Rock County Senior Citizens are now known as “Generations,” as indicated on the new sign on their building at East Lincoln Street.
“It’s a new name and a new image,” said George Bonnema, president of Generations (formerly Senior Citizens).
He uses the new name in as many references as possible in order to get the public used to the idea of the group’s transformation.
“In the public’s eye, a senior citizen refers to a person 90-plus years old,” he said.
“Generations includes the 50-year-olds, those who are 60, 70 and 80 — and yes, those who are 90. We want to be inclusive, and our new name says we are.”
Neva Claussen, 91, has been with the organization for 40 years and remembers the heyday of members who began their careers in post-war era and retired in the 70s.
When the Senior Citizens organized in the early 1970s, the group was a popular way to connect socially at a time when there weren’t that many other options.
She glances wistfully at the old Lincoln Hotel building that once housed card tournaments, quilting bees, birthday parties and regular social gatherings.
“It’s bittersweet,” Claussen said when asked about the changes afoot. “It’s a historic building.”
The two-story structure attached to the dining hall is on the chopping block to make way for the new Generations building.
“Back in the day, we’d have 140 people for the noon meal,” Claussen said. “One hundred fifty if it was a special occasion like Veterans Day.”
On Friday last week 14 people ate at the senior meal site.
And it’s not for lack of good food (it’s home-cooked, hot, balanced meals).
It’s because today’s seniors don’t see themselves as seniors and don’t want to associate with an organization they don’t feel part of.
“So many people still think they’re too young to join,” Claussen said.
Need for nutrition
And that’s a shame in a community where a majority of seniors are food insecure, Bonnema said.
“I am aware of many people who could and should be — but are not — participating in our meals on wheels or daily meal site nutritional programs,” he said.
“Statistics reveal that 1 of every 12 retirement-aged adults is food insecure and 80 percent of those food insecure individuals are not receiving home-delivered meals or participating in congregate meals.”
This alone shows the need to improve the local program and meal site participation, but another study shows 1 in 5 retirement age adults feels lonely.
“We have the capacity to alleviate those issues, but many potential individuals are not taking advantage of what is available to them,” Bonnema said.
The suggested price at Luverne’s meal site is $4.50 but diners pay what they can afford to pay, and SNAP and EBT programs are also accepted as payment.
Home-delivered meals are available to people living in communities outside of Luverne but within Rock County.
“We are trying to find ways to get more people involved because more people bring more people,” Bonnema said. “Invitation is one of the keys to reaching out.”
Funding is attached to need, which is demonstrated by numbers
Another reason it’s so important to increase the number of Generations members and meal site users is that funding is attached to participation.
“The more people we have participating, the more rent we receive,” Bonnema said.
He explained how it works:
•Generations members own the building and are responsible for the payment of utilities, insurance and maintenance.
•Lutheran Social Services provides all elements of the food service, hiring the cooks, buying the food, setting the menu and paying the site manager.
•Lutheran Social Services pays Generations rent for use of the facility on a per meals basis. “The more people we have participating, the more rent we receive,” Bonnema said. “The expenses paid by Generations remains the same regardless of the number of participants.”
•Meal payment goes to Lutheran Social Services, not to the local Generations group, which relies on participation numbers for its rent.
Attracting more (and younger) Generations members
“That is a key factor in being sustainable,” Bonnema said.
“We have been on a mission to increase the number of Generation members for a couple of specific reasons,” he said:
•more members means more income (dues are $10 per year),
•more members shows interest in the program.
“This is very impressive on grant applications and we need grant funds to help reach the $2 million price of our new building,” he said.
“Plus more participation brings new energy and we can all appreciate that.”
The group is now up to more than 100 members (up from 26 when Bonnema took the helm in January).
“We’re really glad to see some of the younger ones getting involved,” Claussen said. “Everyone we’ve talked to is wildly enthusiastic about the changes.”
In order to attract more and younger members, Bonnema and the Generations board members are working to improve the group’s image and its home.
“Many of the activities and programs we want to incorporate cannot happen because we don’t have appropriate or adequate space,” he said. “We need a fresh look and a new image in the community.”
Bonnema unveiled architect drawings of the new $2 million facility and announced the launch of a community fundraising drive at the March 1 annual gala for LIFT.
“Yes, $2 million is a lot of money, but we are confident we can reach that goal by working together,” Bonnema said.
“There are structural issues that have to be addressed. There is no doubt about the necessity of improvements to the current structure.”
Dessert Theater April 1 celebrates Generations’ name, kicks off fundraising campaign
More than a dozen different delicacies prepared by local chefs will be auctioned at Monday’s Dessert Theatre Music and Comedy in Grand Prairie Events in Luverne.
The event will support the Rock County Senior Citizens in their launch of a new name — Generations — and the start of a fundraising campaign for their new $2 million building.
George Bonnema, Generations president and event organizer, will donate his locally favorite carrot cake, which brought $1,200 at the hospice charity auction two years ago.
Bonnema is among the professional contributors (registered cottage producers) from Rock County and surrounding area donating desserts for the auction.
Auction dessert donors will prepare two of the same dessert — one for auction and one to be served with the assortment on the buffet table.
In addition, more than 30 different local submissions (like Neva Claussen’s Bacardi rum cake) will be served to attendees.
“You’ll choose a dessert of your choice and be seated,” Bonnema said.
At 7 p.m. entertainment that he described as “amazing” will begin. Ron and Jane Cote and “Marlene and Darlene” are on the talent lineup.
“Part of the program will involve an auction of delicious, beautiful desserts prepared by local restaurants and caterers,” he said.
“This will be a fun event and another one of the reasons why we ‘Luv the Life’ in Luverne.
Admission is $20 per person — $15 for Generations members, and people can become members at the door.
To support the cause, designated contributions can be sent to the Luverne Area Community Foundation (LACF) at 102 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156. The building project is funded through LACF.
Questions can be addressed to livewellagewell100@gmail.com or by calling Bonnema at 507-920-3802.
The group is on Facebook, Generations formerly Luverne Senior Citizens.