Senior Services

Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center is to promote and support the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

History of the Friends:
The Friends group began in 1986 in response to then City Manager Bill Frueh requesting a non-profit or auxiliary be formed to “handle the money” being donated to the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

After a study was completed, the Oshkosh Seniors Center Board of Directors decided that a separate not for profit incorporated group would be the needed support to the public-sponsored Oshkosh Seniors Center. Thus, the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center, Inc., a non-profit, 501C3 organization was born.

Funds raised by this group would remain the property of that group. Seven members of the Board of Directors of the Oshkosh Seniors Center became the incorporating Board of the Friends.

Since then, the Friends have conducted two capital campaigns. The first generated 1.2 million dollars within the Oshkosh community that built the South building (formerly the Main facility). These funds were then donated to the City of Oshkosh to pay for the building.

The Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center, being the parent group in their 2nd major campaign, along with the Oshkosh Seniors Center Board and the Oshkosh Committee on Aging raised an additional 3/4 million dollars to purchase and renovate the North building, formerly the Do-It Center and the Annex. The additional square footage of that building gave a total of 30,000 square feet of space for Oshkosh Seniors Center services.

The City facilitated a five-year loan for the purchase and renovation of the North building and in May of 2005, that loan was paid off in full by the Friends with a check presented by then FOSC President, Barb Ruedinger to then Mayor Richard Wollangk.

After each campaign, the funds raised were turned over to the City of Oshkosh; the facilities were and still are the property of the City. The City is responsible for upkeep, utilities and insuring of the facilities and continues to support 2/3 of the Center’s annual budget.

How Do I Become a Friend?
The more Friends there are, the more money is generated and raised. The more Friends the more possible volunteers there are to help with various daily tasks, programs, or large events.

A yearly “membership fee”, considered a support donation is asked for on a yearly basis (January 1-December 31) along with a form asking general questions about you to update the data base. You may download the information form to become a Friend or come in to the Center to fill one out. Click here to download this form.

The yearly support donation is $15 for a single person or $20 for a couple.

There is no obligation to participate at the Center if you are a Friend.

Any age is welcome to be a Friend.

As a supporter, you will receive a copy of the Center’s monthly newsletter, The Current, mailed directly to your address at no extra charge.

The Friends/Tours desk is located at the South building of the Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Rd., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Volunteers are at the desk to answer questions, sign up new “members” and take reservations for trips; phone number is 920-232-5312.

Past Fundraising Efforts:
Over the years, the Friends have supported many efforts where City funds were not available.

• In 2004, the Friends contributed $40,000 for staff wages and needed equipment.
  
  
• In 2005, The Friends contributed nearly $29,000 towards staff positions, contributed funds to the Wisconsin Warmer group (volunteer group who sews quilts, book bags, Christmas stockings for needy families), and paid for heating, cooling and ventilating improvements at both facilities, just to name a few.

These funds were raised through memberships, Winnebago Seniors Tours (which plan and host trips throughout Wisconsin and other places within the U. S.).

Winnebago Seniors Tours
Winnebago Seniors Tours became part of the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center in 1993 and continues to grow in the number of its trip offerings and participants.

Its goal is to offer affordable trips to any adult and to contribute to the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

The Tours group has become an important contributor within the Friends organization; since its collaboration with the Friends, contributed approximately $100,000 to the Center.

A one day trip may be for a fun day of gambling at a popular casino, a dinner and Christmas show in a Broadway-like theater in Wisconsin Dells, a full day of a variety of activities in Madison, Wisconsin, or a meal and “Oldies but Goodies” music at the Fireside Dinner Theater in Ft. Atkinson, WI.

A longer trip may be a five day travel to Memphis and Nashville where you would see Graceland, and then a backstage tour of the home of the Grand Ole Opry; then onto Kentucky to actually take a drive around the world-famous track at Indianapolis Speedway.

The Winnebago Seniors Tours is managed and planned, and escorted by volunteers from the Friends. Some tours taking 40 hours of volunteer time to investigate, plan, and escort.

Fall Family Fun Fest
The annual Fall Family Fun Fest began as a community awareness event for the Center and has grown to be a major fundraiser.

Always held on Grandparents Day, on September 11, 2011 attendees enjoy lunches, silent auction, raffles, bake sale, the Kids Corner, music by a professional musician, guessing games, and so much more.

This event brought in more than $6000 for the Friends which in turn is donated to the Center.

With yearly growth of this event, more sponsors, donated items and volunteers are needed to ensure its success.

On-going Sales
The sale of candy bars, snack chips, OCM cards at the Friends’ desk also help to contribute to the funds raised.

Grocery Receipts
Anyone who grocery shops at Festival Foods or either Pick ‘N Save stores in Oshkosh can designate the Friends as recipients for the receipt rebate program.

• Pick ‘N Save requires registration at their service desk by giving the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center #24860.
  
  
• Festival Foods requires that you save your cash register receipts and turn them in at either building of the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

A designated volunteer picks up the receipts, totals them, subtracts the required deductions and turns them into to Festival Foods as a quarterly package.

Receipts can only be submitted for each quarter (January- March; April-June; July-September; October-December).

Endowment Fund
The Friends started an Endowment Fund in 2000 with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation where generous bequests and other donations have allowed the principal to continue to grow.

It is a goal to continue to increase the principal of the Endowment so that each year, a portion of the interest earned can help support programs of the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

FRIENDS BOARD 2011

• Ann Marie Kosek, President
• Audrey Robbins, Vice President
• Pat Roberts, Secretary
• Judy Abraham, Treasurer
• Nancy Underwood-Dehn
• Bonnie Kratz
• Pat Krohn
• Trisha Liethen
• Elsie Meland
• Rick Picand (Center Board/Representative)
• Nancy Samida
• Betty Schober
• Mary Swanke
• Jean Zimmerman