Club enters the new year with a new name

SENIOR PEACE CLUB

By Nancy Goldstein

LW contributor

Members of the Leisure World Senior Patriots for Peace voted to change the club’s name to Leisure World Seal Beach Senior Peace Club. Although the word “patriot” is no longer in the name, the club maintains its patriotic commitment to peace and social justice.

In the club’s recent election, all incumbents were re-elected, so the executive board will continue with the following members: Jacquie Clarke, president; Pat Kruger, vice president; Don Koepke, secretary; and Jane Brittingham, Nancy Goldstein and Ordie Kim, members-at-large.

The regular club meeting date remains the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m., with the first 2021 meeting planned for Jan. 12 on Zoom. The club’s peaceful protests will continue to be held on the last Wednesday of each month from 4-5:30 p.m. under the LW globe. Weather conditions permitting, the next gathering under the globe will be on Jan. 27.

The club’s Facebook page will also reflect the name change and can now be found by searching “LWSB Senior Peace Club.”

Future plans for the Senior Peace Club include a comprehensive program for most of the coming winter months, confronting the issues of white privilege and systemic racism. Everyone with an interest in these topics is welcome to join the monthly Zooms. Club members hope to find ways to help create the kinds of societal changes needed to address the massive inequalities that exist in the U.S. The Facebook page includes a book and film list that hopefully will stimulate people’s thinking about the many issues in this country. There is a wealth of information on YouTube and online, as well as films on Netflix and books available at the LW library or at local bookstores. The club encourages everyone to support local resources, particularly Black-owned bookstores and will have resources listed on Facebook.

The past year has been a tumultuous one that disrupted everyone’s lives and also brought about a much–needed reckoning about the inequalities in U.S. society. The new year brings hope of a successful vaccination program and some restoration of normality to people’s lives, but there is still much to be done in the pursuit of social justice, and it is hoped that many more Leisure Worlders will join the club in this quest.