Garvey Senior Activity Center Council President Dale Taylor holds up a rendering of a new center plan as Vice President Margaret Forrest explains it. Photo by Dick Myers.
Leonardtown, MD — A permanent advisory group has been established to work with the Garvey Senior Center in Leonardtown–both the existing facility and the planned new one. The new Garvey Senior Activity Center Council is an offshoot of the Garvey Group, a citizen’s organization formed to advocate for the new center and which collected 3,288 signatures on a petition. The council has been approved by the Department of Aging and Human Resources.
A town hall discussion was held Nov. 16 at the center to discuss the new organization and solicit volunteer help for their mission. While furnishings are included in the budget for the new facility, Council President Dale Taylor said they would help raise money for whatever else is needed.
“Our primary mission is to make sure you have everything you need to keep you active in mind, body and spirit. We want you to be able to stay active, socialize and have fun!” she said.
The former Garvey Group had advocated for a 25,000 square-foot facility and presented plans for what that service would look like inside. They came up with the idea after visiting four other centers, including a model one in the Bowie/Laurel area.
The commissioners instead opted for an 18,000 square-foot facility with potential expansion in the future. Several people in the audience urged continued lobbying for a larger facility.
Director of the Department of Aging and Human Services Lori Jennings-Harris said the architect had not yet been chosen for the project, so what the new facility will look like is still open for discussion. She said whatever plans were developed would be vetted with the new council and the community.
The council is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit entity so they can begin a fund-raising effort. But short of that they are raising money to pay for the cost of integrating by raffling a full-size painting of the American flag. The drawing will be Jan. 6, 2016.
The council is also looking for voting and associate members. Voting members would have to attend a meeting on the first Wednesday of each month from 1-3 p.m. Associate member would just be available to help in whatever way they can.
Council officers in addition to Taylor are Vice President Margaret Forrest, Secretary Patricia Armstrong, Treasurer Patty Robrecht, and Parliamentarian Gail Murdock along with Bettie Broadhurst, Sam Brown, Barbara Brown, Beth Roth and Floyd Warren.
Anyone interested in being involved can call 301-475-4200, ext. 1072. The new council’s address is P.O. Box 446, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com