Episode 111

full
Published on:

30th Apr 2024

Senior Citizens Activities, Inc. with Paula Hader

Staying active and social are the keys to staying physically and mentally healthy into your later years. Paula Hader joins me this week to talk about Senior Citizens Activities, Inc. and their upcoming Fun & Fit Games for 50+ers event, which is coming up starting May 20th through June 7th, 2024.

Mentioned in this episode:

If you like the show, please consider subscribing at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.

New episodes on Tuesday.

Thanks for listening!

Website • Facebook • Instagram

Transcript
Fuzz Martin:

Hello and welcome to my show called Fifteen Minutes

2

:

with Fuzz, which is rarely 15

minutes, but is always with Fuzz.

3

:

My name is Fuzz Martin.

4

:

Yes, I am the guy who

used to be on the radio.

5

:

Yes, it was 13 years ago this year.

6

:

Yes, that means you and I are both

getting old, but don't worry about it.

7

:

You look great.

8

:

I hope you feel great too.

9

:

This show is about positive things

happening in and around Washington

10

:

County, and this week we feature an

organization that is doing a lot of

11

:

positive things around Washington

County for those who are 50 plus.

12

:

Paula Hader, the executive director

for Senior Citizens Activities, Inc.,

13

:

joins me this week to talk about

their organization, their mission,

14

:

who they serve, and their upcoming

fun and fit games for 50 Plusers

15

:

event, which is coming up in May.

16

:

With that, here are 15 minutes on

Senior Citizens Activities, Inc.

17

:

With Paula Hader on

Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

18

:

Paula, thank you for joining me today.

19

:

I appreciate you coming to the studio.

20

:

Paula Hader: Thanks, Fuzz.

21

:

Fuzz Martin: So let's start with a little

game of what it is and what it isn't.

22

:

So what is Senior Citizens

Activities, Inc., and what is Fuzz?

23

:

A common misconception about it.

24

:

Paula Hader: Yes.

25

:

Excellent question.

26

:

Thank you for that.

27

:

Senior Citizens Activities is a

nonprofit organization that was born,

28

:

born or came to be back in 1969.

29

:

We were incorporated and it was as

a result of Nancy Merring, who was

30

:

President of the Junior Women's

Club at that time and her and her

31

:

other friends in the community had

noticed that there was a need for

32

:

seniors and something for them to do.

33

:

And so it was because of her

inspiration and her wisdom and

34

:

her leadership that we came to be.

35

:

So it was incorporated,

as I said, in:

36

:

And it's, It did its thing over the

years, and so all of a sudden here we

37

:

are, 2024, and I'm realizing it's 57

years old, so a lot of things going on,

38

:

it really served its purpose, it used

to be located in the Washington Street

39

:

building, which is now no longer there.

40

:

No longer in existence and we

were fortunate from the history I

41

:

understand is that, uh, the county

didn't charge us anything for the

42

:

space over there and they actually

printed our newsletters for us besides.

43

:

So that was a nice plus.

44

:

Fuzz Martin: So, you've kind of begun

to change the, the perception of what

45

:

the Senior Citizens Activities, Inc.

46

:

is from kind of that, I forgot how you put

it in the email, but really to, to become

47

:

more for those who are active, right?

48

:

So, can you tell me?

49

:

What is your mission and who are you

aiming to accommodate in the community?

50

:

Paula Hader: Certainly, yes.

51

:

Our mission is to enrich the lives

of anyone 50 years old and older.

52

:

And whether that's through

wellness, fitness, education, social

53

:

interaction, recreation, and community

involvement, civic involvement.

54

:

So, last week was a big deal with the

Volunteer Center and all of our services.

55

:

Volunteers who had contributed

to an awesome year in:

56

:

Fuzz Martin: So you had

a lot of visits in:

57

:

Tell us about that.

58

:

You hadn't.

59

:

Yes.

60

:

How many people attended your activities?

61

:

Paula Hader: Yes.

62

:

We, we do track how people come

to the center and for what.

63

:

And so we had 20, 000 visits

in:

64

:

considering we have a very lean staff.

65

:

It's myself.

66

:

and a part time person.

67

:

And so, it's, incredible.

