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Hay River seniors' society gets eight for board

A new leadership group has been selected for the Hay River Seniors' Society at its annual general meeting on April 7.

Eight members were nominated and accepted to sit on the organization's board of directors.

Pauline Flewelling keeps track of nominees for the board of directors at the annual general meeting of the Hay River Seniors' Society on April 7. Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The new board consists of Sandra Lester, John Brockway, Velma Rowe, Tom Makepeace, Brian Flewelling, Stan Jones, Shirley Sloat and Mattie McNeill.

Prior to the AGM, six people sat on the board, and Makepeace, the society's chairperson, had hoped for a couple of more.

"I think probably seven is a good number to have on the board," he said prior to the meeting. "Eight, if possible."

The executive of the Hay River Seniors' Society was not elected at the AGM, which was held in the society's meeting room at the Whispering Willows Seniors Complex.

The directors themselves choose a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. That was scheduled to take place at a meeting on April 10.

About 30 people attended the AGM.

A number of other issues were discussed prior to the election of the board of directors.

In his chairperson's report, Makepeace noted that paid membership in the society was down to 90 as of April 6, and four new members joined at the AGM.

"We really need to encourage people to come out and take part in our activities here on a regular basis," he said.

Makepeace has previously estimated there are about 600 seniors in Hay River, while noting a yearly membership to the society costs only $5.

Members also discussed the society's finances and upcoming projects, such as the renovation of the kitchen at the meeting room.

Brian Flewelling noted that the society's 2005 constitution should be reviewed and updated to make it easier to read.

So he volunteered to undertake that task, after which an updated document would be brought to a special meeting of the society for approval.

Flewelling also noted that, according to the existing constitution, the president and vice-president of the organization are actually supposed to be called chair and vice-chair.