Senior Center recognizes employees

Senior Center employees L-R: Joy Edwards, Richard Gray, Natalie Buckley Rowland, Cheryl Conrad, Vickie Parker, Sarisa Harrison, Chearrie Cahill and Larry Burks.

Eight employees from the Madison Senior Center were recognized at a special employee appreciation day held Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the center.

Visitors to the center collected money to purchase gifts for each employee.

“This was a beautiful surprise,” said Natalie Buckley Rowland, center director. “It went beyond anything I could have thought or imagined that the seniors would do for the staff. I feel that having an event like this just reinforces the fact that we are here for the seniors and they are the most important part of our jobs.”

Located at 1282 Hughes Road, the Madison Senior Center provides various activities for free, for Madison seniors.

The center provides games and exercise programs. Recently, a $350,000 multi-purpose wing was added to the center that doubles as a tornado shelter and a card playing and game room.

“This is a wonderful place to work with amazing people,” said Activities Coordinator Vickie Parker. “Each holds a new adventure, you never know what’s going to happen from day to day. That’s what makes it so much fun.”

Parker has worked at the center for 12 years.

“I plan to be here for 12 more years and probably even longer after that,” she said.

Visitor Rosemary Brocato said she thinks it is “very important” to show appreciation when it is due.

“They have many multi-tasking jobs and they do it with a very mixed group of people,” Brocato said. “They have to always have to keep yourself on an even keel.

I think all the people who attend appreciate all the workers. They’ve all been here quite a long time.”