ABOUT ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA & VOLUNTEERING Volunteer Memphis had it’s humble beginnings in 1975 as The Volunteer Center of Memphis an organization sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women and the Junior League of Memphis. The organization merged with HandsOn Memphis in 2000 and became known as Volunteer Mid-South in 2009. Volunteer Mid-South became an action-arm of Leadership Memphis in 2015. The volunteer branch works with other nonprofits, churches, schools, corporations and groups and is responsible for “building capacity for effective volunteering and connecting people with opportunities to serve.” Volunteer Memphis held a session featuring several Andrea Hill (far right) Director of Volunteer Memphis lists to panelists. local Alzheimer’s and Dementia providers on November15, 2019. The session speakers encouraged caregivers for those with loved ones with Alzheimer’s and Dementia to first take care of themselves and understand that they are a caregiver which is and can be a very demanding job; and to secondly, not be afraid to seek the services of agencies that provide support services to make their lives easier as they continue to care for their loved ones. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die, is the most common cause of dementia. The disease is marked by 7 stages starting with no impairment where the disease is undetectable, to very mild decline, to mild decline, to moderate decline, to moderately severe decline, to severe decline, to the very severe decline stage. Contact Andrea Hill at (901) 278-0016 or ahill@leadershipmemphis.org, visit volunteermemphis.org, or contact your choice of local providers for information on local Alzheimer’s and Dementia support groups and caregiver conferences. Memphis-born saxophonist/arranger/composer Mark Baker developed his musical interest back in 1978. He trained and began to develop his personal style under the direction of Lonnie Neely. Baker began playing gospel music in 1981. After graduating from Southside High School in 1983, he spent four years in the U. S. Navy where he served as an Operations Specialist Petty Officer. After returning from service, Baker tried his hand at being a DJ and began to pick up R&B, Jazz, Blues, Country, and opportunities for DJ work all around town. He has performed with several well-known entertainers, in various venues, at the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival and, most recently at the Southern Heritage Classic Memphis State vs. Jackson State football game. “Mom purchased my sax in 1978,” said Baker of his mother, Mary Baker. “She could barely afford to pay the $15/month rental fee back then, but look at how God has turned the tables…” Baker treated his mother to dinner at Rafferty’s Restaurant and Bar, 4542 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, on Friday, November 15, 2019, at 6 PM. During the event in a show of appreciation, Baker pulled out his saxophone and played the Happy Birthday song to his mother. 22 SAXOPHONIST MARK BAKER...
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