Society, Centre and Association separate entities
I think everyone needs some clarification about the 50 Plus Activity Centre, the C.L. District Seniors’ Association and the C.L. Golden Agers’ Society.
The C.L. Golden Agers’ Society is a non-profit society that is a part-time tenant of the 50 Plus Activity Centre. From our annual membership fees of $15 per person we pay the association hall rental for our bingo, hall/kitchen/janitor rental for our banquets and bazaar; half the telephone, Shaw cable and photocopier bills for the centre; we pay insurance for our board of directors; we pay for the water machine and donate $1 per member on Dec. 1 each year to the association.
Last year we paid half of the snow removal bill for the parking lot and will help for emergencies if possible, but need firm estimates.
From our bingo account we reimburse ambulance fees for members and subsidize banquets and trips for members. For trips we have to pay for the bus, fuel, mileage, driver’s meal and entrance fee into an event, and members pay a discounted amount for their trip per our bingo regulations.
Our members volunteer at the centre from the hostess desk to the kitchen and for all events, but we are a separate organization from the C.L. District Seniors’ Association that is the sole operator of the 50 Plus Activity Centre.
The town owns the land the centre is on, insures the building and donates funds annually with Area F and Area I under a CVRD bylaw to keep the centre going. The association owns the building and is responsible to keep it open and in good condition for the over 50 who frequent it daily.
People keep saying, why two organizations? The Golden Agers are not the operators of the centre, we are part-time tenants. We are membership-driven; the association is grant-driven and are charged with the operation of the building.
The 50 Plus Activity Centre is a safe, comfortable place to come and meet old friends and make new ones. You can play a number of different card games, do crafts, have lunch, play pool, listen to music or just sit and socialize with locals. The centre is open from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday to Friday with lunch from 11 a.m. until 1:15 p.m.
Carolyne Austin, past president
C.L. Golden Agers’ Society