St. Regis Senior Center under new management

In 2009 when the St. Regis Senior Citizens Center opened the doors of their brand-new facility, there was a waiting line outside on Thursdays for their weekly lunch.

St. Regis School would bring students over to perform or show their science projects. Community announcements were made, and every now and then a guest speaker was invited.

The Thursday lunch became Thursday dinner and other changes over the years were tried but the momentum disappeared to the point they wondered if they could keep the doors open.

But there’s a new sheriff in town, and a ball of excitement comes with him.

“I woke up one day and the Lord said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to do this,’ so I came down here [the Senior Center] and was asked again by the board. I said I would, and it came out of my mouth before I ever knew it. I guess He knows that when I start something, I ain’t going to quit. That must be the old Marine in me,” laughed David Hannah.

Hannah was living off the grid in Idaho two years ago and since moving here, he has taken a strong liking to the community, and he is now the new president of the SRSCC coming in with loads of ideas, enthusiasm and energy. New management brings new changes, and the first order of business was the termination of the cook.

“I had to do something I hadn’t done in years and don’t like doing, but it was part of the reorganization of the center,” Hannah said.

Hannah then questioned service dogs coming into the facility during meals because he suspected some may not be service dogs but pets, and this raised the hackle of the dishwasher who resigned.

“I want to make this a place for people to come and feel comfortable. I want to put a library in after we find someone who can take care of books. We feed one night a week; I’d like to go to two nights a week. And then have a family night as well. And family night would strictly be donations as well,” he said.

All ideas and plans will take time to analyze and develop and Hannah knows that. But one item he’d like to start on immediately is a newsletter.

“A newsletter that comes from this center with what’s going on here and what’s going on in the community. What is going on at the school. The church programs. Community events at the park or in the west end. I want all the businesses to have the opportunity to advertise in it which should cover the costs of printing and I’m looking into bulk mail for distribution. Right now, Kenny (Jasper) has jumped on this as he’s all for the good of the community.” Hannah is looking for a volunteer to spearhead this project wanting to get this up-and-running as soon as possible.

The board of directors after Hannah as the president are Clint Derr as vice president, Linda Forest as the secretary and Virginia Turner as the treasurer. Alice Burchak is their bookkeeper and there are board members without duty obligations.

Hannah has requested an audit, so he understands the condition of the center as he takes the reins. All positions are volunteer except for the manager, cook, dishwasher and custodian, and he is taking applications for all of these positions right now.

A membership of $10 per year entitles you a vote at the meetings.

“Almost everything is voted on. I was voted in. Kitchen appliance replacement will be voted on as they wear out and everything in the kitchen is the original equipment from 2009, except for the dishwasher, so our fingers are crossed.”

The commercial dishwasher was another immediate need, which was an unplanned expense. The urinal in the men’s room was repaired (by Hannah and Derr themselves) after a year-plus of being out of order. The water well has great water again after "too long of a time" which meant a change of vendors to get it up to snuff.

“The center relies on donations,” he explained. “But Area VI is where the funding comes from. We get so much money per year, per month. And we have to match that as we go. I’m still learning this system as we move forward, but I want motivated people who want to be of help to this community and be a part of moving this organization forward,” he said.

Hannah continued, “People need to know that they can use this place. It’s huge and with a commercial kitchen, it can prepare and serve food. Family reunions, weddings, civic social events, and breakfast, lunch and dinners can all happen here.”

The Pinnocle Potluck remains on Saturday nights and about a half dozen crusty old ranchers and mechanics keep the 10am coffee-clutch going every day of the week, where anyone is more than welcome to drop by.

“I’m all about community. We’re supposed to be a service to this community and that’s what we are going to become. It hasn’t been run that way but that’s how I’m going to run it from now on,” he said.

Consider stopping on Saturday, Sept. 10 between 1 and 4 p.m. for their ice cream social to share thoughts and hear about the future plans.