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

Magic
Date: September 30, 2019
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Steve Micklas
Location: Parlor
Description: This month we'd like to introduce you to the mysterious and mystical world of our Magic Class. There you'll be taught by Stephen Micklas, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Come learn basic magic, including misdirection, card magic, and close up magic (coin manipulation). Students learn inexpensive tricks that Grandparents can do, to amaze their friends, family and, of course, Grandkids. Students are only required to bring a deck of cards and maybe some rope or string. Most of the tricks students learn can be done with things found around the house. Stephen will bring in most of the other props needed. You just need to bring a 3 ring binder for notes and handouts. For those interested in magic you just need to remember a few things. Magic is a bit of misdirection and a lot of acting. If you are going to be a member of the class you will be taught a lot of secrets. Remember, that a Magician never reveals his secrets. You also need to practice to do it well. So if you'd like to amaze your family and friends, sign up. For you who already know a card trick or two Stephen is ready to show our Seniors that you can teach an old dog, new tricks.

Featured Activity

T.O.P.S.
Time: Tuesdays 8:15 - 10:15 am
Cost: members
       non-members
Location: Sun Room
Description: For anyone who has tried to lose weight, you know how hard it can be. Well you don’t have to do it alone. T.O.P.S. or Taking Off Pounds Sensibly is a group dedicated to helping others shedding some pounds. TOPS is a national organization with regional groups that meet. TOPS does not sell food or have one stop meal plans. They help you reach your weight-loss goals by focusing on health and providing you with the tools, information, support, and accountability for YOU to lose the weight. TOPS can't do the work for you. You only get out of TOPS what you put into it. At the meetings there are private weigh-ins before they start, then members share challenges, successors, or goals. This is followed by a brief program as well as awards to the best losers (that’s a good thing), contest winners, and members who’ve reached their goal. Our group meets here at the Center every Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. Everyone who wants to take off or keep off pounds is welcome. Come visit and find out what they are all about. Their motto is “As intelligent persons we will control our emotions and not let our emotions control us.” Of course this carries over to our eating habits. They hope to see you there. And less of you every time thereafter!
Lowe_s Heroes Project Benefits the Center
By: Mike Sylva
Last month five of Lowes Heroes from the Highland store, descended upon the Highland Senior Center as part of Lowes ongoing Heroes Project program. The center wasnt sure if those heroes knew what they had in store for them. Cleaning and renovating the centers pantry, which had not been straightened up in years.

This herculean task was as daunting as Hercules task of cleaning the Augean Stables, which held thousands of cows and had not been cleaned in 30 years. Our heroes didnt need to bend any rivers to clean it out. Just some old fashioned sweat and elbow grease.

First they had to take everything out, then strip and clean the walls, and paint. They had to wait for the paint to dry, or they wouldve had it finished in a day, like Hercules. They next day they were back reorganizing, and installing wall shelves, and standing pantry shelves. By the time they were done, the place was unrecognizable. When everything was put back, the pantry still had more room than ever.

The Highland Senior Center would like to thank these true heroes for volunteering their time, hard work, and experience, to make the center a better place. They would also like to thank Lowes for selecting them to benefit from this great project.