Post Falls Senior Center forms travel club
For seniors who want to get up and go but need someone to go with, the Post Falls Senior Center may have the just the thing – a new travel club.
“We did a survey and the majority of seniors wanted a travel club,” said Sandra Miller, senior center site manager. So the center tagged Walt Fagan as the leader and formed a club. “We decided to try and see what would happen,” Fagan said.
“We’re going to see if the people really want it. If they want it, they’ll come to it,” he said.
The travel club has had one meeting with another planned Monday to learn what types of trips are available. Initially, seniors have expressed an interest in local day trips, overnight excursions and extended vacations from three to 14 days, Fagan said.
Traveling “gives people something to look forward to,” said Dick Jensen, owner of Inland Empire Tours in Spokane.
“A lot of seniors have lost spouses. Traveling gives them the opportunity to do something that doesn’t cost much, but that can enrich their lives and bring joy to their lives,” Jensen said.
“I feel that travel is one of the best gifts they can give to themselves.”
Jensen, who was selected by the Travel Club to book its future trips, will be the guest speaker at the October meeting. He’ll give a slide show of local excursions within a three-hour drive by motor coach. Possible local tours include a Montana fall colors trip; Ione train ride; visit to Fairmont Hot Springs, Lake Louise and Banff; and an excursion to the Oregon coast.
Membership in the fledging travel club is free and anyone 50 years old or older may attend the meetings or go on the trips.
The travel club is a first for the Post Falls Senior Center, which has not offered travel excursions before.
In Coeur d’Alene, the Rambling Rovers have been traveling for about 17 years. “We try to be active,” said trip coordinator Ruth Slauson. The club has 214 members and averages 90 people at its luncheons. Slauson tries to book at least two excursions a month.
“Most of our members are women who are either widowed or divorced,” Slauson said. “They’re alone; they enjoy traveling, but they need companionship.
In the past, club members have gone to the Pendleton Roundup, a rodeo in Oregon; a planetarium in Eastern Washington; and a TV station. “That tour was the highlight,” Slauson said of the television station. The Rambling Rovers go to casinos. “I can’t believe all the seniors who love to gamble,” she said.
Bigger trips include a vacation to Greece three years ago and this May the Rambling Rovers will take an Alaskan cruise.
Recently, the members went on a “surprise” overnight excursion. They paid their money, boarded a motor coach and took off for parts unknown. Their secret destination turned out to be Canada.
The Rambling Rovers have more specific requirements for membership than does the new Post Falls club. Rambling Rovers must be 55 or older. The initial membership fee is $30 with an annual renewal of $25. Members must attend at least two regular membership luncheons at the Lake City Senior Center and take at least one overnight trip or two day trips. Although the Rambling Rovers meets at the senior center, it is not sponsored by the senior center.
Seniors interested in either club are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings.