By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews
ROCHESTER — “I’m the type of person who likes helping people,” stated Lisa Byers, Rochester. “I enjoy serving behind the scenes. I get great satisfaction helping other people succeed. It’s so much fun working with my seniors and the community. As I always stress, you’re never too old to have fun!”
Byers is the administration and activity director for Fulton County Council on Aging.
“Actually, I started out working for R.E.A.L. Services in the Energy Assistance Program, located in the Fulton County Resource Center and Council on Aging for several years. I helped low/fixed income families with their utility bills.”
For the last three years, Byers has worked for Fulton County Council on Aging and loves it. “I work with a great bunch of people. And I love the senior citizens who come to our center. We’re like one big, happy family. I look forward to coming in each day. It’s really not like a job to me at all.”
She loves keeping things running smoothly. “On a typical day, I come in and open the building, say good morning and talk with my seniors. I check in with Fulton County Transpo to see if there are any updates or changes that need made and to catch up on the gossip.” Byers also handles a lot of data entry, maintains their website and tries to produce a newsletter better than the previous month.
Byers is also in charge of the activities. One of her volunteers is a close relative. “Kathleen Stephens-Hawke is my sister. She’s in charge of crafts and does a marvelous job. Before she took over, we had crafts once a month. Now we have them three days a week. Both men and women love the crafting classes.”
Her assistant Mona Elsea (retired R.S.V.P. director) is a Godsend. “She not only works hands-on with the activities we do, but she’s in charge of the field trips the seniors take. In May we will visit Kokomo Glass company. In June we’re scheduled to go to Bremen Bison Farm. We want to get the seniors out and show them a good time.”
One of the residents’ favorite activities is chair volleyball. “They laugh so hard when something humorous happens. It’s just fun watching them.” She loves listening to their stories and talking with them just to see how things are going.
Right now, Byers is working on the 50th anniversary celebration of Fulton County Council on Aging. “We’re having activities through the month of June. We start out with the 32nd annual golf scramble on Saturday, June 8. Some other events include a cookout and so much more. We’ll end on the 28th of June with an open house.”
Byers and her husband Jeff celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on May 7. They have four grown children, 14 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one on the way. “I tell my children that having grandkids is payback time. I can spoil them and sugar them up and send them home.” She chuckles.
She and Jeff are Harley riders. “We’ve ridden the back roads of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, making friends as we travel. Our marriage is a long, happy one. I guess that’s because we communicate together and are patient with one another.”
Byers concluded, “We welcome seniors who want to have fun and make new friends.”
