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 1st and we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
Membership Sale – Beginning July 1st, 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