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

Creative Writing
Date: September 16, 2021
Time: 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Length: 8 Weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Group Led
Location: Game Room
Description: Don’t be ‘a writer’. Be writing. - William Faulkner The Creative Writing, or Writing for Fun class, is our only student led classes. The class brings in assigned projects and presents them to the class. The class then gives helpful feedback and discussion. Styles of writing varies from class to class, such as a memoir, humor, essays, poetry, etc. You will write about what you know, but if the assignment doesn’t please you. Write something else. Classes are on Thursdays from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Sessions are 8 weeks in length, with classes held quarterly. Cost is only $8 for members and non-members.

Featured Activity

Bunco - NEW DAY
Time: Thursdays 1:00 pm
Cost: $3 Buy-In members
       non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: If you're ever here at the Center on a Thursday, don't be surprised if you here a bunch of noise coming from the Exercise Room. Especially if it's yelling, laughing, and bell ringing! It's all just a part of the social game of Bunco. Strictly speaking, bunco is a game of dice, played in rounds. Players take turns rolling the dice and trying to accumulate as many points as possible to win each round. The game is played at tables of four in competing teams of two. Players score points by rolling three dice and trying to match the number they're supposed to roll for that round. They get a point for each die that rolls the number, and if all three roll the number they score 21 points. They also score 5 points for rolling three of a kind of any other number. They get to keep rolling as long as they score one or more points with each roll. Once they fail to score they pass the dice to their left and the opposing team gets a chance to score. During each round the teams at the Head Table try to score 21 points. The first team to score 21 points wins the round and play stops. At all other tables play stops when the Head Table play stops and the team with the highest score at each lower table wins the round. At the end of the round players change seats, the winners at each of the lower tables move up a table, and the losers at the head table move to the lowest table. Players also switch partners at the end of the round, so you never play with the same partner twice in a row. During play, players track the number of rounds they win and lose as a team, and the number of Buncos scored individually, on their personal scorecard. At the end of the night wins/losses and Buncos are tallied. So if having fun sounds fun to you, join the bunco crew every Thursday in the Exercise Room from 1:00 to 3:00.
Sinatra Dinner Show
By: Mike Sylva
Ol’ Blue Eyes was back at the center, much to the delight of a sold out crowd, for another Dinner Show. Michael Sinatra crooned oldies but goodies. While our chefs were busy preparing an Italian dinner for the crowd, Michael sang to an audience as hungry for his songs, as they were for dinner. We call him the Chairman of the Board, he also sang the hits of Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, and many others.

While popular with everyone, he is always especially popular with the ladies. A few lucky ones came up front for a personal crooning. One poignant moment was when Jack & Regina Milke, celebrating their anniversary, did a special dance.

Thanks to our volunteers, Aneta Giltner, Dianne Kassotis, Theresa Rago for helping serve dinner and drinks to everyone. Special thanks go out to PrimeCare for sponsoring this great night out!