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Arlene Rossi
Fall 2010 Citizen of the Season
The Citizen of the Season for Fall 2010 is Arlene Rossi. Arlene was chosen because of her outstanding service to the senior citizens of Zion Canyon. As coordinator of the Senior Meal Site at the Canyon Community Center, she has made the program so much more than a ‘place to get lunch’. She arranges for speakers to address the needs and interests of seniors, coordinates Bingo, movies, Wii bowling and other games, and seniors can even get their blood pressure checked!
She convinced Farmers Market in LaVerkin to provide a free birthday cake and once a month the seniors celebrate all the birthdays that fell in that month. At the annual Christmas party she hosts up to a hundred people and finds good entertainment for them.
Allan Staker nominated Arlene. He says, “I see her so many places giving service to so many people. She spends 2-3 days a week at the Center, plus arranges for people to get to the Center in her private car because the bus driver is ill. She buys little gifts with her own money. She’s asked to do more and more administrative work by the County. This is not just a ‘show up for a sandwich and a Coke then go home’ thing. It’s a pretty big deal!”
Arlene is responsible for the senior program coming to Springdale. She had many obstacles to overcome. Washington County was not interested in providing service for seniors in Springdale. “They were determined not to create a Center here. I told them I was going to do this whether they wanted to help or not.” Finally, the person who supervises her now became her ally and convinced the County Commission that Springdale should at least become a ‘meal site’, if not a full Senior Center.
Arlene says she loves working with seniors. “I can relate to them. I appreciate what they have to offer just because they have lived a long time. I love hearing their stories.”
