Yesterday’s meeting went well. I probably won’t get the gig until June, as the woman I met with has to take my offer to the Board, which won’t meet again until mid- May.
I was there almost three hours, meeting and chatting with various people. I had a fabulous time, so I spent part of yesterday afternoon finessing a long-standing tagline for her that I considered anemic into a powerful statement, and thinking of powerful and appropriate quotes and statements that could go into a two-sided pitch card.
The woman and I discussed which elements from the example piece that she showed me would work on a two-sided pitch card. She wrote those down so she can get the comptroller to pull the data necessary to do something similar on the new pitch card.
We met at a senior center — which her organization funds in its entirety– where more than two dozen seniors had gathered for morning exercises. Most of the attendees/exercise participants were between 65 and 90 years old.
The lady who led the event was terrific. She had fun, smile-bringing music to accompany the chair exercises, and the participants were entirely engaged, smiling, whooping and hollering. A happier bunch of senior exercisers I have never seen, and I served as an Activity Director in an assisted living community 20 years ago, so that’s saying a lot. The residents I served were happy and I always kept them amply occupied with games, baking, cooking, trips to shopping centers, live plays, destination outings, and other fun activities, but this woman had me beat as an Activity Director six ways from Sunday. She was brilliant.
One of the gentlemen in the exercise class told me (and the friend sitting next to him nodded his enthusiastic agreement), “If it wasn’t for this place, my friend and I –and so many of the other people here — would be sitting at home with nothing to do. We really hope you can find continuing funding to keep this place open for all of us.”
He told me the place was usually at least twice as populated as yesterday’s gathering. I suggested that might be because it was such a beautiful day that people ambulatory enough probably decided to stay outside and walk on park paths. He agreed.
If what he said was true — and the person I collaborated with confirmed it is — this senior center is massively important to seniors in their communities. It offers lunches, line dancing, tai chi, educational forums, and other free and/or affordable exercise and intellectual options that keep elderly people feeling connected, joyful, and truly alive.
I was truly impressed. I feel compelled to help this organization. The senior center is just one option in their cornucopia of offerings — they also work with schools, churches, government, LGBTQIA+ individuals and other local businesses and organizations to deliver joy, hope , affection and resources to everyone they serve. It was inspiring. Their volunteers are fun, funny, knowledgeable and super engaged. It shows and the seniors know and love them all.
I definitely want to help them land more sponsors, memberships and funding so they can continue to grow and expand their offerings. Their most recent major funding ends later this year. They need to find more individuals and business leaders who want to invest in their communities. A single guided tour and extended visit (like the one I enjoyed yesterday) led by the lady I met with would convince a lot of them to do so.
It certainly convinced me. I plan to join as a member (it’s only $30/year!), even though I live outside the communities they serve. They’re doing great things. I also want to become a sponsor of this organization’s mission. Alas, to do that, I need to make enough money to have some discretionary income.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way… and as you know, I have a will that just won’t quit!
Senior Centers Offer Elderly Citizens Crucial Life-affirming Connections
