UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 4, Page 7
September 23, 1993
New senior center effort involves entire community

     Visit the Newark Senior Center on Main Street and you're impressed by
the flurry of activity-not in isolated sections of the building-but in,
literally, every room, corner and space.
     Enthusiastic dancers move between cafeteria tables that have been
pushed aside to make room.
     Serious card players press up against folding tables squeezed amidst
overstuffed furniture in the entrance lounge.
     In small clusters, men and women line the hallways, waiting their turn
to conduct scheduled meetings in small rooms and nooks.
     It wasn't like this in 1967, when the center opened; members say it
didn't seem this congested even 10 years ago. But, today, they say, it's
getting worse -or better-depending upon one's perspective.
     Today's senior citizens are more active and more health conscious,
according to Margaret Catts, the center's executive director for 12 years.
     "Their interests and needs are changing dramatically," she added.
"Activities and services are growing that help to retain independence for
longer periods of time."
     The center aims to be a resource for any older person in the Newark
area, Catts said. To address the growing demands for additional space and
enhanced programming to meet their needs, a new $2.1 million Newark Adult
Resource Complex is scheduled to be built on land located off Marrows Road,
facing White Chapel Drive.
     The complex will include the main center building, Adult Fitness
Center (with an indoor fitness pool), a Gerontology Laboratory and an Adult
Day Care Center. Eventually, a continuing education/lifelong learning
facility also is planned. Landscaping, walkways and trails will be included
and used for outdoor activities and exercise.
     These new facilities, Catts said, also will be used by the city's
Parks and Recreation Department to continue programs now being offered by
the department at the Main Street location. The senior center and the parks
department have had a long-term partnership in the joint use of the current
facilities, she said.
     The parcel of land was secured through a cooperative agreement between
the University and the city. According to Thomas McFalls, senior campaign
director with MacIntyre Associates, the firm involved in fund-raising
assistance, the University gave the center approximately 3-1/2 acres and
the city donated a slightly smaller portion. The University has retained a
portion of land adjacent to the new complex, and it may one day be used to
build educational facilities for teaching programs related to gerontology.
     Currently, McFalls said, University student interns from several
areas, including communication, individual and family studies, sociology
and dietetics and nutrition, are involved with the center. Their
involvement will be enhanced by the new Gerontology Laboratory, which is
being built in the core of the new complex.
     When it was established 26 years ago, the Newark Senior Center had 46
members. There are now more than 1,700 members on the roster. The center's
new main building will be more than twice as large as the current
7,000-square-foot facility.
     The complex also will permit increased social activity and programming
associated with fitness, health care, education, field excursions and
recreation.
     A state-of-the-art kitchen will accommodate the varied nutritional
requirements of members, and will meet increasing demands placed on  the
vital Meals on Wheels Program that operates from the center.
     Construction is scheduled to begin next spring, with occupancy in
early 1995.
     Allen Smith, a vice president at Wilmington Trust Co. and the
Volunteer Campaign chairperson, said an enthusiastic response from
individuals, corporations, foundations and businesses has already resulted
in more than $1.4 million in pledges, or more than half of the campaign
goal.
     Smith described as "unprecedented" the $82,500 in donations
contributed by Newark Senior Center members themselves.
     "The list of individual donors and those involved in campaign
leadership positions," Smith said, "reads like a list of 'Who's Who' of
Newark. It also includes a number of long-time and well-respected faculty
and families associated with the University."
     Both current University employees and retirees have been involved in
the fund-raising campaign, donor solicitations and behind-the-scene
operations.
     Don Crossan, former dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, and
Paul Becker, former assistant to the treasurer in the Insurance Department,
serve as campaign Advisory Board chairpersons.
     Wilbert Shanor, former executive assistant to the dean of arts and
science, and his wife, Georgia, co-chair the campaign Membership Gifts
campaign.
     John T. Brook, vice president for government and public relations, is
University of Delaware chairperson.
     William Keene, special assistant for the University/School/ Community
Partnerships in the Office of the Provost, is Special Gifts chairperson.
     Crossan, who has been active in the campaign planning for several
months, said, "The University and Newark Senior Center current and planned
cooperative programs-involving faculty, professionals and students-are
excellent examples for other educational and service institutions to
follow. Support from the University community will continue to make this a
win-win proposition for all of us."
     Brook, who is responsible for coordinating the University's
involvement in the campaign, said a letter would soon be sent to area
retirees, informing them of the center's fundraising efforts and giving
them information on how to contribute if they are interested.
     Current salaried staff, professionals and faculty, who also reside in
the Newark area, will be sent informational materials as well.
     "Many of the University employees who live in the Newark area consider
this a very worthwhile project," Brook said. "Some of our former employees
and retirees are active members at the center, and some are involved in the
present fund-raising effort in a very direct manner.
     "We believe it is in the interest of the community, and to the benefit
of many of our employees, to publicize the Newark Senior Center's campaign
and let our employees decide to what extent they individually may wish to
be involved," Brook said.
                                        -Ed Okonowicz