Volunteer of the Month
Archives

October 2021
Don Harper

Photo of Don Harper

This month we’d like to shine the light on Don Harper is one of our longtime Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) drivers. Don has been a member for about 7 ½ years, and has been driving for 5 ½ years. During that time he has become one of our go-to drivers driving multiple times a week, and sometimes several trips in one day. He first heard about the center from his mother-in-law, who is a Wii Bowler. She got him a membership and he came and joined the Wii Bowling league. He then remembered then Outreach Director, Holly Andrade, talking about TAP and how they needed drivers. He gave it a test drive, enjoyed it and has been doing it ever since. He loves driving, and loves the people. He thinks of this as his job, but a job he enjoys. The clients love him too and has clients who ask for him. Originally from Fort Worth, TX, his mom brought him out here when he was two. He inched his way over from Blythe, to Beaumont, to Highland. We are thankful that his travels brought him closer to us. Thanks Don for driving that extra mile for us!

Featured Class

Creative Writing
Date: September 16, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Length: 8 Weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Group Led
Location: Game Room
Description: Don’t be ‘a writer’. Be writing. - William Faulkner The Creative Writing, or Writing for Fun class, is our only student led classes. The class brings in assigned projects and presents them to the class. The class then gives helpful feedback and discussion. Styles of writing varies from class to class, such as a memoir, humor, essays, poetry, etc. You will write about what you know, but if the assignment doesn’t please you. Write something else. Classes are on Thursdays from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Sessions are 8 weeks in length, with classes held quarterly. Cost is only $8 for members and non-members.

Featured Activity

Line Dancing
Time: Tuesdays 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Cost: Donation suggested members
      Donation suggested non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: This month wed like to shine a light on our Line Dancing class. The class is actually divided into two classes: a beginners and intermediate. The beginner class is taught by long time instructor, Saundra Binney. She has been line dancing since the early 90's, and has been teaching since 2005. She teaches the basic steps, such as the chase, grapevine, weave, triple step, shuffle step, two-step, and lock step. Everything else stems off from the basics. Intermediate is taught by Glenda Lane. Glenda is fairly new to the center but has taught TAP and ballet for 30 years. Glenda also teaches at other centers as well. Her instruction includes silver lining, and stripes. Don't worry if you don't have a partner. You don't need one. It's a group dance. Classes are held in the exercise room on Tuesdays with the beginning class taught from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, with the intermediate class following from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. The class is donation only. It's up to students as to whether they want to donate. So put on some comfy shoes and get ready to step in line.
Annual 2015 Open House Christmas Party
By: Mike Sylva
It must’ve been a sign. Just in time for our Christmas party it started snowing in the mountains giving us a nice Currier and Ives background. Down the hill it was nice and chilly, albeit a tad on the wet side, but it needs to rain down here for it to snow up there. Besides we desperately needed the rain so we’ll take it as a Christmas gift.

The rain seemed to keep some away, but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those who came to party. As the rain dissipated guests slowly wandered in giving us a crowded room. Guests were entertained by Ed Ford and Jack Meilke with a Christmas Carol sing-a-long, and Harriet Fourcher and her Kristal Bells before special guest, Ole Saint Nick himself showed up. When he’s not making toys you might know him as board president John Rago.

However as popular at the Man with the bag is, the crowd went wild when Elvis (aka: Lil’ Joe-E) showed up belting out his hits and shaking hip hips. Thanks to those who braved the weather to show up, with special thanks to our sponsors, Don Davis with Aetna, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians