National Accreditation

The National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) has recognized our Senior Center as the very first accredited senior center in Virginia! This accreditation is the culmination of a rigorous year long process of self evaluation and a two day, on site review by representatives of NISC. NISC is a constituent unit of the National Council on Aging (NCOA) founded in 1950, it is the first and one of the leading organizations serving seniors that promotes dignity, self-determination, well-being, and the contributions of seniors.

The accreditation is sponsored by The Colonnades Senior Living Community in Charlottesville.

The national accreditation process, initiated in 1998, is based on nine standards of excellence in programs, mission, community collaboration, administration and human resources (including volunteers), governance, planning, financial controls, reports and records, and facility.

There are 15,000 senior centers in America, and we are just the 84^th to achieve this milestone. Founded as one of the first 200 senior centers in America, our Senior Center has long been on the leading edge of providing life enriching programs for seniors.

This accreditation reinforces what we have known since we opened on February 14, 1960—that we make a substantial impact on thousands of seniors and our entire community and that we are one of the best Senior Centers in America.

We want to thank the accreditation committee for all of their assistance and guidance that helped us reach this milestone:

Members: Peggy Boggs, Dale Chadwick, Bruce Copeland, Jackie Schelling, and Lorraine Wallenborn

Staff: Barbara Bunch, Kimberly Newcomb, Peter Thompson

Board of Directors: Martha Tarrant, Phil Wendel, Dr. Mark Williams, and Sue Winslow

Community representatives: William Currier (Woodson Charitable Trust), Jim Harlowe (Sprint), Mark Kastan (The Colonnades), and Eliza O’Connell (Virginia National Bank).

Thank you also to the committees of our Board of Directors and our staff that assisted in this process: Walter Blankenbaker, Cy Dye, Ed Gatewood, Charlie Gleason, Gus Goldsmith, Dawn Heneberry, Cornelia Johnson, Bruce Keith, Mary Reese, Harvey Smallwood, Gerry Watkins, Rick Watson, Jesse Wyllie, Eileen Moyer, Bev Whitlock, Perry Sennewald, Jane Belisle, Donna Blessing, Mindy Galoob, Linda Hahn, Jeanine Hamner, and Charles Walker.