Volunteer of the Month
Archives

November 2019
Linda Sowell

Photo of Linda Sowell

This month we’d like to shine the light on a new, yet not new volunteer. If you read last month’s newsletter, specifically the Activity Spotlite, you would have read a bit about Linda Sowell. Well this month we’d like to shine an even larger spotlight on her as our Volunteer of the Month. Linda is the new Gadabouts Trip Coordinator. She had been working in the Thrift Store and was asked to be a relief in the Trip office. When a vacancy occurred she was asked to take over, which she was more than happy to do. Since then she has been busy scheduling new trips, chaperoning trips on occasion, and generally managing our hustling and bustling trip office. Linda also serves on our Board of Directors. If needed she also helps out at our special events. Originally from Chicago, IL, she moved out to California with her husband who was in the Navy. Once out here she was not content to stay at home raising her two kids (who themselves provided her with five grandkids), but worked in numerous types of jobs. Her main career was in Food Service. She started out at McDonalds as a cashier, and worked her way up to manager. Then she transferred to the school system where she became the Director of Children’s Nutrition for the Bear Valley School District before retiring. Thanks Linda for helping to take our members on trips of a lifetime.

Featured Class

Sketching
Date: October 2, 2019
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Robert Placencia
Location: Game Room
Description: Are you a doodler? Or maybe you're a bit sketchy. For our Sketching Class you're perfect. The class is taught by Robert Placencia. He took classes in college, and used to assist in his oil painting class. Although his media is more in oil paintings, sketching is a big part of that so it's a perfect fit. He has been teaching the class for nearly 3+ years now. Robert has been involved in art for over 40 years, having taken art classes in high school and college. He enjoys many mediums including sketching, charcoal, and oil painting. He has even received awards for some of his works. The class will begin with portraits, as it provides the basic foundation that can later be applied to still life and scenery. Students need to bring their own pencils (4H to 6B preferred), a sharpener, as well as a sketch pad. Do not bring writing paper. The size of the sketchpad will depend upon a students personal preference although Robert prefers the large size. The Sketching class will be on Wednesdays, in the Gameroom, and will run for 8 weeks. Cost is $8.

Featured Activity

Cross Training Equipment
Time: Dailys
Cost: members
       non-members
Location: Execise Room
Description: Our members will appreciate this: New exercise equipment! A long while back we tried to take a survey of those who use the exercise room, assessing what types of equipment they would like us to get. No surveys were turned in, although thoughts were scribbled on the poster announcing the survey. Still, not to be deterred, we were able to purchase some 'Life Fitness' equipment. We now have a new treadmill, an elliptical cross trainer, and a recumbent bike, replacing much older equipment. We hope to eventually replace all of our old equipment, getting several exercise circuits in place. Check your newsletter to see when the equipment is available for use and be prepared to break a sweat.
4th of July Parade
By: Mike Sylva
The city of Highland and Highland Area Chamber of Commerce filled with streets with civic pride, as well as red with and blue, as they helped the U.S. to celebrate its 236th birthday. Old Glory lined the parade route waving to the nearly 100 parade entries. The streets were also lined with patriots, cheering on the colorful floats, clowns, classic car, police cars, fire engines, horses, and numerous other celebrants as they streamed down the parade route.

The Grand Marshall was our very own Penny Lilburn, who was selected for her work with for the community. The Highland Senior Center was also represented with its own flotilla of kazoo playing band members riding our decorated seniormobile. The group played George M. Cohan favorites “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy” as well as the revolutionary hit “Yankee Doodle,” down the parade route.

Our float was just one of many groups who showed up not only to promote themselves, but to honor this great nation. We would like to thank everyone who showed up to show their pride America and especially those who either rode and played, or supported our group on the sidelines.