Community Corner

Georgetown Village Hopes to Launch by End of 2011

The 'aging in place' community has garnered over 100 pledges for membership.

The Georgetown Village, a nascent aging in place community, could begin providing services before the end of 2011. With over 100 membership pledges and more than 50 proclaimed volunteers, the Georgetown Village project is well on its way to a sound start when it launches later this year.

Georgetown Village is a membership organization designed to permit members remain in their homes as they age with the support of trained and vetted volunteers and professionals. Membership is open to those aged 55 and older.

Sharon Lockwood, the founder and chair of the Georgetown Village, is a former World Bank economist and said her goal from the start in March of 2010 was to have at least 100 members to ensure a fiscally viable organization. After more than 20 meetings in people's homes and , that goal has been surpassed.

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So far the group has received donated office space from on O Street, established itself as a 501c3, has secured a pro-bono lawyer, a paid accountant and they are beginning the process of looking for a paid, full-time executive director.

Donations of $45,000 from committed board members will be partnered with the annual membership fees to support the organization.

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"To my knowledge, no other village has had had so much pledged financial support prior to opening its doors," said Lockwood.

Members who sign up prior to September 1, 2011 will pay an annual fee of $500 per individual or $800 per household. After September 1, 2011 the fees go up to $600 per person and $900 for a household.

The $500 rate breaks down to just about $42 a month, "that’s what you pay for the New York times," said Lockwood.

The village model is "the cheapest insurance policy for remaining independent that I can think of," she said.

With membership comes access to vetted resources and the help of volunteers. The Executive Director's role will be to vet anyone who would be used by village members, from the handyman to the nurse.

And if the assistance provided is not top-notch, members do not have to haggle with the company that sent the nurse or plumber, instead they can go right to the executive director with complaints or concerns. There will also be a follow-up call after any service is provided to create a portfolio of information about any given contractor.

And every volunteer will report back to the director with important details after a task is completed. For instance, if someone volunteers to drive a neighbor to a doctor's visit and is asked to take notes on the doctor's orders, this information would be relayed to the executive director for safe keeping.

Doctor's notes would be held strictly by the director, "but if out of town relatives want to know, they can be privy," making a "very protected environment," explained Lockwood.

Organizers will will send out invoices right after labor day for people to send in their $500 or $800 annual membership.

Membership forms can be downloaded from the attached PDF and mailed to:

Georgetown Village, Inc.
Sharon Lockwood, Chair
3019 O Street NW
Washington, DC 20007

Lockwood is also open to receiving inquiries over the phone: 202-361-2482 or via email: sharonlockwood100@hotmail.com

For more information, check out the Georgetown Village website: http://georgetown-village.org/.


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