Pasadena Village Welcomes New Board Leadership

Pasadena Village welcomed new leadership to its Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting: Looking Forward. The board and Executive Director Katie Brandon took the time to reflect on their 2020/21 fiscal year at the meeting on Zoom. There were many successes, wonderful gatherings, and community building events to celebrate that were due to the Village members, board members, volunteers, committee chairs, neighborhood leaders, donors, supporters, business partners, and community partners. It really does take a Village!

The Annual Meeting on June 24, 2021 started with the State of Village address from outgoing Board President Mike Babcock followed by a report from Treasurer Sue Kujawa. Then, the Village welcomed special guest speaker Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo for an outlook on the City’s plans looking forward.

In her remarks, Executive Director Katie Brandon shared Pasadena Village’s plans for reopening, acknowledging the non-profit organization’s value of inclusiveness while respecting different levels of comfort with in-person gatherings. Village members and volunteers were invited to connect via small gatherings in breakout rooms and share their hopes for the coming months both personally and for Pasadena Village. Incoming president Pat Dawe concluded the meeting with his outlook for the coming months and gratitude to all who made it such a successful year.

Pasadena Village’s Board of Directors is the guardian of the vision, mission, and values of the vibrant organization. It is comprised of a group of dedicated and talented individuals who share a vision to help older adults remain independent within a supportive community. At the Annual Meeting, the Village welcomed four new board members and introduced the officers for the 2021/22 fiscal year. Mike Babcock and the entire Board of Directors expressed their gratitude for the service of the following retiring board members: Shizuko Akasaki, Leni Fleming, and Bob Snodgrass.

Outgoing President Mike Babcock

It’s not possible to overstate the impact that Mike Babcock has had on Pasadena Village. In fact it can be stated that, if not for Mike, the Village would not exist. It was Mike’s vision, and his cheerful but indefatigable persistence, that inspired a group of Pasadena seniors to join together in 2011 to build a community that supported older adults as they aged.

At the Annual Meeting, as Mike stepped down from a year as Board president, he remarked that he was not surprised that the “aging in place” philosophy attracted talented and committed board members and volunteers. “What we didn’t know was the extent to which the Village means so much to our members. It’s certainly a big part of my life. As members of the Village we all find something to look forward to each and every day.”

Four New Board Members

Three Pasadena Village members – Betty Ann Jansson, Barbara Madden, and Paula Rao – joined the Board of Directors as well as one new community member – fiduciary Ron Stoffers.

Betty Ann Jansson founded the nonprofit organization, Women at Work, and has been a member of Pasadena Village since 2012. Betty Ann explains that she “values how Pasadena Village offers a way to age in a more healthy way and allows us to stay in our homes as long as we wish.” She looks forward to working with the Board to increase membership, with an emphasis on making the Village more diverse.

Barbara Madden is a retired social worker who worked at a family service agency, in mental health clinics, and in private practice. She has been a member since 2012, and is very interested in Village sustainability and wants to find ways to involve younger people. “For me, the most valuable part of being involved in the Village are the social connections I’ve made with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. These new friends have broadened and enriched my life.”

Paula Rao is the President of the Board of The Music Circle, a non-profit arts organization founded in 1973 by her late husband, which presents the classical music and dance of India to Southern California audiences. She studied art with Corita Kent and currently uses her creative talents in the redesign of the Village website. She has been a member since 2012 and wants to get more members involved in the many aspects of the Village and wants to work toward making the Village sustainable.

Ron Stoffers is a licensed professional fiduciary, court-appointed conservator, and former banker. He has an MBA and is certified in both Trust Management for Trustees and Trust Management for Conservators from CSU Fullerton and a member of both the local Fiduciary Roundtable and Providers. He was born in Pasadena and returned to raise his family here. He brings a strong financial background and knowledge of membership-based nonprofits.

Introducing the 2021/22 Officers

The following Board Officers were announced at the Annual Meeting: Pat Dawe – President, Sue Kujawa – Vice President, Claire Gorfinkel – Treasurer, and Esther Gillies – Secretary. As President of the Board, Pat wants to focus on organizational growth which includes a more diverse membership, a successful and invigorating reopening, and securing funding from a variety of sources. As Pat explains, “we can tangibly see advancements that have been made in many areas of the Village over the last few months, particularly in development, membership, and communications. I think the Village has moved from an era of scarcity to one of opportunity, and we can use this positive outlook to build back better.”

Looking Ahead

Pasadena Village does not operate in a vacuum – pandemic notwithstanding! Village members are all active in many areas of the greater community, and Pasadena Village relies on partnerships with a wide range of community partners to provide educational programming. Pasadena Village operates, not only on membership fees, but on the generosity of local businesses, foundations, and individuals – both members, and nonmembers – who support our mission.

With the creative, responsive board leadership in place, Pasadena Village is poised to continue to support older adults in their desire to live full and meaningful lives as part of a nurturing community. In the coming year, the entire organization will work to increase and diversify our membership, get out into the community, and spread the word about the benefits of being a member of the Pasadena Village.

About Pasadena Village

The Pasadena Village is a community of adults over 55 who support each other while living independently in their own homes. Over 130 Members (and growing) engage in a robust calendar of discussion groups, social activities, and educational programming which are currently offered mostly on Zoom. The 501(c)3 nonprofit offers new friendships and meaningful experiences along with ways to contribute to the wider community. It is one of 300 Villages across the country that are embarking on a new way to support the population of seniors who choose to age in place and remain in their own homes as long as they wish. To learn more, visit www.pasadenavillage.org, email info@pasadenavillage.org, or call (626) 765-6037.