August is Boomer’s Making a Difference Month. It celebrates baby boomers who have made a difference in their communities by helping others improve their lives. Each year a boomer is featured for his/her special efforts, skills, products or time in changing the lives of others. If you know someone who fits this description, submit your nominee to amybethsherman@gmail.com.
2018 Featured Boomer
Tammy Swaine, also known as “Billionaire Baby”received a MS degree from Columbia University School of Social Work and worked for Metropolitan Hospital in NY for 21 years. She was an adjunct lecturer at Long Island University. For over 20 years she maintained a private practice specializing in counseling services for children, adolescents, adults and families. Tammy founded, owned & operated a Holistic Health Center for Better Living which provided prevention services in the area of life counseling, acupuncture, colonic therapy, fitness & weight loss and natural herbal remedies.
She worked as a psychotherapist, supervisor, teacher, psycho-dramatist, family therapist, activity therapist, family life & sex educator, and member of an administrative planning committee to develop policies, procedures, and treatment plans for the community. Tammy received honorable citation for community outreach in crisis intervention with suicidal patients. She now resides in Florida and works from home coaching, providing state of the art quality health products, consultation & referral for naturopathic health services & also hosts “Law of Attraction” seminars.
On January 21, 2013, the inauguration date of our US President Barack Obama,Tammy received in an awards ceremony in Washington D.C.,an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy & Humane Letters for her services to humanity,from the Canadian International Chaplaincy Academy University & Seminary. She was also appointed “Ambassador-At-Large” to the United Nations by The Word of Life Ministries International(WOLMI),the first and only Full Gospel Organization to be accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Her right & full title is “Her Excellency Reverend Dr. Talmadge Evangeline Small-Swaine CDKA”. The initials refers to “Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Kingdom Ambassadors”.
Tammy facilitates local groups, such as the Divine Goddesses Group and the Heart Space group, both offering a place to network and educate local entrepreneurs on services available to them and their clients. She co-hosts a daily teleconference broadcast called the Billionaire MasterMind, for the past seven years, which deals with inspiring and motivating others to learn and use the Law of Attraction to co-create and manifest their goals and dreams. Her personal mission is to educate and provide the best and most humane health services available to eradicate disease and suffering in the world. Go to http://www.tammyswaine.comor http://www.gobillionairebaby.comfor more information.
2017 Featured Boomer 
Barbara Theodosiou, founder of The Addict’s Mom (TAM), is a woman worthy of honor. Eight years ago, upon learning that two of her sons were addicted to drugs, she created a forum for mothers and other family members who were suffering the adversities that accompany addiction in a loved one.
The Addict’s Mom offers both online and in-person support, resources, and the opportunity for members to “Share Without Shame” their triumphs and tragedies as they hope that their loved one achieves recovery. TAMmembers educate, advocate, and collaborate with lawmakers, community leaders and experts in the field.
In Barbara’s Words:
“When I discovered that my two sons were using drugs, my life fell apart. I felt isolation, and desperation. I couldn’t function, or sleep. I neglected my other family members, as I immersed myself in the problems of my boys. I wanted to create an opportunity for all addict’s moms to meet where they would have the freedom to share their anguish without the burden of shame and guilt that addiction brings. Thus, “The Addict’s Mom” was born.”
Under Barbara’s expert guidance, The Addict’s Momnow numbers over 30,000 members, with a chapter in all 50 states. TAMsponsors community events in order to elevate the tragedy of addiction to the national spotlight.
Examples include:
Steps of Hope: Walk A Mile in My Shoes, FED-UP in Washington D.C. and “Lights Of Hope” in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), a candle-lighting event to remember those people in all stages of addiction: recovery, active using, and death.
Barbara has received many awards and accolades, including: the Maria Shriver Architect of Change Award, Notable Women of South Florida, People Making A Difference, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Florida addiction community. The addiction community is offering treatment scholarships to the children of our members, due to Barbara’s diligence and efforts. Barbara was recently featured in “The Fix,” an online addiction magazine, and is currently the feature story on the CNN online Parent’s group.
Tragically, Barbara lost her beloved Daniel in April of this year, after a 10-year battle with the Co-Occurring Disorders of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder. To ensure that Daniel’s life was not in vain, Barbara’s work with TAM continues in his name. Barbara Theodosiou is a boomer making a difference.
2016 Featured Boomer
Lonnie Sherman enjoys the smiles, the handshakes and mostly the eyes when they make contact. “Thank you for your service” is spoken to each of these homeless veterans as he hands them a bag filled with new underwear, socks, blanket, bars of soap, toothbrushes and -paste.
Four years ago Lonnie, with his wife Susan, founded their charity, “General Needs.” (www.general-needs.com) After many years of volunteer work at various charities including Ronald McDonald house, Lonnie met a man who had organized a grass roots effort to tend to homeless veterans living in western Suffolk County on Long Island. Eager to be involved, he started to show up at dinner events, initially serving food. In time, Lonnie saw that during the holiday season, warm weather garments and goods were donated to the veterans in attendance at Christmas dinners. However, in February, March, April and the rest of the year few donations of any kind were available to help these people. General Needs solicits donations of new clothing and other living necessities all year long, so that these proud veterans can put on a fresh pair of socks or sleep comfortably in a warm sleeping bag.
