The 55 and over association organized its bi-annual meal, the winter one, Friday November 29, 2024 at the East neighborhood house, in Châteauroux. A friendly and sharing moment in which seventy members of the structure participated. The event took place barely two weeks after the election of Sylvie Clénin as the new president of the association.
Already a member of the office for some time, she replaces Monique Rougirel since November 15. “We took the time to do it well, and the handover happened naturally”underlines this former teacher, retired since 2014.
“I have the impression of becoming younger, of finding the same involvement again”
“I was the director of a nursery school in Ardentes for ten yearsshe explains, so I'm used to it, I know what to expect. » However, she recognizes that the responsibility of the presidency of the association is “less heavy” than that of a school made up of five classes, in which she was also a teacher, at the same time.
She discovered the association after finishing her professional career, and particularly took a liking to coming and participating in creative leisure workshops. moments “nice and friendly”to learn about creative arts such as sewing or scrapbooking, which pushed her to become a volunteer in January 2016, to lead these same workshops. “Initially, it was once every 15 days. Then there were more and more people, so it’s now every Wednesday, in groups”she says.
“I feel like I’m getting younger”
Before taking up her duties as president, “It scared me a littleadmits Sylvie Clénin. But it's going well. And we feel useful, it makes us want to do things. I have the impression of becoming younger, of finding the same involvement as when I was a kindergarten director. »
At 69, retired, her three children left the nest a while ago. “Before November 15, I had a lot of free time, since then, it’s more limited”she smiled. And if the workload is substantial, the first weeks seem to go wonderfully. “She already knew how the association workedunderlines Christelle Mita, salaried facilitator of the structureit makes things easier. The change is less heavy, since we too already know it. »
The Castelroussine 55 and above association will have 874 members in 2024, a slight increase compared to previous years, after the loss of more than 400 members during the health crisis linked to Covid-19. Its objective is to fight against the social isolation of retirees by offering collective activities.
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