Can't make holiday cookies? Buy some

No time to do any holiday baking this year? Don't worry! You'll have plenty of time to purchase all of your holiday goodies on Monday at Faribault's "Last Bake Sale Before Christmas." The doors will be open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. In addition to purchasing items to bring home, we will once again have our Holiday Coffee Shop, where you can have a hot beverage and a baked treat at the Faribault Senior Center. This is a perfect chance to stop in for coffee. Join us for this annual event!

Membership meeting tomorrow
Join us at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Center for our annual holiday party and membership meeting. We begin with a business meeting and election for the board of directors. Along with the meeting we will have some holiday fun and Christmas treats. This is a members-only event and no preregistration is required.

Renewals requested
Just a reminder to our current senior center members that we would like to encourage them to turn in their membership renewal forms as soon as they can. We would like to have as many renewals completed as possible before year end.

Christmas gift ideas
Looking for a gift idea for a special senior on your Christmas list? How about purchasing a gift certificate for one of the services that we offer here at the Senior Center? We have them for senior dining, 2012 membership dues, foot clinic and the Clothes Closet. This might be just the thing for that older adult you are shopping for!

Some food for thought
As we age, we sometimes look back on our life and reflect upon some of the people and organizations that have made our life better along the way. And for many of us, the Senior Center is one of those organizations. We may have participated in the senior dining program or attended the free health or financial clinics or participated in some of the groups, such as the book club, or even obtained valuable information about the senior services that we needed.

One way to help ensure that all of those things and more will be available for those who come after us is to remember the Senior Center when we make our estate plan. For example, the Senior Center recently received a $10,000 gift from the estate of John and Lucille Hoban that came just in time to help fund our big technology and facility upgrade project this fall. That type of gift can make a huge difference in ensuring that the Center will be able to serve the seniors of the future.

One way to carry out our wishes would be by designating a gift in our will, but another way could be to simply fill out a beneficiary form at our financial institution designating FASC as the beneficiary for one of our bank accounts, CDs or other financial instruments. Leaving a legacy can touch the lives of many people and is a great way to give back to the community for all of the many blessings we received during our lifetime. It is a great way to say thank you.

The above was researched and written by Senior Center member Rich Brockmann.

Reminders and deadlines

Clothes Closet monthly meeting will be Wednesday (today).
If you are a Senior Center member and plan to donate to the upcoming bake sale, please plan on dropping your baked goods off at the Senior Center at about 8 a.m. on Monday.
On the third Tuesday of each month, appointments can be made for assistance in writing a health care directive, a document that describes your health care wishes. Appointments required by calling the Senior Center.
The board of directors meets at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
A snouse card party will be held in our dining room at 1 p.m. on Saturday. No membership or sign-up required.

Upcoming trips

"Forever Plaid Tidings" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Jackpot Junction on Jan. 3 and 4, 2012. Gaming package includes $50 in free play and "50-Plus Wednesday Perks." Cost is $48, including transportation and hotel, meals on your own.
New trip! "Hairspray" from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Don't miss Broadway's musical comedy that inspired a major motion picture and won eight Tony awards. $75 pays for lunch (chosen from the menu), performance and transportation. Reservations must be made by Jan. 5.
Brochures are still available for 2012 Costa Rica and Belgium, Netherlands and Paris tours.
New trip! Hannibal, St. Louis, Memphis, Jefferson City and more! Feb. 22-27, 2012. Take a winter break and join us on a motorcoach trip as we look for warmer weather not too far from home. Included are lots of sightseeing, entertainment, good food, nice hotels and a great time. Brochures with prices and details available at the Senior Center. Prompt sign-up is encouraged.

— Mona Kaiser is the director of the Faribault Area Senior Center. She may be reached at 332-7357.