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- Stayin' Alive - Celebrating 30 Years of Service
- New Lunch Option Opens
- TSC Receives Capital Grant
- Scooping Up a Big Thank You
- Lunch Bunch Visits WFSU Radio & Broadcasting Museum
- Heritage Oaks Benefit
- Profile of a Volunteer: Rocky Bevis
- A True Public Servant
- Marty Stein Reinvents Retirement with Fitness
- Elder Care Service's Silver Stars Continue to Shine
- Daily Activities Schedule
- Special Events
- Health and Fitness
- Tallahassee Senior Center for the Arts
- Tallahassee Senior Services Southside
- Tallahassee Senior Services at Lincoln Center
- Tallahassee Senior Center at Heritage Oaks
- Volunteer Opportunities
- TSC Foundation News
"Stayin' Alive" - Celebrating 30 Years of Service
Tallahassee Senior Center Celebrated Its 30th Anniversary with fanfare! - "Stayin' Alive" became popular in 1978. The Bee Gees hit song stayed in the Top Ten for weeks and topped the chart at the Senior Center's 30th anniversary celebration! With entertainment by Q 106.1 playing the "oldies and greatest hits," party-goers danced, laughed, reminisced and plainly enjoyed the evening.
When the Tallahassee Senior Center opened in 1978 on the first floor of the Armory, lives of area seniors changed. They had a place to pursue new friendships, take advantage of health screenings and engage in learning opportunities. With Mary Crozier at the helm as TSC's initial director, the center expanded and gained the Art Studio (a converted motor pool building behind the Armory).
A long-time fixture at the old building, roller-skating finally ended its run in 1984. As a result, in 1987, when Joe Jackson was director, the entire building was dedicated as the Tallahassee Senior Center, operated by the City of Tallahassee.
The TSC was honored as the No. 1 Senior Center in the state in 1996, under director Johnnye Luebkemann . Sheila Salyer, current director, led TSC through an accreditation process and captured the designation as a nationally accredited center. TSC maintained the distinction this year when the National Institute of Senior Centers reaccredited the facility.
The schedule of events and activities grew and grew. Currently, TSC proudly offers 140 activities at the Old Armory building as well as 15 satellite facilities. What does the future hold? "We must continue to build for the next generation of seniors," said Salyer. "It's all about paving the way for those coming behind," she added.
New Lunch Option Opens
On October 1, Tallahassee Senior Center and Elder Care Services team up to offer a salad bar option for individuals wanting a light lunch time meal. Jim Croteau, President of Elder Care Services, says, "We've been great partners for 30 years and we're excited about this new venture to serve more people."
The salad bar will be available Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the dining room as an alternative to the ECS meal site. The cost for a one-trip salad lunch is $4. Participants may eat their lunch in the dining room or take it across the hall to the new "cafe," or transformed library. Library services will still be available as usual--the salad bar will just create another use for this area.
"The cafe idea is intended to reach people who may not be currently having lunch at the meal site, and to provide choices for our participants," remarks Sheila Salyer, Senior Services Manager.
TSC Receives Capital Grant
The Tallahassee Senior Center received one of 21 Fixed Capital Outlay Grants from the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). "Although recognized as the backbone of the aging network, this is the first time in recent history that senior centers have been offered capital funding," said DOEA Secretary Doug Beach.
During the 2007 legislative session, Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a $9.1 million Fixed Capital Outlay (FCO) appropriation designated for grants to construct, repair and maintain Florida's senior centers.
Tallahassee Senior Center applied for and received $250,000 to repair and enhance the 73-year-old building many refer to as "the Old Armory." "First-time visitors are always amazed at how well-maintained our building is," said Administrative Assistant Louise Engle.
The Foundation and the City of Tallahassee have worked together for 30 years to operate and maintain this institute for older adults in the community. The Old Armory was originally transformed into TSC by an Older Americans Act grant in 1978, and later fully converted to TSC with another OAA grant in 1985. This FCO grant will further increase its capacity to serve our community of a constantly growing senior population.
