Winter 2004

      Let's start the year of 2004 with our warm welcome to LACD new board members, Bob Bergan and Joanne Gleicher! Elsie Vincent could not stay with us on the Board because she announced that she will move to Oregon in June. She plans to stay with her son and fly down to California for our Bank Night sometime throughout the year.

      We just had our CPA finish the tax returns including the years before my term as the president. CPA met with Danny Pasley, our former taxman, and was able to get copies of 1995 and 1997 tax returns that were already filled but apparently never were mailed to IRS by one of the past officers. Our CPA also did the returns of 1999 and 2000 and this year's return. It is a huge accomplishment to wrap up all of the old tax information, and now we can move forward and make new plans for this year!

      One of the current plans is to work with Patty Hughes, GLAD CEO, to receive space for LACD's activities at GLAD's annex. GLAD submitted their proposal to a foundation in hopes of getting contribution, so they can hire a caretaker for the annex. Patty will also be busy focusing on DSS RFPs for GLAD's services and funding sources which are due at the end of March.

      Another thing on the agenda is the 2004 FAAD softball tournament which we are to host on Friday, July 9th and Saturday, July 10th. It will take place at Glendale Sports Complex and John Maucere will perform at the GLAD ballroom on that Saturday night. Be sure to mark your calendar and check www.lacd.org/2004faad.html for further details!

      As we reflect the closure of 2003 last December, I want to thank Mel Carter for emceeing at our annual Holiday Brunch at Castaway, Elaine Aiken for telling historical facts about Hanukkah, and Marleen Dubin for her traditional Christmas songs! Not to mention, Rita Winzelberg's lovely centerpieces that caught many people's attention. Most of us went straight to LACD's Bank Night afterwards.

      Jane Di Vincenzo flew to Florida to meet Jay, her son who lives in Virginia, and they spent several days visiting Jane's brother-in-law and his wife in Largo. They also went to Fort Myers for two nights where they also rode on a boat in Key West. They enjoyed sightseeing all day there.

      Joan Gleicher flew out to Maryland to visit her son and surprise his daughters (Joan's grandchildren). During her spare time, she also has been driving to Riverside to be with Becca and Rayzele. She now has five granddaughters and one grandson altogether.

      Mary Greenstone and her daughter, Marie Lubman, and granddaughter, Natasha flew from California's warm weather to New York's cold weather to spend Christmas with the whole family. They decided to pay a visit to the 9/11 World Trade Center site. They had a nice time.

      Last November our vice president, John Goul and his wife, Shelley, finally moved back into their house after living in an apartment for several months. They had contractor and his helpers tear down his old home then built a new one on the same property.

      Donna Lopaty is beaming with joy when her son and his wife gave a birth to a second girl. She now has the total of 7 grandchildren! Roy and Donna sold their house in West Hills last December moved into a new one in Simi Valley.

      Barbara Pellissinger of Merced has driven to LACD several times a year. She recently bought a brand new house with three bedrooms and will move in on St. Patrick's Day. Congratulations!

      Travel Agent Perren Castaline, the son of Marilyn and Bernard, arranged a bus trip to Reno, Nevada for 44 deaf people. The whole vacation lasted three days where they stopped by Lake Tahoe and Carson City. They had loads of fun.

      Lenny Meyer took a plane trip to Dodge City, Kansas with his sons, Roderick of Lakewood, California and Eugene of Evansville, Indiana to help his sister celebrate her 90th birthday! They met his two favorite nephews from Kansas City, Missouri, sons of his late deaf brother, Louis. Other than the party, they spent four days in Dodge City even when the temperature lowered to 17 degrees. All five of them left their wives at home and they agreed that they will do it again because they had so much fun together.

      David Perlovsky broke his foot on December 3rd and wore a cast for two full months. Unfortunately, he had to miss our annual holiday brunch and gatherings and is anxious to bid farewell to his cast real soon. He looks forward to having his freedom back.

      On a sad note, Bob Vincent suffered a heart attack and received pneumonia last January. He was in ICU for one week before returning to his place. However, he received a stroke and is now recuperating. He needs to go back to the hospital on March 12th to place a pacemaker next to his heart in order to help it beat regularly.

      Pat Zinkovich, at her usual busy self, still travels in her motor home several times a year. Not only she now functions as the new president of Northern California Deaf Campers, she is also the Casino Fundraising chairperson at Benicia Tower Clock. It will be held on November 6, 2004. She made plans to join deaf skydivers this month.

      Becky Elliott's daughter, Debby DeStefano of Washington, D.C., flew to Riverside for the Academic Bowl at CSDR where 16 high schools from western states competed. Becky's sons Nick and Dave were also there, and it was a truly nice family reunion.

      Eddie Bachus really enjoys her retirement. Aside her volunteering time, she got the chance to go on a Hawaiian cruise with her classmates from Gallaudet University and traveled to Arizona for DeafNation Expo last January. She enjoyed seeing her old friends and meeting new ones as well.

      There will be another general meeting on March 20th at 2 p.m. or check our Website at www.lacd.org for upcoming events. Hope to see you there! Remember Bank Night will take place after the meeting and that is when someone's name will be drawn for a prize of 140 dollars. Who knows, it may be yours!!

Etta