What is the Future of Loma Linda's Senior Center?

In a city with changing needs and shrinking budgets, the Loma Linda Senior Center Board took a look at its mission on Tuesday.

Board members acknowledged their group must evolve. Committee members would make greater impact as leaders in a more public relations oriented role. And with the city being forced to tighten its belt and cutting staff, fundraising has become more and more important, said Joanne Heilman, executive to the city manager.

The other options are merging the committee with another or dissolving it altogether.

Heilman did not want to see the committee dissolved and “I don’t think this committee can really be merged with another,” she told three of the five board members during their regular quarterly meeting.

The committee will take the next three months to look at their mission and list what changes they should make. The reality for the committee is they need more help, Heilman said.

Of the five current positions, one is vacant. The fourth committee member is out on medical leave.

“My days are already pretty filled,” said committee member Ric Revel, who is retired. He puts a lot of hours helping put on the events, as does committee chair George Pendered and committee member Dr. Doug Ziprick.

“At the time the committee was formed, we didn’t even have a senior center,” Heilman said. A lot of the purpose of the senior board was to try and get a senior center here.

Once the center was built, the committee participated in the creation of the programs offered. But now the daily activities are being run by the city, Heilman said.