Small Town News

Autumn is the best time for gatherings

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By the looks of things in the Sedona Community Center's calendar, it must be September. This is the month that heralds the resumption of orderly chaos. Neighbors are returning from their summer wanderings, meetings abound, reports are due, and SCC events are scheduled back-to-back.

Fall is a wonderful lime of community regathering, and we hope you'll be a part of that at one of our upcoming activities at the community center.

Tonight is the official kick off of the Sedona TimeBank. The center will be celebrating from 5 until 7 p.m. tonight with a community potluck. If you are already a member of the TimeBank, you are invited to come meet other members, rekindle some old relationships and discover some new ones. TimeBanking" is, at the end of the day, about weaving community.

If you are new to TimeBanking, come see who is already involved. TimeBankers are a vital, passionate group of folks who are dedicated to improving our community through relationship-building built upon service exchange.

If last week's front page article was successful in whetting your appetite, we welcome your attendance this evening to find out more about the Sedona TimeBank. An orientation program will be offered for those who are interested. Others are welcome to simply enjoy the fellowship, the food and the networking of new friends.

SCC will be supplying two award-winning caldrons of chili, one meaty and one vegetarian. The rest of the menu is up to our members. Finger food, salads and desserts are always enjoyed. Bring your best dish, including a serving utensil, to the table at 5 p.m.

In case your social card is already full this week, we've got another special event next Friday we invite you to attend.Come check out our Calendar Party. Two hours of socializing and hors d'oeuvres are on tap for the community's enjoyment. This program will also be from 5 to 7 p.m. and is free of charge.

Bob Coates, local professional photographer and SCC supporter extraordinaire, has created a beautiful photographic calendar for the year 2011. The project is called Flowers for Food, and each month highlights a different, and striking, floral image. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of these calendars are donated directly to the Meals on Wheels program at the Sedona Community Center.

Beyond the flower photographs, each month also features a local supporting business that has sponsored the project from its inception. Every month also features a local senior who shares particular words of wisdom and lessons learned from a long and rich life.

Sooner or later you're going to have to buy a calendar for

the new year. Why not make it a Flowers for Food calendar and support SCC's senior meals program at the same time? The calendars cost $12.50 or two for $20.

The evening will feature a video explaining the idea behind the project, some inspiring words from Coates and an exhibition of images ready for purchase. We will also have scrumptious hors d'oeuvres and desserts, a bit of music, and all of the featured seniors will be on hand to autograph their page of the calendar.

We hope you will drop by and join the fun. Buy a couple of early holiday gifts and have the satisfaction of supporting important local work.

SCC's social services include home-delivered Meals on Wheels delivered by a devoted fleet of volunteer drivers. This meal program also includes our unique Breakfast Club program at no cost. In addition to food, our volunteers deliver compassion and respect.

Our Community Lunch is served at the center Monday through Friday at noon. This program is made possible by our generous, award-winning kitchen staff and our civic-minded Restaurant Partners. Guests are greeted and served by volunteers. The cost is $3 for seniors, $6 for those under the age of 60.

Our Transportation program gives senior adults door-to-door service to the store, bank and doctor Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. They are also available to transport folks to and from our Community Lunch each day. Our professional drivers are the most kind and caring in the business.

Our Telecare program provides daily telephone calls to individuals in need of a wellness check seven days a week. This vital service is available free-of-charge to all Sedona-area residents and is provided by concerned volunteers.

For more information, to volunteer or to make reservations for our classes, events or social services, call 282-2834. We are located at the corner of Harmony Drive and Melody Lane in West Sedona.

Sedona Community Center column, written by Susan Barrington, executive director of the Sedona Community Center, appears every Friday in the Sedona Red Rock News.



Copyright 2010 Sedona Red Rock News, Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Sedona Red Rock News Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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