President’s Thoughts

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been nearly five years since an intrepid group of Gilpinites from across the county banded together to help get our Community Center open (as safely as we could) during the first years of the pandemic. Those first Zoom meetings brought together folks from all around the county, of all persuasions, to work toward the common goal of opening the Center.

Today, we are still there for the Community Center, volunteering for and/or sponsoring events such as the Fair, a dance, a cleanup, water safety days, the Spooky Stroll, the Winter Arts Festival, and so much more. I’m really proud of the Friends members who have stepped up over the years.

Anyone who wants to join us is welcome to the fold. We don’t have membership dues, we just step up and help out where needed. We’re in the process of formalizing a volunteer program to help out with events at the Center and will announce more about that in a few days.

It’s been quite an honor to serve this group as president since 2020. I’ve worked with a stellar bunch of officers, including Sarah Swanson, Steve Schwettman, John Bryan, Susan Yeck, and Karen Eye. So, next time you’re at the Center for an event, and you see us around, say hi!

Carolyn

We’re excited to offer a dance on September 28th from 5:30 to 9 p.m. to celebrate the re-opening of the Gilpin County Community Center now that the roof replacement is nearly finished.

The dance idea is something our member Marilyn Ashmore came up with earlier this year. We wanted to celebrate the continued operation of the Center and, most important—to salute the amazing staff of the Center. They work SO hard to make it a welcoming place for all Gilpinites. That’s why we’re hoping folks will come and enjoy a bite to eat with us, dance to some amazing tunes from the 1920s to the 2020s, and visit with friends and neighbors. It’s really a good deal, considering you get food, drinks, music, and dancing all in one ticket!

As we were planning the dance starting last spring, P&R Director Chisholm mentioned an amazing “on-demand” video exercise system that she wanted to get for the Center. It allows people to select from an array of exercise programs to do their workouts. You can exercise individually or do it with a group. The more we looked at it, the more we liked it and since her budget is pretty tight, we decided to devote the proceeds from this dance to the purchase of that system. If possible, we’ll also add funds to our Heart of the Community Fund. That’s a “pot” of money we use that’s directly devoted to helping Gilpinites who need a little extra help to afford center activities and access.

So, that’s the idea behind the “We’re Still Dancing” and we hope to see our friends and neighbors there. I’ve already heard from some folks who are shaking out their dancing clothes—poodle skirts, hippy tie-dies, flapper dresses, even some “Downton Abbey” and “Old Time Central City/Black Hawk” outfits. You name it, we’ll see it. So, come on over and join us on September 28th from 5:30 to 9 p.m. You’ll have a good time supporting a worthy cause!

Carolyn Collins Petersen