Join the DC Office on Aging and the  DC Cameo Club as they celebrate Juneteenth  with special performances

Friday, June 19, 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Female Re-enactors of Distinction (FREED), the African-American Ladies Auxiliary Group of the African-American Civil War Memorial
• Ayo Handy Kendi, founder, African-American Holidays Association
• Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews
• Drum and Bugle Corps of the African-American Civil War Memorial

Ready or not, on June 12, 2009 , the U.S. government is requiring all American television stations to stop offering “free” analog channels and switch to digital format. If you subscribe to digital TV services offered by cable or telephone companies, you don’t need to do anything because the companies already have the technology in place to broadcast the new digital format. However, if you are not a cable subscriber and do not wish to pay hundreds of dollars for a new digital television, get government coupons for converter boxes at www.dtv2009.gov .

The Office of the People’s Counsel is working to helping D.C. consumers take the mystery out of the DTV Transition. As a part of that commitment, the Office is providing consumers with a list of the following resources:

• Are You Ready for the Digital Television Revolution?* (Please find attached)
• DTV Answers - An Initiative of the National Association of Broadcasters
   
• Federal Communications Commission - Consumer Facts regarding the DTV Transition

**For more information about the DTV transition, contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing dtvinfo@fcc.gov calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

City-wide wireless?  GPS for bus arrivals?  A city-wide aging in place network?  DC’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) is currently soliciting feedback from all District of Columbia residents regarding the types of technologies they use and what technologies they would like to see used in DC in the future. Their plan is to create a better 311 service request system based on this insight.  They would appreciate your insight into the problems and ideas you and your friends, families and neighbors have that are related to technology.

They've set up a simple insights portal as part of our Apps for Democracy “Community Edition” citizen engagement campaign, and hope that you will spend a minute to submit some insights that will benefit all of us. The insights portal can be accessed at http://insights.appsfordemocracy.org and if you feel so inclined, you can call or txt (202) 683-9980 to leave your insights as well.

If you know of another organization or individual in your neighborhood that might make a valuable addition to this insights collection initiative, please forward this message so that they can involve as many residents in this process as possible. The full Apps for Democracy website can be found at: http://www.appsfordemocracy.org

If you would like to participate in this project on Saturday, May 9 from noon until 4pm, please contact Nona Martin at 202-633-8490 or AmericanArtPrograms@si.edu.

 
Challenge your mind while you have some fun at the AARP National Spelling Bee June 20 in Cheyenne, Wyo. Open to anyone 50+. 

  If you have any questions that aren't answered below, visit community@aarp.org  

1. Sign onto your internet browser and go to http://www.aarp.org/ .  This is the main AARP site, where you can do a lot of things, but right now we’re focused on the Online Community.
2. In the upper right hand side of this page, (to the right of the search button) you see “Connect to the online community.”  If this is your first time visiting the online community, click the red, Register Now button.
   1. You need to create a username.  This is how you will be identified on the AARP online community. 
3. Now you need to create a password. 
   1. The password has to be between 6 and 20 characters.
   2. It has to have at least one number and one letter.
4. Fill in the rest of the form.
5. Now there is a check box below this for “Optional Information”.  If you click this box, you will receive periodic emails from AARP with updates.
6. Lastly, you have to agree to the terms of service and privacy policy.  If you want to use the online community, you have to abide by the terms of service- this is essentially a set of rules and standards that all online community members are held to.  The privacy policy simply states what AARP does with the information you give them. 
7. Now click the Red Register button at the bottom, and you’re done.  Congratulations!

1. You will be taken to a site which gives you the option to start building your profile; it also shows you the address for your profile.  Generically, this address will be:  http://www.aarp.org/community/[username].
2. Click on the blue button that says “start building my profile”.
3. You will be taken to your profile, which at this point is blank.  A box will pop up saying “Let us help you start your profile.”
   1. The first step is to choose a picture.  Here, you simply click on the browse button and find the file of the picture you want to use on your computer.  You just need to make sure the picture is the appropriate size, but you will be told if it’s not.
   2. Next, you select your marital status, your gender, where you’ve gone to school, where you’ve worked, and where you’ve lived.
   3. Click “Save and finish and your profile will be updated.”
4. Now the basics of your profile are in.  You can add an about me section, where you can explain your interests and let people better get to know you.
5. Enjoy updating your profile- you can and should do this as you go along.  Keep it up to date and have fun.

