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Wednesday, April 3, 2002 Much activity at senior center By JANET
McGREGOR
The day I chose to drop by the Friendship Center of Fayette Senior Services was a busy one. I had mentioned to FSS Director Andy Carden that I would like to do a story on the center. He gave me an open invitation to stop by any time. Fortuitously, I randomly chose the day when Carol Edwards, a representative from the Area Council on Aging of the Atlanta Regional Commission, was visiting. It was also the day FSS members had scheduled their quarterly meeting. Edwards spent the morning visiting with the group, playing cards and observing. Prior to lunch Edwards and Carden called the group together for their quarterly meeting, held in the dining and activity area. A number of the seniors came to the center specifically to be on hand for the quarterly meeting. Carden opened the meeting with a few comments, then turned it over to Edwards. Edwards has been a regular visitor at FSS for over ten years and has watched the changes over the years. She told them how the Center looked when she first began monitoring the program, noting that staff members had volunteered their time and their families to wallpaper and paint and make the place more cheerful. She asked questions regarding their views on the Center and explained the role of the ARC in many of the day-to-day decisions and choices made by FSS. Her primary mission at the meeting was to determine whether the group would like to establish a more formal "site council" which would allow them some independence from Fayette Senior Services. She explained the concept, the advantages and the rules, then entertained questions. Ultimately, a vote was taken by FSS members regarding setting up a site council. They unanimously rejected changing their current status. Fayette Senior Services is subject to oversight by the Atlanta Regional Commission as they receive funding from the agency. FSS is a not-for-profit agency with 16 employees. All of the employees work on a part time basis with the exception of Carden. Numerous volunteers help in a wide assortment of areas.
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