Black Forest Chapter 1100 History
The first meeting was in February or March of 1972 at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church with the Catholic Ladies serving a delicious lunch. Mr. Noralf Nesset, President of the Colorado Springs Chapter of AARP, Father Hanlon, Pastor of Our Lady of the Pines and Nick Natelli, Pastor of Black Forest Community Church were the ones with the idea of having a Chapter in Black Forest.
The Black Forest Community Church offered the use of their church and the Community Ladies served the lunches. The Chapter grew so fast that they decided it was too much to ask of the church ladies to continue serving lunch. It was agreed to only meet in the afternoon and serve light refreshments after the meeting for a while. At Thanksgiving they had a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings which was such a hit that the potluck dinners were started with different members acting as host and hostess.
The Chapter was organized in late spring with Officers:
President - Edith Wolford Committee Chairman:
Vice-President-Maxine Tibbins Publicity - Grace Moore
Secretary - Grace Moore Membership - Mona Davisson
Treasurer - Father Hanlon Program - Rose Waddell
Other charter members were:
Paul F. King Mr. & Mrs. L. F. Koke
Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Demel Gus Davisson
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Wahlborg Mr. & Mrs. Wayne E. Rusk
A. Winifred Clark Mr. L. G. Waddell
Marie Yike Edith Theibaud
Peggy Morast Leona Hannasch
Ada Rock
The Chapter incorporation document was filed on September 15, 1972. In June of 1973 the first pancake breakfast was held in the Black Forest Regional Park. A parade of antique cars came down Shoup Road just as they started to eat. Father Hanlon had his camera and ran to the edge of the road to take pictures. Everyone left their sausage, egg, bacon and pancakes to get cold while they watched those beautiful old cars pass. The pancake breakfast was held in the Park for many years but was later moved to the picnic area of the Black Forest Lutheran Church where it was held for many more years. The last few years, however, the Chapter has continued the tradition by meeting in March and October at a restaurant for lunch.
AARP continued to meet in the fellowship hall of the Black Forest Community Church for many years until it was felt the steep stairs were a problem for some of the members. No one was hurt on the stairs but Ada Rock approached the Lutheran Church about meeting there as they had no steps. The group continued to meet there until late 1998 when the church started to remodel and add on to their building. The meetings were temporarily held at the Community Church during this time. The Chapter now meets at the Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
The motto “To Serve Not to be Served” was adopted. Some ways that the members have served include collecting food for Black Forest Cares, working various Create the Good projects, being Grand Friends at the various schools, Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Camp Fire Leaders or helpers, and staffing AARP booths at events through the area. Many have also served on the Fire Board, Silver Key, Election Boards, Regional Advisory Council of PPAAA, AARP Community Council, donated funds to charitable organizations, sponsored “Trash &Treasure” sales, and acted as Committee Chairpersons for both political parties. Some have served at the Chamber of Commerce, and others have taken people to the hospital for treatment and to doctor’s appointments. One year we adopted two local families that were down on their luck and gave them a lot of groceries and Christmas gifts. Terry Mc Daniels took members blood pressure for many years. We have had nurses from some of the healthcare companies do this for us in recent years. Many have helped in our schools and a group has met regularly at Wolford since the spring of 1996 to cover reading books and assist in numerous ways to help teachers and staff. The Chapter has also hosted two Safe Driving classes per year for several years.
Partnering with other organizations to enhance community service efforts has been beneficial. The Chapter has partnered with the Black Forest Fire and Rescue and the Lutheran Church to provide a very popular and informative series of programs on recognizing and reacting to Stroke and Heart Attack symptoms in other persons or themselves. In 2010 the Chapter initiated a monthly “Senior Social” gathering with the Black Forest Lutheran Church. A partnership with the AARP Foundation & the ElderWatch organization has brought a professional document shredding event to the community. Shredding no longer needed records fights fraud and scams and reduces the exposure of individuals to identify theft. The Chapter has also successfully partnered with area businesses to collect donations and non-perishable foods for the local food bank. In all these endeavors the assistance of media communications has aided in ensuring our success.
A 25 year celebration was held in September of 1997. Many of the Charter members were able to attend. Mrs. Nesset, Ada Rock, Peggy Morast and Francis Wahlborg helped us remember the past years. Several of the Past Presidents also attended the event. Lunch was a purchased dinner from Boston Chicken. Everyone enjoyed the day and visiting with each other. In 2002 the Chapter received AARP recognition for 30 years of service to the community and for 35 years in 2007. We also hope to celebrate 50 years as a Chapter!