1. First, go to the group page. 
2. From there, you’ll notice in the middle of the page, below the group description, is the Group Forum .
   1. If you would like to start a new topic:

1. If you would like to respond to a previous topic:

1. On the AARP Online Community, you add friends so you can see what they are up to on the site, and easily communicate with them.
2. Doing this is much like joining a group.
   1. First, you need to on the person’s profile page.

1. Once you’re on the person’s profile page, you click the Add To Friends button, and you’re done!

  If you have any questions that aren't answered below, visit community@aarp.org  

1. Sign onto your internet browser and go to http://www.aarp.org/ .  This is the main AARP site, where you can do a lot of things, but right now we’re focused on the Online Community.
2. In the upper right hand side of this page, (to the right of the search button) you see “Connect to the online community.”  If this is your first time visiting the online community, click the red, Register Now button.
   1. You need to create a username.  This is how you will be identified on the AARP online community. 
3. Now you need to create a password. 
   1. The password has to be between 6 and 20 characters.
   2. It has to have at least one number and one letter.
4. Fill in the rest of the form.
5. Now there is a check box below this for “Optional Information”.  If you click this box, you will receive periodic emails from AARP with updates.
6. Lastly, you have to agree to the terms of service and privacy policy.  If you want to use the online community, you have to abide by the terms of service- this is essentially a set of rules and standards that all online community members are held to.  The privacy policy simply states what AARP does with the information you give them. 
7. Now click the Red Register button at the bottom, and you’re done.  Congratulations!

1. You will be taken to a site which gives you the option to start building your profile; it also shows you the address for your profile.  Generically, this address will be:  http://www.aarp.org/community/[username].
2. Click on the blue button that says “start building my profile”.
3. You will be taken to your profile, which at this point is blank.  A box will pop up saying “Let us help you start your profile.”
   1. The first step is to choose a picture.  Here, you simply click on the browse button and find the file of the picture you want to use on your computer.  You just need to make sure the picture is the appropriate size, but you will be told if it’s not.
   2. Next, you select your marital status, your gender, where you’ve gone to school, where you’ve worked, and where you’ve lived.
   3. Click “Save and finish and your profile will be updated.”
4. Now the basics of your profile are in.  You can add an about me section, where you can explain your interests and let people better get to know you.
5. Enjoy updating your profile- you can and should do this as you go along.  Keep it up to date and have fun.

1. First, go to the group page. 
2. From there, you’ll notice in the middle of the page, below the group description, is the Group Forum .
   1. If you would like to start a new topic:

1. If you would like to respond to a previous topic:

1. On the AARP Online Community, you add friends so you can see what they are up to on the site, and easily communicate with them.
2. Doing this is much like joining a group.
   1. First, you need to on the person’s profile page.

1. Once you’re on the person’s profile page, you click the Add To Friends button, and you’re done!

Attend the DC Office on Aging Budget Hearing on April 24, 10am -1pm at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 

Mayor Fenty's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 includes significant cuts to Office on Aging programs on which our city's most vulnerable older residents rely.  These include a $1.26 million cut to in-home and daycare services; a $60,000 cut to caregiver education, transportation and respite programs; a $138,000 decrease in community services such as transportation, legal help and couseling; and a $96,000 reduction in support for adult protective services. 

Your presence -- and that of other concerned Washingtonians -- will send a signal to the District Council and Mayor's Office that DC residents care about the vital programs that keep our elders safe, healthy and connected to their community.

You do not need to RSVP to attend.  If you would like to testify at this hearing, please contact the District Council Committee on Aging and Community Affairs clerk Victor Bonett at 202-724-8068.

The U.S. Department of Commerce  is accepting requests for replacement coupons from eligible households whose  digital TV converter coupons expired without them being able to redeem them as well as for others who need them.  Residents may request a coupon by downloading an application at www.DTV2009.gov , calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or faxing an application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632). Deaf or hard of hearing callers may use 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).