The Winkler Senior Centre held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) this week, with members and volunteers gathering to reflect on the past year and discuss the road ahead.
A decade of change and growth
Executive Director Nettie Dyck has been a part of the team at the Senior Centre for 10 years now and shared how that experience has treated her thus far.
“Oh, it's been amazing, the changes that we've been through, it's just so eye-opening to see what's happened in 10 years. The growth, just the difference...it's just been fantastic.”
Board Chair Peter Wieler sang Dyck’s praises, saying that, “She is the best. Her concern for people, especially vulnerable people, she’s the right person.”
When asked about the goals leading into this year’s AGM, Dyck said, “To share our information, to encourage [seniors] to keep coming and to show them the difference they're making here. They make these programs happen.”
She added that it’s not just senior attendance that keeps the programs running, but also that volunteers play a large part as well.
“It's just rewarding to know that we can keep providing the space and organizing the centre for them to be able to do the activities that they love.”
Change to a bylaw
One of the main changes on the agenda was a bylaw adjustment concerning board member terms.
Dyck explained, “The positions had to be changed and recycled every three years. This way the board can decide each year whether they want to keep their board chair or their treasurer or wherever, and they have a little more control to move that around or to keep it the same way with the way they want to do it.”
Wieler added that one of the main reasons for the change is that getting people involved is not always easy.
“I know the first meeting I went to, nobody wanted to be chair and then somebody nominated me, I accepted. But now they can’t get rid of me,” he laughed.
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Invitation to get involved
For community members looking to get involved, Dyck encouraged them to take the first step.
“Either come down to the centre, give us a call, and just, you know, don't hesitate. Don't be afraid. Sometimes the first, the biggest barrier sometimes is just walking through those doors. If it's a place you're not familiar with or you don't frequent, the best place to start, honestly, is our 9:00 coffee.”
She said that the coffee runs from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, meet friendly faces, and reassured folks that nobody sits alone.
“You'll make friends, I promise.”
As the meeting came to a close, Dyck expressed her appreciation to the community, saying, “Thanks to everyone, to our volunteers, to our members and participants, it's been a great year, and we look forward to the next one. Thank you.”