Fifty Plus History The Way We Were 25 Years Ago "Congratulations to Us" Ceil Winton, Co-President, Senior Friendship Club Some of us were the young parents of the children who went to Carey School before our temple was completely built. We are now grandparents and great-grandparents. I am one of the great-grandparents, as my two sons attended Sunday School at Carey School across the street. We, the surviving "bubbies" and some "zaidehs" now in our 80s and 90s, have such fond memories of our kids growing up together, and we, still good friends, kvell over the success of our children and grandchildren. At this time (1978), our first Rabbi, Sanford Rosen, (now Rabbi Emeritus) spoke to Marie Meyers, of blessed memory, about starting a new senior club as an auxiliary to our new Temple Beth El. Marie rounded up some of her men and women friends who then were in their 60s and 70s, and yes, some were in their 50s. We called ourselves "Beth El Fifty Plus Club." Marie became our first president and a short time later we grew to 135 members. A handful of us are still around and are still active members. Thanks to Marie's leadership and Rabbi Rosen's guidance, many other seniors joined. Ethel Goldbaum had been membership chair up until last year and still attends our meetings. The women were young enough to help out in the kitchen. They baked, served, made lunches and the men had their gin rummy games after lunch. The women played bridge, and Roma Auerback was our discussion leader. We all had a wonderful time. My father, who was 97 (the oldest member), was Corresponding Secretary. When he passed away in 1980, I became the new Secretary. I had been editor of our newsletter a year or two before, but we didn't have computers, and Ruth Spronz typed it every month. After she passed away, Joe Lerner did the typing. I am still, after all these years, writing it, but thank God, it is easier, though I still cut out pictures and paste them on. Our office staff has been very helpful putting it into the computer. Joe Lerner, too, has had his plate full as he is CoPresident with me, Treasurer and our Discussion Leader. Shirley Lerner has been our Recording Secretary now for many years, Josephine Berrick is our current Corresponding Secretary and Eva Dyson is our Membership Chair. We all work well together and so do our board members. Marie was President for three years, Bess Kruss for two years, then I was President and all through the years I've been Co-President, President, CoPresident, etc. I'm 85 and still baking the cakes every Thursday, setting up for refreshments with the help of Marilyn Levine and Paula Trubow, and not yet ready to retire. I'll stop when I drop! We are all in the twilight of our years and while we are not closing up shop yet, I would love to see a new "Mid-Life Group" started here. You could still play some golf, forget the trips, but plan to follow later in our footsteps, as you are the future senior group. (I can hear you say, "I'm not ready to," but you will be.) We want to leave our legacy and have you carry on a senior auxiliary. I would be happy to get you rolling. You will find our BEW, Brotherhood and clergy are an extended family. For those of you who are temple members, and are not familiar with us, we would welcome you or your parents or in-laws to visit us on Thursdays, except if we are on a day trip. We meet at temple at noon with a brown bag lunch (we do have lunches during the month which are listed in our senior newsletter) and we have programs each week, followed by a lively discussion group. Our membership is $10 a year and you pay 50 cents for cake and coffee. You can come three times for 50 cents a week and if you want to keep coming, but are still not sure if you want to join, you may keep coming for $1 each time. We have van transportation for door to door service for $3. The following are some of our achievements during the past 25 years: Supplied "Gates of Prayer" books to the Mills Hospital Chapel Help out at temple's Purim Carnival Hold Chanukah lunches and Passover Seders Entertained Asian group at a luncheon Support Samaritan House Had a wonderful Hat Show with taped songs representing the hats Give book dramatizations Honored members by putting up leaves on the Tree of Life Plant trees in Israel in memory and in honor of our loved ones Put on an Art Exhibit of our Seniors' art work Support Seder Sacks for needy at Passover Support our temple in financial ways Share cost of Kiddush Cups with BEW for B'Nai Mitzvah students Hosted Senior Shabbat Service and Oneg Made over 6,000 cookies for "To Make a Difference" Day Knit lap robes and shawls for the Jewish home and local nursing homes. (We provide the yarn and Genia Bam, Betty Simons and Miriam Suslow do the work.) This has been a lot to talk about...25 years of our beginning. Thank you for reading about us and while we celebrate our milestone now, may I wish you the same happy times here that we have enjoyed and are still enjoying. I want to thank the office staff, Lolli, Cindi, Kathy, Sharon and Vicki, and Pam, in the Gift Shop, for helping to make our 25th Anniversary Party such a success. For more information call Ceil Winton. Shalom.