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

Canasta
Time: Thursdays 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Parlor
Description: If you'd like to participate in a card game as where you need a poker face, bridge intellect, and rummy fun, then you just might want to try Canasta. What exactly is Canasta? It is a game of the Rummy family and was once the most popular American game. Originating in Uruguay in the early 1940s, it spread rapidly to Argentina and the rest of Latin America, and reached the United States about 1948 where it is played by millions. The usual number of players is four, in two partnerships, however, it may also be played by two, three, five, or six players. The packs are made up of 108 cards, two regular packs of 52 cards, plus four jokers, all shuffled together. They have 3-4 full tables going so a seat is always available. If you don't know how to play but would like to learn you they are always ready and able to teach the ins and outs. They will gladly let you sit in and play and learn. After one hand you'll get the basics. If you are an experienced Canasta player, or are just someone looking for fun time, stop by the Parlor every Thursday from 1 - 4 p.m.
Kitchen Volunteer Wanted
By: Mike Sylva
Can you spare a few hours a day? How about a week? The Highland Senior Center Nutrition Program is looking for volunteers to help out in the kitchen. Helpers won’t be cooking. The food is all cooked off site. We are looking for people to help set up the dining room, serve the food, and then clean up.

It only takes a few hours a day. You can volunteer one day a week, or several days. If we could get several people to help out it would lighten the load even more. So if you are willing to help serve your fellow seniors, or if you have some questions, please see Timi or Penny.