September 2023 issue-online
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4<br />
(Continued from page 3)<br />
<strong>issue</strong> of the city’s Older Adult Strategy and our goal for the City to become an Age<br />
Friendly Community.<br />
More recently, your Board has been busy responding to some really important<br />
documents. One of them is the Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Guelph.<br />
This affords us an opportunity to provide meaningful input into plans that can impact us.<br />
Executive Director Linda had mentioned that Eric Poole, Project Manager of Recreation<br />
Services, Culture and Recreation, met informally with our members in a facility pop-up<br />
at the Evergreen for inpromptu input! Awesome!<br />
For those of you who are Grandparents and/or Honorary Grandparents, we hope you<br />
are celebrated Sunday, <strong>September</strong> 10th – Grandparents Day!<br />
I continue to hope that you are active, involved, making friends and aging with dignity.<br />
Donna Keating<br />
Vice President / Vice Chair<br />
Guelph Wellington Seniors Association<br />
DIANE<br />
Diane has been volunteering in the Book Nook at the<br />
Evergreen Centre since 2022. She retired from banking a<br />
few years ago and moved from Uxbridge to Guelph to be<br />
near her family. As a new retiree, Diane wanted to<br />
‘create’ her retirement rather than just have it ‘happen’ to<br />
her. Volunteering for the GWSA provides her with the<br />
opportunity to be engaged with people in her age group<br />
with similar life experiences and interests. She both likes<br />
and wants to be involved in her<br />
community in some way in order to<br />
feel useful, create new connections<br />
and find meaning in her life.<br />
Volunteering provides her with all of<br />
this.<br />
With a keen interest in keeping her<br />
mind sharp, Diane says volunteering<br />
in the Book Nook provides her with<br />
the chance to learn new computer<br />
skills. The time slot fits in with her<br />
lifestyle and she loves to work<br />
independently. She also wants to<br />
emphasize that the other library<br />
volunteers are great to work<br />
alongside. With a love of many<br />
genres of books, particularly<br />
mysteries, Diane has also written<br />
several book reviews for the Sentinel.<br />
Diane is a member of the Into<br />
Focus Photography Club and enjoyed<br />
The Sentinel - <strong>September</strong> <strong>2023</strong> — Vol. 48, No. 1<br />
participating in the walking group, both of which are a<br />
great way to meet new people. With a background in the<br />
study and practice of meditation, she facilitates weekly<br />
classes for GWSA members and the general public at the<br />
Evergreen Centre. Although this is a paid position through<br />
the City of Guelph, the position demonstrates Diane’s<br />
commitment and interest in helping others.<br />
What would Diane say to someone who is thinking<br />
about volunteering at the Evergreen? “It gives you<br />
meaning and purpose, a reason to get<br />
up in the morning. There are many<br />
different roles at the Evergreen; you<br />
can try a position and see if you like<br />
it, if it’s a fit for you.”<br />
To help make it a good fit, Diane<br />
shares that she has experienced this<br />
firsthand, and appreciates the way in<br />
which Becky MacDonald, Recreation<br />
Co-ordinator – Volunteers<br />
accommodates each volunteer’s needs<br />
and interests.<br />
Thank you to Diane and all the<br />
other Book Nook volunteers who<br />
provide such a friendly, welcoming<br />
and engaging experience for our<br />
GWSA members.<br />
Written by: Jessie Watt – Volunteer
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