There continues to be lots of joy and laughter in our corridors, especially when members delight in describing the holiday trip they just completed or are about to embark on. Despite revenues being historically lower in the summer months, as many members tend to travel more, Treasurer Alison Kowalewski reported a strongly positive profit/loss statement at the last Board meeting. This speaks to the large number of members that we are still servicing with activities and the meal program.

At the top of our minds always is the health and safety of our members. To that end, our Health and Safety committee carries out monthly inspections highlighting any issues that need to be addressed. We are also in the early stages of commissioning a comprehensive building inspection of the Centre. We want to be proactive in identifying possible issues and our maintenance needs, rather than just reacting to any issue as it arises.

Safety is also addressed in another article in this issue reporting on the recent grant we have received from the Sunshine Coast Foundation for a new AED, first aid kits and training for staff and volunteers at the SSAC.

In recent weeks we have experienced some high outdoor temperatures. Heat can be a tremendous threat to seniors, especially when they have poor control over cooling in their residences. We are fortunate at the SSAC to have excellent air-conditioning. If you are struggling with the heat, please know that you are always welcome to come in and cool down. We are open on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. There is no need to partake in an activity or buy a meal. Feel free to come and relax in the lounge.

In last month’s report, I solicited for new Board members to fill the vacant Maintenance Director position, and a Director-at-large position. We are extremely happy to announce that Karen Madsen expressed interest and was ratified at the last Board meeting as the replacement Director-at-large. She is already the Chair of the Bus Committee, but it is exciting that she comes to us with a wealth of experience in special events planning on the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast. She is very excited to start planning, so look for announcements of events such as wine tastings in the near future.

We are now planning to start implementing the online MyActiveCenter portal to MySeniorCenter in September. We will be starting with pickleball and other after-hours activities. Instruction packages will be sent out to affected members during August. This will allow members to register into activities and add money to their personal WALLETS online. For pickleball, there will be a size limit for each session, as is done currently. Once this is working well for these groups it will be expanded and opened to all members and activities, who will receive instruction packages as we make the full use of the facilities of the system.

It has been a very warm summer so far and we are pleased that so many of our members are coming to the SSAC and hopefully do regard it as their “home away from home,” as they participate in activities, social events, have lunch, pick up enticing frozen meals, or just socialize and cool down.

Richard Ward