BRADENTON BEACH – The Annie Silver Community Center board met last week for the first time since Oct. 19, 2020, when COVID-19 put a stop to board meetings.
The Sept. 27 meeting would be the last with Linda Yarger as president. Yarger decided to step down, making her official last day Sept. 30. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss who may want to take over as president of the center, a 501(c)3 non-profit overseen by a board consisting of a president (currently vacant), vice-president (Jim Hassett), treasurer (Dianne Coates) and secretary (Judy Pruitt). Although the center is in need of a new president as soon as possible, since no willing candidate was in attendance, a vote was delayed until at least the next board meeting, which will take place Monday, Nov. 15.
Kaye Bell, Peg Miller and members of Senior Adventures were also on hand to discuss upcoming outings for the group. Annie Silver Community Center works directly with The Center of Anna Maria Island, which provides vans and drivers to assist in getting Senior Adventures members to and from activities. The relationship between the two centers is made possible in large part due to the work of Christopher Culhane, executive director of The Center.
“They’ve gone on trips up to Tampa, Sarasota and Siesta Key; they do a lot of really great stuff,” said Culhane, speaking of Senior Adventures. “Whatever we can do to help facilitate senior programming, we’re here.”
Annie Silver Community Center has served the Bradenton Beach community for more than 65 years and is named for its founder, Annie Silver, whose life and accomplishments adorn the walls of the center in honor of her many contributions to the Island and its residents.
The center can be rented out for just about any event free of charge, although a charitable donation is requested to offset operating costs. Wedding receptions, youth activities and a meeting spot for the AMI Privateers are common at the center.
Island residents will also be happy to hear that bingo will be returning to the center in mid-January. Bingo is not only a favorite pastime in Bradenton Beach, but it is the primary source of income for Annie Silver Community Center. Due to COVID-19, there hasn’t been any bingo for more than a year. More details on exact dates and times will be determined at future meetings.
