From the Director’s Desk: Melissa Weigle
With the “Healthy Steps” program completed, we take a collective deep breath. While the program is far from over and the grant check from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is not signed, the majority of the program is complete, but the stacks and stacks of paperwork are waiting to be finished. This program, while worthwhile, was very time consuming.
I owe its success to Sheri and Jay Africa, the program facilitators. Sheri and Jay attended an all day facilitator training. They brought back materials and got to work mapping out the day for our participants. Their vision and hard work paid off. The training, held on Friday May 2, was attended by 50 members, all of whom took away useful information on fall prevention.
Special thanks to Mohler members Shirley Rostkowski, Carol King, and Anne Leader, who volunteered their time and expertise to the program. We were also fortunate to have 14 junior level nursing students assist in the skills testing. We thank their instructor, Christine Frasier for making them available. Finally, we thank Kristin Kleha, Admissions & Marketing Director of Spring Creek Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Harrisburg who sponsored our catered lunch, provided by Wrap it Up Café of Hershey. All would agree that the day was a huge success. I’m very proud to say that we had the largest turnout of all the Dauphin County Senior Centers for this important program. Goes to show once again that our members really rally behind our programs and help to make them successful.
ABOUT THE MOHLER SENIOR CENTER
What is the Senior Citizens Center?
The Senior Citizens Center of Derry Township, better known by the name of its building - The Mohler Senior Center - is a nonprofit organization established in 1983 to provide any person in Derry Township and nearby areas who is 50 or older with opportunities for meeting, socializing, learning, and, in general, remaining active. The Center operates its own programs and works with other organizations and community agencies for the benefit of senior citizens. It strives to provide opportunities for senior citizens to:
- Receive health, nutrition, and other educational information
- Participate in dining occasions, cultural events, and sightseeing
- Share experiences with others and discover new interests
- Maintain an interest in local and world affairs
OUR MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES ARE:
- Income tax assistance
- Trips
- Bingo
- Investment Club
- Dinner Theaters
- Bridge
- Line Dancing
- Scrabble Club
- Pinochle
- Holiday parties
- Shuffleboard
- Yoga
- Exercise
- Art Classes
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- Monday Lunch & Lecture series
- Tap Dance
- Ballroom Dancing
- Monthly socials
- Craft classes
- Bocce Ball
- Adult Ed Classes
- Computer classes
- Special Events
- Scrap booking
- Aquatics and Fitness Center Use
- Tai Chi
- Canasta
- Weight lifting
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SOME HISTORY ABOUT OUR CENTER:
How did it get started?
Although the local Hershey AARP chapter has long provided excellent opportunities to meet monthly, numerous senior citizens in the early 1980's expressed an interest in additional organized activities and in having a physical facility for various functions and activities over and beyond the monthly AARP meetings.
When first organized in 1983, the Center utilized two rooms above the Hershey Public Library. With continuing growth in members and activities, the Center moved in 1987 to Overview Manor, a former Milton Hershey School student home. In January1998, it moved to its present location, the Mohler Senior Center, on the eastern edge of the campus of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of Penn State University.
How is it managed?
The Center operates under the guidance of a volunteer Board of Directors elected annually by the membership. An Executive Director plus two Administrative Assistants are employed to handle administrative duties, assist in planning, and carrying out the day-to-day functions of the Center. In addition, over 100 Senior Volunteer members dedicate many hours towards the operation on the Center.
Where does it receive its financial support?
The Center takes pride in its independence and is a non-profit agency. It does not depend on State, Federal or County funding to operate. Over the years, individuals and organizations within the community have made contributions in dollars, goods and services. Today the Center has an Endowment Fund, the earnings from which are used to help cover the costs of operations. Also supporting operations are revenues from activities such as trips and fundraisers, plus annual contributions from members. Members are expected to contribute a donation of at least $50 per year.
University Fitness Center’s Mohler Package
The UFC on the campus of Hershey Medical Center is a state of the art fitness facility with a professional staff of Exercise Physiologist on hand to assist you in meeting your fitness goals. As a member of the Mohler Senior Center, you are entitled to use the facility at a discounted rate. The Mohler Program Membership Fees are as follows:
Quarterly: $63
Semi-Annually: $125
Annually: $235
(Court usage requires additional fees)
The UFC is available for Mohler Members seven days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Summer weekend hours end at 12:00 pm. Mohler members are also entitled to sign up for an introductory package, which includes a fitness assessment, three sessions with an exercise physiologist and a three- month membership for $113. For more information about the UFC call them at 531-7075 or visit their website at www.pennstatehersheyufc.com.
