Winchester Seniors Association (WSA) The Winchester Seniors Association is a not-for-profit volunteer corporation of, by, and for people 55 years and older.  We improve the quality of seniors’ lives through participation in providing and enjoying a wide range of stimulating social, educational, and recreational activities.  We operate the private not-for-profit Jenks Center for the benefit of the citizens, community organizations, and Town of Winchester.  The Winchester Seniors Association (WSA) welcomes as members all Winchester residents 55 and older, as well as non-residents who once lived in Winchester for five or more years.  An elected Board of Directors governs WSA, Inc., determining policies, raising funds, setting long range goals and objectives, and overseeing the operation and maintenance of the building and grounds.   With the guidance of its Board and the support of its members,  the Winchester Seniors Association is  recognized as a financially self-supporting model for responsive community service for seniors, cooperatively serving a diverse clientele of Winchester seniors, who are fully represented in the leadership of the organization.   Annual Meeting – Third Wednesday in May for Annual Report and election of officers.

JENKS SENIOR CENTER DIRECTORY

Table of Contents

Senior Vice President                         Jane Murray

Administrative Vice President            Eugene Sullivan        

Program Vice President                      Connie Stolow

Activities Vice President                    Jane Sughrue             

Secretary                                            June Fitzgerald

Treasurer                                            Richard Mueller        

Assistant Treasurer                            Robert Salvo

Finance Committee                            Stephen Parkhurst     

Members at Large                             Anthony Barba, Barbara Collum, and Virginia Laats

Staff:   Regina Maurer, WSA Administrator,

            Mildred Clark, WSA Administrative Assistant

            Tom Novak, Head Custodian, Jim Clary & Tom Nolan, Custodians

 The Winchester Seniors Association Trust holds the title to the Jenks Center building.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chairperson:

BOARD OF ADVISORS

The Board of Advisors is a group of Winchester community leaders appointed by the WSA Board of Directors to provide counsel and guidance to its officers and members.  Advisors are kept fully informed of WSA governance, policies and activities so that they may understand and support its mission and vision for Winchester seniors.  Advisors are encouraged and welcome, although not obligated, to attend regular meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of the WSA.  Advisory Board members are appointed for a term of two years, and may be invited to serve additional successive terms.

Responsibilities

1.    Stay informed about the WSA’s goals and development

2.    Interpret the WSA within one’s own circle of influence and serve as a positive link with the community

3.    Share ideas that contribute to WSA’s growth and improvement.

4.    Help the WSA address special problems that may arise.

5.    Participate in WSA fund raising efforts as appropriate

6.   Attend a joint meeting of the Board of Directors and Trustees once a year, a meeting of the Board of Advisors once a year, and    attend the Annual Meeting of the WSA

Members:

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE

The Building & Grounds Committee develops and implements procedures and measures for maintaining and protecting the Jenks Center building and grounds in a sound condition for the safety and comfort of WSA members.  The Committee includes Representatives of the WSA Trust and the WSA, Inc. to coordinate daytime and after hours logistics and to help ensure that the missions of both organizationsare coordinated.

COMPUTER COMMITTEE

EATING TOGETHER

                                 EDUCATION  COMMITTEE

                            ENDOWMENT FUND

The Endowment Fund was established in mid-1980 as a separate depository for bequests and donations to the WSA not designated by the donor for operating expenses.  The Fund also accepts any other funds received by WSA which the Finance Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors believes should be retained as investment capital.  The fund is designed to assist in financing major maintenance or other capital expenditures and to assure continuance of uninterrupted services to the members should a temporary financial problem develop.  As recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, proceeds from the Fund are also used to subsidize the annual operating budget. 

The Fund is managed by the firm of Seaward Management Corporation, Boston.  Ultimate responsibility for the management of the Fund and of its soundness rests with the Board of Directors.

EVENT PLANNING COMMITTEE

Advisor:  Richard Mueller

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee shall supervise the financial affairs of the WSA and formulate financial operating policies for recommendation by the Board of Directors and meet at least quarterly.  The Committee selects its chair and vice-chair; the WSA Treasurer is a member and is its official liaison to the Board of Directors.  The Finance Committee also creates and monitors the financial development plan comprising current support for operations (with the Events Planning Committee) campaigns for special needs, endowment cultivation and foundation and corporate grant proposals.

Members:

FUND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Members:

 COA Staff Supervisor:

Diane Saparoff, LICSW, COA Social Worker/Housing Counselor

HEALTH BENEFITS COUNSELORS

The Health Benefits Counselors are trained elder advocates, through the COA and Executive Office of Elder Affairs, to help seniors who need assistance and clarification regarding health insurance resources.  Members are available for questions by appointment only, call the Center, leave your name and number  and a counselor will call you.  They make home visits to those people unable to come to the Center and information is available by telephone.

