Senior Center Reunion Unites New, Old Ideas

— from Margot Shaw —

Sara Boyle, Maggie Kaplan, Bonnie Burg enjoy Paul Losleben’s story

On Nov. 11, the Lundeen Room of the Orcas Senior Center (OSC) was filled with past Advisory Committee Alumni and present Operations Committee (Op Com) members (aka Board members) of the Senior Center sharing past activities, and offering ideas for on-going programs. Bonnie Burg, current president of the Op Com, welcomed the group and encouraged an attitude of open mind conversations at each table.

Executive director Sara Boyle reminded the group of two important projects running at this time:  the $50,000 matching challenge, which is this year’s appeal (look for your letter in the mail) and the How Do We Build a Vital Future survey (to access the survey, go to the Senior Center website, orcasseniors.org). Boyle also made mention of some of the interesting on-going classes. exercise and Tai Chi.

The new Hearts and Hands (H&H) director, Tom Eversole spoke of co-ordinating H&H with other island services.

Then, we got down to the business of the day, sharing ideas. I was most fortunate to sit with Karen Hiller and Dick Thompson who had stories from 2005, the early days of the Senior Center when the current building didn’t exist. Popular then were the “Mystery Trips;” no one knew where they were going until they got there.

Also from the past, Paul Losleben has a repository of surveys and studies…Anyone want to tackle writing a history of the Senior Center?

Programs and activities approved of by many included lunches, classes, and support groups focused on progressive aging issues, such as disabilities, dementia, chronic disease, Advance Directives and help with forms, exercise, balance, motion classes, transportation.

New ideas were plentiful: become  the resource and referral center for Senior Services, create phone pals and navigators, bring a youth to lunch (another Senior to Senior project), respite volunteers for caregivers, elder day care, multi-generation sock hop, a fund for those unable to pay, music classes, meditation classes, theater, games, art, and many more.

Along with a delicious brunch offering, and photo portraits of seniors by Irene O’Niell’s son Robert, watching from the walls, I mark this reunion as one of the best I’ve ever attended.