The new Johnson City Senior Synergy program, a consortium of educational organizations for seniors, was introduced to a packed house of partnership members at a Wednesday morning kick-off breakfast hosted by the Seniors’ Center.
Seniors’ Center Executive Director Sue Orr told the group the wide range of programming available at center will be enhanced through the sharing of resources, information, volunteers and mutual support for complimentary programs between the center and its new ETSU partners. “It’s a wonderful new program to kick off,” Orr said.
Representatives of the ETSU’s Retirees Association and Alliance for Continued Learning gave the group an overview of their programs and expressed similar enthusiasm for the new partnership. Richard Hayward, president of Alliance for Continued Learning that offers a bi-annual schedule classes for seniors on a wide range of topics, said the alliance brings about 230 members to the partnership and expects that number to grow because of it.
“There are no grades and no homework, just a great group of people who come together to learn,” Hayward said.
ETSU Retirees Association President Judith Bragg said the association incudes about 350 active members who primarily volunteer their time and resources to the service of ETSU students and who look forward to sharing programs, activities and information with their new Senior Synergy partners.
Dr. Wilsie Bishop, vice president of health affairs at ETSU, noted that for people looking at the local region as a place to retire, access to university’s health programs is a tremendous asset. “We look forward to working with you and we look forward to continuing to learn and grow together,” Bishop said.
Johnson City Mayor Jane Myron spoke of the success of an earlier partnership between the city and the ETSU College of Medicine Library that resulted in the development of a youth library at the city’s Carver Recreation Center. “This is the result of collaboration,” Myron said.
“You all make a difference in the life of everyone in Johnson City,” Myron said.
Assistant City Manager Charlie Stahl told the group that “any partnership with ETSU is a great partnership” and that the city is looking forward to “some great things” to come.
Dan Johnson with the Retirees Association extended the first invitation to a Johnson City Senior Synergy event, a “Medicare Part D Workshop” to be presented by ETSURA at the Seniors’ Center on Nov. 10.
More information about the Johnson City Senior Synergy partnership and its member organizations may be obtained by calling the Seniors’ Center 434-6237, ETSURA at 439-7498 or ETSUACL at 439-8298.