Director’s Corner - Happy 2024!
Happy New Year to Everyone! I want to say thank you for being so welcoming and kind during my first six months on the job. It’s hard to believe it’s been six months already. I’d like to take this opportunity and share some highlights from our first six months together.
At the end of every year I like to reflect on the following questions (from James Clear) and maybe you’ll choose to use these questions as your New Year gets started. In fact, I don’t believe these questions are good just for the New Year. You might find them helpful on your own life journey: monthly, quarterly or biannually.
1. What went well this year?
2. What didn’t go so well this year?
3. What am I working toward?
*Please note that as of this writing the December stats were not available. The numbers below are also dependent on members signing in. (We so appreciate when you sign in, it helps with our funding and numbers).
Director’s Corner
What went well these last six months?
In June we were down to 11 out of 20 staff members. As of today, our team is strong at 19. We are only short one team position - Transportation Coordinator.
66 new members joined the Senior Activity Senior Activity Centers (LARSO), including 3 new Day Out members.
We raised $32,267 from local businesses and members during this time. $2,575 was deposited into our Los Alamos Community Foundation Endowment.
We did our first ever Giving Tuesday event and raised $995.
Festival of Trees was a hit this year with approximately 125 people visiting and we raised $1500 for the Senior Activity Centers (LARSO).
Our kitchen prepared, and transportation/volunteer drivers delivered 9,816 meals around Los Alamos and White Rock to our home delivered meal recipients. Even with the Betty Ehart kitchen being closed through October, the kitchen staff prepared and served 5, 177 meals in the last five months.
A new website was developed offering an easy way for members and the community to discover who we are and what we do.
We started a new email news delivery system. We published 7 newsletters that are available both by mail and online.
We offered a total of 17 weekly classes at Betty Ehart with 1625 members participating in the five months. White Rock offered 11 weekly classes with 1245 participants in this time period.
Betty Ehart offered 8 special events with 97 participants. White Rock offered 6 special events with 27 participants.
Betty Ehart had 372 weight room visits and White Rock had 1476 visits.
Coffee/game visits at Betty Ehart were 382 and at White Rock 1157 (this might have to do with Jack Clifford and all his goodies - Betty Ehart is looking for a pastry angel if anyone is willing!)
142 people used our library service at Betty Ehart.
In cooperation with Nambe Drugs we gave 68 flu shots at Betty Ehart and 65 flu shots at White Rock.
65 people gave blood in December at Betty Ehart in cooperation with Vitalant.
Our staff were all trained in CPR/AED.
The Executive Director gave talks on the Senior Activity Centers (LARSO) at both the Los Alamos Community Foundation Donor event and a Kiwanis meeting.
Both Senior Activity Centers (LARSO) have been cleaned, cleared and organized.
Our volunteers put in over 989 hours of service for the center. We held a volunteer gardening/storage unit clean up at both locations.
Our Transportation department gave 1,419 rides.
We were able to upgrade five of our staff computers. Both centers now have tv/dvd carts for use in classes and programming.
Friends of the Senior Senior donated money to purchase the following items: tv/dvd carts, TV for Betty Ehart and White Rock, stick vacuums at both Senior Activity Centers (LARSO), yoga supplies for both Senior Activity Centers (LARSO), a Bluetooth speaker for movement classes at Betty Ehart, rolling pamphlet carts for both Senior Activity Centers (LARSO), among other things.
What didn’t go so well this year?
We realize that although our database indicates we have over 900 members only about 150 are active. We will work to invite our non-active members back to the Senior Activity Centers (LARSO).
We recognize that to grow as an organization we need to be out in the community more sharing who we are and what we do. Many county residents believe we are a live-in residence not an activity Senior Activity Center.
Sticking with positive traditions - we realize that with new leadership and staff turnover that not all traditions were honored.
What Are We Working Toward?
Continuing to create a financially stable foundation and structure for the organization so all older adults can enjoy our services for years to come.
Creating a 3-5 year strategic plan.
Creating a case for financial support.
Increasing Friends of the Senior Center membership and fundraising.
Improving the Betty Ehart Fitness Center.
Offering more programming/classes at White Rock.
Partnering with the local nonprofits to support our members. Creating more off-site day trips as well as overnight travel trips.