Letters from the Director

Director’s Message

What a busy summer we have had, between working on grants and great participation in classes.  Thank you all for voting YES on Prop 1, the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (or VSHSL).  I’ve been asked how does it apply to our Senior Center now?  Here’s a very brief rundown of what will transpire at this point.  Grant applications for this funding will be released in October 2023 for all agencies that meet the criteria.  There are over 100 agencies in King County that will apply for a chunk of this funding.  As a Senior Center, we are required to join partnership with 2 other agencies, which will be called a HUB, and submit a joint grant.  The purpose of this is to utilize the funds more efficiently, by sharing resources.  For example, we have just hired a new Veterans Benefit Advisor, who will also work at the Ballard Senior Center and Lake City Senior Center, our new HUB partners for 2024 – 2027.  The other centers will pay her wages separately out of any funding allocated to them, but sharing her talents, reduces our time spent finding qualified individuals and it is more enticing to attract a part-time employee to 24 hours/week, rather than the 8 hours/week that we would offer.  Once we submit the grant, there will be a 2-4 month period of review by a selection committee, who will decide which agency receives money and how much.  Remember in 2019, we did not receive any funding and we went forth with a very active outcry to the county as 39 other centers received $250,000/year each of 3 years.  Due to the pressure, they then provided us $57,000/year for 2021, 2022, and 2023 out of the General County Budget.  I’ve attended countless meetings over the past 3 years, being very vocal regarding this grave error in VSHSL distribution of funds and continue to be vocal.  Northwest King County has a great champion in our court, as our King County councilmember, Rod Dembowski, has made it clear that we have rights to this funding as taxpayers.  In the next grant application, I’ll be requesting $250,000 to finance the following: a nurse 1 day/week, a Veterans Benefit Advisor 1 day/week, a Digital Coordinator 1.5 days/week, and a Mental Health Counselor   1 day/week.  The funds will also cover any electronic equipment we need and a new sound system for our Multi-Purpose Room.

Many of you know, the number of grants during Covid have ceased and we are struggling to find revenue sources that will provide a large sum of money.  Currently, we are less than $20,000 in the red so far this year, due to great fund raising by our board and staff. Our budget to operate over 65 programs free or low cost, is $720,000 in 2023.  I’m now turning to all of you for help.  During the next 4 months, we will be making our plea to our community and members, for individual donations and corporate donations.  We hope to raise $50,000 during this time and ask for your assistance.  Your donor gifts will be used for additional low cost or free, medical services, educational classes, wellness programs and fun congregate activities, through the remainder of 2023.  Please help us meet our financial obligations and move into the New Year debt free.  Thank you to those who have supported our work to date.  It’s such a pleasure to share our days with each of you and move through this stage of life, maintaining our hobbies and health.

Stay safe and see you at the Center!

Theresa LaCroix

We are finally having such great weather and a wonderful dose of sunshine.  With yards growing at

a fast pace, grass and weeds often grow faster than our aging neighbors can manage.  If you see a senior’s overgrown yard, and you are capable of mowing, please take the time to reach out to them and see if they would like you to mow it for them.  You may not be able to commit for the task all summer long but think of the joy you will bring to them, for a few weeks.  We all love a well-groomed yard, so let’s help each other out.

This summer, we are only producing ONE newsletter for July and August.  This will help us reduce costs of printing, as each month our expenditure for printing averages around $1,400, plus we have another $200+ in postage.  Be sure to keep your newsletter in a safe place, easily accessible when you need it.

We have a few instructors taking either July and/or August off and we support their personal care to create a work/home balance in their lives.  We wish them a lovely vacation and look forward to their returning in September.  Do not fear as none are leaving us permanently, simply taking personal time.

To compensate for their absence, we have added some exciting workshops and classes.  Details for these classes are highlighted in this issue.  Fall registrations will begin August 1^st and we encourage you to register as soon as possible.

Membership Sale – Beginning July 1^st, memberships will be on sale at 50% off.  If you have not taken advantage of the reduced rates for members, this is a wonderful time to do so.  The fee is $20/person or $35/couple.  It is well worth it to receive discounted class and medical service discounts through the remainder of the year.  It will more than pay for itself.

Legacy Bequeath – We are grateful to our dear friend and volunteer of the center, Carolyn Enloe, for the generous Legacy Bequeath she provided the senior center.  Carolyn passed away on July 29, 2022, and this month, we received a $70,000 check as directed in her final will.  The funds could not have arrived at a better time, as our anticipated budget of $640,000 for the year, has increased to $720,000 due to the increase in vendor costs, post COVID.  If you would like to learn more about Legacy Giving, please reach out to us and we can provide information for your legal advisor.  Or pick-up our Legacy Giving packet at the front desk.

State of Finances – The number of grants available to our center have decreased this year.  We continue to work on resourcing additional funding from new sources, but we will require your assistance.  With an anticipated shortfall of $75,000 for the year, we encourage each of you to donate in support of the center.  If each member donated $15/month for the next 6 months, we would reach our goal of $75,000.  Of course, non-members are highly encouraged to donate as well.  Donation envelopes are available in the lobby and can be dropped off to receptionists.  We continue to bring innovative programs for you to enjoy, either free or with very low rates, and are committed to providing the highest level of service.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – I would like to extend a special welcome to our friends from various cultures and ethnicities, and the LGBTQ community.  Our staff represents a variety of ethnicities, cultures and religions and we embrace diversity in the audience we serve.  If at any time, you experience an uncomfortable situation, please let me know so that we can address any inappropriate behaviors.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the new programs coming in July and August and we look forward to seeing you at the Center!

