Center tops 500 members
Membership is expected to keep growing.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Five years ago the Girard Multi-Generational Center was started in what use to be an elementary school. Now, the center is celebrating its fifth anniversary and a milestone in membership sales.
The center surpassed 500 paid memberships several weeks ago. Program Director Jude Signoriello said the 500-member mark was a goal for the center since its doors first opened.
"We had a joke starting out that when we reached 500 members we would have a big party and that is what we decided to do," she said.
Members of the center enjoy two computer labs, a fitness center, a small library with movies, health and fitness screenings, recreational activities such as basketball, parties, youth events and a list of other activities. Members pay $15 for a single membership, $25 for a couple or $35 for a family annually.
Misconceptions
Signoriello said there are several misconceptions about the center, one being that it is a center strictly for seniors. She said the center is for people of all ages, and young people from the Girard school district are bused in four days a week to take advantage of what the center has to offer.
Signoriello said many people also believe the center is for Girard residents only, but people from all over the area are members of the center.
According to Signoriello many of those coming to the center are widows, widowers or retired. She said the center offers those individuals a place to congregate and something extra to do.
Signoriello said she expects to soon see the membership numbers top 1,000. Current members, she said, come and bring friends and in turn bring other friends.
jgoodwin@vindy.com