St. Andrews Village welcomed some VIPs April 8 to its dining room, for the Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) group’s 25th anniversary luncheon. 

After a sharp decline in her vision, Joan Stark founded the group in 2001 with three goals: education, emotional support and socialization. VIP draws attendees from as far as Knox County for its monthly meetings, and dedicates every other gathering to a guest educator. 

Some prior speakers have included researchers on macular degeneration (a common diagnosis for members), representatives from Maine’s Iris Network, state governmental employees and the former president of The Seeing Eye, the oldest guide dog school in North America. 

In a brief speech, Stark recalled deceased members, including Molly Rudall Moore. "Our beloved Molly Moore, I used to think of her as the spark plug and energy of this group. She brought so many things to us,” Stark said.  

Moore was the architect behind unconventional group activities, such as a session with a trained laughter therapist and an art class designed for the visually impaired. She was also a main driver behind the volunteer reading program that provided members with a recorded reading of the Boothbay Register each week.

While that service is furloughed due to her passing, another one of her programs, the much-loved therapeutic gardening at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, will return for another year.  

But, for members, socialization and support are what keep them coming back.  

“It's wonderful to find a disparate group of people ... We are all in the same bucket here, after all, but to meet you all, know a little bit about you and be able to check in every month, it's heartfelt for me,” said Evelyn Cowles of Cushing.  

It also gives them a space to find the humor in social faux pas caused by visual impairment, from getting into the wrong vehicle, mistaking fire hydrants for dogs, or eating butter thinking it was vanilla pudding. Jill Perkins of Boothbay Harbor said looking at the funny side of things helps her go on. “You're here for purpose. You got to find the purpose, and it's hard, but somehow, I have an inner strength that pushes me every day, and this group has been wonderful for me.” 

New member Kay Evans added, “(I) just feel like I'm at home (here)." 

For more information, contact Joan Stark at (207) 633-2498, or Kitty Hartford at (207) 633-6355.