Rotary Club Donates to Senior Citizen Center

Rotary Club of Waxahachie Centennial Project

Waxahachie Senior Citizens Center

During a Board meeting in 2004, president Elizabeth Sadler asked for a volunteer to oversee the club's Centennial Project.  Rotary International had challenged each club to develop and execute an important project to meet a local need and demonstrate the local club's importance to the community.

John Hamilton accepted the challenge and set to work surveying what projects were available.  He asked Past President Tony Lokash to head up a committee of past presidents to propose a project.  In addition to Tony other committee members were Chuck Demoney, Joe Smith, Dr. Bobby Parker, Pamela Cowan, Bob Aday and Margaret Smith.  After due deliberation they proposed the club build a new senior citizens center.

One hundred years ago the city of Waxahachie was served by trolley cars pulled by two mules.  The mules lived in a barn at the edge of town.  After the trolley service stopped and the mules were sold the barn was converted in to a youth center.  Later it became the Waxahachie Senior Citizens Center, a 501.c3 non-profit agency.  The 5,600 square foot building was never acceptable.  For instance, if it rains the bathrooms will flood and phone service is interrupted.  This was definitely a need in this city.

So it was decided that the Centennial Project was to be a new senior center.  It was announced at the annual club picnic in June of 2004.  The new president was Patrick Sullivan.  Work began immediately.  A preliminary budget of $450,000 was established.

John Hamilton contacted the senior center to test their reaction and got a joyous welcome.  He then did a great deal of internet research and decided that the best plan was to visit several centers.  There is a lot of experience and the executive directors of the centers were pleased to be able to show off their facilities and program.

Rotarian and City Manager Bob Sokoll provided a bus and a group including Mayor Joe Jenkins, Sande Wilkinson, wife of then City Councilman Ron Wilkinson (now Mayor), Rotarian Rodney Bell and Assistant City Manager and President of the senior center Board of Directors, Paul Stevens, visited several sites including Garland, McKinney, Rockwall and Midlothian.

It immediately became apparent to all that all of the other centers were owned by the cities and run as part of the parks department.  Seeing this, the city decided to take over the project.  This could have been the end of the Centennial Project.

Mr. Hamilton elected to organize another committee to serve as an advisory committee to the city on its project.  Members included then Mayor Joe Jenkins, Assistant City Manager Paul Stevens, new center board President Patti Junkin, Rotarian and attorney Jim Chapman, center executive director Cindi Schneider, grant writer Nancy Post and senior citizens Elmo Reeves and Betty Weeden (Now Mr. and Mrs. Reeves).

The committee gathered a large number of supporters and visited the next city council meeting.  The committee membership was explained and the committee asked to be named advisors to the city and fundraisers.  The committee's expertise in senior centers, city government and fundraising would be of benefit to the project.  The council accepted the proposal. 

With the city's involvement the budget increased from $450,000 to $5 million.  The Rotary Club of Waxahachie had initiated a project that had expanded beyond anyone's expectations.

The city set to work and in short order selected local architect Anthony Mottla to design the facility.  He came up with a functional, attractive and efficient layout housed in a building that was appropriate in the "gingerbread city".  Mr. Mottla became a member of the advisory committee.

The Optimist Club, which owned the building where the old center was located, was approached about selling the land to the city.  Instead they offered to give the land.  Their offer was generous because the land is attractive and centrally located.  Unfortunately instead of replacing a 5,600 square foot building with a slightly larger facility Mr. Mottla's design was 23,000 square feet.  The old building would fit inside the large multi-purpose room in the new center.

The committee visited and surveyed many sites without finding anything acceptable.  South of town a developer from Ft. Worth had bought a 44 acre corn field with the intention of developing a senior living community.  In negotiations with the city for permits and utilities Ken Mitchell of Country Lane Senior Communities suggested that he would donate six acres for the new center.  Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

State Representative Jim Pitts helped Mr. Mitchell work through state offices to get some financial support to run utilities.  This meant that the land Mr. Mitchell donated would have utilities and roads - all the infrastructure.  Value?  $1 million.  Mr. Mottla set to work placing his design on the land.

The advisory committee was helping refine the design and raise $350,000 for interior appointments.  Nancy Post wrote a grant application to the Meadows Foundation which resulted in a $100,000 grant.  Naming rights were sold for a number of rooms and engraved bricks were provided.  The Lions Club donated the proceeds from their annual fundraiser to the center.  The Rotary Club committed to make a $12,000 contribution.

A large number of Rotarians were involved off and on as the need arose.  In a sense this was an unusual project because a wonderful center was to be built and the club got heavy recognition although it was ultimately the city's project. 

It being a city project time did pass.  After Patrick Sullivan was president John Hamilton then Rodney Bell, Kirk Lipscomb and Edwin Farrar became presidents and lent their support to the project.

The Waxahachie Daily Light with Honorary Rotarians Neal White and JoAnn Livingston provided excellent support.  John Hamilton was able to publish many articles and photos to keep the project in front of the citizens and remind them of the Rotary involvement.  The paper has published over 110 articles with pictures from Mr. Hamilton on various Rotary events and concerns.  They also provided free fundraising ads which brought in funds.

As construction began, Mr. Mottla questioned the committee about specific subjects such as décor and particular room use.  Answers were provided such that the senior citizens would be satisfied with their new home.

During this time Mr. Mitchell completed the first unit of his senior community and filled it within about four months.  The Rotary meeting on March 19, 2009 was held in the Country Lane Senior Community dining room then everyone walked across the street to tour the new senior citizens center.

Although the project took a little longer than expected and was not completed in the club centennial year it is magnificent and worth the wait.  All totaled it is a $6 million facility and state of the art in every way.  The club has received wide recognition throughout the community.  Best of all the plaque in the entrance says, "Rotary Club of Waxahachie, Centennial Project".