Pandemic or not, 55+ club marks 50th anniversary
CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Township 55+ Club was established in 1971 to help foster friendships among its members.
But in the year since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the group's regular meetings, outings and banquets, 55+ Club members are hard-pressed to even commit to an event to mark its 50th anniversary this year.
Instead of regular meetings, the 100 members are staying in touch through phone calls and Christmas cards.
William Shaner, the club president, said the group was started by Hazel Grant in 1971, who served as club president for its first 19 years.
“It's to give seniors a social life,” Shaner said. “They're having meetings and meeting with each other.”
During the club's history, its members have raised supplies for veterans and the food bank at St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church, planned Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets and conducted an officer installation luncheon every spring.
“The club also contributed to the Community Chest and the Jerry Andre Endowment Fund,” said Phil Diemert, a member.
The group had met at 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month in the Cranberry Township Council Chambers room, 2525 Rochester Road.
Shaner said the meetings often would include a guest speaker or some sort of entertainment.
The club members also gathered for lunches at various local locations, annual picnics in the summer and for bus trips to destinations such as the Fallingwater house in Fayette County and Oglebay Resort in West Virginia.Group members also attended an annual 'spring fling' event at Rowan Elementary School, 8051 Rowan Road, that included a musical performance by the student body, said club member Joyce Fox.“The seniors got a chance to deal with younger people,” Fox said.That all ended in March 2020 when the club canceled first its regular meetings, then its picnics, its bus trips and its holiday banquets.The pandemic has also affected club membership, according to Shaner. Its rolls shrank from 135 a year ago to its present 100 members.“The pandemic is the main reason our numbers are down,” Shaner said. “We're all very concerned about people in our age bracket. Mostly people are being very cautious.”Shaner said because of the age of some of its members — with charter members Bob and Hazel Haefner, Connie Scherich and Beatrice Mashuda — they are reluctant to meet for fear of being exposed to COVID-19.Donna Poole, club secretary, said members have tried to keep in touch with one another through phone calls.“I make phone calls to members to check on them,” Fox said. “I took some time during the holidays and marked out Christmas cards.”
Shaner said the club conducted some socially distant meetups in 2020. The 55+ Club had three Bring Your Own Lunch events outdoors in township parks in August, September and October.The events usually brought out about 40 members, who sat in their own camping chairs at a safe distance and wore face masks.The club also had a lunch event at North Park Lounge, 20810 Route 19, that drew nearly an equal number of members.Shaner said an observance for the club's 50th anniversary this year will probably take the form of an outdoor event.He said the group is planning an outing of some sort.He anticipates it will be an outdoor event, likely a picnic in June or July.“It all depends on the pandemic,” Shaner said. “We are not going to move forward unless there is solid evidence of some sort of decrease (in pandemic infections). We can't take the chance.”Any observance of the club's 50th anniversary will also have to note the support the club has gotten from Cranberry Township, Shaner said.In the meantime, Fox said, club members have been getting together in small groups,“The club is an opportunity to socialize with people in their own age group,” Fox said.
<b>CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP 55+ CLUB</b><b>Phone:</b> 724-766-1300<b>Email:</b> wshaner@hotmail.com<b>Meetings:</b> 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Cranberry Township Council Chambers, 2525 Rochester Road<b>Eligibility:</b> Membership in the group is restricted to Cranberry Township residents 55 years old or older
