Jose Waddleton, 90, is marking her 30th year as president of the Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club.
By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jose Waddleton, 90, of Trepassey has been president of the town’s 50+ Friendship Club for almost 30 years.
She was too young to get involved when it was formed in the seventies and was initially called the Hillview Senior Citizens Club. But once she became a member in the 1990s it wasn’t long before she became president. That happened when the president resigned in 1996. Waddleton was nominated for the position and accepted the role for one year on a trial basis. She has been president ever since.
Waddleton said the club is involved with many events and occasions in people’s lives. They hold birthday parties twice a year, and also do bereavement gatherings.
“We have a social get-together where we supply everything for a meal for bereaved families after a funeral,” she said.
The club also holds exercise classes once a week. They also host dances with entertainment by a band or DJ. When Waddleton became president in 1996, the club had 20 members. Today, it has 120.
“We do different things, and I was the one who organized everything,” she admitted. “I don’t like to brag about myself, but I did.”
Waddleton recently helped secure funding for the club, as well. The Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club applied for the New Horizons for Seniors grant last year and was successful, receiving $25,000.
“The grant was mostly for parties, meals, and guest speakers to come in and give us information on anything of interest to a senior,” Waddleton said.
On November 11, the club used money from the grant to provide a big meal for Remembrance Day. “And we had a caterer, too, all because of our grant, which was wonderful,” said Waddleton.
The club fed 100 people, which is what they would expect if the weather was fair. Though the weather that day was bad, they still had a turnout of a hundred.
Waddleton allows that being involved with the club is pretty fulfilling. It allows her to meet new people and keep in touch with the world.
“I love to help people,” said Waddleton. “I always loved to help seniors. Now I’m a senior myself.”
Next month the Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club will hold its annual elections. Waddleton said she is considering stepping down as president after three decades.
“But I still feel capable of carrying on the work,” she said. “So I’m not really sure if I will step down or if I’ll continue on for another while.”
