Oswego Senior Center finds itself back at square one as they look for a new home. It was just a year ago that then acting executive director, Lynn Cullick, said that the Center would be in a new home on Templeton Drive in Oswego for two years and search for a more permanent space. But now, in this month, Center officials have just days to vacate once again.
New executive director, Dave Barriball, comes to Oswego Senior Center as an operations guy. He said, “I’m an operations guy. You measure operations by success. So, if I can find a place for us, then I will be happy.”
Barriball has been the executive director of the Oswego Senior Center for just three months. He was newly-retired and discovered that retiring just didn’t suit his personality. He needed a busier lifestyle and new challenges.
“It’s a miracle really, that I found them, and they chose me,” he said. “And I am loving it. The job is fun, the people are great, and I don’t worry. It’s giving me challenges but that’s okay. We will work through the challenges as they are actually opportunities,” he said.
Outlining the challenges that the Center faces and its future plans, Barriball explained how Oswego Senior Center found itself in this situation. “A year ago, we lost our site at the old Traughber school building, and we had 30 days to find a place to move. The Township came to our rescue with a very good deal in their building on Templeton Drive, but the three-year lease had a yearly renewal. The building was sold, and the new owner came in and realized that the good deal our Center had with the Township was not a good deal for him. We want to thank the new owner, Dr. Bailey, for his cooperation while we look for a new location. And so here we are, with just a few more days here before we move on,” he said.
The Center will move temporarily into Neighborhood Church of the Brethren, at155 Boulder Hill Pass, Montgomery, in Boulder Hill. “We are trying to finalize these plans, and I want to thank the people who are helping us with that location,” Barriball said. “They have been terrific!”
“We hope to be there just a month or two, as we are trying to buy a long-term facility. I want the seniors to have a permanent place to call their own, a forever home. We are starting a capital campaign and trying to get support community for that,” he said.
Barriball added his thanks to other organizations who have been helping Oswego Senior Center through this time of uncertainty. Allied First Bank has allowed space for activities such as line dancing and yoga. The Oswego American Legion has been host to monthly lunches and parking lot Bingo. The Diamond Senior Apartments has been host to OSC’s singing groups. “Because we have no location for these activities, we have relied on these community partners. We really appreciate all the support they have given to our seniors,” he said.
Barriball said that they miss the breakout rooms used for woodworking, the gym, library, crafts room, and gift shop they used to have available. “I want to have all that we had at the end of 2019. That is my goal,” he said.
“I want to thank our seniors for their participation in this transition process, their patience, and their support. We appreciate them, and we will work together to make this happen.”
Those interested in more information, or to offer suggested properties should contact Barriball at daveb@oswegoseniorcenter.org.
Barb Nadeau is the Community Relations manager for the Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois, representing five counties. Barb has worked many years as a professional television and radio host, as well as a print and social media journalist, and as a volunteer coordination professional networking amongst non-profit social service agencies throughout Illinois. She is a freelance writer and an elected alderman in the city government of Plano. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.