Club History Timeline
This timeline was created by the Leisure World Historical Society using the digitized searchable versions of the LW Weekly newspaper from 1962 to the present. Dates and page number(s) next to each piece of information reference the newspaper issue the article was found in.
Limited Vision Club 1966-06-05
The first meeting of the Limited Vision Club was held on June 13, 1972, in Clubhouse 3. Dr Grace Smith was the speaker. The speaker for the July 11, 1972 meeting was Ida Scott of the Lady Lions. A copy of the Limited Vision Club minutes from June 1972 to July 1976 are part of the Historical Society Archives. The Limited Vision Club was announced in the LW weekly newspaper on 1966-09-22 pg 3. Founder Berta Cooley, helped by Ina Balkan, headed the club from it's founding until she left Leisure World in August 1975 (news 1975-08-14 pg 25, 06. ). In an article about why she founded the club, Berta, who was an artist, said
“What would you do if you couldn't read? If you had to sit up real close to see TV? If you had to use a cane to feel your way along the sidewalk never being sure of the next step? What would you do if you were afraid to cook? If all these things reduced you to tears and despair? Would you feel that life was ended? “
“The club was started by me because I saw my neighbor, past 80, in very much that sort of restricted life.”
“Our programs were talks on travels, pertinent topics, book reviews, music, with some jokes, but more important were care of the eyes and use of magnifying glasses.”
Speakers attended club meetings such as Dr. DeNys who started the Santa Ana Blind Center after he became blind.
As well as running the Limited Vision Club Berta Cooley was a member of The Shuffleboard Club, Art League, Book Club, Hawaiian Club, Religious Science Church, and attended writing classes.
- Berta Cooley's picture with the Shuffle Board Club 1969-06-05
- Berta Cooley leaving, club needed new president 1970-06-04, page B2 page 18.
- Berta Cooley's article titled FOUNDER RECOUNTS STORY OF UNSIGHTED, 1974-05-09, pages 17, 24.
- Berta Cooley leaves Leisure World moving to Santa Clara, 1975-08-14 page 25, 06.
Limited Hearing Club 1975-11-06
The Hearing Club was formed in 1975 by Lilian Thompson and Dorothy Haworth (News 1975-07-17, Page 10, News 1975-11-06 pg 8) who held meetings in resident's homes. Occasionally special events were held in the clubhouses but the meetings were held in homes through 1986. The address of the home where the meeting was held was announced in the News each month.
- 1975-11-06 Lilian Thompson and Dorothy Haworth first home meeting, page a8, 008.
- 1975 hearing club forms meeting in homes newly formed 1975-07-17, page 10.
- 1976-02-05 page 23 hearing meeting in Ch 3 room 7 hostess Lois Cooper. Also 1976-01-08 for meeting 1-14-76.
- 1976-05-20 page 13 article Leisure World Lions sponsoring lipreading classes in LW for 3 years.
- 1976-11-11 page 8. Leisure World Lions Club sponsors lipreading class twice a week clubhouse 3 room 8. Also 1976-2-12 page 16.
- 1977-02-03 club meeting back in peoples homes.
- 1978-10-5 page 15 Hearing still separate from Vision. Contact is Lauretta Snow.
- 1982-01-07 page 14 Limited Hearing still meeting in homes.
Leisure World Lions and Lady Lions
Both Limited Vision and Limited Hearing clubs were supported by the Leisure World Lions Club and Leisure World Lady Lions, branches of Lions Club International. The Leisure World Lions eventurally closed down. The Lions sponsored lip-reading classes, white cane give-aways, educational classes, training classes, and testing events for vision loss and hearing loss.
Impaired Vision & Hearing Club 1986
- 1986-02-05 page 15 an article announces the merger of Limited Vision and Limited Hearing clubs. The club changes its name to Impaired Vision and Hearing Club.
Minutes from the first meeting of the Limited Vision Club, June 13, 1972.
