The PC story: Senior Center's membership grows 17 percent since 2008.

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The PC story: Senior Center's membership grows 17 percent since 2008.

(10 posts) (3 voices)

Started 2 years ago by Charlotte Walker
Latest reply from Mary Vasey

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Charlotte Walker
Member

Today there are two identical stories about Senior Center's membership and the boasts about Pickle Ball. The first one that appeared yesterday has 9 comments from people who do not have to give their own names. The same story that was posted today has only 2 comments so far. I think it would be interesting to read comments from members of OTR, some of whom don't like anonymous comments to appear on the PC stories.

To attempt to start a discussion on the almost taboo subject of the Iowa City Senior Center, I will post below my post that I made this morning on latest version of that story:

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100226/NEWS01/2260305/1079/Activities-help-grow-senior-center

cw76ic wrote:

Couldn't Pickle ball be handled through the Rec Center? Isn't the boasting of Pickle Ball involvement just another reason, small as it is, why there should be central management of the rec center and the senior center? Doesn't the lady in the photo, I think that is Diane Day, look like she could be very comfortable at the rec center?

I believe that a senior center is needed for older people, people who finally realize that they want a place of their own -- a comfortable place for older people in this very youth oriented city. Iowa City does need a senior center but we don't need a second intergenerational facility and it doesn't need to be in that hard to park location in that overly big expensive-to-maintain building.

Charlotte Walker

A few minutes ago were nine comments on this very same story that was posted yesterday:

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100225/NEWS01/100225015/1079/Senior-Center-s-membership-grows-17-percent-since-2008

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

I wonder what Ms Kopping meant in her quote "What we're trying to do now is put a concerted effort into changing the perception of aging in the community,"

It seems that she is actively promoting denial of natural aging and actually reinforcing negative attitudes toward older people. Her overly active interest in recruiting members in their 50s who are still in the work force and boasting about adding activities that our elderly people cannot or probably should not try to do seems repulsive to me. The younger people that she tries hard to entice can go to the rec center. Most people in their 50s do not want to go to, and don't need, a senior center.

Jay Honohan supports the current emphasis on the more youthful pre-seniors. He has been quoted in the press before giving negative comments about old people and I have often heard him comment about how people don't want to come to the senior center because of the word "senior".

Posted 2 years ago #
Michael Conroy
Member

Interesting comments, thank you. I don't know enough about this to have any real opinion, but to whatever extent your characterization of the Senior Center's current recruitment policies are true, it seems repulsive to me too. Perhaps Ms. Kopping would wish to elaborate on how and why "the perception of aging" needs to be changed, and expand on her vision for accomplishing that, because the quote is puzzling to say the least.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Vasey
Member

I have taken classes at the Senior Center for some time. I like the variety. Not all seniors need the same kind of services and classes. I would say that applies to all age groups. It seems to me that there is something for everyone. I don't know much about the administration of the Center but it does seem to run smoothly. The parking downtown is a problem no matter what your destination. I agree with Michael that Ms. Kopping might want to expand on her comment. I suspect I won't find much in it to criticize.

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

Mary, most who go to the senior center do not know about some of the problems that exist in the management of that senior center. Most members only seem to care about their own personal interests. However, just because there are things there for all age groups does not justify what seems to be a compulsion to concentrate on trying to lure young people in their 50s who are still working.

Here is an example of the attitude toward natural aging that is expressed for many years by Ms Kopping and Mr. Honohan. This a quote from a story written by Frank Gluck and published in the Gazette on Monday March 24, 2003 and stored for reference on this page:

http://seniorsonguard.tripod.com/BBoard/3Gaz324.html

Here is a revealing part of that story:

<i>Commissioners at the Iowa City Senior Center hopes a new foundation, supported by tax-deductible contributions, will ease the funding crunch. The center also hopes to attract younger members by offering more programming at night and on weekends.

The commission is also pushing a controversial proposal to drop the word "senior" from the facility's name, a recommendation that initially came from the center's accreditation agency, the National Institute of Senior Centers, said Linda Kopping, coordinator of the Senior Center.

"Senior Center implies somebody coming to the meals with a cane and playing bingo," said Honohan, 72.

"There's no disrespect intended there for the users of the center," Kopping said. "It's about the people who aren't coming to the center." </i>

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Vasey
Member

I see that you have concerns. However, I don't quite understand what you think needs to be done. Close the downtown center? Combine programs? Combine staffs? What would you want to see changed and how would that improve the situation as you see it?

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

Mary, Good honest and open discussions might help for starters. The nice friendly forums that have taken place at the Senior Center recently have almost completely covered up problems that need attention.

Here is another quote by Linda Kopping from a small Press Citizen story printed on March 5, 2006 that gives more insight in how she views the senior center.

“Our culture sort of emphasizes youth. I think the word ‘senior’ has a negative connotation.” Later in the story she said, “Our focus is on programming for active, well elderly. We’re a ’community college’ for people over 50.”

Besides many smaller problems that I could give, the senior center building seems overly large for its current use. It is also hard and very costly to maintain. Plus the limited and expensive parking is a serious detraction.

I think there is a strong need for a senior center in this youth oriented city but not necessarily in its present location or managed like a rather dreary junior college.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Vasey
Member

So, I think you are saying that the present building is not practical. Do you think another building would be appropriate or do you think it should be located with other agencies and activities. While I don't agree with your description of the present program as being a "rather dreary junior college" I wonder what you would offer by way of programming and services.

Do you think Ms Kopping should be replaced because of her comments? What exactly are the problems with the administration of the Senior Center? So far it seems as if it may be a clash of personalities and difference of opinion about how to best serve seniors in our community. I would need to know a lot more before making up my mind about this issue.

I would be very interested in hearing from you your dream or vision of the best situation for seniors in Iowa City. You don't need to point out what is wrong now. Just imagine that there is a clean slate and you can put anything you want in place. What would it be? Buildings, programs, services etc. That would help me understand your position.

Posted 2 years ago #
Charlotte Walker
Member

Sorry Mary, you cannot dictate what I should write. I'll say what I want to say and you say what you want to say. That's how it works here.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Vasey
Member

Oh, my. I didn't mean to be dictating. I was truly interested because I really don't understand what you want. That's okay. Let's call it a day. Didn't mean to seem authoritarian. That is not my style. I do apologize and I think my participation in this particular discussion is over. Good luck.

Posted 2 years ago #

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