We’re already midway through April. Spring is flying by, so many flowers are blooming, trees are leafing out and so much is happening with USE these days. There’s a lot to catch up on. Read on.

Here’s What’s Coming Up:

The USE Picnic

Sunday, May 22, 4 to 7 p.m.

Lake Anne Pavilion

11301 North Shore Drive, Reston

We WILL continue with this planned event.

More information coming soon. Volunteer helpers will be needed.

Stay tuned. We’ll be calling.

Recent Events:

The USE Spring Luncheon

Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Sunset Hills Road, Reston.  

USE has ignited luncheon gatherings for members who find themselves without family in the Reston area. They have become immediately “mini-family celebrations” and attendance is growing rapidly.

The first one was on Thanksgiving in the fall of 2021. The second, a Celebrate Spring luncheon, just took place April 17, so we are still feeling like we spent the day with family, which USE is rapidly becoming as we get to know each other more deeply. 

Hugs, conversation, and laughter, with good food and terrific company can’t be beat. Join us. You will feel welcomed, and we will feel loved in return. ‒C.W.

 
Some Photos from the USE Spring Luncheon    

From Left: John Lovaas, Carol Berman, Norbert Pink, Brenda LeCesne, Joyce McKenzie and Fran Lovaas.

Dave Bush, Alvarez LeCesne, Kathy Bush, Cheri Wubbels and Joyce Clark.

          Kathy Bush, Susan Kousek, and Cheri Wubbels

Photography by Susan Kousek

An Online Party Celebrating the Start of 2022

On February 13, USE board member Alan Krishnan treated fellow USE members to a party with entertainment – maybe just slightly delayed because of scheduling difficulties – but it was a New Year’s celebration nonetheless. The dozen or so members who attended had the pleasure of hearing beautiful singing, a violin solo, two medical information sessions from medical professionals, also a father-son Rubik’s cube demonstration, two Girl Scout presentations, and more. We appreciate Alan’s hard work and efforts to create an entertaining program for fellow USE members.

Thanks, Alan!

Alan Krishnan and Dr. Madhuri Pingle, who provided information about building immunity and staying healthy.

Below: Ms. Sunila Bali Dut sings beautifully in English and Hindi. Kieran and John Mendon demonstrate their super-fast Rubik’s cube skills.

 

Here’s What’s New on Our Website

Take a minute to visit our USE website (www.restonuse.org) and check out our new BULLETIN BOARD link at the top of the right-hand column. Click on it and you will go directly to the Bulletin Board where you can see the latest updates and happenings.

Lower down in that same column you’ll see we’ve also added a DONATE feature to the website. This is for anyone who wishes to donate to USE — over and above the regular membership fee, whether a member or not. These donations will contribute to our admin, development and outreach programs. Any donation in any amount would be welcome.

Here’s What’s New with hOurworld:

Changes: You will have noticed that hOurworld looks different and is different to navigate recently. That is because the managers of the website have been working on an upgrade for quite some time. Our hope is that it will be easier to use once we all get used to it.

And Training: One of our new webmasters, Rohith Rao, is offering monthly virtual training to any member who would like help navigating hOurworld, which we can all agree can be a challenge. The first training session was held on Sunday afternoon, March 27. Those who attended thought Rohith did a great job, was very clear, very patient and they learned a lot. The next virtual session will be held on Saturday, May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Good Work, Rohith! Thanks so much!

Here are two New Members:

  • Abha Molri, wife to Rohith Rao.
  • Lee Lipsey

WELCOME Abha and Lee! So glad to have you with us!

Here’s What’s Ongoing:

The USE Walking group

This group was initiated last fall as part of USEcares. Over the past few months there have been a number of group walks as the weather and holidays would accommodate. Now that spring is just around the corner, the group is hoping to continue its weekly outings on a regular basis and encourage more USE members to get involved. Paths around Reston’s lakes are favorite locations for walks, with occasional visits outside Reston, to spots like Meadowlark Gardens or Frying Pan Park. Walks usually last about an hour. For further information and when you plan to attend a scheduled group walking event, please contact Gail through our USE email address: restonusetimebank@gmail.com.

Jerry Harasty, Gail Vogel, and Beth Balmer

A Reminder:

Lend/Share

A valuable exchange that we often overlook is the category referred to as Lend/Share, for sharing things such as tools and other useful household items. To remedy this, we proposed to start a list of items that members may have at home and that others might borrow (e.g., ladders, power tools, maybe cooking or cleaning equipment, garden and yard tools, etc.)

We will soon be posting this list on the USE hOurworld website and we ask that, if you have things you can lend to other USE members, you send your list of items to our Communications Chairperson, Joanna Faust, at restonusetimebank@gmail.com. She will be posting the information for us.
Just think, you may not need to run to Home Depot to purchase a tool that you may only use once, a few times or for just a short while when you can borrow from a USE friend.

News from the USE Board:

Board Members and Supporting Volunteers:

We are so pleased and proud to announce the addition of new volunteers, Rohith Rao and Jerry Harasty as our new Webmasters/IT Gurus.

Our relatively new Membership Chair, Alvarez LeCesne
has framed his role as one of outreach to members. This leaves part of the Membership Chair’s job open and in need of a volunteer to take it on.

 Support to Membership Chair ‒

Volunteer needed. This would not be a board position but an active volunteer position, reporting to the membership chair and the USE board.

Job description:

Maintains and upgrades index of members and services available. Sends out welcome letters to new members. Keeps files of membership applications, a master list of member names and addresses, and a list of member e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Attends monthly board meetings. Monitors hours earned and owed from USE member exchanges.

Ongoing Board Openings with Job Descriptions:

President

Oversees, coordinates and manages Useful Services Exchange. Sets overall tone and agenda of the organization. Supervises website, membership records, index of services, records of hours, publicity and outreach. Presides over monthly board meetings, oversees quarterly newsletters and other publications, writes annual report of the organization. Ensures that board positions are filled and appoints members to chair ad hoc and standing committees. Represents USE in the community.

Secretary

Sends out advance agenda of monthly board meetings after consultation with the president. Takes minutes at board meetings and distributes them to board members. Keeps files of minutes and other old and current USE documents including publicity about the organization. Keeps written job descriptions of board members. Sends press releases to area media about USE events.

If you think either one of these jobs fits your interests and personality, we’d love to have you come and talk with us. We’d love to have you join us. If you know of anyone at all that might like to join USE and help on our board, please contact us at the email address shown below.

BOARD MEETINGS

Board Meetings are normally held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Members are always welcome to attend meetings and participate in any way they like. If you wish to join us at any USE board meeting, please contact me, Kathy Bush, at restonusetimebank@gmail.com.

Think Spring!

To learn about or join Reston USE:  Find us at: www.restonUSE.org. Write us at: PO Box 8922, Reston VA 20195. Phone us at: 703-873-7578. Email us at: RestonUSETimeBank@gmail.com.


USE Members: To access our USE hOurworld website: First, find us at www.restonUSE.org. Find the Service Exchange tab at the top. Click for the dropdown and find hOurworld login. This will take you to the USE hOurworld website. There you can log in, create a password and record a transaction, monitor your transactions and your profile and learn about other USE members, their services and needs.