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

Brain Fitness
Date: September 15, 2021
Time: 12:15 - 2:00 pm
Length: 8 Weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Janette Miksik
Location: Game Room
Description: Your brain may not be a muscle but you need to keep it active to keep it healthy. Some of our members take advantage of our university classes, but learning is only a part of exercising your brain. To help you out we offer this Brain Fitness class. The class promotes brain health through fitness, nutrition, cognitive exercises and activities to boost memory skills and stimulate the brain. Adults are living longer and longer, and we need to promote mental as well as physical health. The group does crosswords, puzzles, trivia, and encourages active discussion. Everything is designed to get those synapses firing. If you want to sharpen your skills and learn new things this group is for you . The group meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 pm. in the game room and is always full, so make a mental note to show up at registration to ensure your spot. If you forget to register, you really need to get fit!

Featured Activity

Aerobics
Time: Dailys 9:00 am
Cost: 1:00 per class members
      same non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: Just like the lemurs in Madagascar the people in our aerobics class like to move it. The class is held Monday through Friday from 9 - 10 am in the exercise room. The class is taught by two instructors. Julia Ragan leads on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Penny Holt takes the reigns on Mondays and Fridays. Both Julia and Penny were originally trained for Jazzercise and have adapted their exercies and classes for older adults. They teach on a circuit, starting out with a short warm up, then climbing or increasing the intensity for 35 minutes, before cooling down. They finish with chair aerobics focusing on arms, abs, and legs. In her Wednesday class, Julia tries to mix it up with different types of exercise such as Zumba or Bollyrobics (a mixture of Bollywood and aerobics). You can come to either or both instructors classes. Classes are only $1 per class and are open to all seniors. Just wear some comfortable clothes, and bring water and a sweat towel and get ready to move it.
Daves Retirement Party
By: Mike Sylva
As mentioned last month, we said a fond farewell to our longtime Bookkeeper, Dave Mitchell, as he rode off into the sunset after 15 years of service to our center. Before he left we threw him a little party, just to let him know how much we would miss him. Thanks to those who shared in the potluck and showed up to give Dave a proper sendoff.