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Heather Velde wasn’t looking for a new job, but what came knocking she couldn’t pass up.
On her final day as Senior Advocate last Friday, Velde wrote a quote on a white board that hangs in the Senior Center for the last time.
“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
The quote was a daily routine during the past two years of Velde’s tenure as Senior Advocate. In early 2010, she took on the roll in place of her mother-in-law, Cindy Velde, when she retired from the position after nine years.
For the most part, Velde says she has spent the last two years continuing the programming laid out by her predecessor. She’s been a part of a few additions, such as a club for widows and a once-a-month outreach with Prairie-5 where programming is brought to smaller groups of seniors elsewhere in the county.
“Everything we do here has been very rewarding,” said Velde. “All of it helps to keep seniors within their homes and they’re just so grateful for all of the efforts.”
Prior to accepting the post, Velde had been putting her Animal Science and Business-Ag degrees to work with egg producer, Rembrandt Enterprises (now Golden Oval) of Renville. With a four month old daughter, Morgan, she said she sought the Senior Advocate position for the shorter commute and more preferable hours.
With Morgan now two-years-old and Velde excited to report that her daughter has a sister on the way, an “out of the blue” job offer from Sparboe Farms, where some of her former classmates are employed, proved fortuitous.
Aside from being able to put her two degrees to use, Velde said that it was the opportunity to work for the Litchfield based egg producer mostly from home that had the greatest appeal to her.
According to Community Education Director Tim Knapper, from whose office the Senior Advocate position is instituted, the hope is that a replacement for Velde will be in place by February 1.
In the mean time, nothing will change as far as programming is concerned. And the Community Ed. Board will be checking phone messages and attending to any issues at least on a weekly basis.
Viewing the seniors as her “adopted grandparents,” Velde says it hasn’t been easy for her to depart and that she hopes someone is hired who is able to build off the present foundation.
“I just really, really enjoyed working with all the seniors. They all have a special place in my heart,” she said. “We’re not leaving town, so we do plan to visit.”
Heather Velde wasn’t looking for a new job, but what came knocking she couldn’t pass up.
On her final day as Senior Advocate last Friday, Velde wrote a quote on a white board that hangs in the Senior Center for the last time.
“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
The quote was a daily routine during the past two years of Velde’s tenure as Senior Advocate. In early 2010, she took on the roll in place of her mother-in-law, Cindy Velde, when she retired from the position after nine years.
For the most part, Velde says she has spent the last two years continuing the programming laid out by her predecessor. She’s been a part of a few additions, such as a club for widows and a once-a-month outreach with Prairie-5 where programming is brought to smaller groups of seniors elsewhere in the county.
“Everything we do here has been very rewarding,” said Velde. “All of it helps to keep seniors within their homes and they’re just so grateful for all of the efforts.”
Prior to accepting the post, Velde had been putting her Animal Science and Business-Ag degrees to work with egg producer, Rembrandt Enterprises (now Golden Oval) of Renville. With a four month old daughter, Morgan, she said she sought the Senior Advocate position for the shorter commute and more preferable hours.
With Morgan now two-years-old and Velde excited to report that her daughter has a sister on the way, an “out of the blue” job offer from Sparboe Farms, where some of her former classmates are employed, proved fortuitous.
Aside from being able to put her two degrees to use, Velde said that it was the opportunity to work for the Litchfield based egg producer mostly from home that had the greatest appeal to her.
According to Community Education Director Tim Knapper, from whose office the Senior Advocate position is instituted, the hope is that a replacement for Velde will be in place by February 1.
In the mean time, nothing will change as far as programming is concerned. And the Community Ed. Board will be checking phone messages and attending to any issues at least on a weekly basis.
Viewing the seniors as her “adopted grandparents,” Velde says it hasn’t been easy for her to depart and that she hopes someone is hired who is able to build off the present foundation.
“I just really, really enjoyed working with all the seniors. They all have a special place in my heart,” she said. “We’re not leaving town, so we do plan to visit.”
