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

Sketching
Date: September 15, 2021
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Ernesto Almada
Location: Game Room
Description: This month we’d shine the light on one of our older classes, but one of our newest instructors. The Sketching class has a new teacher and his name is Ernesto Almada. While he may be a new instructor here, neither art, nor teaching is new to him. Ernesto is an Art major and has spent 33 years in the school district as a bilingual tutor. During that time he worked with an after school program. During that time he taught young students art skill, but teaching adults would be no different. He had several students who earned awards in local art shows. Classes will start with a foundation in basic shapes and then use those shapes to learn shading before moving on to more complete objects, 3D, still life, then finally portraits. There will be no tracing or copying of other people’s works. He wants people to show their own creativity. Students need to bring their own pencils (from 9H to 9B – The HB scale ranges from 9H, a hard pencil that leaves fine, light marks, to 9B, a soft pencil which a high ratio of graphite that leaves bold, dark marks.), or even just a #2 to start, a sharpener, as well as a sketch pad. The size of the sketchpad will depend upon a student’s personal preference. So make your mark in the world and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s what they make erasers for.

Featured Activity

Cross Training Equipment
Time: Dailys
Cost: members
       non-members
Location: Execise Room
Description: Our members will appreciate this: New exercise equipment! A long while back we tried to take a survey of those who use the exercise room, assessing what types of equipment they would like us to get. No surveys were turned in, although thoughts were scribbled on the poster announcing the survey. Still, not to be deterred, we were able to purchase some 'Life Fitness' equipment. We now have a new treadmill, an elliptical cross trainer, and a recumbent bike, replacing much older equipment. We hope to eventually replace all of our old equipment, getting several exercise circuits in place. Check your newsletter to see when the equipment is available for use and be prepared to break a sweat.
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.