There’s one other kind of volunteering I did. One other place.
Where was that?
The Catonsville Senior Center.
A person mentioned to me one day: How would I like to be the Advocate for the Senior Center Council?
What’s that?
That’s what I asked. And she said come sit in on a Board meeting and find out. So I did.
And?
And I agreed to it. They put me on the ballot and I was elected. As Advocate I represented the Center in various ways. For instance, by attending meetings of the local Chamber of Commerce.
And attending various meetings to get information to bring back to the Center.
Let’s back up a minute. Just what is this Council?
I look at it this way. The Council is to the Senior Center as a PTA is to a school. There is a small, paid staff that does the basic things to keep it running. Like hiring trainers for the Fitness Center.
The Council, like a PTA, supports the staff with volunteer help in whatever way it can.
Such as?
Raising money, for one thing. To provide equipment the county can’t afford. Holding events like Bingo games.
And the Travel Committee arranges trips.
Including to dinner theaters.
Before I mention any more activities, let me recall a few administrative items.
Okay.
I said I was elected Advocate. I served in that position for two years. Then I was elected President for two years. Then I was Past President for a year. So I served on the Board of Directors for a total of five years.
Got it.
We had monthly Board Meetings.
Of course, as President, I presided over those meetings.
And I also presided over the quarterly Membership Meetings. Now here’s where we got clever. To make sure we had a decent turnout for those meetings, we held them in the Dining Room, timed so that we would catch the diners just as they were finishing their meals.
Good thinking.
During the year I was Past President, beside coaching the incoming President, I took on the task of revising, or updating, the Bylaws.
Now I’ll finish this session citing a few more things we provided for the members. These could involve outsiders who might or might not ask for a fee to visit.
Okay.
Some of our members would sign up for dance instruction, including Western-type line dancing.
Often, in the lounge, the members were treated to some form of entertainment. Like a speaker on some relevant topic.
Or maybe a musical performer.
Or there might be a demonstration by a wood carver.
And always the halls would be decorated with the products of our talented member-artists.
So that’s a rundown of what I and others did at the Senior Center.
Thank you.