community


By Jacquelyn Vaughn The month of August brings


with it the dual reminder that the summer is coming to an end but that winter has not yet arrived. Golfers lament the end of golf season the same way children loathe the end of summer vacation. I’ve traveled extensively this summer and thought it would be nice to reflect on experiences on the golf course thus far from some of the women I met along the way.


A league of their own


“Over 20 years ago my girl-


friend was complaining to her husband about his golf week- ends with the fellas. His re- sponse back to her was for her to get her girls together and go on a girls golf trip. She started recruiting women and got 16 women to agree. They named their golf getaway “Friends of Frank Open” (FOFO). They traveled by car to courses in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and made it into a tournament this year.” — Linda Popovic, Pon- tiac EWGA League, Chair


One of the guys “I’m a 28-year-old female in


a corporate man’s world. The company was on a three-day conference and 25 men had planned a golf outing which I decided to attend even though I didn’t bring any golf clubs or gloves. The vice president of the company gave me his 5 iron and I played the entire 18 holes of the outing with noth- ing but a 5 iron. Later they told me how they admired my energy and commitment to be a team player.” —Collen T.


Green with anger “This summer I attended a


golf outing in Florida that cost me $1000 for a foursome. None of my invited friends could par- ticipate, so I was paired with


Jacquelyn Vaughn


three men in order to play. The men were so captivated with their own game that after they hit their balls would im- mediately get into the car and drive off before I had a chance to tee off. I was so angry with their anti-sportmanship that I called it to their attention on the next hole. They loosely ac- knowledged my concern, but it wasn’t long before they were back at it. Golf courses should require a class in etiquette before being allowed to play.” —Jackie B.


Hole in one “We were watching my


friend shoot on a par 3 hole and after her shot, she com- plained and complained about how terrible it was. Another friend and I were standing on the sidelines assuring her the shot was fine and that the ball probably rolled off the em- bankment onto the fairway, but she continued complain- ing. Meanwhile the ball did bounce off the embankment and started rolling towards the hole and actually fell in! Back at the clubhouse we cel- ebrated with other hole-in-one victors who all agreed that it was simply a combination of luck and timing. We laughed at how all the advanced skill sets and practice were rarely cited for hole-in-one success-


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE


Ladies on the Green Ladies on the Green


August 18-24, 2010


Page D-6


es. —Kathy M.


Negotiating swing


“My daughter was in the


middle of her college career when a timing error on her part caused her not to be ac- tively enrolled for the coming semester. The school was being inflexible in helping her adjust, which caused me to have to intervene. The head of the business school was on a golf trip and could not take my call, but upon his return I told him I was coming to town to discuss her overall stand- ing as a student and enrolle- ment. I needed him to see her as more than a “number” and care about her situation.


“On the phone I told him I


wanted to golf when I got there and asked if he could recom- mend any course. He did and asked who I was playing with. I said I was playing by myself and asked if he would like to join. We played golf that day, discussed my daughter, took my daughter to dinner that night and discussed the col- lege career game plan going forward. He promised her per- sonal, proactive attention and even gave us his cell phone number. Score!” —Lorine C.


If you have golf success


stories, tips, questions, or ideas for upcoming articles, please send them to jackie@ ladiesonthegreen.com.


Jacquelyn Vaughn was


the founder, president and CEO of Vaughn Marketing Consultants. She currently owns and operates three Michigan-based assisted living facilities, including the state-licensed White House. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, she holds an MS.. in Instructional Media, and a BS in Radio, TV and Film. Currently a Michigan resi- dent, she is the proud mother of two.


Meet and greet


By Ernest Lofton As a retired UAW Ford De-


partment vice president, I want to reach out to the com- munity on Friday, Aug. 20, at V Captial, 25305 W. Eight Mile Rd. in Redford. This meet and greet will be held 6-7 p.m.


Why am I doing this? I want to introduce an op-


portunity for you to possibly become healthier and actually earn income at the same time.


