Athletic Project Too Good To Fail
Spokane will host the 2000 Washington State Senior games after all.
But the decision to stage the officially sanctioned, statewide qualifying event for next year’s National Senior Games was far from a slam-dunk.
When board members of the Senior Assistance Fund of Eastern Washington (SAFE) sat down to debate whether to underwrite, organize, and mount the senior games in 2000, directors were extremely dubious.
Upward of 350 senior athletes paid to compete in this year’s Spokane games last month. Hundreds more took part in a weeklong round of free activities for seniors and their families.
SAFE produced the Spokane games this year as a fund-raiser to help meet the nutritional needs of elderly shut-ins underserved by existing programs providing just one meal a day. But instead of making money to help further that mission, the nonprofit charitable organization lost $18,000. The only thing that bailed the charity out was a last-minute anonymous gift of $35,000.
Board members (myself included) were about ready to pull the plug on next year’s senior games. But following lengthy debate, we instead voted unanimously to try again.
The consensus: This is just too good a project to fail. It combines healthful athletic events and a wide range of other socializing opportunities, with the ultimate goal of filling a growing gap in funding for critical seniors programs.
So businesses will soon receive promotional packages that point out the benefits in terms of publicity and good will among the 50 and over crowd that are possible by becoming a financial partner in producing next year’s big show.
Meantime, area seniors programs could soon face still greater financial constraints, reports the top official at Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington.
Nick Beamer, executive director of the umbrella agency for many elder services in a five-county region centered in Spokane, warned directors of SAFE that I-695, an issue on the November ballot to slash vehicle license fees, could also end up slashing services.
Other seniors groups, too, are taking positions against the initiative. The Senior Legislation Coalition of Eastern Washington recommends that members “consider voting against I-695 because it might adversely affect a wide range of state services to the elderly and others.”
AARP-Idaho will stage two free public forums on retirement security programs of the federal government Oct. 15 at Cavanaughs Templin’s Resort in Post Falls.
A panel of experts will discuss the “Medicare in the Next Millennium” from 2 to 4 p.m. The discussion will turn to “Social Security - Options for Reform” from 7 to 9 p.m.
Roger Young of AARP-Idaho said the sessions are being held in Post Falls for two reasons: “There will be more available parking, and people from the Spokane area may be more inclined to attend.”
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