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

Watercolor
Date: September 14, 2021
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Avon Hall
Location: Game Room
Description: Not only is this one of our oldest classes, but is also one of the oldest art forms going back to paleolithic times. Watercolor is a painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution. Watercolor refers to both the medium and the resulting artwork. Working with watercolors is difficult because with paint, it stays put. However, with watercolor, the paper and absorption changes the outline and appearance as it dries. Additionally, you have to be careful as colors can run into each other as they are absorbed, changing the shape and color of objects. If you mess up with paint you can paint over or scrape off the paint but in watercolor you might be able to partially correct a mistake by re-wetting and blotting making errors costly. To help you with this is Avon Hall, our Watercolor instructor. While Avon has no formal instruction as an art teacher, but does have lots of experience in art. While in the Air Force, and stationed in France 50 years ago, he took some art classes in oil painting and drawing. He did not take up watercolor until eight years ago, when he heard that we had a class and he was curious about it. Avon has won several prizes for his art, and has even sold some.

Featured Activity

Scrapbooking - ON HIATUS
Time: Thursdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Sun Room
Description: When we were younger, scrapbooking normally meant pasting pictures or newspaper articles about yourself or someone you knew on some paper. It has become something much more than that. While they still have photos and printed media, scrapbooks, or albums, are also part journal, with handwritten notes, borders, vellum covers, and lots and lots of decorations. One can put as much or as little time and effort into it as desired. Scrapbooking can be done by itself, but is best when done with friends. It becomes a social get together where people trade techniques, and share equipment and supplies. Our scrapbooking group meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. So if you're looking for something fun, creative, and social, come on down and get ready to share your memories.
Karaoke Party-goers Sing Their Hearts Out
By: Annette Mendenhall
It was a great day and a packed house for our first Karaoke Party of the year on April 24. We had new faces and familiar faces in attendance. Harry Brant sang \"Today\" and it was beautiful, and Program Director, Annette Mendenhall told him he could sing to her every night. Barbara Faurot sang Cabaret while she performed like an American Idol getting the crowd involved

A special thank you to Bob Harvey for giving us the history on Karaoke and for manning

the show. Thank you to Danni Wilson and her husband Michael, for bringing the equipment, setting it up and running it, while Babs Anderson assisted where needed and Nona Martin and Elenor Boese for helping out with Ice Cream Sundaes.