Anna Derby celebrates almost 20 years of volunteering
As of March of this year, Leisure World resident Anna Derby is celebrating nearly 20 years of service and volunteerism in Leisure World.
After 20 years working at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Rossmoor, she retired in 2006 to find out what she wanted to do, and what Leisure World had to offer. Despite living in Leisure World since the early ‘90s, she said work kept her from taking full advantage of the opportunities that the community had to offer.
In March, the same month she retired, she walked into the Korean American Club’s (KAC) monthly meeting. The KAC members welcomed her—and her experience in banking—and appointed her as treasurer.
That was the beginning of Derby’s community service in Leisure World, something that has continued to this day.
She served the KAC for five years as treasurer, then vice president, then a two-year stint as president. Despite a language and cultural barrier, Derby became close with fellow KAC members and learned more about the first wave of Korean immigration to the U.S.
“The only way to get to know each other is to spend time together,” Derby said.
She realized that participating in clubs, getting involved and creating community bonds was the best way to get the full benefit of living in this active 50+ community. She decided to form a club to do just that, and the Sunshine Club held its first official meeting on Jan. 12, 2012.
The club met every Friday, and members read Golden Rain News, now called the LW Weekly, to practice reading and speaking in English. At the same time, people learned about what was going on in the community.
The group first met in the smallest room in Clubhouse 3, with just 10 members. The club slowly grew. As Korean American members began to learn more about the Golden Rain Foundation and Leisure World, the club began to invite guest speakers from the foundation. The club hosted speakers from Service Maintenance, Physical Property, Recreation and Security, plus GRF directors and GRF Board members. They learned how the community worked and who to contact to resolve issues.
After a couple years, weekly attendance continued to increase, and the club boasted a large group of white and Korean American residents. Now in its 14th year, the club hosts nearly 50 speakers a year, who share information on how active seniors can live healthier and better enjoy their retirements. After the presentations, members have social time and discuss the topics.
Shortly after her official retirement in 2011, Derby learned about the Golden Age Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to serving Leisure World residents with services funded by shareholders’ bequests. Tom Barrett, chair of LW’s 50th anniversary celebration committee, invited Derby to join the committee as a representative of the KAC. In 2012, she was recruited as a GAF board member.
Joyce Vlaic, GAF president at the time, appointed Derby as co-chair of publicity. She learned about the importance of publicity in getting the word out to shareholders about social events and sharing important club information. She was proud to serve the GAF and its mission, and continues to serve residents as the current GAF president.
Though she’s now known for her leadership of the GAF, she also participated in a number of other LW clubs over the years. She served the Multicultural Council from 2008-2014; joined the Filipino Association of LW; spent five years dancing with the Suede Sole Dance Club; created videos with the LW Video Producers Club; swayed to island music from Hui O Hula; formed the Joyful Line Dance Club in 2014 to offer co-ed line dance classes to residents; and formed the LW Women’s Sing Along Club.
Over 20 years, she’s been involved in coordinating hundreds of big and small events, including cultural performances at the Amphitheater in 2008, LW’s 50th anniversary celebration, various centenarian celebrations in 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024; COVID-19 vaccine events during the pandemic; Meals on Wheels programs for residents; and the revived 2024 GAF Walk and Roll-A-Thon.
She thanks her parents, “who supported me no matter how hard they had to work, who believed education was the only thing they could leave their children.” A second-generation LWer, she thanks the Derby family for introducing her to Leisure
Anna Derby (front row, second from right) celbrating the 50th anniversary of Leisure World.
Derby at her birthday in 2018 World. Her father-in-law Albert Derby and his wife, Fern, moved to Leisure World in 1967. Albert served on his Mutual board the GRF Board.
“What else is left in my life? If I can take time to give for others, as many blessings as I have received in this country, I will,” Derby said. “I’m grateful for this country and those I have met through my life who have encouraged me and guided me in the right direction to become someone who can give back to the community.”
“The longer you live [in Leisure World], the more you appreciate the amenities, security, safety and nice neighbors we get to live with,” she said. “Another 20 years would be greedy to ask, but I will continue my work as long as my health allows me to walk, talk and think.”
Derby (left) with her family in Yugu, Korea.
Derby (right, second row) and her family in Maui in 2015.
