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Greenwood Senior Center plans for the future
Last Friday, 44 seniors gathered at the Greenwood Senior Center to plan for future events and improvements to the facility. Board members, including President Jess Carrasqillo, emphasized the importance of participation and input. Shirley Kieffer, member since 1992, was surprised at the meeting’s turnout because attendance dwindled to only two or three members on some months. Vice President Kelli Collins urged members to support the center.
“All the other successful senior centers have the support of their town,” Collins said. “I empower you to make the center successful. This is your place, and this community center needs to be about you.”
Steve Minton, board member, emphasized the growing number of seniors in the “baby boomer” generation. According to recent census estimates, one in five U.S. residents will be seniors by 2030. Minton believes input from seniors will be beneficial to their children as well as themselves. “I feel this group is in a position to blaze a trail for the large demographic group coming up,” he said.
To start the meeting, new and old members socialized in an ice breaker activity where they inquired each other’s experiences and talents. Then, the person who spoke to the highest amount of people received $50. Two women tied by talking to 26 people and split the prize.
“That’s the generation you live in,” Carrasqillo said. “There’s nothing like that of the seniors.”
The next part of the meeting briefly discussed Central Indiana Council on Aging (C.I.C.O.A.) and its services. Kieffer, who suffers from Corona Dystrophy, was unaware C.I.C.O.A. delivered inexpensive meals to homes. This service would have benefited her when her daughter was bringing her several meals.
After announcing future events like the Senior Center’s 30-Year Anniversary on October 24, the board members listened to suggestions from the audience. An important concern was handicapped accessibility throughout the entire center from the bathrooms to ramps outside the building.
In addition, the room in which the meeting was held showed the center’s need for upgrades with faded yellow paint on the walls. The water fountain in the room was described as “a shower, not a water fountain” by some members. Other suggestions included advertisements for the Nifty Thrify shop, transportation for field trips and classic movie nights. Members hoped to coordinate some events with the Greenwood Public Library.
Further discussion and planning will take place during the next monthly meeting, scheduled tentatively for August 21 at 3 p.m. in the center.
Carrasqillo started monitoring the center’s accomplishments, which will be posted in the center every month. A recent accomplishment was receiving confirmation that Mayor Charles Henderson will hold a meeting discussing topics like scams and property taxes on September 25.
“We’re only at a .9,” Carrasqillo said. “We want to be at a nine or ten. It’s about all of us, and the number of seniors are going to keep growing.”
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