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blocks from the main street and on a busline, with some parking space. On the first floor, there were five comfortable rooms. There was a double living room which could be used for meetings, a gameroom, a kitchen which could double as a craftroom, and an office doubling for extra meeting space.

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Good food is like a medicine, and food enjoyed together tastes many times as good. Senior citizens help serve each other.

Many Groups Cooperate

The building was in bad condition, needing paint, restrooms, plumbing, wiring, furniture, everything that goes with making a place livable. The situation was challenging to those who had resolved that Hamilton would have a Senior Citizen Center.

The local press gave excellent coverage about the needs and prospects. The board of trustees and the director talked to groups, clubs, unions, and industries. Members of various women's organizations

volunteered to help with the renovation. A labor group agreed to furnish all manpower for painting, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. Civic groups promised to donate proceeds from special programs. A businesswomen's group began soliciting donations of phonograph records, playing cards, dominoes, chess, bingo, and other games. A sorority undertook to furnish a cardroom-tables, chairs, pictures, and draperies. A television set, phono-radio, stove, refrigerator, coffeemaker, china, and spoons were donated by individuals, clubs, and merchants.

A retired-employees club from a local industry made plans to transfer their activities to the new building and to bring their furnishings with them. A local firm pledged an annual support payment for the new Center. The idea of cooperation in an important community undertaking challenged interest and participation.

A church group was approached with the idea of developing a volunteer service for the Center. They were interested and have continued to be helpful in this project, developing a volunteer service of over 100 women who serve in many capacities-as hostesses for the daily coffee break, as drivers to transport members to special events, as teachers of craft and other classes, as members of fund-raising groups, and as cochairman of 70 member committees. A club of young women volunteered to help with "thank you" letters, with typing, and with other needed services.

Recognizing the necessity for working with all community groups. contacts were made with police, firemen, ambulance service, welfare agencies, medical advisers, and clergymen of all churches. Their advice, cooperation, and suggestions were invited. Of particular importance then and since has been close liaison with and understanding by the "united" services solicitation group in the city. The contacts proved helpful, and specific plans for assistance by each interested group were incorporated in the "operational plan" for the Center.

Part II

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Growth of the Senior

Citizens Center

LTHOUGH THE MOBILIZATION of community resources for the program had been thorough, there was no certainty that older people would elect to use the center. How did they respond? Did participation grow? How did older people join with the community groups in shaping the program? The following analysis focuses on the program's growth and development.

Dedication of the Center

On December 5, 1954, the Center was formally dedicated with some 400 visitors in attendance. Full newspaper and broadcast coverage was accorded the opening, with local dignitaries, visitors from nearby towns, donors, and Senior Citizens attending. At the close of the afternoon, senior citizens from a nearby community joined in the dedication as all gathered around the piano for an old-fashioned songfest. The senior citizens continued to come-not so many at first, just seven the first day. The second day the "retired employees club" brought 30 visitors; and slowly, day by day, the number grew until, when the Center was 18 months old, the numbers had outgrown the capacity of the building. More about the space problem later.

Early Program Development

The program started with the known-with fellowship, with social gatherings with music, dancing, group singing, games, friendship, and parties for many occasions. It grew a little at a time, incorporating crafts and talks by representatives of various community groups. Local talent responded with programs of interest to the members.

Members were included in the planning of all programs, in forming committees to help new members get acquainted, in spreading the: "word" about the Center to others. Their knowledge, skill, and assist

ance were used, needed, and wanted in developing programs uniquely "their own."

Program development by the members brought into being a new "organization within an organization." This organization of the membership patterned the constitution and bylaws on the constitution and bylaws of the parent community organization that founded the Center. Provision was made for the officers and committee chairmen to change once a year and for the immediate past officers and chairmen to advise and assist the new leadership. The new structure (with member committees numbering 70) advanced systematic program planning.

As the program evolved, new interests were discovered. Classes, groups, and interests were continued only during the time that active interest was shown. Some were dropped for a while, some for longer periods, or until another group of members showed an interest in the discarded program. In the crafts, volunteer teachers shared their talents with the members. The instruction, necessary equipment, and encouragement were provided by the Center.

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Arranging flowers to make an artistic bouquet, whether with a few flowers or many,

brings out the artistic ability of senior citizens.

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Painting, either in oils or water colors, brings out latent talents, unknown and previously undeveloped.

Financing the Center

Discovering that many of the older persons have adequate incomes but are searching for ways to serve, a plan was developed whereby any member wishing to do so could contribute time and/or talent. toward the budget of the Center. Each fall a Holiday Market is held at the Center where decorative and useful articles made by the members are offered for sale to the community. The local press, radio, interested merchants and banks (which contribute space for displays) help alert the community to this Holiday Market. People gather from Hamilton and nearby communities from early morning until late evening to purchase handmade gifts, "pies like Mother used to make," and to contribute in this way to the operation of the Center. Members, volunteers, and staff man the booths, a local banker "minds" the cashbox and does the bookkeeping, and a gay, holiday spirit prevails. All proceeds from the "Market" go into the operation of the Center.

Growth of Membership

Two clubs are a part of the program of the Center-the previously mentioned retired-employees club from a local industry, and a Golden

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