In 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017 2018 and 2019 the Chapter was presented with the AARP Colorado Platinum Chapter Cup for being the most outstanding AARP Chapter in Colorado for Community Service. In 2006 and 2007 the Chapter was awarded the Gold Award for being the second best Chapter in Colorado. In 2004 and 2008 the Chapter was awarded the Bronze Chapter award. AARP Colorado did not award the Colorado Platinum Chapter Cup in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The variety of programs given at the meetings has been of interest to us as senior citizens because they are educational and entertaining. In addition, excursions and discount trips have been arranged to visit other states and such local places as Cripple Creek for the Melodrama or just for the day to Black Hawk to attend theatre performances, and local Sky Sox baseball games. New and interesting things keep happening in this Chapter. Each of the officers and Committee chairmen through the years has contributed greatly to it success and longevity.
WAYS CHAPTER MEMBERS HAVE HELPED
The Chapter is only as effective as its members. Member participation in activities and events has always been critical to their success and making our motto “To Serve Not to be Served” a reality.
Chapter 1100 has always urged members to be active in creating the good in the community. Examples are to bring food or personal care items to meetings to donate to the local food bank, Black Forest Cares. Some members routinely provide transportation to those who need it. All are also asked to save canceled postage stamps for MOSAIC (a handicap group) supported by the Black Forest Lutheran Church and aluminum pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House. Items are also routinely collected for the First Step Pre-School and for Wolford Elementary School. A group of volunteers, dubbed “The Cover Girls”, has for many years donated their time to assisting teachers by preparing teaching aids for children at Wolford School. For several years many members have supported organized local shredding events and food drives to the benefit of the local food bank. On other occasions we have collected items for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, for the Salvation Army, and for needy Black Forest school children. Members are urged to come and join the fun of serving the community through active Chapter involvement in these and other activities.
Without a Chapter organization the good things the Chapter does would be impossible. For this reason it is necessary that members find the time to support the Chapter to the extent of their ability. The willingness of members to serve as officers and Committee members is key to every aspect of the Chapter and its goals. Individuals are also encouraged to serve as meeting host/hostess and greeters.
A primary source of Chapter income is the bus trips supported by our members and they are encouraged to avail themselves of these trips and enjoy the fun while simultaneously supporting our finances. Please keep in mind that the Chapter donates significant sums of cash to worthy charities in the region. Without funding this would not be possible.
2020 -2022 AARP Colorado announced that there will be no Chapter Awards in 2020 due to the Coronavirus-19. Also Chapters were not allowed to meet after March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participation in community service activities are still not authorized thereafter. In Jan, 2022 Chapter 1100 was allowed to resume monthly meetings with no more than 50 attendees..
Chapter activities resumed in October 2022. Please call Chapter President Candace Lehmann at 314.330.0411 for meeting dates and times. There are no age requirements for membership. All are invited.
The Black Forest Community Church offered the use of their church and the Community Ladies served the lunches. The Chapter grew so fast that they decided it was too much to ask of the church ladies to continue serving lunch. It was agreed to only meet in the afternoon and serve light refreshments after the meeting for a while. At Thanksgiving they had a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings which was such a hit that the potluck dinners were started with different members acting as host and hostess.
The Chapter was organized in late spring with Officers:
President - Edith Wolford Committee Chairman:
Vice-President-Maxine Tibbins Publicity - Grace Moore
Secretary - Grace Moore Membership - Mona Davisson
Treasurer - Father Hanlon Program - Rose Waddell
Other charter members were:
Paul F. King Mr. & Mrs. L. F. Koke
Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Demel Gus Davisson
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Wahlborg Mr. & Mrs. Wayne E. Rusk
A. Winifred Clark Mr. L. G. Waddell
Marie Yike Edith Theibaud
Peggy Morast Leona Hannasch
Ada Rock
The Chapter incorporation document was filed on September 15, 1972. In June of 1973 the first pancake breakfast was held in the Black Forest Regional Park. A parade of antique cars came down Shoup Road just as they started to eat. Father Hanlon had his camera and ran to the edge of the road to take pictures. Everyone left their sausage, egg, bacon and pancakes to get cold while they watched those beautiful old cars pass. The pancake breakfast was held in the Park for many years but was later moved to the picnic area of the Black Forest Lutheran Church where it was held for many more years. The last few years, however, the Chapter has continued the tradition by meeting in March and October at a restaurant for lunch.