68

:

We're, you know, we're dealing with

Arts and souls and human beings,

69

:

not something, like pieces of paper

we're pushing around or whatever.

70

:

So it's, it takes that extra

special touch when people come to

71

:

be able to have conversations with

them and meaningful conversations.

72

:

Fuzz Martin: So, doing some research on

Senior Citizens Activities and just simply

73

:

going to your website and looking at, one

of your, your, PowerPoint presentations

74

:

that you had, you had made, your Senior

Citizens Activities is reaching people

75

:

who are not needing active care, right?

76

:

It's, it's meant for people who are,

you know, wanting to stay social and fit

77

:

in the community and things like that.

78

:

Or is that, that's, am

I right in saying that?

79

:

Paula Hader: That's a

really excellent question.

80

:

So we serve actually three different

generations of seniors, so to speak.

81

:

So.

82

:

Some time ago, the bylaws were switched

so we could accept those who were 50 plus.

83

:

And I think that's what made the huge

difference as we built on that and

84

:

gave us a window to expand and to grow.

85

:

And so, That's, that's huge.

86

:

But what we're, we are looking

for people to join us who are

87

:

happy and healthy and independent.

88

:

For example, those folks coming

off of, retirement, whether it's

89

:

forced or chosen, they're just

looking to reinvent their life.

90

:

And, they're just not

some, they're not all.

91

:

Just don't know where to go, what to do,

how to get engaged, how to get involved.

92

:

And so we offer basically all

levels of getting involvement

93

:

and to the level that they want.

94

:

But I always encourage folks to just come

on in, check us out, see what we got.

95

:

And, it, it all seems to go from there.

96

:

Fuzz Martin: So what kind of, you know,

What activities or things do people do

97

:

for that socializing, staying active,

preventing those crises and that kind of

98

:

stuff with the Senior Citizens Activities?

99

:

Paula Hader: That's a perfect question.

100

:

Thanks, Fuzz.

101

:

We have all kinds of tabletop activities.

102

:

Some people love sheepshed and games

and whatnot, all that type of thing,

103

:

but really, where we're really expanding

into is some pretty incredible painting

104

:

classes, used glass classes, so much

more and beyond that, the artsy, craftsy

105

:

kinds of things that folks used to do.

106

:

It's so much more in that respect.

107

:

And also, some of these tabletop games

is, Mahjong, which is really supposed

108

:

to be, you know, West Bend, Kewaskum,

Slinger, Noelle Braun, West Bend,

109

:

Kewaskum, Slinger, Noelle Braun, We

also have a floor yoga for the folks

110

:

who still want to get down on the

floor and can get up and do that.

111

:

We have pickleball, we have ping pong,

we have so much going on, a big, I mean

112

:

so much of it is popular, the pickleball

of course, but the line dancing.

113

:

Has been incredible.

114

:

The amount of people wanting to line dance

and our ladies who instruct are so very

115

:

good that on a Friday morning, they'll

tell people, Hey, come 15 minutes ahead

116

:

of time, we're happy to work with you

just to get you comfortable so you can

117

:

join in with the class, do a little bit

of a refresher here or there as well.

118

:

Fuzz Martin: So, for those who weren't

in attendance at the Volunteer Center

119

:

of Washington County's Champions of

Change event, there was the beginning

120

:

line dance group there that danced

and say, how many women were there?

121

:

It was probably 15 or so?

122

:

Yes,

123

:

Paula Hader: I'm going to guess 12 to 15.

124

:

Fuzz Martin: And they had so much fun

and they were so much fun to watch and

125

:

they, they looked like they were just very

passionate about what they were doing.

126

:

So it was, it was really cool to see.

127

:

Yes.

128

:

How involved with that they were.

129

:

And that's all through the senior

citizen's activities, right?

130

:

Paula Hader: Exactly.

131

:

Exactly.

132

:

So.

133

:

Fuzz Martin: And to your point,

the instructors were also very

134

:

proud and very engaged with them.

135

:

So can you share a success story or?

136

:

Steve Harris, I know a testimonial

for someone who has, you know,

137

:

benefited or told you about how their

experience with your organization

138

:

has helped them in our community?

139

:

Paula Hader: Certainly, certainly.

140

:

There's a gentleman that comes to my mind.

141

:

I won't name any names.

