Executive Director's Column --- 3rd Quarter, 2008
The Life Enrichment Center often reminds me of "The Little Engine That Could"… In spite of adversity and on-going challenges, it keeps on going and we still manage to enjoy exciting new opportunities and events.
Our two most recent challenges are building related. Someone tried to steal our air conditioning unit two weeks ago (for the copper!). Cost for the repairs and a new chain link fence around it was over $1,000. And, for the past couple of weeks we have been in the midst of building repairs from the car crash last year. We appreciate your patience as we try to manage our daily work in addition to the stress of construction and furniture and file moves. I want to thank Sierra Construction for all of their excellent work on this project.
Our two most recent challenges are building related. Someone tried to steal our air conditioning unit two weeks ago (for the copper!). Cost for the repairs and a new chain link fence around it was over $1,000. And, for the past couple of weeks we have been in the midst of building repairs from the car crash last year. We appreciate your patience as we try to manage our daily work in addition to the stress of construction and furniture and file moves. I want to thank Sierra Construction for all of their excellent work on this project.
The insurance companies will hopefully cover most of the costs associated with the accident. However, it has been a long time since our building has had a face lift, and so we decided while they are already working here, we would have the contractor add additional interior painting to spruce up the image that we present to you - our members and participants. It looks like we will be in this building for quite a while and I think we all need a morale boost. So, stop by soon to see our new look.
Please join me in celebrating our newest community partnership with the Tampa Museum of Art! We will begin offering satellite classes at the Museum in October. Meanwhile, we have two exciting events coming up in September. See page 3 of this calendar for more information. It is very simple to reach TMA from the LEC area via Armenia Ave. or I-275. For more information or directions, call the Center. I hope many of you, from all classes, will join us for this kick-off for this wonderful new partnership.
Welcome to our newest art teacher, Janice McCaskill. For more information about Janice and her classes, see our calendar. Congratulations to long-time LEC member Ann Turner Cook (also known as the Gerber baby) on the publication of her fourth mystery novel, and to our art teacher, Frank Bolock, who did the cover art for the book. LEC hosted a combination book signing and art exhibition in June.
In the latest round of budget cuts by Hillsborough County, our county grant was reduced for the second time. Combining both cuts, our grant has been reduced a total of nearly 50%. Please be generous with your membership dues and donations. You are the people who will keep our doors open.
Happy summer, Everyone! Ronna Metcalf
Happy summer, Everyone! Ronna Metcalf
Executive Director's Column --- 1st Quarter 2009
As many of you know, I have been visiting our classes over the past two months talking about our vulnerability in this difficult economy. The Life Enrichment Center is seriously at risk. Over the past year, our grants have been cut drastically and funding is increasingly difficult to obtain. Unlike every other senior center in the Tampa Bay area, the Life Enrichment Center is not government funded. We are a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations, membership dues, class fees, and grants to keep our doors open.
On November 1, 2008, in a severe cost-cutting move to save the Center, I reduced our hours of operation from 8:00-5:00 to 8:30-3:30. We had to reduce our expenses and the only place I could do that was to cut our staff salaries. There is no fat in our budget. Our administrative expenses and overhead are extremely low.
Our staff and Board of Trustees are committed to keep the doors of this wonderful 29-year-old Center open for all of you who enjoy our classes and events. However, we cannot do this alone. If you want us to be here this time next year, now is the time to step up to the plate and help your Life Enrichment Center. Become a dues paying member. Invest in your own future in this community. It is predicted that the next year, and quite possibly longer, will continue to be a struggle for all non-profits. The smaller ones, such as the LEC, will struggle hardest and many will not be here a year from now. Encourage your children and grandchildren and extended families to support the Center. Give as generously as you can, as often as you can. Let's all work together to ensure that our Center is not one of the casualties of the economy.
Be sure to check our web site for information about our new classes at satellite locations, beginning in January. See our calendar descriptions for more information.
Tampa Museum of Art -
o Pages of My Life - life writing with Paula Stahel, Professional Historian
o Postcards to Prints - explore a variety of media with Debra Radke, MFA
Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay - Painting with Tim Gibbons
Ringling Museum of Art - Field Trip. Monday, February, 2009 Date to be announced . Call to register.
I wish you - and all of us - a better year ahead. Happy new year.
Ronna Metcalf
December 11, 2008 - It is with great sadness that I add this postscript to my column. Dell Baker, my valued Executive Assistant and my friend, died early this morning in Hospice care. I will miss you more than I can say, Dell. Yours was a life well lived.
My grateful thanks to Marty Bubley, Debra Radke, Tim Gibbons, Jayne Lisbeth, and Jocelyn Dickman, who helped me get through this difficult time.