The purpose of the TSC FCO project is to help preserve the dignity of, and prepare for decades to come, the 72-year-old, 26,000 square foot building which houses the Tallahassee Senior Center. The grant funds include addressing critical problems, safety concerns and unmet needs through repairs, maintenance and construction projects.
"We appreciate our participants' patience and continued cooperation as further repairs are made in the parking lot and around the building," said Sheila Salyer, Senior Services manager.
Grant funds are being used for eight different projects. Funds will repair the main water lines that run into the building, replace inefficient, high-maintenance thermostats for the heating and air control system, waterproof below grade the east side of the building, construct an addition to the small, alley kitchen in the auditorium, install four additional automatic doors for easier access, repair and upgrade the hanging system for art exhibits in the Auditorium, install a salad bar lunch option to attract new congregate meal site participants, and maintain several areas of the building through painting and floor replacement.
Scooping Up a Big Thank You
The Tallahassee Senior Center honored volunteers and the re-accreditation team with an Ice Cream Social topped with all the trimmings! In all, more than 300 volunteers served 19,332 hours in 2007, at a value of $362,862.
Tallahassee Senior Center Volunteers Earned Presidential Service Awards
- Life Time Achievement (Served over 4,000 hours)
- Bruce Boone
- Gold Award (Served 500 hours or more)
- Jean Colley
- Silver Award (Served 250 - 499 hours)
- Eddie Belk, Laura Blair, Eleanor DeSalme, Violet Felber, Paul Frohe, Angela Garmon, Nancy Hardy, Phillip Welsh
- Bronze Award (Served 100 - 249 hours)
- Oscar Brim, Florence Brown, Max Caskie, Mary Connell, Carol Cowdrey, Ruby Crews, Tom Darby, Doris Davis, Margaret Downs, Jean Dunnigan, Berniece Gablik, James Gilmer, Patricia Gregory, Joan Guilday, Craig Hansberry, Dale Heideman, Jim Hinson, Rita Hodsdon, Mabel Huffman, Pat Jahoda, Jan Jarrett, Margery Jones, Tom Jones, Minnie Lee Latson, Emily Lenz, William McMahon, Katie Moore, Vera Nessen, John O'Farrell, Rosa Parrish, Herb Salyer, Joseph Smith, Betty Soderholm, Dee Steverson, Pat Thomas, Yvonne Thomas, Evelyn Trujillo, Eleanor Varajao, Rose Venable, Alma Wilke
Lunch Bunch Visits WFSU Radio & Broadcasting Museum
A recent visit to WFSU provided a tour of the museum and broadcasting facility. Participants from TSCs Lunch Bunch crowd browsed an antique radio and television collection and then went behind the scenes and behind the cameras. Pictured, Mary Smith gets a bird's eye view and operates the camera easily while Lunch Bunch participants, including Smith, Carole Elmore, Min Wade and Clementina Knight learned all about "timing" in the control room.
Heritage Oaks Benefit
The very successful Heritage Oaks benefit event entertained 275 participants. Two box seats with Anne Bowden for the FSU/Chattanooga game was the top silent auction item and a three night stay at the St. George Inn was the next highest item. In all, more than $800 was raised from the auction for the Tallahassee Senior Foundation. "Tomato Kiss" jazzed up the entertainment.
Profile of a Volunteer: Rocky Bevis; by Molly Holder
Winston Churchill once said of Clement Attlee, "Here is a modest man who has a great deal to be modest about." This could be said about Rodney James Bevis for all his selfless volunteer work in Tallahassee.
Rodney became popularly known as Rocky—his father a boxing fan. His life centered on funeral homes from the very beginning; Rocky's parents, Marion and Russell Bevis, lived above a funeral home when he was born. While he actually arrived at the doctor's office, he spent his first night at home, in what would become a familiar surrounding.
