Jeananne "Bunny" Conwell, continued...

How long have you worked with the senior population?

I started working with seniors when I started at MCCC almost four years ago, however, in the year prior to working here I had been assisting in care giving for my grandmother whom has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and my father-in-law, before his passing, whom had a terminal brain tumor.
In many ways I felt as if God was "prepping" me to work with seniors. In the first week I worked here, one of our clients had an accident in the restroom, and it was no problem to nonchalantly grab cleaning materials and help them out. I don't know if my response would have been as immediate or as natural even a year or two earlier.

I learned a lot from helping the seniors in my own life, and had come to understand well the challenges so many of them face on a daily basis, and to be awed at the fortitude and resourcefulness they display time and again.

One of our members mentioned once that she really appreciated the "fellowship" she received here, and believed in our ministry. I understood exactly what she meant. Even though we are not organizationally a faith based ministry, we provide a place that benefits our seniors; spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. And to me, this place and this work, is more a calling than a job. I feel like I have found the work I was always meant to do.

What is your favorite senior event?

I would have to say I have two favorite programs; one is going on our casino trips. On the first trip I went on, the hostess of the bus stood up and asked who had a dirty joke to share. I thought she was kidding, but I soon found out differently! I have a great time spending the day with my seniors, talking, playing, and of course, eating.

The second program I really enjoy is our computer classes. When I first started here we needed an instructor for exercise classes and computer classes. The board tried convincing me I should teach the exercise classes, but I convinced them I would be much better with computers, exercise is just not my forte, lol!
I really love teaching the classes! There is a moment when you see your student finally "get" something that they have struggled with in the past, or just always wondered about, that "ah hah!" moment when you know you've helped someone in a meaningful way.

I also believe strongly in the need to advocate for senior computer literacy. Our entire culture is living online now, and important programs and services are only available to seniors online. With good computer literacy, seniors' can open up a new world for themselves, where they can order groceries online, if they are homebound, or resolve an issue online in a chat window, instead of going to an office they may not have transportation to.

How does your membership to WSASC contribute to your professional life?

I was very excited to "find" WSASC last year! I had attended a number of training programs, meetings, and conferences prior to the WSASC conference, but primarily they were geared towards "non-profits", not senior services. Because we are both a non-profit, and a senior service organization, it was wonderful to attend a conference that centered on what we really do. I learned so much from the conference and it was exactly what we needed. I also met so many wonderful people who are sharing much of the same joys and struggles professionally, that I do. It is so important to know you are not alone! I have learned a lot from the seasoned professionals I have met through WSASC.

How do you enjoy spending your leisure time?

Being a confirmed workaholic, I sometimes forget what leisure time is, but I probably enjoy camping the most. I am not fond of dirt or bugs, yet strangely enough I really love camping! However; I did insist on having a Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker for our Coleman stove (as well as an air bed, portable potty, comfy chairs, you get the picture…) I figured just because you are in the wilderness, there is no reason to have inferior coffee. I am aware that I have a serious coffee addiction issue but since it makes me more productive both I, and those I live and work with, have learned to adjust, lol!

I also enjoy fishing, cooking, reading, and computers. In fact whether at work or home I almost always have at least one computer open and running, at work it's usually two!

What makes your senior/activity center unique?

I have to say it is our people, and the very real sense of community we have here. It is a culture that is very unique.

The seniors at MCCC are always friendly, welcoming, generous, and fun loving. When a new person comes here they are likely to be met by five people within the first few minutes that introduce themselves and want to help the new participant feel welcomed. They constantly tell me and the other staff and volunteer's what a great job we do, and how happy they are to come here. In fact I get thank you cards from them almost monthly! Who wouldn't love to work with, and help, people like this???

What is a typical day for you?

Chaos.
I would be lying if I said I knew what a typical day was. Since we are a relatively small organization, we only have 2.5 FTE employees, and that includes our cook! We run on a budget of about $140,000, and yet serve 800 unduplicated clients, over 15,000 services a year; so we tend to need to be very flexible. In addition we have had a very high growth rate over the last few years and many of our programs, as well as our membership, has tripled. The past few years we have also worked hard on development. When I started here we didn't have any real policies, an accounting system, or even employee files, so in many ways it has been like building the business from the ground up, even though we have been in business for almost 40 years.

Sometimes it's amazing to look back, and realize how far we have come, but it's even more fun to look forward, and imagine how far we will go!