At the trustees' meeting last Wednesday, the new STA (Second Time Around) Committee objectives were discussed. Basically this small group is charged with giving staying power to the Senior Center by developing a plan to revive the Senior Center and keep it going.

This plan will be developed before the annual breakfast in June. Ellie Tracy, chair of the trustees said in effect that we can develop and implement a plan or we can turn off the lights. She noted that we will need everyone’s help to keep the lights on.

The STA Committee is a group of five people, three of whom are members of the Senior Center and two who are not members. We wanted non-members on the committee so we could expand the search for new ideas. The group is myself as chair, Ellie Tracy, Keith Bridgham, Anna Ranta and Bonnie Blagdon.

Our task will be to gather suggestions, do research and build a workable plan that the trustees can implement. There will be things to do by all interested parties to build the plan and to implement it in the coming fiscal year. If you want to be involved, just let us know.

Already we have received many suggestions and we welcome more. I have heard two major complaints about the Senior Center so far. The first is that we only offer cribbage and meals. OK, we can put in the plan a step to develop other events and opportunities for Senior Center members.

The second complaint was that the Senior Center is for “old” people. I do not understand that complaint. Yes, the Senior Center is for “old” people. You have to be 50 years old or older to join. But the person who told me this used a derogatory tone when saying “old” and seemed to imply that Senior Citizens are useless people sitting around in wheelchairs or “help-to-standup” chairs waiting to die.

Are seniors in high school or college useless too? Are senior officers in police departments useless? Are senior members of a law firm useless? Maybe a couple here or there is, but not the greater majority. So why are “old” people or senior citizens viewed as useless?

I am proud to be a senior citizen and I resent the idea that some people consider us useless. If you are over 50, are you useless and waiting to die or are you active, looking for more adventures and opportunities to learn and contribute to the community?

If you are confined to a wheelchair are you useless or are you looking for that moment of joy of being alive that exists in each and every day.

Unfortunately Todd Hartung, Director of the Lincoln County Office of Emergency Management, was unable to come and speak after dinner last Wednesday. However he has been rescheduled to speak after dinner on Wednesday, March 27. That is also prime rib dinner night and reservations must be made by noon on Monday, March 25.

The cribbage tournament winners on Tuesday, March 12 were Reid Hodgdon first, Marlene Rines second, Ron Bodge low score and Keith Bridgham high hand. The cribbage tournament winners Thursday, March 14 were Della Hilton first, Marlene Rines second, Robbie Greenleaf low score and Frank Redman high hand.

Meals for next week

Reservations, please! Call 207-882-8230 at least two days in advance for meal reservations.

Tuesday, March 26 – Lunch, Black Bean Chili

Wednesday, March 27 – Dinner, Prime Rib

Thursday, March 28 – Lunch, American Chop Suey