Hall takes reins at senior center from Emerson

The first time Heather Hall came to the Springfield Senior Center it was because of Christmas cookies.

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Taking the helm

With the upcoming retirement of 17-year director Terri Emerson, the Springfield Senior Center is welcoming a new director. Heather Hall, 28, began her training this week and will “fly solo” beginning July 18, she said on Wednesday, July 6 at the center.

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http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160711/NEWS02/160719939 Photo by Len Emery Outgoing SSCC Director Terry Emerson left, with new Springfield Senior Citizen Center Director Heather Hall at an interview in Springfield. Published July 11, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Hall takes reins at senior center from Emerson By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — The first time Heather Hall came to the Springfield Senior Center it was because of Christmas cookies. Hall, who started her job last week as the new executive director of the center, said her mother-in-law brought her to the center’s Christmas bazaar a couple of years ago and she experienced its famous “Cookie Walk.” Hall, 26, said during a joint interview Friday with the retiring director Terri Emerson, that she views her mission as helping the seniors do what they want to do and share their talents with the community. The two women are working to have a seamless transition at the center, which is an important heart of activities at the Springfield Community Center, with between 275 to 300 active members. The senior center is part of the Springfield Parks and Recreation Department. Emerson’s last day on the job is Friday, after which she is taking vacation and sick time with her formal last day the end of August. But after Friday, Hall will be on her own — except for a couple of hundred Springfield-area senior citizens that are happy to help her. Hall came to the Springfield senior job after working at Green Mountain at Fox Run in Ludlow for the past seven months as guest services coordinator. Before that, the University of Vermont graduate in social work had worked at Health Care and Rehabilitative Services in Springfield for 3 ½ years, where she was a service coordinator for adults with development disabilities. “I wanted to take a break,” she said, as the job at HCRS was “pretty intense.” “I wanted to be a people person. I like to be social,” said Hall. She and Emerson said 50 to 75 people a day take part in center activities. Hall moved to Springfield shortly after she married her husband Brian Hall, a native of Springfield. She is a native of White River Junction, and went to Hartford High School before going to UVM. The couple met through mutual friends while Brian was a student at Vermont Technical College. He’s a software engineer at Newsbank Inc. in Chester. They’ve lived in Springfield for the past four years. Springfield is her hometown now, she said. “It’s where I shop, it’s where I live,” she said. Town Manager Tom Yennerell, who worked with a committee made up of seniors and town staff to find a new senior director, said that Hall was the top choice, despite her relatively young age. And he laughed and said it wasn’t because Hall’s mother-in-law, Donna Hall, is his administrative secretary. Hall said her job at Fox run was largely administrative — “paperwork,” she said, and she missed the contact with clients and people. She will get that in spades at the senior center, which is a hub of activity, whether it is the popular ceramics classes, Living Strong exercise classes, or the proverbial shuffleboard or cribbage games. Seniors can learn how to use computers at the center, play pickleball, take floor or chair yoga or join the center’s singing group, The Songsters. Hall is definitely of the digital generation, and in her first days on the job has established a Facebook page for the center. It already has 40 “likes,” she said. Anyone who is 50 years or older can become a member of the center, Emerson said, they don’t have to be Springfield residents and they don’t have to be retirees. Following a pattern set by center founder Eleanor Hilliard, there are no dues at the center, Emerson said, unlike many senior centers. The center’s popular trips are open to anyone 21 or older, but first choice goes to center members. “We do the trips to help seniors and we get the best price, so that seniors can go on the trips,” said Emerson. “We try and get a really good price.” Trips may be a day trip, or a couple of overnights; they can include trips to New York City or Montreal. “They create wonderful memories,” said Emerson. Emerson and Hall have already bonded. When she leaves this Friday, she’s going to give her the number to her camp. “She’s beautiful, inside and out,” said Emerson. Hall wants people to feel free to contact her with suggestions or ideas at heatherhallssc@gmail.com. 2016-07-07 / Front Page Taking the helm New Springfield Senior Center director begins training By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com Heather Hall takes a short break from getting settled into her new position as director on Wednesday, July 6 at the Springfield Senior Citizens’ Center. — TORY JONES BONENFANT Heather Hall takes a short break from getting settled into her new position as director on Wednesday, July 6 at the Springfield Senior Citizens’ Center. — TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — With the upcoming retirement of 17-year director Terri Emerson, the Springfield Senior Center is welcoming a new director. Heather Hall, 28, began her training this week and will “fly solo” beginning July 18, she said on Wednesday, July 6 at the center. “I want to see this place continue growing,” Hall said. “I want to continue putting out programs that the community wants.” She also expressed her joy at being the director of the first senior citizens’ center founded in Vermont. The center celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013. The new position is a “good blend” of her background in social work, organization, and office management skills, Hall said. As director, she will be working for the town of Springfield. Hall is originally from White River Junction and lives in Springfield with her husband, Springfield native Brian Hall. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Vermont, and has worked for the better part of the past year as a guest services coordinator at Green Mountain at Fox Run, a women‘s health retreat. Before that, Hall worked for three-and-a-half years at Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Vermont (HCRS) in developmental services as a case manager for adults. Hall said she was not actively looking for a new job, and enjoyed working at Green Mountain. However, she missed the daily interaction with the community, because her position was more clerical. When she heard about the opening, she realized it would be a good blend of her experience and her degree in social work, she said. “I figured this is a good mix of skills I have been using,” she said. She was also happy that it would allow for more interaction with the center’s members. Hall has begun working with Emerson, completing the required human resources paperwork and getting to know the center’s daily, monthly and annual schedules, along with getting to know the senior club members. Her first day on the job, on Tuesday, July 5, was “wonderful,” and Emerson has been showing her the ropes, she said. “I got to meet a lot of interesting people,” Hall said, adding that the senior citizen center members have been extremely welcoming. Hall is not new to the senior center. She has visited in the past with her husband’s aunt, who is a member, and other family members for events and programs. “We had a good time. And now I get to help organize those events,” Hall said. The Springfield Senior Citizens’ Center has several committees that actively help plan activities, fundraising and other aspects of the club. At this time, about 275-300 active members use the club, or about 50-75 per day when the center is busy with programs, according to Emerson, who was at the center on Wednesday. Others sometimes drop in to visit or take part, but are not counted as active members. To become a member, a person age 50 or older must take part in center programs at least twice a month, three months in a row, and they can drop in for those events without calling first, Hall said. Active members receive discounts on trips, but anyone older than 21 can go on trips. Hall said she is looking into new activities, trips and events that senior citizen club members have asked for, such as tai chi. She looks forward to finding programs and trips that will “continue keeping them active and having a fun time,” she said. “Because ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.” Emerson is scheduled to go on vacation in mid-July, and will officially retire from her post as director on Aug. 31. She said she is looking forward to retirement and spending time with her husband, who retired six years ago, and her family. Hall will have office hours at the senior center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, she can be reached at the center at (802) 885-3933 or by sending an email to heatherhallssc@gmail.com.