Maybelle's Community Voice - December 2024 Member & Volunteer Newsletter

New Year, New Connections?

Sign up for social visits in 2025!

Roberta and her (adorable) cat Boots, have been welcoming and enjoying weekly visits with Maybelle Center visitors for at least a decade. They visit with community volunteers and nursing students. Roberta says she loves having people to talk with who are open to her and the topics she wants to talk about!

If you're curious about social visits, connect with Jenna (by phone: 971-202-7455 or email: jpadbury@maybellecenter.org).

Community Room treasures: Royce and Sabrina celebrate another completed puzzle!

Join us at the movies!

Wed, Dec 4th, 7 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM)

Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202)

Meet us there! The venue is ADA accessible; see Community Room staff if you'd like a Tri-Met pass to get there

RSVP in the Community Room for our community screening of Robert Putnam's documentary Join or Die, at the Tomorrow Theater. This film is all about why you should join a club and why the fate of America depends on it!

New staff welcome!

Meet new Member Outreach Coordinator, Anastasio!

Anastasio (they/he) is a writer, visual artist, and aspiring gender theorist coming from the high desert mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their community work began in the classroom, hosting art critique groups, managing fine art studios, and co-hosting monthly LGBTQ events.

When they moved to Portland in November 2021, their work expanded to include street outreach, political campaigning, and fundraising. When they aren’t attending gallery openings or painting, they spend their time in nature and exploring the good coffeeshops all around Portland.

Winter Performance: Fairly Odd Theatre Troupe & Maybelle Community Singers

Fri, Dec 6th, 4 PM

Maybelle Center South A & B

Join us for an afternoon of holiday themed improv and skits from our very own Fairly Odd Theatre Troupe. Plus, a special musical performance by The Maybelle Community Singers. You won’t want to miss this!

Winter Reading with Write Around Portland

Thurs, Dec 12th, 6 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM)

NW Natural (250 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97204)

Meet us there! The venue is ADA accessible; see Community Room staff if you'd like a Tri-Met pass to get there

18 of our Members participated in Write Around Portland’s 10-week writing workshop this fall. Together, they created a new published anthology that will be presented at the release party! Join us in celebrating our writers and hear them read their work at this release party.

Some fun moments from our Fall Party on Halloween, including our costume contest winner, Sabrina!

Winter Party!

Fri, Dec 13th, Noon - 3 PM

Meet us at our new venue, just 1.5 blocks from Maybelle Center! 10 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Join us for an afternoon of holiday festivities! Together we will enjoy a holiday feast, listen to live music and join in for a sing-along from the Oregon Symphony, and distribute gifts (based on your gift request forms)!

Some gifts will not be available until the following week, but we will make sure they get to you.

To receive a gift, we need to have received your gift request form by Nov 22nd, 2024. Forms were sent out in the Nov Newsletter and were available in the Community Room through Nov.

White elephant gift exchange!

Mon, Dec 23rd, 1 PM

Community Room

Dazzle us with our wittiest & most beguiling treasures! A White Elephant Gift Exchange is a popular Christmas event where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged, with people competing to take home the best (or funniest) present. If you want to participate, bring a wrapped item, which can be something you already own, a re-gifted item, or you can purchase something (under $10.00).

Member's Corner

Featuring Tony P.'s musical illustration!

Member's Corner is a new part of our monthly newsletter, if you have collages, drawings, poetry, or short stories to share, we want to print them!

Contact Shane to be published: 971-202-7445, sskinner@maybellecenter.org

Ongoing Opportunities

Changes to ongoing opportunities:

  • Women's Group, Men's Group, Rainbow Group, and Monthly Art Project will be paused until January 2025 as staffing and volunteer support is re-established
  • There will be no Community Room hours all day Friday, Dec 13th, as staff set up for the Winter Party
  • Maybelle Center and Community Room will close early on Tuesday, Dec 24th, 2024
  • Maybelle Center will be closed all day Wednesday, Dec 25th, 2024
  • Maybelle Center and Community Room will close early on Tuesday, Dec 31st, 2024
  • Maybelle Center will be closed all day Wednesday, Jan 1st, 2025

Ongoing opportunities details:

  • Community Room [New hours!]: Monday, 1–3 PM; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10 AM–3 PM.
  • CareOregon Advantage Q&A: 2nd Tuesday of the Month, 10 AM - Noon in the Community Room. Reps from Care Oregon will answer your questions on aging, disability, and Medicare. (Dec date: 12/10)
  • Karaoke: Usually on the 2nd & 4thTuesdays of the Month, from 2-3 PM in the Community Room, in December it will only occur on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. (Dec date: 12/10)
  • Movie and Popcorn: Every Thursday 1-3 PM in the Community Room. Grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy a classic film or new blockbuster together.
  • Street Books Mobile Library: Every Thursday, 1:30 PM in the Community Room. Check out a book or two without worrying about fees, fines, or an address.
  • Birthday Party: Last Thursday of the Month, 2-3 PM. A monthly celebration of member birthdays with cupcakes (gluten-free and sugar-free available). (Dec date: 12/26)
  • Bingo: Every Friday, 10 AM - Noon in the Community Room. Join us for some friendly competition and get ready to shout "Bingo!"
  • Monthly Arts Project: paused until January
  • Member Led Activity: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the Month, 11 - 11:45 AM in the Community Room. Do you have a special skill or interest that you would like to share with other Members? The sky is the limit! Maybelle Center staff will help you bring it to life. See Jennifer for more info! This month features Toys at Play: stories, improv, adventures, challenges, games, warm-ups, and more with JC. (Dec dates: 12/3 & 12/17)
  • Choir: Every Monday, 11 AM - 12:30 PM in the Classroom and online at maybellecenter.org/choirzoom
  • Lunch with the Director: Last Monday of the Month, 11:45 AM - 1 PM. Share a meal and ideas for making Maybelle a place where everyone belongs. RSVP required. (Dec date: 12/30)
  • Member Ambassador Council: Second Monday of the Month, 10-11:30 AM in the Community Room. Give feedback to staff, gain leadership skills & plan member-led events. (Dec date: 12/9)
  • Member Forum: Quarterly, 11:45 AM - 1 PM in Southside A and B. Join us each quarter to brainstorm new ideas, discuss any concerns, and eat pizza. (Q1 2025 date forthcoming)
  • Men's Group: paused until January 2025
  • Rainbow Group: paused until January 2025
  • Theatre Class: Every Monday, 3-4:30 PM in the Community Room.
  • Walk and Roll: Usually 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the Month, 1-3 PM- paused until Spring time when weather improves.
  • Women's Group "Too Blessed to be Stressed": paused until January 2025
  • History with Diane: Paused until January, usually the last Friday of the month, 1-3 PM in the Community Room. Volunteer Diane will present a world history lesson each month!