As many of you know, I have been visiting our classes over the past two months talking about our vulnerability in this difficult economy. The Life Enrichment Center is seriously at risk. Over the past year, our grants have been cut drastically and funding is increasingly difficult to obtain. Unlike every other senior center in the Tampa Bay area, the Life Enrichment Center is not government funded. We are a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations, membership dues, class fees, and grants to keep our doors open.
On November 1, 2008, in a severe cost-cutting move to save the Center, I reduced our hours of operation from 8:00-5:00 to 8:30-3:30. We had to reduce our expenses and the only place I could do that was to cut our staff salaries. There is no fat in our budget. Our administrative expenses and overhead are extremely low.
Our staff and Board of Trustees are committed to keep the doors of this wonderful 29-year-old Center open for all of you who enjoy our classes and events. However, we cannot do this alone. If you want us to be here this time next year, now is the time to step up to the plate and help your Life Enrichment Center. Become a dues paying member. Invest in your own future in this community. It is predicted that the next year, and quite possibly longer, will continue to be a struggle for all non-profits. The smaller ones, such as the LEC, will struggle hardest and many will not be here a year from now. Encourage your children and grandchildren and extended families to support the Center. Give as generously as you can, as often as you can. Let's all work together to ensure that our Center is not one of the casualties of the economy.
Be sure to check our web site for information about our new classes at satellite locations, beginning in January. See our calendar descriptions for more information.
Tampa Museum of Art -
o Pages of My Life - life writing with Paula Stahel, Professional Historian
o Postcards to Prints - explore a variety of media with Debra Radke, MFA
Aston Gardens at Tampa Bay - Painting with Tim Gibbons
Ringling Museum of Art - Field Trip. Monday, February, 2009 Date to be announced . Call to register.
I wish you - and all of us - a better year ahead. Happy new year.
Ronna Metcalf
December 11, 2008 - It is with great sadness that I add this postscript to my column. Dell Baker, my valued Executive Assistant and my friend, died early this morning in Hospice care. I will miss you more than I can say, Dell. Yours was a life well lived.
My grateful thanks to Marty Bubley, Debra Radke, Tim Gibbons, Jayne Lisbeth, and Jocelyn Dickman, who helped me get through this difficult time.
Executive Director's Column --- 2nd Quarter 2009
I want to thank everyone who stepped up over the past few months and gave LEC your membership dues - many of you for the first time - and donations to help us to continue our program. But even as I thank you, I want to remind you again that it will take the concerted efforts of all of us who care about the Center to ensure that we survive these difficult economic times, both now and for the future. Do not become complacent. Every $25, $50, $100, $500 donation or more makes a difference.
I want to thank everyone who stepped up over the past few months and gave LEC your membership dues - many of you for the first time - and donations to help us to continue our program. But even as I thank you, I want to remind you again that it will take the concerted efforts of all of us who care about the Center to ensure that we survive these difficult economic times, both now and for the future. Do not become complacent. Every $25, $50, $100, $500 donation or more makes a difference.
Over the past 2 months the LEC has been fortunate to add 3 new members to our Board of Trustees. They have all had a relationship with the Center in one way or another over the years and each of them will be a valuable asset to our Board. I would like to welcome them and introduce them to you briefly, along with some comments about their interest in the LEC.
Dawn Johnson, Deputy Director of Programming, the Tampa Museum of Art; BA Art History, MA Health Care Administration. "I have worked with Ronna Metcalf to develop a programming partnership that brings members of Life Enrichment Center to the museum for satellite classes. I have been very impressed with the course content and the program outcomes."
Dawn Johnson, Deputy Director of Programming, the Tampa Museum of Art; BA Art History, MA Health Care Administration. "I have worked with Ronna Metcalf to develop a programming partnership that brings members of Life Enrichment Center to the museum for satellite classes. I have been very impressed with the course content and the program outcomes."
Dr. Cathy McEvoy, Ph.D., Professor and Director School of Aging Studies, USF; "As the Director of the School of Aging Studies at USF, I am very aware of the benefit that our community reaps from having a vibrant center where older adults can continually challenge themselves cognitively, as well as physically, emotionally, and socially. The research is becoming more and more clear on the benefits of maintaining cognitive stimulation, physical activity, and social interactions to reduce the risk of dementia and other health problems as we age."
Ezra Ochshorn, Information Specialist, Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI), USF; MSW; Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. "I have always had an interest in elder affairs. I have worked with elders in mental health settings. I have written about elder issues for newspapers and academic journals."
Ezra Ochshorn, Information Specialist, Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI), USF; MSW; Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. "I have always had an interest in elder affairs. I have worked with elders in mental health settings. I have written about elder issues for newspapers and academic journals."
Our Celebration of Life for Dell Baker was a wonderful tribute to her and all she accomplished in her life. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this a special day for Dell and her many, many friends who came and shared some wonderful and funny "Dell stories." Her portrait and photo collage are still here at the LEC. If you have not seen them, stop by. Thanks, too, to everyone who gave donations to the Center in Dell's memory.