HEALTH COMMITTEE

This Committee serves to promote good health for Winchester seniors.  It maintains health and screening clinics as well as providing information on healthcare and opportunities for senior health maintenance.  It works with the Winchester Board of Health.                      

 KEEP WELL CLINIC

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

The Hospitality Committee is made up of about ten very congenial women.  We have prepared holiday luncheon parties for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day.  We arrange for special entertainment for all of these parties.  Our routine includes coming on the day before the event to prepare the lunch and then to come on the day of the party to see that all is set up, served and cleaned up.  We are especially grateful for the assistance of the men from the Men’s Discussion Group who give much needed help with the set up and serving of the luncheons.  We feel that the parties are well received by approximately one hundred seniors on each of the holidays that we celebrate here at the Jenks Center.  During the past year we prepared and served High Tea in thanks to the garden club, served refreshments for two coffee houses, assisted with the Brennan Lecture and the Savvy Seniors Symposium.

INFORMATION & REFERRAL COMMITTEE

The members of this committee staff the Receptionist’s Desk Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except holidays when the Center is closed.  They serve as telephone information specialists answering questions on the activities at the Center and directing telephone callers to appropriate staff and community agencies.  Additionally, the members serve as receptionists and hostesses and match up ride requests with volunteer senior drivers of the Transportation Committee.

 JENKS LEARNING CONNECTION (JLC)

The JLC offers a life-long learning program of evening classes to adults in the community who are interested in expanding their knowledge and skills.  The program, initiated in October 2002 called the Jenks Learning Connection, offers five or six eight-week courses on Wednesday evenings in fall, winter and spring sessions.  The goals of the JLC are: to provide a variety of accessible courses taught by qualified, enthusiastic instructors (often Winchester residents); to include people who are not able to attend Jenks’ daytime activities and to make wider use of our excellent facility.

 Current course opportunities are in Art, Bridge, Computer Skills, Exercise and Literature.  Listings may change with the session and information may be found at the Center or selected Jenks’ newsletters. A very well received course in Basis Architecture will be repeated in the spring of 2005.  The JLC is open to suggestions for courses and instructors.  Recommendations should be sent to any member of the steering committee.

Adviser:

John Waite, Jr.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE

The Library Committee is responsible for maintenance, circulation regulations and making easy access to materials for Jenks seniors.  The Committee manages the book sales tables at Senior Fairs.

 The Chairperson controls library and video acquisitions, organizes library activities, contacts book dealers for sale of library deletions, orders periodicals, Health Letters, and “Large Print Collections”.

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

The Newsletter Committee meets the first Friday of every month at 9:30 a.m.  This Committee publishes a monthly Newsletter which is mailed to nearly 3,800 households with Winchester residents age 55 and over.  The publication includes information, dates, and times of all activities scheduled for seniors and also articles and items of human interest.  A convenient monthly calendar of the Center’s activities is included.

 Except for actual printing and delivery of the Newsletter, all aspects of newsletter production (interviewing, writing the stories, editing, layout, preparing draft for printer, proof reading the printer’s draft, affixing mailing labels, and delivery to the post office) are handled by the Committee, with assistance of other volunteers.

Advisors:

Kathy Carr                   

MEALS ON WHEELS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meals-on-Wheels operates under the auspices of the WSA.  On average 36 meals weekly are delivered in the community from Monday to Friday by volunteers. This service is largely financed by several Winchester businesses, churches and organizations.  It allows recipients to stay in their homes longer and to eat a more balanced diet.

The Publicity Committee is responsible for the representation of the WSA/COA in the news media, as well as producing other graphic and text publicity for the Jenks Center activities.  The Committee also works closely with the Newsletter Committee, and the Hospitality Committee to ensure a high level of public and member awareness of WSA/COA purpose, programs and services.

The Committee will assist in writing a Marketing/Public Relations Plan for achieving these goals; write, review and approve pertinent WSA informational/promotional materials, as well as maintain a file of news releases and activity announcements that appear in the press.

TAX ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

This Committee assists seniors in the preparation of Federal and State Income Tax forms.  Committee members participate in an intensive-updating program annually.

Instructor:

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

The Transportation Committee provides volunteer drivers for senior’s rides within Winchester, and medical appointments in adjacent communities Mondays through Fridays.  Drivers can request mileage reimbursement from COA/Executive Office of Elder Affairs grant monies.

Substitute Drivers:

TRAVEL COMMITTEE

The Travel Committee provides opportunities for the members of the WSA to attend recreational activities outside the Center. This includes day trips, overnight trips and longer duration excursions, including foreign travel.

WSA BOWLING LEAGUE