This year marks the 20th anniversary of Seniors Keeping Young (SKY). It is Bowen Island's only program for seniors that covers physical, mental and educational subjects. Meetings are every Monday morning at Bowen Court. It also provides outings, at minimal cost, such as viewing the Christmas lights, visiting the Reiffel Bird Sanctuary and many others. These are open to all residents and it is not necessary to be a SKY member. All these activities are listed in the Undercurrent calendar and on the Forum.
The history of SKY is written below but it is important to note that the program has always run on a shoe-string with the help of small grants from local charities and the municipality but mostly through the dedication of our volunteers.Expenses include rent, minimal wages for exercise instructor and coordinator, small honorariums for speakers and reimbursement for travel expenses when needed. After Varek Ernst, our first co-ordinator and dancing instructor, left the island, we had some dancers fill in for a little while. But for the past many years, Margaret McGregor has faithfully volunteered to guide our line dancing, even though, since she and her husband sold their home on Bowen, she has been taking the ferry just to join us for a short while on a Monday morning. Needless to say, she has our everlasting thanks we are forever in her debt. We are hoping that we can find a kind person on Bowen to volunteer to fill the slot from 9 to 9.45 a.m. Maybe some simple stretching, meditation, or best of all, dancing. There may be some students out there who need some practical teaching experience. We have a lot of fun and would welcome any type of gentle activity.If there is anyone who would like to give this small amount of time, please phone Mary at 947-9361 or April at 947-9190.
This wellness program was started by Karen Levy, the public health nurse in 1992, along with Dorothy Lawson and with support from Dr. John Hurlburt and Bud Massender. They met at the home of Wally Henderson, and George Welsh was commandeered as chairman and his wife Jenny as secretary. In May of l992, they applied for a New Horizons Grant for 18 months operating costs and SKY began with a bang at the health fair at the Old General Store on June 13, 1992. Afterwards, the organizers joked that while they were promoting health, they were serving up quite a few unhealthy goodies.
From 1993 to 1995, Dorothy Lawson wrote and printed a monthly newsletter, SKYLIGHTS, and from 1993 to 1995, with the help of Dorothy Davies and Bonnie MacNeill, they launched the SKY Diner that comprised a luncheon at the Legion and meals on wheels for those unable to get there.
In 1994, SKY applied for and received provincial recognition of their constitution as a non-profit society. Board members were George Welsh (president), Jenny Welsh (treasurer), and Varick Ernst who was responsible for setting up exercise and dance programs. Other board members were Wally Henderson, Donna McGee, Dorothy Davies, Ethel Webb, Dorothy Lawson and Wilf Birnie.Wilf was instrumental in the proper writing up of the constitution which proved to be quite a task as it was returned three times for small errors. However, when it was approved, SKY applied for its second New Horizons grant.
In spite of many changes of executives and some financial juggling over the years, SKY has continued to thrive and has over 30 regular members. There are also many more who drop in to participate in sections of the program or to listen to our many interesting speakers.Over the years SKY has proved its worth and hopefully, with the help of interested parties, and its volunteers, will continue to do so.
