Senior Center Mulls Name Change

BREWSTER – Keeping pace with other councils on aging in the region, Brewster is considering a new name for its senior center and its programming — something less, well, senior-sounding.

 Meeting last week, the council on aging board reviewed a number of items on its action plan for the current fiscal year. One item on that plan is to consider rebranding the senior center building and the programs it offers, though the council on aging board would keep its current name, which is specified by the state statute passed 50 years ago.

 Andrea Nevins, co-chair of the COA board, investigated how Chatham went about changing its senior center to the center for active living. 

 “People were given a paper ballot with several options to consider, but also to come up with one of their own,” she said. Nevins learned that “a lot of people did not want the council on aging to change its name,” she added. Regionally, communities are seeking names that encourage younger people to take part in programs offered by the COA or names that more accurately describe those programs.

 COA Director Elton Cutler said any name change could take time to implement, since it would involve changing signs, literature, business cards and lettering on vehicles.

 “Rebranding is more than just a new logo and a tagline,” he said. “The easy part, I think, is going to be renaming it and rebranding with a logo. The harder part’s going to be funding.”

 “I don’t think we need to do it overnight,” Nevins said. 

 The COA board considered a list of potential names, including center for active living. 

 “I don’t know that everyone considered themselves as having an active life,” board member Penny Holemon said. A different name might be more inclusive, she noted.

 “I like the Brewster Creative Aging Center,” Jan Crocker said. “I feel like everybody’s creatively aging.”

 Board member Jay Green said he would prefer a name that doesn’t include “aging.” 

 “That’s one of the things that I think is keeping a younger population out of the activities,” he said.

 After some discussion, the board nominated six potential names: Center for Active Living, Thrive 55 Plus, Adult Resource Center, Creative Aging Center, Community Life Center and Engaged Living Center. The choices, along with a blank for novel suggestions, will be included on printed ballots and an online survey to be created soon.