Harvesting a Lifetime

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HARVESTING A LIFETIME Living History Project
Launched Memorial Day Weekend, 2009
Map of Interview Sites

The “Harvesting a Lifetime Living History Project,” is a collaborative, countywide intergenerational oral history project engaging volunteers, from high school age on up, to interview and record the treasured memories, stories and history of seniors from our Ulster County community. Launched Memorial Day, 2009, UlsterCorps has to date brought together 39 different volunteer interviewers and videographers to interview 72 people at 12 sites around the county. Interviews were held at community centers, churches, synagogues, nursing homes and senior centers in locations throughout the county. Copies of the interviews were given to the “storytellers” at our Summer Celebration and JFS’ Centenarian Celebration.

Harvesting a Lifetime Living History Project

Many interviewees have also chosen to have their conversations uploaded to the UlsterCorps website to begin building a Virtual Archive of Ulster County’s Living History. UlsterCorps collaborated with Jewish Family Services of Ulster County, Everette Hodge Community Center, Golden Hill Health Care Center, LGBTQ Center, Marbletown Community Center, Multi-County Community Development, New Paltz Jewish Community Center, New Progressive Baptist Church,Office for the Aging Lunch Together Program at the Trudy Resnick Farber Building, Ellenville and Rosendale Recreation Center, Pine Hill Community Center, Reformed Church of New Paltz, Temple Emanuel Reform Synagogue, The Queens Galley.

Seniors who wish to participate are asked to bring an old photograph or keepsake to start the conversation.

How you can help:

– Interviewing seniors at one of the upcoming venues listed below
– A/V crews to record the interviews (additional cameras needed!)
– Post-production, editing, burning to DVD, uploading to our website
– Donations of DVDs, external hard drives, cameras
– Host Locations – senior centers, community centers, churches & synagogues throughout Ulster County
– Location Coordinators – assist with set-up & clean-up, scheduling interviews, collecting contact info
– Seniors – please share your stories!
– Youth/Students/Media Clubs especially encouraged to participate!

Harvesting a Lifetime Summer Youth Workshop – July 6th-August 14th, 2009

Harvesting a Lifetime Summer Youth Workshop
July 6th-August 14th, 2009

UlsterCorps expanded Harvesting a Lifetime to include a youth media training program at the Seven21 Media Center in mid-town Kingston. From July 6th-August 14th UlsterCorps will be employing five youth through the Summer Youth Employment Program. The program creates a learning experience in a professional work environment, where youth gain media production and technology skills, as well as workforce skills. UlsterCorps organized volunteer videographers and teachers to train youth in media, editing, interviewing and job-readiness skills working with existing Harvesting a Lifetime footage and interviewing additional seniors. UlsterCorps collaborated with Office of Employment & Training Summer Youth Employment Program, Family of Woodstock’s JustConnect Teen Outreach Program, Second Chance4Me, Seven21 Media Center. If you would like to join our team of volunteer videographers & guest lecturers, please contact Beth at ulstercorps@gmail.com or call 481-0331.

Interview Sites:

New Progressive Baptist Church
Sunday May 24th, 1:30-4:30pm, 8 Hone St, Kingston, 339-0773 | Website | Map
Following 10:30am Sunday Worship Service
Thank you to Pastor & Minister Clarke, Esther, Patti, Nancy, Christina, Gladys, George & Mary

UlsterCorps volunteers & students from Rondout High School interviewing seniors at the Lunch Together Program at the Rosendale Recreation Center. Photo Credit: Ilene Cutler

Queens Galley
Monday May 25th, 12-6pm, 254 Washington Avenue, Kingston
at their Memorial Day Barbecue
Thank you to Diane, Vicki, Rob, Rik, Nancy, Barbara, Jennifer, Nancy, Emily, Shelby, John, Frances, Ruth, Lei, Michael, Barry & Madeline

Rosendale Recreation Center
Tuesday May 26th, 11am-2pm, 1055 Route 32, Rosendale, 658-8110 | Map
Coinciding with their Lunch Together program weekdays for county residents age 60 and older.
Thank you to Vincene, Marion, Lin, Ilene, Nicky, Ben, Michael, Luis, Josh, Mae, Marcia, John, Phyllis, Anthony & Bill

