For more information, contact Coleen Cape, 620-786-1136.

June 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Jerke

Barton Community College's Silver Cougar Club, specifically for people age 55 or older, has grown steadily since its beginning in 2001 with a nucleus of 12 members. Eight years later, at the time of its June picnic and membership drive, the club boasted more than 577.

The annual picnic, once held at Camp Aldrich, has been moved to the college's Student Union where the space can accommodate more of its members. This year's picnic had an attendance of 225 members, who enjoyed a good meal, camaraderie with friends, and the chance to win one of the door prizes. They also heard guest speaker Tim Schaller talk about his project to sponsor life hunts for youth with life-threatening illnesses.

An architect and president of Schaller Construction Inc. in Larned, Schaller along with a number of friends and supporters hosted an Archery Deer Hunt for seven handicapped hunters in 2001, and because of its success, he wanted to help other young hunters who were afflicted with life-threatening illnesses. He began working with BuckMasters American Deer Foundation Life Hunt Program and has been able to organize hunts for at least two young hunters each year since then.

"We plan to continue the effort to bring a sense of expectation, excitement and hope to these life-threatened youngsters," Schaller said. "They have enough burdens to face and we want to help them enjoy what they consider a ‘hunt of a lifetime.'"

The speaker struck a chord with some of the Silver Cougar Club members who are hunters and know the excitement and sense of accomplishment of bringing home the trophy of the hunt. This program and others made available especially for Silver Cougar Club are only one of the reasons for joining the club.

People join the Silver Cougar Club for a variety of reasons, said the club's facilitator, Coleen Cape. For the annual fee of $15 for a single membership or $25 per couple, the club offers its members customized traditional courses, reduced fees for classes, social events planned for members and low-cost day or overnight trips to various Kansas destinations.

Members have access to Barton's pool during open swim time and the college's indoor track and fitness center. They also receive complimentary passes to all Cougar home athletic events and transportation from the Senior Center to some Cougar events. Classes have included workshops and courses in painting and history.

In the past year, members took a Christmas trip to Abilene for a day, touring the Lebold Mansion, lunching at the Kirby House and attending a musical production. They also took a trip to the Hutchinson Salt Mines, stopping for lunch at Carriage Crossing in Yoder, and visiting the Cosmosphere before returning home.

This fall, computer workshops will resume and the next in a series of history classes will be offered. "In addition, we're looking at offering a three-part religion class, Religions of the World," Cape said.

Most of the club members have watched some of their tax dollars go into the College over the years. Through Silver Cougar Club, they can see exactly what their money is going toward. Most of them also want a chance to help where help is needed. That's why, in 2007, they expressed an interest in establishing a Silver Cougar Club Scholarship for Barton students.

The club's advisory board formed a scholarship committee to determine the scholarship criteria and the committee decided the scholarship would be unrestricted and annually funded. Both traditional and non-traditional students are eligible for the scholarship, and they can be either full- or part-time students. Scholarship selection will be based on need.

"In January 2008, members were given the opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund and they have supported it very well," Cape said. The club will present its first scholarship in the amount of $500 this fall.

As fall approaches, Silver Cougar members also will begin their new season of activities. Social events tentatively planned for Silver Cougar Club in the fall include attending a Great Bend Community Theatre production, "The Love List," at the Crest Theater and a trip to Rolling Hills Wildlife Refuge, Cape said.

Variety in the activities planned and the camaraderie among members are the keys to the popularity of this organization, she added.

Tim Schaller, Larned architect and president of Schaller Construction Inc., speaks to Barton's Silver Cougar Club members at their annual picnic and membership drive. His topic was the Life Hunt Program he helps sponsor to provide good hunting experiences for youth who are afflicted with life-threatening illnesses.

Barton’s Silver Cougar Club members and guests applaud the program during their annual picnic and membership drive.

 

Donna McCormick, Barton Foundation business and accounting specialist, delivers a floral door prize to the lucky recipient during the Silver Cougar Club’s annual picnic and membership drive.

PHOTOS: Michael Dawes