Though born in Avon Park, Rocky actually grew up in Tallahassee. After graduation from mortuary school, part of the Community College of Miami, he went to work for his father at Bevis Funeral Home. Rocky married Patti Brewster at Faith Presbyterian Church where he serves as an elder. He's dad of Brewster Bevis, a lobbyist, and Sarah Taylor, who is active at the funeral home. Grandson, Leo is 11 months old.
For 20 years, he's been on the board of directors at Big Bend Hospice, which serves eight counties. Rocky is a trustee of the Tallahassee Memorial Foundation, a group that raises money for hospital endeavors.
As a member and former chairman of the Leon High School Foundation, he helped raise money for academic programs—putting in several computer labs. Also among his credits: founding trustee and former chairman of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The group presents the annual Fred Biletnikoff award to the receiver of the year in college football. Biletnikoff is in the Football Hall of Fame and was a Florida State All-American.
He's a member of the local Rotary, Lions, and the Capital Tiger Bay clubs. Importantly for all area seniors, Rocky sits on the board of the Tallahassee Senior Foundation. It is said that if a group wants a project to succeed, it is wise for them to ask a busy person for help. Thankfully for TSC, Rocky Bevis fits that description and lets no one down.
What does he do in his spare time? He and Patti visit Maine every summer, and it is among his favorite places. However, his very favorite trip was with Patti and Sarah to the Grand Canyon. Sarah was a senior at Leon High, and he remembers it as the last trip they made together before she started at Florida State University and became a "grown up." Wives and daughters— "wonderful creatures who don't get enough credit for keeping the world sane."
A visit to his workplace is akin to a history lesson—presidential library memorabilia and a signed print of President Harry S. Truman on display in the lobby. Presidential history, especially presidential burial sites, remains a passionate hobby. He's visited all the grave sites and feels the most spectacular is that of William Henry Harrison, a huge obelisk. Another eye-catching tableau is the site of Kennedy's tomb. Jacqueline Kennedy picked the site and since Rocky lived through this period in history, it touches him greatly. He remarked that Lincoln's Springfield burial site remains kept up nicely. The most disappointing, and in a state of disrepair, is Grant's tomb. Sadly, during a third attempt at vandalism, the grave of William Henry Harrison's son (father of Benjamin Harrison) was robbed and the body sold to a medical school unaware of the cadaver's identity.
A True Public Servant
Andy McMullian—a dedicated, supportive Board member for 15 years recently announced his retirement from the Tallahassee Senior Foundation. While still Director of the State Retirement System and a man of much wisdom, he brought with him to the board a pure conscience and almost divine insight into the dealings of an organization--its people and its politics.
You've heard the saying "good people attract good people." Andy did just that. Over the years he was also responsible for recruiting good people to work with him on the Board, including the late Fred Baldwin and Berwin Williams, and current members Cliff Hopkins and Ed Duffee.
We will miss Andy's genuine guidance and gentleness, but will continue to support and respect his desire to spend more time with his wife and family. His contributions to the Senior Center have certainly made a positive impact on the direction of our administration and programming.
"I will always value the wise counsel that Andy provided and his patience in dealing with our challenges. He was always that voice of reason and sincerely took an interest in our mission," says Sheila Salyer, Senior Services Manager.
Marty Stein Reinvents Retirement with Fitness; By Llona Geiger
Many seniors reinvent their lives after retirement. Before they might have had careers as schoolteachers or physicians or police officers; after retirement they become consultants, handymen, or meals-on-wheels drivers. Â They may work part-time with flexible hours. These experienced, mature employees bring new vitality and energy to the work place along with their skills and reliability.
Marty Stein is no exception. The engineer went from opening Proctor and Gamble plants all over the world ("I started in the first plant to make Pampers," he says) to opening a fitness center in Tallahassee. His journey is remarkable in two ways. He changed his job and he changed himself.
A buy-out from his company allowed him to retire at age 57and begin to do what he had planned: Simplify his life, sell his house, work part-time as a consultant and travel extensively. "The problem was, I got fat as a pig, and you can quote me on that," he laughs.
