Senior citizens group offers a chance to socialize

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

If you are age 55 or older and are seeking ways to meet some new friends, then the St. Joseph Senior Citizens group might be what you are looking for.

The group is a social club that meets once each month to play the game of 500 cards or bingo and share some conversation over lunch. Meetings begin with members reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and saying a short prayer. The minutes from the previous meeting are read, a treasurer’s report is given and old and new business is discussed. The group also discusses which members are ill so they can send a card to them.

Each month, four or five members prepare and serve lunch for the group’s other members. They also clean up after the meal is served. Those who prepare the lunch are reimbursed for their food and supplies by the club. Lunches often consist of sandwiches and salads.

Dessert is also provided. The St. Joseph Y2K Lions provides it three times each year, Sentry Bank provides it four times each year and whoever is on the lunch committee provides it the other months. Coffee and hot chocolate are provided by the group.

In August, the group gathers for a potluck with members contributing various food dishes. In December, they celebrate with a bingo party and a chance to win prizes, as well as a catered lunch. Kay’s Kitchen has catered the event for the past few years.

For the August and December events, the group’s officers call members to invite them and get a count of how many are attending. The St. Joseph police chief is invited to both of these events to update members and answer questions about local news.

The meetings, which are at 1:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month except for October when they are the third Thursday of the month because of Fire Prevention Week, are usually finished around 4 p.m. The August and December events begin at noon. A $5 door prize, that members who are present can register for, is given out at meetings. 

Some area businesses that have donated to the club include Coborns, St. Joseph Lions, St. Joseph Meat Market and Scherer Trucking and Sons.

The senior group, which currently has about 75 members, began in 1971. The first president of the group was Herb Dehler and the club was part of a federation and paid those dues.

According to Mary Ann Rennie, president, nobody really remembers what the federation did, but they remember it was expensive to belong so the group eventually stopped belonging to the Federation.

Current officers of the organization include Rennie, Herb Bechtold, vice president; Bernie Heurung, secretary; and Caroline Locnikar, treasurer. Officers are elected for three-year terms with the option to be re-elected for another term.

The group’s oldest members are Leander Meyer, 97, and Winnie Dehler, 95.

Rennie said many current members feel it’s a fun outing, with a lot of camaraderie, for seniors and wonder where else they could get a great lunch for only $2.

“(It is an) opportunity to meet such wonderful people whose lives would never have crossed,” Meg Klecker said.

The cost to join the organization includes a $3 yearly membership fee, a $1 monthly fee to play cards or bingo and a $2 monthly fee to eat lunch.

The group pays the dues for members who live in nursing homes. Members who live in an assisted-living facility are not asked to be part of the lunch committees who prepare lunches.

The group invites anyone who is interested to check out their group gatherings and welcomes new members.

Anyone interested in joining the seniors can attend a monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m., the second Thursday of each month at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall, 323 Fourth Ave. NE., or contact Rennie by telephone at 320-271-0723 or by email at rsrenn@yahoo.com.