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Some seniors upset over asst. director's firing
Contributed by: Erin Feese/YourHub.com on 9/22/2008

The assistant director at the Castle Rock Senior Center was recently terminated, and some members have expressed their discontent.

In an unsigned letter to YourHub.com, an individual wrote, "So many changes have happened at the Castle Rock Senior Center. It has always be a fun, lively place to be. It felt like home, until we learned three weeks ago that our wonderful assistant director was terminated ... The senior center has lost its appeal, security and homey feeling."

The author of the letter wrote that volunteers have quit, committee members have resigned and some members have stopped coming since assistant director Fred Slick was let go on Aug. 18.

Slick declined to discuss the reasons, but said, "I did not leave by my choice."

He said he misses the members at the center, as well.

"It was the joy of my life to wake up, go to work and see all their smiling faces," Slick said. "They made a difference in my life as I made a difference in theirs."

He added, "It was a great chapter in my life. It's a good place for people to congregate and enjoy each other."

Slick was very popular with some members, said senior center executive director Sandy Prichard. She said a very small but vocal group of members has expressed their unhappiness over the situation.

She said it is not accurate that volunteers have quit and that a few committee members have resigned but that they come and go all the time.

Chuck Wilson, president of the Castle Rock Senior Center board of directors, said due to legal reasons, he is not allowed to release to the public why Slick was terminated.

"A small group of people are disgruntled over the situation after our personnel situation changed," he said. "There are a ton of rumors going around."

He said at the board meeting Sept. 19, a group of people came to air their concerns about Slick's firing and wanted to know why, which the board could not discuss.

"Their concerns were heard, and it was a matter of clearing the air," Wilson said.

Longtime senior center volunteer John Glendenning said he had heard about the situation but has tried to stay out of it, as the rumors have spread like wildfire.

"It just sounded to me like there are people who liked Fred a whole lot - which was fine - but it was just something the center had to do," he said. "There are always people who can't accept change."

Wilson said he hopes the situation will not take away from the positive impact the senior center has on the community. The center has about 1,000 members and 300 volunteers.

"We are a vital and essential provider of services to seniors and disabled," he said. "This organization is not about personalities or individuals. It is about the people we serve and those who serve them."


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