142

:

However, he had sought out our senior

center probably, five, seven years ago.

143

:

I'm going on eight years

now at the senior center.

144

:

And I remember seeing that gentleman

and you know, And, we talked one

145

:

day and he said that he thought

this was going to be the end of him,

146

:

meaning this is the age he's at, and

he thought, this is going to be it.

147

:

I can't do anything anymore.

148

:

Well, he really got involved here

at the center doing, you know,

149

:

YMCA led classes, this and that.

150

:

He's got involved in chair yoga

and floor yoga, and he's just, he's

151

:

been such a model to people of.

152

:

What can be when you think, just when you

think, I can't even ride a bike anymore.

153

:

He's doing that now and he's, he's built

up his balance and his health and to

154

:

me he's always been so inspirational.

155

:

That really thought, you know, way back

when he thought he had to just hang it up.

156

:

And so,

157

:

Fuzz Martin: sure.

158

:

And then, you know, those kind of

things help prevent him from, you know,

159

:

Ending up in a hospital or running, you

know, having those expenses and helps

160

:

keep him healthy and stronger both

mentally and physically longer, right?

161

:

Paula Hader: Yes.

162

:

And it was, yeah, it's movement key.

163

:

I can't say it enough that

movement is really key.

164

:

And at one point in time, this

gentleman was being approached by

165

:

other Folks at the center saying, are

you sure you're not doing too much?

166

:

Because he wanted to go

and go and go and go.

167

:

And he just, you know,

he had to do it his way.

168

:

And then he came to the point where

he realized, yeah, you're right.

169

:

You know, I don't need to, do everything.

170

:

It's finding the balance,

which is what we also stress.

171

:

You know, make sure you have balance

in the social life, physical,

172

:

all those things that we need

to keep that balance going on.

173

:

Fuzz Martin: Certainly.

174

:

So.

175

:

You have an upcoming event for

Senior Citizens Activities.

176

:

It's called Fun and Fit

Games for 50 plussers.

177

:

Can you tell us about the event,

because it sounds like a lot of fun,

178

:

and it sounds like you've got a lot

of different things planned for this.

179

:

Paula Hader: Yes, I'm

so excited about this.

180

:

It's Yeah, Fun and Fit

Games for 50 plussers.

181

:

It's our first time ever, I believe,

in Washington County that this is

182

:

happening, and so we are, it's a two,

it's a three week, excuse me, three week

183

:

long event from May 20th to June 7th,

and we're having all kinds of activities

184

:

that people within the community,

you do not have to be a participant,

185

:

it's you can come from far and wide.

186

:

Again, we are all inclusive.

187

:

We don't exclude other counties, but

there's going to be opportunities

188

:

for people to, uh, play pickleball.

189

:

Whether on their own or at a structured

place, uh, there's gonna be a swimming

190

:

relay, a sheepshed tournament,

of course, have to have that.

191

:

A cornhole is gonna be over

at Kingpin Bowling, disc golf,

192

:

bowling, mahjong, ping pong.

193

:

Some of those things are gonna

be held at our, Center as well.

194

:

But the idea is people sign up,

they get themselves a t shirt,

195

:

a swag bag, and they also get a

wonderful, fun looking scorecard.

196

:

So we're going to be looking to them

to be honest on their scorecard.

197

:

Fuzz Martin: Oh, it's

like golf here, isn't it?

198

:

Right.

199

:

Paula Hader: Right.

200

:

Here we go.

201

:

So we'll look forward to having them

keeping their scores and then the very

202

:

last day of the event, which is Friday.

203

:

Again, a three week long event

will be at Cedar Community.

204

:

Cedar Ridge has a campus, the

Independent Living Campus,

205

:

and they have a swimming pool.

206

:

So, there'll be swimming laps,

swimming relays that afternoon, and

207

:

then the closing ceremony will also

be at Cedar Ridge in their Grand Hall

208

:

because for the closing ceremony, we're

going to have food and celebration

209

:

and awards and things like that.

210

:

Fuzz Martin: So, awesome.

211

:

I was curious about where all these

events are because I didn't think

212

:

everybody was going to be swimming in.

213

:

at Regner Park in May.

214

:

Right, right.

215

:

Not yet.