Our classes have had a strong start this year. And our satellite classes at MOSI, the Tampa Museum of Art, Aston Gardens and Brighton Gardens continue to be successful and to enable more people to enjoy the benefits of our program. These classes are open to everyone. For more information, call the Center.
Be sure to see our Special Events at the end of our calendar. Our Forever Moving dance company will be performing once again at USF. Aston Gardens is hosting a big party and fundraiser to benefit the Life Enrichment Center. This will be a combination art show and sale, spoken word, with fun interactive events, refreshments, live music, and much more!
Be sure to see our Special Events at the end of our calendar. Our Forever Moving dance company will be performing once again at USF. Aston Gardens is hosting a big party and fundraiser to benefit the Life Enrichment Center. This will be a combination art show and sale, spoken word, with fun interactive events, refreshments, live music, and much more!
Happy Spring!
Ronna Metcalf
Ronna Metcalf
Executive Director's Column --- 3rd Quarter 2009
As most of you know, these are challenging times. They are especially difficult for private, non-profit organizations like the Life Enrichment Center. To give you a little background, our funding comes from a variety of sources: individual donations, membership dues, class fees and donations, grants, fundraisers, and civic or corporate sponsorships. Over the past two years, much of our funding has been either eliminated or reduced due to the economic decline. It is predicted by many experts that this will not change anytime soon.
As many of you know, our funding from Hillsborough County was cut twice in 2008-2009, by a total of 45%. If the Board of County Commissioners approves the current budget plan for 2010, the Life Enrichment Center will be cut again by an additional 25%, leaving us with less than half of our previous funding in 2007. The proposed budget would undoubtedly also affect our grant with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, since their funding from the County also has been cut. The current County budget plan for 2011shows the vast majority of grants, including the Life Enrichment Center and the Arts Council, being eliminated completely.
This is a time when many of us are being forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive. As most of you know, I lost my Executive Assistant in December. Last month, I was forced to make the difficult decision to eliminate our other staff position of Development Director. Because of our current economic situation, I have no plans to replace either of these positions at this time. I believe we will see many changes over the next two years as local and state funds continue to be cut. Many services will be reduced or eliminated. Non-profits, as well as for-profit businesses, will close. In fact, we are seeing that already. We are all going to have to think creatively in order to stay afloat in this economic storm.
Next year the Life Enrichment Center will celebrate our 30th year of service to this community. I will say once again, this is your Center. It belongs to you. I ask you to personally take ownership by supporting it in any and every way you can. Bring in new people - word of mouth is our best advertisement. Encourage your friends and families to make donations to the Life Enrichment Center and to attend our fundraisers. Give as much as you can as often as you can in any way that you can. If each of us pulls our own weight and takes on the responsibility to keep this Center open, it will be here for another 30 years.
Ronna Metcalf
As most of you know, these are challenging times. They are especially difficult for private, non-profit organizations like the Life Enrichment Center. To give you a little background, our funding comes from a variety of sources: individual donations, membership dues, class fees and donations, grants, fundraisers, and civic or corporate sponsorships. Over the past two years, much of our funding has been either eliminated or reduced due to the economic decline. It is predicted by many experts that this will not change anytime soon.
As many of you know, our funding from Hillsborough County was cut twice in 2008-2009, by a total of 45%. If the Board of County Commissioners approves the current budget plan for 2010, the Life Enrichment Center will be cut again by an additional 25%, leaving us with less than half of our previous funding in 2007. The proposed budget would undoubtedly also affect our grant with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, since their funding from the County also has been cut. The current County budget plan for 2011shows the vast majority of grants, including the Life Enrichment Center and the Arts Council, being eliminated completely.
This is a time when many of us are being forced to make difficult decisions in order to survive. As most of you know, I lost my Executive Assistant in December. Last month, I was forced to make the difficult decision to eliminate our other staff position of Development Director. Because of our current economic situation, I have no plans to replace either of these positions at this time. I believe we will see many changes over the next two years as local and state funds continue to be cut. Many services will be reduced or eliminated. Non-profits, as well as for-profit businesses, will close. In fact, we are seeing that already. We are all going to have to think creatively in order to stay afloat in this economic storm.
Next year the Life Enrichment Center will celebrate our 30th year of service to this community. I will say once again, this is your Center. It belongs to you. I ask you to personally take ownership by supporting it in any and every way you can. Bring in new people - word of mouth is our best advertisement. Encourage your friends and families to make donations to the Life Enrichment Center and to attend our fundraisers. Give as much as you can as often as you can in any way that you can. If each of us pulls our own weight and takes on the responsibility to keep this Center open, it will be here for another 30 years.
Ronna Metcalf