After 41 years, Bend senior group disbanding

United Senior Citizens of Bend, the oldest senior citizens organization in Bend, has decided to dissolve after 41 years of operation, President Tom Gunn said Thursday afternoon.

“The organization determined that older adults in Bend would be better served if USCB activities were merged with the offerings of the Bend Community Center (BCC),” Gunn wrote in an e-mail.

“USCB and BCC are working on an agreement wherein USCB turns over its residual assets to BCC and BCC, in return, will take over USCB programs and services to seniors. The combined offerings will be targeted to serve senior citizens on fixed incomes. The transfer of assets and activities will take place at year-end,” Gunn wrote.

The seniors group spent many years at what’s now the community center on NE Fifth Street and partnered with the Bend Metro Park and Rec District to raise funds for and open the new Bend Senior Center on Reed Market Road.

But three years ago, the relationship soured and the USCB group moved back to what’s now Bend’s Community Center, claiming the needs of seniors on fixed incomes were not being given adequate attention at the park district-operated facility.

There was even a lawsuit filed against the district, seeking $1 million the USCB claimed it had raised for the senior center’s construction. The park district disputed the claim, and a representative said the lawsuit was dismissed in November 2013 due to the statute of limitations.

Here’s the announcement sent out in a newsletter:

At its September general meeting, the United Senior Citizens of Bend Board of Directors voted, with regret, to dissolve the organization.

The motion approved by the Board proposed turning over all residual assets of USCB to the Bend Community Center in return for a commitment by BCC to continue current USCB programs and services for a minimum of 5 years.

While a final agreement has not yet been reached, BCC has assured USCB that it not only wants to continue established senior activities, but it intends to provide additional ones as needs are identified.

Deciding to dissolve the USCB organization after 41 years of operation was not an easy decision to reach. Nevertheless, the Board came to the conclusion that consolidating senior activities with BCC was the most effective way to continue to serve older adults on fixed incomes.

The combined offerings of the two organizations provide these seniors with the best array of programs and services available in Bend.

Over 15 years ago, when representatives of USCB approached the city of Bend for assistance on building a new senior center, the membership did not envision the sequence of events which followed.

Many current and departed USCB members were deeply disappointed that their participation was not wanted in the management of this new Center.

In spite of this disappointment, members can take pride in knowing that their efforts resulted in raising nearly $1 million for the construction of the Bend Senior Center and at the same time providing a solid base of programs and services for fixed income seniors at the Bend Community Center.

Readers of this Newsletter are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the offerings of the Community Center and to make suggestions to its management for additional programs or services.