He found it increasingly difficult to climb stairs, deal with a suitcase, and get around. At the time Marty was living near his son in North Carolina. Knowing that for him a piecemeal solution was not an option, he enrolled in near-by Duke University's fitness center program.
"It was a 28-day program, from 7 am to 7 pm, every day of the week. Chefs prepared every meal. We all went to class with our notebooks just like in college; we went to the gym; we had appointments with medical people, nutritionists, personal trainers, and psychologists. When I got out of there I was 23 pounds lighter, and I felt so good!" recalls Marty Stein.
Marty subsequently lost some additional weight and began to look for fitness centers catering to people over the age of 50. From there it was a short jump to running Club50 Fitness Center, a fitness facility for older adults.
Why did he choose Tallahassee? Having worked several stints with Proctor and Gamble in Albany, Georgia, Marty was used to driving to Tallahassee for plays, for shopping, for a big night out. "So I was familiar with the city," he explains, "and I liked the community spirit here. Having grown up as a Pennsylvania Dutch country boy, I also loved the trees and the hills."
Marty opened Club 50 Fitness Center in a shopping center on Mahan Drive in March 2006. "In business they talk about intrinsic rewards, the satisfaction you get from your job. In over 30 years I have never been this eager to get to work," he adds. A happy reinvention, indeed!
Elder Care Service's Silver Stars Continue to Shine Even with The Rising Price of Gas; By Sharon Davidson
When Elder Care Services began thirty-five years ago, gas was a mere 39 cents a gallon. With today's prices reaching over $4 a gallon, seniors in our community are relying more and more on volunteers to help them live comfortably in their homes. Whether it's delivering meals to homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels or providing transportation to medical appointments and grocery shopping, Silver Star Award Winners continue to make a difference in their community.
Moira Desloge, a recent Silver Star recipient, has been delivering meals through Meals on Wheels for over 10 years. Each week, she comes to Elder Care and loads hot lunches and boxed suppers in her car to deliver to several seniors in her community. It's not only the nutritious meals they look forward to, but also the companionship and conversation that brighten their day. Like other volunteers, Moira is willing to make cut backs in other areas in order to continue to provide this daily safety check.
Ed and Violet Mason also received the Silver Star Award this year and have been delivering meals every Wednesday to homebound seniors. Not understanding what all the fuss is about, Violet remarked "Doesn't everyone do this type of volunteering?"
Transportation is one of the Elder Cares' most requested services. Many Silver Stars are part of the Seniors Transporting At-Risk Seniors (STARS) program. In addition to doctor's visits, volunteers take clients to the pharmacy and grocery shopping. Volunteers are with them from the time they are picked up until they are dropped back to their homes.
Dick Helman started off as a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program and was asked to help with transportation assistance. He's been doing it for over 5 years. Dick, a 2007 Silver Star recipient, has gone that extra mile to treat some seniors to lunch before taking them home. However, that could pose a problem at times. "Once I offered to take one of our 91-year-old ladies to lunch after she finished with her doctor appointment," said Dick, "She declined and told me she wasn't ready to start dating again."
It's not about the accolades and awards. Silver Star recipients continue to serve, even with obstacles such as the rising cost of gas. They see it as a privilege to help others and will make the necessary adjustments in their own lives to continue to do so.
If you are interested in volunteering for Meals on Wheels or the Seniors Transporting At-Risk Seniors (STARS) program please call Elder Care Services, Inc. 921-5554.
We Want to Recycle Your Old Cell Phone - A Special Fundraiser for Senior Centers!
Through a partnership with the National Institute of Senior Centers and Cellular Recycle, the Tallahassee Senior Center can raise funds for programs and services. Just bring us your old cell phone to 1400 North Monroe Street. The Senior Center will recycle the phones and receive money to support activities that help keep seniors well and connected to their community. Call 891-4000 for more information.