About Us
The Litchfield Community Center, Inc. gained its' non-profit status in March 1999 celebrated its grand opening on July 28, 2000. The Center is located at 421 Bantam Road in Litchfield, approximately one mile from the Town's green. The Litchfield Community Center is a private not for profit organization and is operated by a board of directors.
The Mission of the Litchfield Community Center is to provide a comfortable environment that encourages creative, intellectual and recreational pursuits to reflect the interests and needs of the community.
Our Core Values:
We value honesty, integrity, respect and service to others.
We provide creative, intellectual, recreational and innovative activities for all ages.
We promote family harmony and enrichment, diversity, open-mindedness and open- heartedness.
We listen and respond to the needs of the community.
We are committed to maintain and responsibly manage the facility, property and resources of the organization being mindful of the environment.
We acknowledge and value the efforts, contributions and dedication of our staff and volunteers.
We collaborate with individuals and organizations that share our common vision and authentic intentions for the good of all.
To view The Litchfield Community Center's 2008 Newsletter:
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THE LITCHFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER, INC.
421 BANTAM ROAD ~ LITCHFIELD, CT 06759
PHONE (860) 567-8302 ~ FAX (860) 567-0328 WWW.THECOMMUNITYCENTER.ORG
A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Newsletter From President 2010
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This July marks the Ten Year Anniversary of the Litchfield Community Center! As I look back on past newsletters, I notice that from the very early days, the Center has been busy with programs for all ages and interests, and as we have grown, so has the depth and scope of our calendar events. A recurring theme has been “what did we ever do before we had the Community Center?” and the Board of Directors is committed to keeping it vital and thriving in Litchfield.
The success of the Community Center is directly related to the spirit of our Executive Director, Berta Andrulis Mette, and her staff. They work tirelessly to offer programs and activities that are interesting and fresh, as well as continuing the popular favorites. Jim Seitzer maintains our facility in tip top shape, and Cheryl Mendez is ever busy with the website and administrative tasks. We also thank Stacey Raap, our student staff member, for all her efforts and assistance with Center activities over the past two years.
The Board and Staff welcome feedback about the interests and needs of our community so that we may fulfill our mission. Over the past year, four roundtable discussions were held and many new ideas and suggestions were brought forth that will be thoughtfully considered. A large number of participants said “don't change a thing, we think you are on the right track”. We hope to continue to improve without losing any of what makes the center successful.
A common misunderstanding about the organization arose during the roundtable discussions. Most of the participants thought that the Community Center was fully funded. The Board and Staff recognize that we need to do a better job of educating the public about this. We are forever indebted to the wonderful Sunny Seherr-Thoss, whose generosity and vision, as well as her love for the community, built the Center in 2000. She left the Community Center with an endowment, which covers approximately half of our expenses, mainly maintaining the facility itself and some staffing. The rest of our budget is made up of program fees, facility rentals, fundraising and our annual appeal. As we strive to keep the costs of our programming low, we rely on the fundraising efforts of the staff and board, and gratefully thank each and every one of you who have contributed to any or all of these endeavors. Your generosity is what makes it OUR Community Center.
Please mark your calendar for the weeklong celebration of our 10th Anniversary July 11-18. It is a week chock full of free activities and programs. The week commences Sunday July 11th with a “Tour de Blooms”, a tour of six select local gardens, beginning and ending at the Community Center. There will be special programming throughout the week, leading up to a Gala on Saturday the 17th that should not be missed! It will be a festive night of dining and dancing.
Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community, and I hope to see you at the Center
Sincerely,
Marie Scirica
President, Board of Directors
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THE LITCHFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER, INC.
421 BANTAM ROAD ~ LITCHFIELD, CT 06759
PHONE (860) 567-8302 ~ FAX (860) 567-0328 WWW.THECOMMUNITYCENTER.ORG
A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Celebrating our 10th Year Anniversary
2000 ~ 2010
It is exciting to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of our opening and to honor the efforts of all those who have contributed to the development and success of the Community Center over the past years.
A glimpse back at our beginnings brings us to 1994 when under the auspices of the Litchfield Parks & Recreation Department, a small group of dedicated volunteers led by Park & Recreation commission member Deborah Schaaf, started “The Basement Teen Center”. The Teen Center found a home at St. Anthony of Padua Church on South Street as a result of the community spirit of Rev. Robert F. Tucker and church parishioners. Deborah became the volunteer Director at this time. It took little time for the teen center to fill with the echoes of joy and friendship as the youth began to gather regularly on Friday and Saturday nights. During this time there was also a need recognized for a centralized facility to provide elder services and programs for Litchfield residents. By 1998, with the continuing interest of Deborah, Berta Andrulis, Dianne Saunders, Jo E. Friday, Adele Goodkind, Virginia Mortara, Father Tucker and several other local residents who were passionate about the project, the Meeting House Board of Directors was formed and a search began for a location to house the diverse offerings proposed by this assembly. A decision was made to establish a non-profit organization and to construct a new facility. This was ultimately made possible with the visionary spirit, generous financial commitment and hands on involvement of Litchfield resident and local philanthropist, Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss. A location for the new facility became available when the White Memorial Foundation's Board of Directors approved a building proposal and agreed to grant a renewable 25 year lease, commencing July 1, 1999, for our present 2 acre property located at 421 Bantam Road.
