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| Last updated at 2:25 PM on 04/11/08 |
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(From left) Trina Mercer, the primary health care facilitator for the Coast of Bays; Margaret Rose, the link director for Central Newfoundland of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pensioners and Senior Citizens 50 Plus Federation; Joan Banfield, president of the 50 Plus Club in Harbour Breton and Ruth Priddle, the president of the 50 Plus Club in Milltown-Head Bay d'Espoir, at the meeting in Belleoram. |
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New 50 Plus Club for Coast of Bays 
CLAYTON HUNT
Coaster
The older residents of the Fortune Bay North area from Pool's Cove to Wreck Cove will soon have the opportunity to join a 50 plus club.
Thirty-eight residents from that area registered to form a 50 plus club following a meeting held at the Belleoram Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) # 55 on Saturday, Oct. 25. The meeting was supported by the Coast of Bays Primary Health Care, the Town of Belleoram and LOL # 55.
Trina Mercer, the primary health care facilitator for the Coast of Bays, was one of the key organizers of the meeting, and she said that the residents' desire for a 50 plus club in this area was brought out in the Belleoram economic forum held earlier this fall.
"The purpose of the meeting today was to provide interested seniors information about the many benefits of joining a 50 plus club. There's a misconception that members of a club only play cards and bingo. While a club does provide fun activities for its members, a club also provides sessions on physical activity and information sessions on such topics as elder abuse, identity theft and fraud," Ms. Mercer said. "Seniors can also learn about important health issues such as healthy eating and active living and bigger topics such as diabetes and Alzheimer's."
The keynote speaker at the meeting was Margaret Rose from Grand Falls-Windsor. Ms. Rose is the Link Director for Central Newfoundland of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pensioners and Senior Citizens 50 Plus Federation.
"A seniors' club is really about seniors helping each other. They also provide opportunities for socialization which helps people feel happy and good about themselves," Ms. Rose said. "A 50 plus club can provide regular social activities, recreation and support for its members. The clubs are great venues for older people to get out, have fun and to participate in some very meaningful programs that can lead to a better overall quality of life."
A number of residents said that they are looking forward to having a 50 plus club in their area.
"I think that a 50 plus club will be good for the whole region," George Hickey said. "It will give interested seniors the chance to get out of the house to meet and socialize with other seniors."
Lenus Lawrence said A 50 plus club, in addition to providing benefits from a social perspective, will also help seniors from a health perspective as well.
"The club can bring in professionals to encourage seniors to live a healthier lifestyle and I'm very interested in this aspect of a club," Mr. Lawrence said.
Other seniors said they're looking forward to meeting and interacting with other seniors in their area.
"I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to get out and meet people on a regular basis. I think a club can help seniors stay healthy in a number of ways," Emily Osbourne said.
"I like to be around people and I think I can be a positive member of a club. I'm really looking forward to the formation of our club and in meeting seniors from the area on a regular basis," Russell Hennigan said.
Ms. Mercer added that a follow-up meeting to the Oct. 25 meeting was scheduled to be held in Belleoram on Saturday, Nov. 1 to form the executive of the Fortune Bay North 50 Plus Club.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Pensioners and Seniors Federation was established in October 1978. There are 200 clubs in the province who are members of the Federation and more clubs are being formed annually.
The Federation's mandate is to lobby on behalf of agencies regarding important issues to ensure a good quality of life for seniors. The mandate also includes promoting healthy lifestyles, reaching out to older adults to prevent social isolation, and fostering partnerships between older adults and other organizations in the community.
The Federation also acts as an advocate for the rights of pensioners, acts in a coordinating advisory role with all member clubs in the Federation and is the official lobby group for seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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04/11/08
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