Mott heads new senior center leaders

Ruthada Powell, the long-time president of the Mountain Home Senior Center, has resigned and been replaced by Paul Mott.

Powell's resignation was due to health reasons. Earlier this year she had experienced some severe complications from what had been expected to be a simple surgical procedure. She currently is recovering and undergoing rehabilitation at a facility in Nampa where she is expected to make a full recovery.

But because of the time she was spending away from the center, Powell submitted her resignation at the end of July.

Last Wednesday, the center's board of directors approved the selection of Paul Mott, whom Powell had recommended, to replace her as the leader of the center.

"We wish her well and hope for a speedy recovery," said Mott, 81, who will complete Powell's term of office, which expires next year.

The board also appointed Darlene Watson to fill an open vacancy on the board.

Mott noted that Powell had "been doing everything here" for years, but with her resignation, someone was needed to run the day-to-day operations of the center. To do that, the board named Kandi Morgan to become the new manager of the center.

Mott noted that Morgan has an "extensive business background" and currently is the manager and co-owner of Freedom Lanes.

Mott and the board will provide strategic direction to the center.

"We're aiming toward future growth" in membership, Mott said. And with more members, the center will be able to expand its activities. "So, with more things to do, more people will want to get involved. They feed on each other."

Mott, who has been a member of the center since 2005, said the center will be expanding the number of fundraising events that are open to the community. "I invite all members of the community to become active in the center." People of any age can join as associate members and those 55 or older can join as voting members. The cost of a membership is $10 a year, "something everyone can afford," Mott said.

Fundraising is important. Several years ago the state axed the funding for seniors centers like the one in Mountain Home, and recently the federal government has reduced funding for the Meals on Wheels program, which delibers nutritious meals homebound seniors. At the same time, Mott said, Congress "passed regs saying we had to do more."

So every dime the center can raise helps. Right now, for example, it has a raffle going on for several items. The winning tickets will be drawn on Air Force Appreciation Day. Tickets ($1 each or six for $5) and a display of the items are available at the center.

Mott said as the new president he intends to "look at the positive future, not any past negatives," and to grow the center.

Mott served 31 years in the Air Force, retiring as a senior enlisted advisor (the modern command chief). He has been a past president of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee and chairman of the city's Traffic Safety Committee. He also belongs to a significant number of Air Force and veteran associations and has chaired both the county and state Red Cross disaster associations.

Besides Mott and Morgan, other officials at the center are:

Patsy Zaske, secretary; Lisa Simpson, treasurer, and board of director members Suzann Morgan, Larry Hall, Karen Birchfield, Alice Craft, Gail Best and Darleen Watson.