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Avis Spike (left) takes her spot at the piano as Clark Spike rounds up the seniors for a sing-along last week.
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Kim Martini has spent most of her adult life preparing for her current job.
Eight months ago, the Webster Township resident became director of the Dexter Senior Center with a Bachelor's degree in Gerontology and a Masters in Business Administration hanging on the wall behind her.
Directing the Dexter Seniors program is a year-round job. It's not like having the summer off from teaching, it's 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, all year, except for federal holidays.
Membership in the Senior Center runs about 215-220 nearly all of the time. The attendees vary in their participation by classes or activities and by the time of year. Some are present during the fall and winter, while others appear only in spring and summer, due to seasonal residence changes and ability to get to the Center.
The purpose of the Senior Center is to provide a social setting for conversation, assistance with things like Medicare questions, medical questions and referrals.
"People tend to gravitate to things for children, but the folks who come to the Senior Center have spent their lives building this community and it's time to give back to them," Martini said.
Volunteer teachers come in at various times which gives the center a fairly wide selection of activities. Martini has added a yoga class taught by Patty Ann Hart on Wednesdays, a Tai Chi class on Tuesdays,a watercolor painting class on Wednesdays and an acrylic painting class on Thursdays.
Ages of the seniors range from the 55 required to be a member and somewhere in the 90's. Because of the variety of classes andactivities, there really is something for everybody.
Probably the most dedicated group is the exercise class, which meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, taught by Sharon Wheeler.
Sharing space in the Senior Center is the Meals on Wheels program which provides meals to 55 home-bound folks in the area and lunch for about 12 to 15 seniors each day who pay a small amount for it.
With state funding cut last year, the Senior program in Dexter and other places, has become self supporting, relying on donations and volunteer assistance. Even Girl Scouts get into the action, earning awards for such things as program assistance and taking oral histories.
Whether it's learning, relaxing or playing games, the center has the support of the townships of Webster, Scio, Dexter, and the Village and community people and service organizations. This, along with the $20 a year membership fee, helps keep things going.
Martini is the only paid staff person and the assistance of volunteer teachers, helpers, or monetary supporters is the juice that keeps things going.
Transportation is a big problem for many seniors. The WAVE bus brings folks in each day at various times, but they all leavetogether to make it easier.
Village Council meetings are held in the Senior Center, and a couple of other groups rent the space from time to time after program hours.
Membership, as one would expect for the age group, is primarily women, many widows. There are 15 husband and wife combinations, including fairly new members Avis and Clark Spike.
Avis is an accomplished pianist and accompanies the sing-alongs with support from Clark.
Martini is enjoying her still new job - the games, the classes, the activities. She is helped by a Senior Council she formed which comes up with ideas, or explores new possibilities and decides which seem "do-able."
A complete schedule of the programs and activities at the Senior Center is available by stopping off during open hours at 7720 Ann Arbor Street. For more information, call 1-734-426-7737.
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