Golden Hill Health Care Center
Tuesday, May 26th, 1-4pm, 99 Golden Hill Dr, Kingston, 340-3390 | Map
Thank you to Allison, Wendy, Jennifer, Tami, Jerusha, Ruthanna, Ethan, Lorraine, Jeff, Gloria, Kenneth, Inez & John

Pine Hill Community Center
Wednesday May 27th, 1-4pm, 287 Main St, Pine Hill, 254-5469 | Website | Map
Following their Senior Circle.
Thank you to James, Jill, Bonnie, Polly, Ralph & Florence

Reformed Church of New Paltz
Wednesday May 27th, 12-3pm, 92 Huguenot Street, New Paltz, Education Building, 255-6340 | Website | Map
Thank you to Laraine, Ann, Nan, Melissa, Susanna, Celia & Joan

UlsterCorps/Harvesting a Lifetime volunteers interviewing seniors at the Day Services program, Multi-County Community Development, Highland

Trudy Resnick Farber Building
Thursday May 28th, 10am-12:30pm, 50 Center St, Ellenville, 647-1605 | Map
Throughout their Lunch Together program weekdays for county residents age 60 and older.
Thank you to Carolyn, Anne, Holly & Joe

Multi-County Community Development
Friday May 29th, 10am-1pm, 11 Milton Avenue, Highland, 691-7419 | Website | Map
Throughout their Adult Day Services Program.
Thank you to Cheri, Susan, Barbara, Annette, Pat, Ted & Janet

Temple Emanuel Reform Synagogue
Tuesday June 2nd, 12-3pm, 243 Albany Ave, Kingston, 338-4271 | Website | Map
Following Lunch with the Rabbi
Thank you to Rabbi Romer, Jessica, Nancy, Jerusha, Ruthana, Tami, Noah, Paula, Joan, Paul, Marty, Judy, Laura, David & Evelyn

UlsterCorps/Harvesting a Lifetime volunteers interviewing seniors at Temple Emanuel, Kingston

Trudy Resnick Farber Building
Friday June 12th, 11am-1pm, 50 Center St, Ellenville, 647-1605 | Map
Throughout their Lunch Together program weekdays for county residents age 60 and older.
Thank you to Carolyn, Anne, Holly, Eleanor & Woody

Everette Hodge Community Center
Saturday, June 13th, 10am-4pm, 15-21 Franklin Street, Kingston | Map
Throughout Mid-Town Make A Green Difference Day
Thank you to Sandy, Rik, Nancy, Craig, Kay & Stephen

LGBTQ Community Center
Sunday, July 26th, 12-3pm, 300 Wall St, Kingston, 331-5300 | Website | Map
During the monthly SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) meeting
Thank you to Vanessa, Ted, Linda, Marcuse, Ralph, Audrey, Ethan, Theresa & Skye

Marbletown Community Center
August 7th & 21st, 12-3pm 3564 Route 209, Stone Ridge | Map
During the bi-monthly Marbletown Seniors Group Meeting.
Thank you to Marge, Ilene, Nancy, Jerusha, Ruthanna, Noah, Alex, Grace, Clifford, Jeanne & Helen.

Harvesting a Lifetime Summer Youth Workshop – July 6th-August 14th, 2009  at Second Chance 4 Me, Seven21 Media Center, Kingston

New Paltz Jewish Community Center
Tuesday August 11th, 12-3pm, 30 N. Chestnut St., New Paltz, 255-9817 | Website | Map
During the monthly luncheon and social program hosted by Jewish Congregation of New Paltz
Thank you to Myra, Nancy, Dave, Lenore, Natalie & Carole.

Temple Emanuel Reform Synagogue
Tuesday September 1st, 12-3pm, 243 Albany Ave, Kingston, 338-4271 | Website | Map
Following Lunch with the Rabbi
Thank you to Rabbi Romer, Jessica, Jerusha, Ruthana, Tami, Noah

More photos on Facebook.

For more information or to sign up, contact UlsterCorps at ulstercorps@gmail.com, 845-481-0331

co-sponsored by Jewish Family Services and UlsterCorps

Collaborators and Workshop Participants

Volunteers & Contributors

Seniors