Good Monday Evening,
I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas. Many of us did not celebrate Christmas, as usual, this year, but I hope you got a chance to connect with your family and friends, by phone, Zoom, or other meeting apps.
As we leave this year behind, we might think about the challenges we have faced, but I think we should look at what we have accomplished, and how we have managed personally and organizationally through these challenging times. At SCT, we have followed the guidelines, stayed safe, stayed informed, and continued to move forward to provide the programs we could, and I am proud of what we have accomplished over this past year.
Volunteer Appreciation
Over the year, there are many volunteers who help deliver our programs and then adapted to the changes due to Covid. February was our last in-person "Adventures in Learning" and there are approximately 40 hardworking volunteers, in addition to our speakers, who help deliver the "AiL" program. I want to thank the Task Force for their hard work and dedication in bringing "AiL" to our community. The Task Force is made up of eight committees: Registration, Hospitality, Membership, Audio Visual, Facility Management, Speaker Facilitator, the Counters, and the Planning Committee. I believe we have one of the best "Adventures in Learning" programs among the many Shepherd's Centers across the country. I am extremely proud of the programs we provide and of the volunteers who make them possible.
I want to thank our volunteers who made "Adventures in Learning" a success via Zoom: Mike Stanfill, Spencer Smith, Kem Cooper, Becky Henry, Betsy Thompson, Ottie Reed, Dave Mathias, and all the volunteers who introduced our speakers. Thank you, Karen Swanson, for keeping in contact with our Community Partners, Donna Clark and Charlotte Bates, and their team of volunteers who help with the newsletter, Phyllis Herzog for managing the Calling Tree for those who don't receive an email, and Elaine Schulz our bookkeeper. I also want to thank the Travelers Club, Rich McReynolds, Dolan Gassert, and Nancy Burklund for keeping us informed of the changes in travel this year.
The coordinators for three of our Activity Groups waited patiently for the go-ahead to start back up, but it was never safe, and we continue to wait. Thank you to Roma Sessin and Joan Arterburn with Bridge, Caroline Hoff and Sharon Young with Hand & Foot Canasta, and Glenna Meek and Kathy Ogle with Line Dancing for always being ready to start up when we get the go-ahead.
Several of our Activity Groups were able to adapt to the Covid changes and continue to offer their programs via Zoom. I want to thank the volunteers who coordinated those Activity Groups, your initiative and commitment are very much appreciated.
Activity Groups via Zoom
Ellen Horn, coordinator of the Spiritual Book Club
Pat Kirkman coordinator of MAP Group (Memoirs-Ancestry-Photos)
Mike Stanfill, facilitator, Zoom
Activities Groups - In-person and socially distanced
Shirley Edgerton, instructor, SMS Exercise Class
Cyndi Ryan, coordinator, Dave Mathias, co-coordinator, Betsy Thompson, alternate coordinator, Pickleball
Madon Dailey, instructor, Tai Chi
I know I haven't listed all of our volunteers by name, but please know that we appreciate every one of you who work behind the scene to make SCT the great organization it is.
On New Year’s Eve let’s reflect on what we were thankful for in 2020, and let’s think about our hope for 2021. I pray that 2021 brings you an overflow of blessings of health, hope, joy, and love.
Happy New Year!
Karen Willard
SCT Director
785-249-3258
