By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
There was a time, after reaching a milestone birthday, when Michele Vandegraft was reluctant to consider herself a senior citizen.
“But, then, I came to embrace it,” she recalls. “I realized that I could still do all the things that I like to do.”
Which says a lot, considering that the energetic yet soft-spoken La Conner resident is an avid kayaker, hiker, and crafter.
That’s not all, either.
Vandegraft, a southern California native who helped manage an upscale bakery in Kansas City, Mo., is now the new La Conner Senior Center coordinator, having succeeded Brittany Johnson, who retired from the role last month.
Vandegraft plans to oversee a wide range of class offerings, programs and outreach opportunities at the community’s senior hub, located in Maple Hall and open Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It was Johnson who suggested Vandegraft as her successor.
“Brittany had been considering retirement,” says Vandegraft. “She asked if I’d be interested in being the new coordinator, and she thought I had the right temperament for it. I said I’d definitely be interested,”
Vandegraft began going to the senior center shortly after moving here.
“A friend had suggested that we go to the senior center,” Vandegraft reflects. “She hadn’t been there before, either, but had heard about the art classes they have. Afterward, I saw the knitters and stitchers group, and so I started going there (regularly).”
Since launching her tenure at the senior center, Vandegraft has taken on a variety of tasks — from producing and distributing a weekly newsletter and monthly flier to firming up schedules for fall classes.
Vandegraft said that among the center’s September highlights is the return of the writing class formerly led by the late author Claire Swedberg. La Conner writer and travel consultant Teri Goldstein stepped up to bring the class back in honor of Swedberg, Vandergraft said.
“I think it will be great,” says Vandegraft. The writing course begins Sept. 22 at 11:45 a.m. She said Goldstein will hold a meet-and-greet a week before the start of class, on Sept. 15 (noon-1 p.m.), at the center.
The center will also offer a Qi (Chee) Gong class, focused on meditative movement, beginning Sept. 22 from 11:45-12:45 p.m.
Vandegraft also announced that the center is bringing back the popular afternoon Inner Journey art therapy and journaling class guided by Shelter Bay author and artist Margaret Carpenter Arnett.
The idea, insists Vandegraft, is to provide activities of interest to all La Conner area seniors.
“I want to encourage people to come by, visit, and give suggestions for what activities they want to see at the senior center,” Vandegraft said.
For her part, Vandegraft intends touring other senior centers in Western Washington to glean ideas from what works elsewhere. She will also explore field trip and mentoring possibilities along with strategies to increase participation in programs at the La Conner center.
“I think there’s untapped potential with our younger seniors, people in their 50s and 60s. I want to invite everybody to come in and if they don’t actively participate, see what we’re doing and meet new friends.”
One such opportunity, Vandegraft said, is the senior center’s Tuesday Noon brown bag lunch gatherings.
Vandegraft herself has made several new friends since relocating here from the Midwest. In addition to her senior center connection, she has enjoyed a sales gig at Caravan Gallery on First Street.
It was members of her own family who convinced Vandegraft to move here from Kansas City. One of her brothers is Doug Vandegraft, of Shelter Bay, author of “A Guide to the Notorious Bars of Alaska.” Another brother, Mark Vandegraft, lives in Everett.
“They helped get me here,” she says. “I came out to visit and I loved it.
“I’m very fortunate and glad to be here,” Vandegraft continues. “Things really fell into place for me.”
And, by the same token, a special place here — the La Conner Senior Center — has found its way into Vandegraft’s heart.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