216

:

But, so, obviously this kind of coincides

with the Olympics happening this year, but

217

:

this is the first year of this happening?

218

:

Paula Hader: Yes, this is the first

year and I had heard that Ozaukee

219

:

County is going on their 28th I

thought, why is West Bend not doing one?

220

:

So, I put my plea out to the West Bend

Chamber with their leadership group, and

221

:

we presented our project as something some

of the leaders could grab and run with.

222

:

And so they joined forces

with us, and its gonna happen.

223

:

Fuzz Martin: All right.

224

:

And they just graduated from their, Yes.

225

:

Their leadership class.

226

:

Yes.

227

:

Right?

228

:

So.

229

:

Yes.

230

:

Paula Hader: and all those.

231

:

I'm really excited, and then I'm also

on the AARP Steering Committee here, now

232

:

that West Bend is AARP affiliated, and

our committee had agreed to carry the

233

:

torch, if you will, moving forward, uh,

because this is a lot for our community.

234

:

One employee and a halftime

employee to pull off every year.

235

:

So we're looking forward to getting

that extra support and we think a

236

:

lot more people are going to jump

in the ring and help us make it

237

:

bigger and better all the time.

238

:

So I look forward to the year when I can

hear that West Bend is in it for 28 years.

239

:

Fuzz Martin: So how does someone become

a part or take part in this event?

240

:

Do they have to sign up on your

website or how do they get registered?

241

:

Paula Hader: That's a

really good question, Fuzz.

242

:

Thanks so much.

243

:

We've got a variety of

different ways people can.

244

:

Simply come to the Senior Center, and

we're located, by the way, across the

245

:

parking lot from Steingarden Center, right

within Kettlebrook Church, and we have

246

:

sign up sheets there, and basically you

pay 10, which is going to entitle you to

247

:

a size of, your size of a t shirt, which

has got the logo on it, as well as a

248

:

swag bag, and then also your scorecard.

249

:

People can go to our website.

250

:

West Seniorcitizensactivities.

251

:

org and also find a form they could

download and send and mail in and that.

252

:

There's different ways, probably on

Facebook there's something as well.

253

:

The other one I would say is that

evening of, so Monday, May 20th.

254

:

If people, it says the games,

opens up at five o'clock.

255

:

Really, we'll have tables there to take

late registrations, and that's when people

256

:

would get their additional items as well.

257

:

And right then and there that

night, there's a 5k walk and run.

258

:

So either way, they're off and

running, whatever works, we're

259

:

happy to help them get started.

260

:

Fuzz Martin: So it all starts on May 20th.

261

:

Paula Hader: It all starts on

May 20th, and just to be clear,

262

:

a lot of people think, oh my

gosh, I can't do all those items.

263

:

It's like, no, you get to

pick and choose what you want.

264

:

Your points still rack up, but it's a,

Located, the activities are located a

265

:

variety of different places in West Bend.

266

:

As I mentioned, Kingpin Bowling is

helping with bowling as well as cornhole.

267

:

We've got, mini golf and golf happening.

268

:

People can go to West Bend Lakes or

to, now that it's called Stingers, I'm

269

:

looking forward to going there as well.

270

:

Pickleball, that's off site at Kwas Creek.

271

:

We do have some things going

on right at our Senior Center,

272

:

obviously, to bring people in to

see if they like what's going on.

273

:

They're going to be, playing Mahjong.

274

:

We're going to have some ping

pong going on, as well as some

275

:

dominoes, serious dominoes.

276

:

Fuzz Martin: All right.

277

:

Yes.

278

:

Sounds intense.

279

:

Paula Hader: Yes.

280

:

Fuzz Martin: Well, this is all great.

281

:

So now, you, you mentioned that people

don't have to be a member of Senior

282

:

Citizens Activities to take part in this,

but if somebody wanted to be a member

283

:

of Senior Citizens Activities, how?

284

:

Do they get involved with that?

285

:

Is there a cost to it?

286

:

How do they sign up?

287

:

Paula Hader: Really good question.

288

:

Thanks, Fuzz.

289

:

How it works is we do not have

memberships, so there's no membership fee.

290

:

We have participants, and people,

once they sign up as a participant,

291

:

and it's very simple information,

basically, just so we know.