AARP continued to meet in the fellowship hall of the Black Forest Community Church for many years until it was felt the steep stairs were a problem for some of the members. No one was hurt on the stairs but Ada Rock approached the Lutheran Church about meeting there as they had no steps. The group continued to meet there until late 1998 when the church started to remodel and add on to their building. The meetings were temporarily held at the Community Church during this time. The Chapter now meets at the Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
The motto “To Serve Not to be Served” was adopted. Some ways that the members have served include collecting food for Black Forest Cares, working various Create the Good projects, being Grand Friends at the various schools, Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Camp Fire Leaders or helpers, and staffing AARP booths at events through the area. Many have also served on the Fire Board, Silver Key, Election Boards, Regional Advisory Council of PPAAA, AARP Community Council, donated funds to charitable organizations, sponsored “Trash &Treasure” sales, and acted as Committee Chairpersons for both political parties. Some have served at the Chamber of Commerce, and others have taken people to the hospital for treatment and to doctor’s appointments. One year we adopted two local families that were down on their luck and gave them a lot of groceries and Christmas gifts. Terry Mc Daniels took members blood pressure for many years. We have had nurses from some of the healthcare companies do this for us in recent years. Many have helped in our schools and a group has met regularly at Wolford since the spring of 1996 to cover reading books and assist in numerous ways to help teachers and staff. The Chapter has also hosted two Safe Driving classes per year for several years.
Partnering with other organizations to enhance community service efforts has been beneficial. The Chapter has partnered with the Black Forest Fire and Rescue and the Lutheran Church to provide a very popular and informative series of programs on recognizing and reacting to Stroke and Heart Attack symptoms in other persons or themselves. In 2010 the Chapter initiated a monthly “Senior Social” gathering with the Black Forest Lutheran Church. A partnership with the AARP Foundation & the ElderWatch organization has brought a professional document shredding event to the community. Shredding no longer needed records fights fraud and scams and reduces the exposure of individuals to identify theft. The Chapter has also successfully partnered with area businesses to collect donations and non-perishable foods for the local food bank. In all these endeavors the assistance of media communications has aided in ensuring our success.
A 25 year celebration was held in September of 1997. Many of the Charter members were able to attend. Mrs. Nesset, Ada Rock, Peggy Morast and Francis Wahlborg helped us remember the past years. Several of the Past Presidents also attended the event. Lunch was a purchased dinner from Boston Chicken. Everyone enjoyed the day and visiting with each other. In 2002 the Chapter received AARP recognition for 30 years of service to the community and for 35 years in 2007. We also hope to celebrate 50 years as a Chapter!
In 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017 2018 and 2019 the Chapter was presented with the AARP Colorado Platinum Chapter Cup for being the most outstanding AARP Chapter in Colorado for Community Service. In 2006 and 2007 the Chapter was awarded the Gold Award for being the second best Chapter in Colorado. In 2004 and 2008 the Chapter was awarded the Bronze Chapter award. AARP Colorado did not award the Colorado Platinum Chapter Cup in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The variety of programs given at the meetings has been of interest to us as senior citizens because they are educational and entertaining. In addition, excursions and discount trips have been arranged to visit other states and such local places as Cripple Creek for the Melodrama or just for the day to Black Hawk to attend theatre performances, and local Sky Sox baseball games. New and interesting things keep happening in this Chapter. Each of the officers and Committee chairmen through the years has contributed greatly to it success and longevity.
WAYS CHAPTER MEMBERS HAVE HELPED
The Chapter is only as effective as its members. Member participation in activities and events has always been critical to their success and making our motto “To Serve Not to be Served” a reality.
Chapter 1100 has always urged members to be active in creating the good in the community. Examples are to bring food or personal care items to meetings to donate to the local food bank, Black Forest Cares. Some members routinely provide transportation to those who need it. All are also asked to save canceled postage stamps for MOSAIC (a handicap group) supported by the Black Forest Lutheran Church and aluminum pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House. Items are also routinely collected for the First Step Pre-School and for Wolford Elementary School. A group of volunteers, dubbed “The Cover Girls”, has for many years donated their time to assisting teachers by preparing teaching aids for children at Wolford School. For several years many members have supported organized local shredding events and food drives to the benefit of the local food bank. On other occasions we have collected items for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, for the Salvation Army, and for needy Black Forest school children. Members are urged to come and join the fun of serving the community through active Chapter involvement in these and other activities.
Without a Chapter organization the good things the Chapter does would be impossible. For this reason it is necessary that members find the time to support the Chapter to the extent of their ability. The willingness of members to serve as officers and Committee members is key to every aspect of the Chapter and its goals. Individuals are also encouraged to serve as meeting host/hostess and greeters.
A primary source of Chapter income is the bus trips supported by our members and they are encouraged to avail themselves of these trips and enjoy the fun while simultaneously supporting our finances. Please keep in mind that the Chapter donates significant sums of cash to worthy charities in the region. Without funding this would not be possible.
2020 -2022 AARP Colorado announced that there will be no Chapter Awards in 2020 due to the Coronavirus-19. Also Chapters were not allowed to meet after March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participation in community service activities are still not authorized thereafter. In Jan, 2022 Chapter 1100 was allowed to resume monthly meetings with no more than 50 attendees..
Chapter activities resumed in October 2022. Please call Chapter President Candace Lehmann at 314.330.0411 for meeting dates and times. There are no age requirements for membership. All are invited.