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September 2005 Vol. 24. No. 9
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
Plus in this issue catch more news, opinions, features, book reviews, and event calendars.
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McKinleyville Wanted: new director by Barbara Ogden "Wanted, executive director: McKinleyville Senior Center. Part-time, salaried position. No benefits offered. Must have five years experience working with senior citizens. Job description and application available at Azalea Hall, 1620 Pickett Rd., McKinleyville." Anybody interested? I will be retiring in December after 10 years here at the center. It has been the most rewarding time in my life and I will be sorry to leave all my friends and colleagues. People ask me what a director of a senior center does. The answer is, "Everything - and whatever needs to be done." You have to do a lot of fundraising, and every penny counts. You have to keep finding new programs, activities and services to entice senior folks to come to your center. You have make sure your center is run smoothly and that everyone has everything they need to do their classes and programs. You have to publicize what you offer and try to reach as many seniors as you can through flyers and columns in the newspaper. You have to know how to solve problems and know what resources are available to the seniors in Humboldt County. Knowing a little bit about an awful lot really helps. These are just a few things that you need to know how to do. Someone asked me what else is important when you are the director of a senior center. Most important is you have to be patient, respectful and tolerant because you are dealing with folks who have lived a long time and have lots of ideas, attitudes, opinions and ways of doing things. Senior citizens are products of where they have been and how they have lived their lives. You have to pick your battles and be neutral at all times. You have to learn how to deal with a staff of volunteers. Most important, never forget to say the magic words, "Thank you." You have to be tolerant when volunteers can't work because of a doctor's appointment or a vacation. You have to understand that the senior center is not their life like it is yours. You have to always have a smile and a kind word and try to remember everyone's name. You have to try and make everyone feel welcome at your center and be interested in their problems and crises. I've never had a job so rewarding. My very favorite part is that when I go home at night, I know that during the day in some way I've made someone's life a little better by providing an exercise class or sponsoring a program or a trip or solving a problem, by finding a resource or by just listening. If this job might be something you would like to do, we sure would like to hear from you. Barbara Ogden has been contributing this monthly column about the McKinleyville Senior Center since she became its director ten years ago. We have so appreciated all of her columns and calendars - always on time and served with a smile. |
Senior News