The Meeting House, Inc. gained its non-profit status in March 1999, and with this came an accelerated effort to tackle many of the tasks that needed tending to. These included; the approval of the building plans for the Community Center from various town committees, the writing of the organization's by-laws, obtaining tax-exempt status, as well as organizing community events to promote the project to the public. The first formal election of officers took place in May with Berta Andrulis being named President, Deborah Schaaf; Vice President, Cathy McDonald; Secretary, Dianne Saunders; Treasurer. Regular board members included Sonia P. Seherr~Thoss, Brian McCormick, Jo Friday, Wayne Murray, Sheila Smart, Carole Gibney and Rev. Robert F. Tucker. During the following months a new name for the building and business were selected and officially changed from The Meeting House, Inc. to The Litchfield Community Center, Inc.
In August 1999, the Board hired Deborah Schaaf as the Executive Director and Brian McCormick was elected Vice President to fill the office vacated with her hiring. In September, a ground breaking ceremony for the new building was held. The planting of a tree, donated by the Litchfield Garden Club, was planted on the front lawn as a symbol of our roots being set at this site and the commitment of our organization to “bloom where we are planted”. Carole Gibney and Virginia Mortara initiated the Leadership Giving Campaign and by the end of October the first phase of construction began.
Throughout the following months, a tremendous amount of curiosity, anticipation and excitement grew as the dream of a building became a reality. The expertise, creativity and professional services of Paul Hinkel; Architect, Alexandra Champalimaud; Interior Designer, Rod Oneglia; Burlington Construction Co. Inc. and Dan and Joyce Lake; Litchfield Horticultural Center resulted in a facility and property that is welcoming, versatile, multi-functional, aesthetically unique and beautiful.
In March 2000, Deborah Schaaf resigned from the position of Executive Director. Board President Berta Andrulis filled the position in a temporary volunteer role and was formally hired by the Board of Directors in April 2000, leaving her position of 13 years with New Britain Community Services. During the following months focus was maintained on the completion of the building project, the purchasing of equipment and supplies, as well as the hiring of support staff. The hope and steadfast intentions of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director were to prepare for a grand opening in July and to bring the mission of the organization to fruition, that being “To provide a comfortable environment that encourages creative, intellectual and recreational pursuits that reflect the interests and needs of the community”. On July 28, 2000 the Grand Opening was held with a festive gathering of family and friends, Board Members and Staff, area residents, as well as many dignitaries. The festivities of this first evening set the tone for the Community Center to become a place that would be brought to life with a bounty of activity enjoyed by all who would enter its doors. By 2004 it was proven that we needed more space to accommodate the ever growing requests for a private meeting area and our expanding calendar of activities. With the support of private donors and community foundation grants, The Learning Center room was added on and this space has become a great asset for all who use it.
In 2006, our founder, benefactor and devoted friend, Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss died. The Litchfield Community Center would not be if she had not embraced the project with her heart, soul and mark of excellence. She established an endowment for the organization before our doors were open. These funds are depended on a quarterly basis to maintain the organization's budget. The original endowment was increased with an additional bequest at the time of her death. With her commitment and generosity she provided the organization a strong foundation and a promising future. Despite the physical absence of “Sunny”, her remarkable intentions, noble ideals and genius of conscience are immortal. She remains a guiding compass and inspiration to all who knew her.
In 2007 the Board of Directors took on the task of defining and articulating the Core Values of the organization. Seven values were adopted on February 7, 2007 and have become essential and enduring tenets of our organization. Furthermore, they represent timeless guiding principles for both the Board of Directors and Staff members to reference when decisions are being made and responsibilities to the organization and those we serve are executed.
Since that historical 28th day of July 2000, the Litchfield Community Center has truly become, as a few of our patrons have shared, “The Center of our community”, “the living room of Litchfield”, and “a guiding light”. The attendance and facility use reports of the past years are a durable written record of the growth we have experienced. The diversity of programs and activities do indeed reflect the interests and needs of those we serve. The wide array of private functions commemorating life's milestones and the steady flow of public gatherings that have been held here, are a testimony to the ongoing fulfillment of our mission and core values. We value how essential our organization is to the vitality of our community, enriching the quality of life, epitomizing the highest societal values and uniquely strengthening a sense of community amongst our local residents that extends to our neighbors and friends beyond town boundaries.
Creating Community and collaboration are synonymous with one another. Our success will continue to be dependent on the combined efforts of many people, the on-going financial support of individual donors and grantors, the offering of unique and appealing activities and programs, as well as the constant attention given to the building itself and all its amenities. The diligent efforts and devotion of staff members; James Seitzer, Cheryl Mendez, Stacy Raap and Mary Marino makes for a significant daily contribution to the successful operation of the Community Center. We are further sustained and inspired by the many activity instructors, program facilitators and wonderful volunteers who share their time and talents for the benefit of our initiatives. Our organization is also fortunate to have a Board of Directors comprised of individuals whose support, governance and dedicated service accentuates our accomplishments. All are important emissaries of our mission and core values.
To date, many lives have been enriched by the happenings at The Litchfield Community Center. To look forward we must foster and engage in new opportunities, pursue new endeavors and implement thoughtful propositions. We are bound for future achievements and challenges. In concert with our beginnings, we will continue to honor the shared values, ideas and resources that have established our existence in this community and with great enthusiasm and anticipation, set ourselves on a course for the next ten years.
Respectfully submitted by Berta Andrulis Mette
May 2010
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