Theresa LaCroix

Director’s Message

The month of May could not have been more packed with classes, services, and Special Events.  Our thanks go out to all volunteers that assisted us with Rainbow Bingo, Trivia Night, the Birthday Party Luncheon, Soul Food and Ethiopian Traditional Meal days, the Cinco de Mayo Party, as well our Memorial Day Luncheon.  We would like to thank Knossos Foundation for their generous donation to assist us with food purchases for various programs that we offer.  This will help us meet our anticipated food expenditure of $27,000 for the year.

THEFT in the facility!  We are currently experiencing theft of a variety of items.  Food and beverages in our kitchen or in the kitchenette are not available to anyone except authorized staff and board members preparing meals/snacks for our programming.  If you see items left in the open, such as Echo’s footcare tools, exercise equipment, CDs & CD players, or tools, do not remove them from their resting place or the facility.  If something is FREE, it will have a note stating FREE, attached to it.  We appreciate everyone’s help in curtailing this problem.

TRIPS & TOURS are going well.  Our May Day Trip with Guy was very successful, and we now have travelers signed up for the Austria/Germany Magical Christmas Markets through Collette Travel.  We also have folks signed up for the September 3-day Prosser Balloon Festival tour.  Be sure to note the registration deadlines and inform the travel agency that you are affiliated with Shoreline-LFP Senior Activity Center.  Time is running out, so be sure to get in on Guy’s June and July trips and also join Caleb on the War Memorials of WWII trip for the 80^th D-Day Anniversary to take place in 2024.  Check out our Travel Board at the Center as we will soon be advertising our cruise ship tours for 2023/24, including a riverboat cruise along the Columbia Gorge.

FRIDAY EVENING DANCES will return to the Senior Center once again!  In years past, the center was known for its evening dances, drawing guests from across the county, to the music of a live, Big Band sound.  Our first dance will be on Friday, July 21 from 7 pm-9 pm.  Join us for a fun evening of dancing entertainment featuring the music of the fabulous Lauren Petrie!

NEW PROGRAMS THIS SUMMER!  We have a couple of instructors that will be taking time off this summer to relax and for some, attend trainings and workshops to further develop their skills.  This provides us the opportunity to offer some great workshops and single day events, so keep an eye out for advertisements in next month’s newsletter and on our website.

DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIPS will be offered starting in July.  Individual 2023 memberships will be reduced to $20 and a Couple will be reduced to $35.

Take care, drink plenty of fluids and enjoy the great weather we are having. See you at the Center!

Theresa LaCroix

Director’s Message

Hello everyone!  I hope each of you are beginning to enjoy the warmer weather and the occasional sunshine.  It’s time to travel, near and far, to enjoy the sites and/or explore new cultures.

I’d like to share a specific NEW program, that not only will benefit all of you, but assist us in resourcing a little revenue.  This is our NEW, PERSONALIZED GROUP TRIPS and TOURS!  Some of you are seasoned travelers while others, are just beginning to venture out into our community, state, and overseas travel.  So, we have created 3 types of trips/tours, to meet everyone’s needs.

LOCAL DAY TRIPS – We are calling these, DAY TRIPS with GUY FORBES.  Many of you know Guy as our fabulous piano player at many of our events, but did you know that Guy spent over 20 years as a professional driver and Tour Host for Grey Line Tours, and another several years with ALKI Tours, traveling all over North America.  For those that prefer to take day trips, Guy has chosen some of his favorite ‘Mom & Pop’ routes, with unique historical sites to visit or renowned family-owned businesses.  You will travel in our comfortable Dodge Caravan as Guy takes you to his favorite Washington communities.  Further information is on page 6.

STATE & INTERNATIONAL TRIPS/TOURS – In 2021, we partnered with local travel expert, Tyson Verde of RAIL and SAIL VACATIONS.  Tyson spent over 20 years with Alki Tours before developing his own travel tours, Rail & Sail Vacations.  We signed with Tyson as we were so impressed that he personally, not only creates the content of all tours, but escorts them himself.  His groups are small, 8 – 20 guests, and so, if you are new to traveling across the nation, or internationally, Tyson’s trips are a great start for you.  Join us June 2^nd at 6:00 p.m. to view slides, enjoy refreshments and have all your questions answered regarding the Africa Tour.

For those interested in the Prosser Balloon Festival to be held in September, registration is going on now.  Please contact Tyson directly at tyson@RailandSailVacations.com for more information.  Be sure to tell him you are from the Shoreline-LFP Senior Activity Center.

See page 10 for more information re: Africa tour and Prosser, WA Balloon Festival.

COLLETTE TOURS – We are super excited to partner with Collette tours, a premier international tour company.  I personally have travelled with Collette as well as led groups from another senior center on Collette’s tours.  They were outstanding, and our travelers could not have asked for more!  We have booked 5 tours, with registration open for a limited time on two (2) of the tours, MAGICAL CHRISTMAS MARKETS of Europe – December 2023, and the immensely popular MEMORIALS of WORLD WAR II, August/September 2024. Further details on pages 7-9.

Full brochures for all of these trips are located on our bulletin board in the main corridor.  Note, all trips fill quickly, and it is especially important that you note upon registration our center’s name and/or code, to receive any discounts.  In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote that I recently saw:

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”  Helen Keller

Theresa LaCroix