(Later renamed, soberly, the Ashfield Senior Council ... not to be confused with the Ashfield Council on Aging OR the Council on Aging Consortium, which is a State-mandated agency that comprises Ashfield, Buckland, Colrain and Shelburne Falls!) And, the last I heard, even that was gone. Sic transit gloria mundi?
The trouble with seniors, you see, is that the watch changes too often! I guess that makes it pretty tempting to fall back on younger people. Hey - nothing wrong with that, EXCEPT for the fact that these younger ones too often have more of a commitment to trying to solve problems by conventional methods, and so are not usually risk-takers like Maggie Kuhn! Maybe they will begin to learn more outrageousness as they go along. Let's hope. So this page is a retrospective, so that someone may find out how we got started. Here's what we wrote.
The Purple Panthers, now the Ashfield Council on Aging (their role having been modified by its newest (and youngest) members into a more conventional group), started out with fire in its eye, as a local organization of free activists dedicated to social change and quality of life issues for all, but especially for elders in our community - age in action, working in close cooperation with the Ashfield Council on Aging. We still do that, but the fire has been damped down a bit.
The flamboyant name choice came from the hope that we could have joined the Gray Panthers originally organized by activist Maggie Kuhn (see below for the history and current status of the Gray Panthers), but times have changed. Bureaucracy has crept into even this marvelous group of reformers, and so, after speaking with a representative in Washington, we decided to say no to being regulated into joining another salaried pressure group in Washington not unlike AARP, and had no wish for our claws to be drawn by these young Washington power brokers in the name of real social action. But in this millennial year we ourselves have begun to pull in our own claws, believing that you may be able to catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. We shall see if it works better for our seniors in the community. Click here to read a discouraging note added in 2007, alas.
During our first year we looked into the needs and potential facilities for local senior housing in the village, with the aid of a questionnaire sent to all residents of Ashfield receiving the Ashfield News. We invited people who might wish to become residents in the future at Ashfield House to pre-register their requirements so that they might be notified if and when a suitable apartment becomes available. No obligation to move would be involved in such a pre-registration. Residents were invited to call a member of the Council on Aging at 628-4691 or 628-4756 to register their preferences and needs.
Other activities with which we have been involved: We made recommendations for a budgetary increase to the Select Board to insure Ashfield's support of the program for seniors located at the Senior Center in Shelburne Falls, which was adopted at a special Town Meeting. The Center is operated on behalf of a Consortium of four Franklin County towns - Ashfield, Colrain, Shelburne and Buckland - and supports a great many programs for the elderly in those towns including Meals on Wheels, transportation to the doctor and for shopping, advice on taxes and medical support, outreach, exercise, computer skills, creative writing, trips to various nearby towns for concerts and plays - and much, much more ... but most of all, friendly human contact.
We are continuing to advertise in the Ashfield News for drivers willing to transport Ashfield residents to medical facilities outside of Franklin County, since the funding available for such transportation through the Senior Center is limited to driving only within Franklin County. So far we have driven a good number of people to Northampton for medical care, and will continue to do so.
We are also actively recruiting Ashfield residents who wish either to join an on-going program for home care centered in Ashfield or to register with Franklin County Home Care, which offers free training for recruits in Greenfield.
We also put on a series of weekly supper and games evenings at the Grange Hall the previous summer which was greatly enjoyed by all who attended! It is still our hope that our active presence in the village will enhance the participation of Ashfield residents in the life of the community.
We welcome all Ashfield seniors to join us, come to our meetings and work with us.
Ashfield Senior Council, 335 Buckland Rd.. Ashfield, MA 01330
or contact us by phone at 628-4617 or by e-mail at
Facsimile page
http://www.nonviolence.org/amhvigil/graypant.html
Regretfully, the Amherst, Massachusetts chapter of the Gray Panthers disbanded late in 1998. They had been the sponsors of the Amherst Vigil for Peace and Justice. Thank you, Gray Panthers.
For twenty-five years, Gray Panthers worked to make America a better place to live for the young, the old, and everyone-in-between. Taking on our society's toughest problems - peace, health care, jobs, and housing - Gray Panthers have been effective in creating change. Whether at the local, state, or federal level, Gray Panthers have been fighting to change laws and attitudes for social justice. Founded in 1970 by social activist Maggie Kuhn, Gray Panthers believe that all Americans should benefit from our country's abundance. Today Panthers are active in more than 50 local networks attacking problems from an intergenerational perspective.
Gray Panthers work on multiple issues that include: Peace, Jobs for All, Housing, Anti-Discrimination (ageism, sexism, racism), Family Security, Environment, Campaign Reform, and the United Nations. Over the years, Gray Panthers stopped forced retirement at age 65, exposed nursing home abuse, and worked in coalition for Universal Health Care. Gray Panthers mobilize voters on a variety of issues.
Respected by their local, state, and federal officials, Gray Panthers speak out on the issues that affect us all. Nationally, Gray Panthers fight to expand health care programs, promote peace, earn greater rights for the disabled, and create decent housing. We believe that together, we can and do make a difference.
If you care about where America is headed and you want to make a difference, join us. The Gray Panthers vision is one that upholds dignity. We believe that dignity comes with having an adequate job, housing, and health care. A healthy environment and a peaceful world complete the picture. Join us and help make this vision a reality!
"We are the risk takers; we are the innovators; we are the developers of new models. We are trying on the future for size - that is our role." - Maggie Kuhn, Founder