Some of the topics that will


be presented are: growing a network of energetic people;


Ernest Lofton When minutes matter


By Paul Bridgewater August is Medic Alert


Month, and advances in tech- nology continue to improve the ways you can handle medical emergencies. We all want peace of mind, and it is a comfort to know that medical alert systems are available to contact 911 when emergency assistance is needed.


Grown children who live


in other cities or who are fre- quently out of town are among consumers who purchase systems for their parents. Common systems include a pendant or bracelet, usually worn around a person’s neck or wrist. Should something happen, the user presses a button on the pendant for as- sistance from a call special- ist who gets the needed care, whether it’s a neighbor or an emergency response team.


Some emergency systems


allow you to conduct a two- way conversation through the medical alert pendant, just like a telephone. Other moni- toring programs can access your medical history and send text messages to family, friends and medical doctors.


If it is time for you to con-


sider a medical alert system, the following tips may help you find the right one to meet your needs and budget.


Make a list of the charac-


teristics you need and want from a medical alert system. An elderly person living alone may want a system that con- nects quickly to 911. Others, at risk for falls, for instance, may want a system that will contact a nearby relative or friend.


The Internet is a great place


to research medical alert com- panies. Look for established companies and then compare prices. Don’t be swayed by the companies that advertise with familiar celebrities. Learn as much as you can about specif- ic systems on their websites. Read the fine print for service requirements, payment or ad- ditional equipment charges.


out how long the company has been in business. Experience is important when it comes to saving lives.


When you’re shopping


online, never give out your credit or debit card informa- tion to a site that is not a trusted, secure website. If the site does not look profession- al, do not purchase your medi- cal alert system from it.


Remember, it is all about


peace of mind, ensuring the safety and independence of our elders.


Detroit Area Agency on Aging Events


Labor Day is coming up, Paul Bridgewater Contact a customer-service


representative through the site and discuss any questions or concerns you may have re- garding the system, how it works, how much it costs and what monthly service plans are available. Understand the cancellation policy, particu- larly if you cancel early.


Many providers outsource


their monitoring centers, but you may want a company that manages its own quality. Ask if customer service is available 24/7 in addition to the moni- toring system. Make sure the system includes repair and re- placement service. Many sys- tems automatically test them- selves weekly with a silent signal to the monitoring facil- ity. This is a guarantee that your system is connected and functioning.


Be sure you understand


all of your obligations. Some medical alert systems require no monthly fee for certain users. Some require con- tracts and others do not.


one of our four Holiday Meals on Wheels delivery dates. If you can volunteer, we need your help to pack and deliv- er meals to over 3,500 older adults in our community on these dates:


Saturday, Sept. 4, 8 to 11:30


a.m., assembly of cold packs. Monday, Sept. 6, 6 to 10


a.m., packing of hot meals. Monday, Sept. 6, 8 a.m. to


noon, meal delivery. Michigan Kinship Care


Conference and Grandfam- ily Reunion, September 8 and 9 – An opportunity for both caregivers and professionals to learn more about legal and custodial issues, managing difficult behaviors in children, and meeting the challenges of raising a child with special needs. The conference will be held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.


For information or to par-


ticipate in these events, call the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, (313) 446-4444.


Tune in to “The Senior Solu- If no


long-term contract is required, make sure you won’t be stuck with a costly minimum service period.


Ask about the training pro- cess for operators and find


tion” on WGPR 107.5 FM every Saturday morning at 10 a.m., hosted by Paul Bridgewater, president and CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging. It on is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207; (313) 446-4444; www. daaa1a.org.


creating a cutting-edge com- pany with total commitment to integrity; a distributorship energized by a uniquely mar- ketable and beneficial product supporting health; a product that supports reduced stress and anxiety; faster fatigue recovery; and supporting a healthy immune system.


This is a free event open to


the public, but an RSVP is re- quired due to limited seating. Refreshments will be served.


For more information, call (313) 213-4217.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28