James Monroe Senior Center Open House June 20,2008

On Friday June 20, 2008 the James Monroe Senior Center will have it's 46Th anniversary Open House fund raiser.

Above is a photo of our senior center along with the flyer for this event which I created on my home computer.

The days' events will run from 9AM to 3PM for the public to drop by see the Center, and view the exhibits of tables set up at the entrance to the Senior Center.
The presentation ceremony will begin at 1:30PM sharp. We are recognizing James O'Neal, a wonderful advocate of seniors who has spent a life time laboring out of love for the golden age population. We are also honoring Elizabeth Rosado who is a tireless fighter of senior rights, and advocates a healthy life style along with Zenaida Roger of Touchstone Health, herself a peerless leader in the effort to give seniors a larger voice in the corridors of power. We will recognize Juan Tavarez who is a an outstanding supporter of senior rights, whose life reflects the love he has for our Golden Age seniors.

No surprises are anticipated, although I would welcome a nice surprise set of announcements from the huge corporate community in the City of New York.
I would love for the corporate bigwigs to come forward and offer to bankroll our need for a new building. It promises to be a nice day to highlight and show case what the James Monroe Senior Center offers seniors and the community. We need money for our programs and the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. needs your financial support today, now, ahora, please.

This is the 9Th Open House I will oversee, and it is probably my last one. I am quite certain of some things that life gives us, and some or most, I can not predict. I do not know if I will be alive one year from now, so if my health holds up, and Heavenly Father feels I can still make some noise on this Earth, then we will all see my rumblings next year. I have lived my life in the service to others, and I am enjoying quite thoroughly the time that God has given me.

Any how, back to the big event. The James Monroe Senior Center has been open to the public since 1962.

The James Monroe Senior Center is administered under contract with the New York City Department for the Aging by the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. The Institute has been operating the Center since 1997. The Chief Executive Officer for the Institute is Suleika Cabrera Drinane who founded the Institute in 1977. Suleika is a dynamic, compassionate leader who sees the trees beyond the forest. In my time as Assistant Director of the James Monroe Senior Center, Suleika has given me a free hand, along with My Director Glisette Rivera, who is an outstanding leader always willing to go the extra mile for seniors. I am indebted to Suleika and Glisette, whom I consider dear friends. They put up with me in spite of my grouchy demeanor. I'm a nice Sort of "Oscar the Grouch". meaning, You might greet me with "Hey, it's nice and sunny today", I may say "Aah what's so sunny about this morning?"...but I'll quickly add..."You know what? You're right...it is a nice sunny day indeed." I'm a nice Grouch not a mean Grouch. I have a big soft spot for nice people, children, and the Elderly.

Our senior center is located at 1776 Story Avenue, The Bronx, New York. We need a new structure, so I'm campaigning to get corporations to build us a new state of the art building for seniors and the community. It probably will take upwards of $50,000,000.00 to buy a tract of land and build on the site a three story senior center, but it can be done. I'm hoping to convince Microsoft, JetBlue, TimeWarner, The Yankees, Chase, Sovereign Bank, to kick in money so the Non profit Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, can look forward to getting a new building for all of us to have our seniors go for daily holistic activities. If I don't convince the big companies, maybe I will run for public office and use the effort as a "bully-pulpit" to create awareness via public opnion in support of a new senior center building in The Bronx.

At the James Monroe Senior Center we are renting tables for just $150.00 on Friday June 20, 2008, to various companies, but we need a big infusion of funds to stay a float. I'm sure the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc., the sponsor agency would not mind it if a big corporation finances the construction of a new building, and puts their corporate name on it. Please help us make this happen.

To all of you who love seniors as I do, please send your donations to Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. 105 East 22 Street, New York , NY 10022, ATTN: Suleika Cabrera Drinane, CEO, in support of buying land and constructing a new senior center for the James Monroe Seniors.

Maybe the U.S. Congress can buy land for us and donate it to the Institute.
Thank you all for your support of Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc., a wonderful organization. For more information log on to iprhe.org.

To all my friends throughout the U.S.A. please support this worthy endeavor. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely and gratefully, I am,
Franck Strongbow Red Cloud