Volunteer of the Month
Archives

July 2019
Charles Roberts

Photo of Charles Roberts

This month we’d like to give thanks to a familiar face, but one you might not know of in relation to the Highland Senior Center. Charles Roberts is the former editor of the Highland Community News, where he was a big supporter of the Highland Senior Center and would often visit the center to cover our events and activities. However when he retired at the end of 2017, he continued to support our center, but in a different capacity. Before retiring, he asked Jeff, the Outreach Director if we could use some volunteers, as he did not want to become bored. Well, he asked the right person, as he was immediately made a Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) driver. He volunteers to drive just about every weekday, and sometimes on weekends as well. Yet his helping us out doesn’t stop there. He also helps out in our Food Program, three days a weeks. He sorts outs the food we bring in and then helps us to pass it out to our seniors. We would also like to thank his wife, Myrna, who gives him time off from his retirement Honey Do list to help us out.

Featured Class

Spanish
Date: January 17, 2019
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Louise Ayala
Location: Game Room
Description: This month we=d like say Bienvenido to our newest instructor, Louise Ayala. Louise will be teaching the Spanish class this fall. She may be new to us, but she’s not new to teaching. She has 25 years of teaching experience, with a K-12 teaching credential. She has mostly taught elementary and spent six years teaching Spanish. Louise learned Spanish as a child growing up in household with two fluent Spanish speaking parents. She also took Spanish in High School and spent her senior year as a tutor and teaching aid, helping to teach. Once in college she decided she only needed one year. As for our class, she will be focusing on conversational Spanish. The class will enable you to carry on limited conversation at first just to get you started. Then as you progress, so will the levels. As for what to bring, just bring a writing instrument and paper. Books might come later. We hope to see you there, or as you will soon be saying, Esperamos verte ahí.

Featured Activity

Striders
Time: Dailys 6:30 a.m.
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Meet in Dining Room
Description: This month we'd like to put the spotlite on a group that already shines. 'Striders' is a walking club filled with members who believe that both exercise and social activities are important to a Seniors' physical and emotional health. The Striders want to stay fit, but enjoy doing this at their own pace while enjoying the company of others. Striders walk from 1/2 mile to 2 miles at a time. They walk on the paths around the Patton State Hospital grounds varying according to individual members. The group is open to anyone interested in 'walking for health.' They meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:00 a.m. at the Highland Senior Center. This time was chosen to avoid smog and the heat. Anyone wishing to join this active group or just interested in more information may come to the dining room of the Highland Senior Center before 6:30 a.m. any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning. So put your best foot forward and come on out.
Membership Fee Increases for the 1st Time Ever
By: Mike Sylva
For over 30 years of our membership fee holding steady at the unbelievable cost of only $10, we are finding the need to increase the cost of our membership to $20. The membership price has not increased since the Highland Senior Center began. Some might think that is a lot, but consider that it means our membership is still only $1.66 a month now. Find that type of membership ANYWHERE. And that still doesn’t cover the cost of just to mail out the newsletter, let alone the cost of making the newsletter!

For those wishing to take advantage of the water aerobics program, membership cost will be $25 annually. Again, this means a only a $2.08 monthly membership. Those wishing to use the pool, they will receive a membership card with a special stamp on it to let the YMCA know that a member is eligible for the water aerobics program. If you have paid ahead, under the old price structure, you will need to pay the additional $15 to receive a membership card with the stamp on it.

We are sorry that we finally had to increase our membership after over 17 years, but we were not financially able to continue subsidizing the cost. We still believe that $1.66 a month for membership, and $2.08 for membership with water aerobics is a great deal, and hope you will too.