26 representative.  Senior bingo is scheduled on fifth Wednesdays.  And an LGBT youth panel joined one luncheon.

Some recent Vintage trips were to: the NASA Aerospace Museum, including a speaker on the origins of the universe; a tour at the Moffett Airship museum led by a docent who had served at Moffett; special exhibits at the Santa Clara University Museum and at the Martin Luther King Library (Ted Sahl photographs); the Intel museum; a miniature golf expedition; and Hakone Garden and Rose Garden picnics.

Tai-Chi classes are held each Wednesday morning, and additional exercise classes for seniors are in development.
 
Fred Salas is the Vintage Program Coordinator, supported by the active volunteer members of the group.

Vintage Council members for 2012-13 include:  Christine Milly, BDF Board Liaison; Clay Wilson, Treasurer; Dee Merrick, Vice Chair; Fred Carter, BDF Treasurer; Ken Anderson, Saturday Program Coordinator; and Rick Kaplowitz, Chair.   

You can easily be added to the Vintage group mailing list.  An “E-mail Blast,” sent once a week, includes the menus and activity information for the coming week, and a link with which to make a reservation for lunch.   To do so, please send an email request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ABOUT

The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center Vintage Program provides nutritional lunches, emotional support groups, recreation and social activities, and educational programs for LGBT seniors aged 50 and above. These activities reduce social isolation for LGBT seniors and promote integration into the larger LGBT community and the San Jose Community as a whole.

The program consists of several different components. The premiere program is the Vintage Lunch program, which has provided a free or low cost nutritious lunch since October 2002. Participants meet on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:30 AM for lunch followed by activities that focus on promoting wellness, supplying relevant and culturally appropriate information, and reducing isolation. These activities have included:

• legal and financial seminars
• diabetes education and screening
• medical benefits workshops
• mental and physical exercise opportunities
• memoir writing classes
• art exhibits
• travel slideshows and talks
• dining out
• movies
• trips to various cultural events in San Jose and the greater Bay area.

The Vintage Advisory Council acts to promote direction, guidance, and support in an ongoing effort to improve the Seniors Program. The Council meets every first and third Wednesday at 1:15 PM. Meetings are open to everyone; ideas and input are welcomed.

EMAIL

For more information about the Vintage Program, please email Fred Salas, Vintage Program Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NEWSLETTER

Click here to join the Vintage email list or to manage your current email list subscriptions.
Be sure to select "Vintage Newsletter List" in the Interests section of the form.