Drop-in centre begins process of looking at the future

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer
It was a chance to begin to share some ideas on what the seniors’ drop-in centre can be and what it can do for the community.
A open public meeting was held at the centre on Jan. 12, attracting about 50 people.
Current President Delma Austin hosted the meeting and began by introducing the centre’s board.
She then explained that in 2019 the bylaws of the centre were reviewed. It was determined the requirement for members to be at least 45 years of age did not fit anymore.
Now members can be 18 years of age or, as Austin said with a smile, “Elders in training.”
In 2021, the objects and bylaws of the centre were reviewed.
Now, they are looking at how the facility can be used to the community’s advantage. What resources does the drop-in have that the community can use? What resources can be shared with everyone?
“Bottom line,” Austin said. “Is the drop-in really relevant?”
She noted the board is currently short three members and is looking for anyone interested in sitting on the board to fill those positions before the centre’s annual general meeting towards the end of April.
Austin provided a brief history of how the centre got to this point, culminating in a decision by the membership to re-brand the centre and pursue marketing the facility to the community.
The board had met earlier in the week where they decided a public meeting would be held to start that process.
Austin was pleased to see about 50 people turn ut for the meeting.
“This is really uplifting for me,” she said of the audience in attendance.
Austin then explained the exercise everyone would participate in to start the process.
Everyone was given two sticky notes and asked to put one idea on each sticky note about what they wanted to see at the centre.
The notes were all stuck on the walls, and sorted into loose categories.
“I’m really, really pleased with the ideas and the creativity that is up there,” said Beth Borthwick who sits on the board.
Each person was also given four dots and asked to stick one dot in each idea they supported, for a total of four votes.
When all the votes were tallied, Austin announced the results:
• Hobbies, dance, classes, 36 votes;
• Pool, crib, darts, 29 votes;
• Cooking, 28 votes;
• Musical theatre, gaming nights, entertainment, 26 votes;
• Operational, that is things like being open on weekends, and open when activities are going on in the community, 22 votes
• General learning activities, 18 votes.
“You’ve given lots of ideas to think about,” Borthwick said.
Everyone agreed the next step would be to meet again as a group at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the drop-in centre.