HISTORY OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DALTON COUNCIL ON AGING, INC.
The Friends of the Dalton Council on Aging, Inc. is a strictly volunteer organization whose Mission is to foster community and financial support for the Dalton Council on Aging. The group was formed following the receipt of a donation of $473 made in June of 1987 by Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Ossenfort from their class reunion fund.
The first meeting was held on March 26, 1986. Officers elected to serve were James McClure, Chair; John Bartels, Sr., Vice Chair; Elizabeth Johnson, Secretary and Robert Faye, Treasurer.
An application for recognition of exemption was filed and approved, making the Friends of the Dalton Council on Aging, Inc. an official non-profit. All gifts and donations to the Friends are fully tax deductible.
Current Board members include Doris Lamica (retired Dalton Librarian), Susan Jacobs (retired COA Director), Mary Lamke, Al Nadeau, Peter Traub, Veronica Balardini, Janet Claffie, Bob Shepherd, Helga Knappe and Judith Trumble.
Over the years, we have funded special events and supplies that were not covered under the budget provided by the town for the Council on Aging and Senior Center, including the annual Volunteer Recognition, Holiday Party and Aging Mastery series, but our most ambitious undertaking was the Capital Campaign to raise funds to furnish the Senior Center.
After eleven years of planning for a Center, as the town prepared to break ground for the new building, the Friends, under Chairman Marjorie “Marji” Limburg began planning a campaign to raise $150,000 for the furnishings. With the support and encouragement of Mr. & Mrs. David Lombard, local businesses and banks and many, many current and former Dalton residents, donations of $5 to $50,000 were given, enabling us to exceed our goal by almost $15,000. The doors of the new Dalton Senior Center opened on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2011, and a Grand Opening was held three months later on May 21st.