292

:

Who to call for your emergency contact

should something happen to you.

293

:

It's that simple to sign up.

294

:

And so once we get that information,

we input you in our system.

295

:

No, no participant fees.

296

:

Well, I shouldn't say that.

297

:

No membership fees, excuse

me, but participants pay.

298

:

We're on a pay as you go system.

299

:

And so that works really well.

300

:

If somebody just wants to come

and play their sheep's head, it's

301

:

two bucks for every time they pay.

302

:

And then the various classes

and other things, you know,

303

:

depending on supplies for classes.

304

:

Fuzz Martin: And it's, yeah, because

that stuff's not free and it pays

305

:

to keep that going and get punished.

306

:

Paula Hader: And what we do

is we strive to be affordable.

307

:

There's so many things to do

out there, but is it affordable?

308

:

And that's where we really want to

ring true because we want to serve

309

:

those people who are on fixed incomes

and have situations where they just

310

:

don't have All the money in the

world to go do what they want to do.

311

:

Fuzz Martin: Sure.

312

:

And again, it's seniorcitizensactivities.

313

:

org.

314

:

Yes.

315

:

Right?

316

:

Paula Hader: Yes.

317

:

Fuzz Martin: And you're located

in the, across from Stein's.

318

:

That is

319

:

Paula Hader: correct.

320

:

The parking lot from Stein

Gardens, if you look right across.

321

:

Fuzz Martin: Yeah.

322

:

Kettlebrook Church, right?

323

:

Paula Hader: Within

Kettlebrook Church, yes.

324

:

Fuzz Martin: Okay.

325

:

Very good.

326

:

Well, Paula, Anything else you want people

to know about Senior Citizens Activities?

327

:

Paula Hader: I would just say,

yes, come on, check us out.

328

:

We've got more.

329

:

We, there's no other organization

like this in our entire region.

330

:

So, just come on over, check it out.

331

:

I love people's new ideas and

energies because it helps me to

332

:

continue to grow our programming.

333

:

Fuzz Martin: Alright, very good.

334

:

Well, Paula, thanks so much for

what you do for the community,

335

:

and thanks for coming in today.

336

:

Paula Hader: Thanks for having me, Fuzz.

337

:

Fuzz Martin: Thanks again to Paula Hader

of Senior Citizens Activities, Inc.

338

:

for joining me on this week's

edition of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

339

:

The Fun and Fit Games for 50

plusers event sounds awesome.

340

:

In fact, I'm turning 46 later this

year, and I've already started

341

:

training for the 2029 Summer Games.

342

:

So watch out, y'all.

343

:

That said, I, I haven't played

Sheapshead since college, and I

344

:

lost horribly to Noelle Isley.

345

:

Every year in college, when

playing sheep's head, he

346

:

was, I think he was cheating.

347

:

If you ever have an idea

for the show, reach out.

348

:

FifteenWithFuzz at gmail.

349

:

com.

350

:

Spell out the word fifteen.

351

:

FifteenWithFuzz at gmail.

352

:

com.

353

:

Or go to fuzz.

354

:

cc slash guest.

355

:

That is fuzz.

356

:

cc slash guest.

357

:

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

YouTube at FifteenWithFuzz.

358

:

com or wherever you prefer to

listen to these kinds of things.

359

:

Hit the follow button and you'll be

notified on Tuesdays, because that's

360

:

when new episodes of this show comes out.

361

:

And with that, we'll talk to

you next Tuesday, right here

362

:

on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz

About the Podcast

Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz
Showcasing the positive things happening in Washington County, Wisconsin.
Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz is sheds light on all the great things going on in and around Washington County, Wisconsin. The host, Fuzz Martin, is a local business owner (EPIC Creative) and a former radio personality (92.5 WBWI - now Buzz Country). New episodes launch on Tuesday mornings. https://fifteenwithfuzz.com

Whether you're in West Bend, Kewaskum, Slinger, Hartford, Germantown, Richfield, Jackson, or anywhere else in the area, 15 Minutes with Fuzz serves the community with fun and positive people, places, events, and attractions.

About your host

Profile picture for Fuzz Martin

Fuzz Martin

Fuzz Martin is a partner and Chief Strategy Officer at EPIC Creative in West Bend, Wis.