By BARBARA ROYER
BESC Volunteer

This week members of the Senior Centers are saying goodbye to our Director, Jacci Gruninger, as she leaves us to pursue opportunities at the International Folk Art Market. We wish her well in the next chapter of her career. We are very appreciative of her dedicated and thoughtful leadership during her tenure here.

Jacci was hired 2 ½ years ago to assess the current state of LARSO (Los Alamos Retired Senior Organization) and to identify opportunities for growing the senior activity centers, keeping in mind the needs of members and national standards.

She dove right in with style, good humor, patience, and practical solutions. She immediately enhanced the physical state of the centers, improving the traffic patterns, organizing equipment and supplies, weeding out much extraneous “stuff”, and arranging for repairs while remaining mindful of the history of LARSO. Members greatly enjoy our more welcoming, comfortable, and beautiful spaces for meetups and all activities and programs. We are especially pleased to have our lovely conference room once again available for smaller group meetings.

Programs offered for entertainment, education, and physical fitness have grown in the last couple years, including multi-generational offerings. Members now are feeling more connected and involved with community programs and other non-profits. Several new grants supported additional programs, often in collaboration with other community agencies.

Volunteers and program participants are now educated on record keeping. This is important as various state and county reports must be submitted regularly; and funding sources also use this data. Jacci is pleased to have met every reporting deadline.

Senior Center members can count on the staff being helpful, respectful, and confident when interacting with us. Staff now rely on standard operating procedures manuals for staff and LARSO which Jacci developed to follow state rules and regulations. Jacci and staff have also improved communications about center activities and possibilities with upgraded newsletters, e-news, flyers, and the website.

Members are proud of our center and pleased that Jacci was chosen to represent New Mexico at the National Institute of Senior Centers and brought LARSO national recognition through the National Council on Aging.

A long-time former board member remarked “Jacci has accomplished more for the senior centers than any previous director”. Many would agree with him.

We are grateful for and appreciative of Jacci for her leadership, dedication and contributions to our centers.

Signed by,

Barbara Royer, Charlotte Sartor, Dee Morrison, Bruce Riebe, Maria A. Hiteman, Florence Reibe, Marilyn Robicheaux, Richard Hannemann, Nancy Ullmann, Patricia Rathbone, Greg Rand, Christine Rand, Jackie Marr, Elise Lee, Kenneth Lee, Evelyn Qualls, Charles Tallmann, Terence Shereck, Soledad Sherec, Sylvia Willliams, Bill Gibson, Shirley Graziano, Cathy Walters, Greg Horn, Liz Miller, Nereida Ortiz, Marion Fleming, Jan Dye, Catherine (Katie) Fry, Vivian Chen, John Baillie, Roberta Haynes, Clifford Rudy, A Graves, Earle Marie Hanson, John Ruminer, Alan Wadlinger, Jennnifer Young, Louise Hassman, Tori Iverson, Lynn Norbert, John Puckett, Norma Puckett, Ron Kemp, Verdie Guy Raper, Gary Thayer, Nina Thayer, Mary Ann Lindahl, Allen Lockridge, Sandy Walters, Mike Walters, Teri Monaghan, Laura Cox, Larry Cox, Phil Dropesky, Kay Burick, Barbara Fox, Mary Dugan