Senior Leadership Northeast Minutes  for December 15, 2009

Since members voted to attend the reopening of the Southlake Senior Activity Center, opening comments by David Baltimore, Chair of the Southlake Senior Advisor Commission are provided below:

WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE

I AM DAVID BALTIMORE, CHAIR OF THE SOUTHLAKE SENIOR ADVSIOR COMMISSION, AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE AND REJOICE IN THE REOPENING OF THE SOUTHLAKE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER.  THANKS TO THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AND ITS LEADERSHIP, WE NOW HAVE A FACILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AN INCREASING AND AGING POPULATION.

 AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAND AND JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGENCE.

 TODAY’S SCHEDULE WILL INCLUDE REMARKS FROM SOME OF OUR HONORED GUESTS, A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, A PARADE OF HOLIDAY SNACKS, A DESERT CONTEST, A PERFORMANCE OF HOLIDAY MUSIC BY THE DURHAM ELEMENTARY CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DAVID PLATT, AND OF COURSE A FINE MEAL CATERED BY METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS.

 THE SENIOR CITIZENS OF SOUTHLAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS FIRST STARTED TO CONGREGATE, ON AN ORGANIZED BASIS, IN THE EARLY NINETEEN NINETIES.  THIS WAS IN CITY FACILITIES AT BICENTENNIAL PARK SPONSORED BY METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ITS FOUNDER, KELLY BRADLEY AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF ROSE HAMPSHIRE.  THE CAPACITY OF THE FACILITIES WAS QUICKLY OVER-TAXED, AND THE CITY, THROUGH GOOD FORTUNE WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS BUILDING AND SURROUNDING ACREAGE FROM THE EUBANKS AND RICHARDS FAMILIES.  THROUGH VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY LOCAL MERCHANTS A THREE BEDROOM RANCH-STYLE HOUSE WAS REMODELED INTO THIS CENTER.  TODAY WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A GREATLY EXPANDED HOME.

 AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FOLLOWING GUESTS TO JOIN ME:

MAYOR JOHN TERRELL, WHO WILL INCLUDE RECOGNITION OF THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM IN HIS REMARKS; MAYOR PROTEM VIRGINIA MUZYKA, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTEM LAURA HILL, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MORRIS, BLEDSOE, JONES, AND MULLER.  ALSO, THE  OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION, VICE CHAIR DICK MCCAULEY, CHARLIE BOYD (WHO ALSO SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS TO RUN THIS CENTER), JEAN BOLAND, PAT BURNETT, NANCY SPORN, MARGE KYLE,  AND ALTERNATES CLETA PIERCE, AND CRAIG HAYES.  ALSO AMANDA CALONGNE FROM CONGRESSMAN MARCHANT’S OFFICE, ETC, SHANA YELVERTON, OUR CITY MANAGER, AND CHRIS TRIBBLE DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND OUR OWN AMANDA TROUM, SOUTHLAKE SENIOR SERVICES COORDINATOR.

 AND NOW I ASK, REVEREND STEVEN BELL, EXECUTIVE PASTOR FOR OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM AT WHITE’S CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO GIVE AN INVOCATION.

 ‘RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY’

 NOW I WILL TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO CHARLIE BOYD SO THAT HE MAY INTRODUCE CHRIS TRIBBLE.

 PRESENTATION OF PLAQUES TO WHITE’S CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND CARROLL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING OUR RENOVATION.

 WHEN I FIRST BECAME ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY, I MET SHANA YELVERTON AND HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH HER AND WATCH HER DEVELOP INTO THE PREMIER CITY MANAGER IN NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY.

 PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE RECOGNIZING GAME STOP, INC.

 NOW I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO DICK MACCAULEY SO THAT HE MIGHT INTRODUCE, JOHN TERRELL, MAYOR OF SOUTHLAKE.

 FINALLY I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING, SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAM AND PROVIDING THIS FACILITY IN ITS LOVELY PARK-LIKE SETTING.  LUNCH WILL BE BUFFET STYLE, STARTING AT 12:00, AND AS PER OUR LONG-STANDING, TRADITION, WE WILL PROCEED BY TABLE AS CALLED BY NUMBER.  AMANDA CALONGNE WILL CALL THE TABLE NUMBERS.  THE LUNCHEON IS PROVIDED BY METROPORT MEALS-ON-WHEELS AND BLUE STAR CATERING AND WAS PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DARLA FOWLER.  HERE’S CHARLIE TO TELL YOU WHAT IS ON THE MENU.