As the senior manager of a financial advisory company Lonnie has honed his craft of selling products to customers. For the General Needs of his homeless vets he sells local businesses, civic groups and charitable individuals on how they can help those who have put their lives on the line for all of us.
Lonnie’s inspiration for being charitable occurred approximately 25 years ago during a sermon on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Repentance. To live a good life in the Jewish tradition one is to engage in acts of tzedekah, the Hebrew word for charity. Lonnie’s charitable efforts suggest that he may be living a very good life!
2015 Featured Boomer 
Sharon Geltner is a certified business analyst and social media expert at the Small Business Development Center at Palm Beach State College, where she’s helped hundreds of students and clients learn how to market themselves online and promote their businesses. Clients range from architects; app developers, party planners, beauty salon owners, restaurateurs, financial planners, realtors, accountants, lawyers, entrepreneurs, gallery owners, website developers and others. Her services are free to Palm Beach County companies. She’s also presented before numerous Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other civic associations.
Geltner has e-published Charity Bashed, a humorous mystery and satire about Palm Beach. She is the first digital author to speak before Palm Beach County library patrons and is polishing her next novel, a Washington thriller covering American aristocrats on three continents over 60 years.
She has served on the boards of the Greater Boynton Beach Foundation, the South Florida Interactive Marketing Association and was Media & PR Chair for the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations (COBWRA) representing 110,000 plus residents of south Palm Beach County.
Geltner has taught publicity techniques to boards, corporations, government agencies, foundations and nonprofits and is presently president of Froogle PR, a national multimedia marketing, search engine optimization, online reputation and special events firm.
2014 Featured Boomer 
Dr. Mark Roseman is founding Director of the Toby Center for Family Transitionswhose mission is to improve child outcomes when parents choose to separate. The Toby Center is based on Dr. Roseman’s research work with families which found that individuals can emerge from crisis when they are assisted by different healing and self help modalities. He created the Center in Delray, FL as a holistic service agency where parents and child families can find safety, therapy, counseling, visitation, mediation, support groups and parent training. All professionals are certified in their respective fields and many have experienced separation, divorce and child custody issues personally.
Dr. Roseman is a father of three adult children and holds certification as a Family Life Educator from the National Council on Family Relations and is a Certified Family Court Mediator. He served as a consultant to the Children’s Rights Council in Washington, DC where he was Assistant Director of Child Access. A protégé of joint custody expert, David L. Levy, Esq., Dr. Roseman is a specialist in contemporary family issues, particularly high conflict divorce. He earned his Ph.D. from the Union Institute & University. For further information, go to http://www.thetobycenter.org.
2013 Featured Boomer 
As a parent of an adult son with Asperger`s Syndrome, Joan Lipstock developed programs to help fill the gaps in the Richmond community that prevented those with a disability from living a complete life.
In 2001, she was the founding president of Richmond House, a residential learning facility for adults with medium to high level developmental disabilities. she went on to develop several recreational programs for this segment of her community such as soccer and volleyball. In addition she developed the Dreamers, a theater troupe with various disabilities that includes those without disabilities. The Dreamers have performed at a Community Center for the past 7 years. They also took the show on the road performing for local non profits, such as the Positive Vibe Café and the Down Syndrome Walk to help them raise funds. In 2008 Joan co-wrote the play, Assuming Assumptions, which later became the focus of the PBS documentary, Dreamers Theater, which she created, co-wrote and co-directed.The documentary looks at the Dreamers and the obstacles they have to overcome; it emphasizes the positive influence the arts have had on them. It is currently running on 134 PBS stations across the country, and it won an award at the New York Independent Film Festival in 2010. Joan has also created and run an annual weekend summer retreat camp for those with developmental differences. And In 2009 she organized Richmond`s first disability film festival. Current projects include collaborating with SPARC and Live Art and the ReelAbilities Film Festival May 2012.
Awards:
2012 YWCA Woman of the Year,Arts Division
New York International Independent Film Festival co recipient of Directional Debut for Short Documentary award 2010
St Mary’s Richmond`s Most Magnificant Mom
2012 Featured Boomer 
Rosalind Sedacca is a Certified Corporate Trainer, author, national speaker and workshop facilitator. The focus of her programs has been creating healthy relationships for singles and couples using techniques that work in the stress-filled 21st Century.
Rosalind is now the author of the new ebook, How Do I Tell the Kids about the Divorce? A Create-a-Storybook™ Guide to Preparing Your Children – with Love!
Based on her personal experience, this easy-to-read ebook prepares parents for one of the most difficult conversations they will ever have: telling their children about a pending separation or divorce. What makes How Do I Tell the Kids? unique is that it doesn’t just tell you what to say. It says it for you!
Parents are guided, through a customizable template, in creating an attractive family storybook that children will want to read. The pictures and age-appropriate language conveys, with love and compassion, the six key messages parents need to share with their children.
Additional advice, insights and tips from six professional therapists experienced with divorce adds considerable value to the ebook. Their contribution is immeasurable in assisting families as they face the challenges ahead.
Rosalind has helped numerous families get through the difficult and often dreaded conversation about divorce with their children in a way that is supportive and comforting and in a language they understand. Her contribution to the field has made a huge impact on reducing the trauma divorce can have on family relations.
Rosalind can be reached at Rosalind@childcentereddivorce.com or at her web address: www.childcentereddivorce.com.