By Jacki Moss

Special to the Tribune

Rather than whiling away the hours in an old rocking chair, members of the Marshall County Senior Citizens Center would rather recycle that rocking chair and make it useful again.

Frances Murdock, the center's director, says that on a typical day, 35 to 40 people take advantage of the various programs offered at the center. Among those programs is making use of recycled products such as fiber used in making automobile hoses at Nichrin. "We're always interested in hearing new ideas for things to do, so we thought we could find a way to make use of this donation," said Murdock. The fiber is super strong and seemed to be a quite suitable, modernized substitute webbing material for updating and repairing the seat of a rocking chair.

Once instructor Donna Elliot showed David Scott a method, he started working on the rocker. After about eight hours of work, Scott had finished his project, using the recycled fiber and saving an antique rocker. "The fiber is really strong and sort of thick, like macramé material," said Murdock. "So we use it to make other projects like hanging baskets, as well."

Murdock said, "We receive a lot of donations of things like fabric and we make good use of everything we receive." In one of the center's rooms, a wall of shelves has stacks of beautiful baby layette sets, complete with hand-made teddy bears that were made by the center's members. "They love making these. We give them to indigent families," said Murdock. On a table across the room are handmade book bags that are given to missionaries to give to people they meet in their work. And in bags, waiting for their missionary trips, are handmade teddy bears. Murdock points out a photo on the wall that shows a group of children grinning from ear to ear, clutching teddy bears. "These are our teddy bears that these children in Guatemala are enjoying," she explains. The center's sewing groups keep busy with those projects, as well as making lap robes and Christmas stockings for people who are in nursing homes.

As you walk the halls and peek into the various rooms in the center, you'll see a wide variety of activities -- ceramics class, painting, art, card playing, and even a robust game of billiards. Then, when you hear footsteps coming up behind you in the hallway, move to the right so as not to impede the momentum of the members who come to the center to walk. If you don't have a brisk pace, you'll be lapped for sure.

Murdock keeps on her toes making sure that there is always something interesting for members to do. The center sponsors yoga and aerobics at the Recreation Center, as well as bingo, pool tournaments, rook tournaments, and potlucks at the center. This week, a water aerobics class will kick off at Henry Horton State Park's swimming pool, and Murdock anticipates starting a book club soon. There are also many, many other programs that assist members with their daily lives.

For more information about Marshall County Senior Citizens, contact Frances Murdock at 359-1463.