By Lisa Carolin
Chelsea Senior Center and Faith in Action staff, volunteers and friends were inside the Chelsea Alehouse Tuesday afternoon April 30 to meet and greet and bid farewell to the leaders of both Faith in Action and the Chelsea Senior Center.
Outgoing Senior Center Executive Director Trinh Pifer was unable to attend, but plans to be at Friday’s farewell luncheon at the senior center and will continue to be at the center throughout the month of May.
Bill O’Reilly, who started his official duties as the new executive director of the senior center on April 22, was pleased to greet the crowd.
“I’m looking forward most of all to helping people,” he said about his new role. “It’s a fantastic group of people and an amazing number of volunteers.”
O’Reilly has been getting involved with various senior center activities. Last Friday, he learned the ropes as both a Meals on Wheels food preparer and deliverer.
As far as his plans go in his new job, he says, “I want to continue to focus on transportation and get those who are isolated as involved as possible. I also want to focus on new members getting involved and feeling at home. Even if you’re not a member, or haven’t been there in a while, come over and have a look.”
It was Nancy Paul’s last official day as executive director of Faith in Action on April 30, and she was enjoying the event while doing her best to hold back tears.
“It’s right below the surface for me right now,” said Paul. “This has been the best time ever. Faith in Action has been super fun and a satisfying job.”
Paul decided it was time to retire so that she could spend more time with friends and family.
As far as her replacement Sheri Montoye goes, Paul said, “I’m leaving the job in good hands. Sheri is a really good fit for the organization, and I couldn’t be happier. We had three weeks on the job together, and it was a nice transition.”
When asked how she would start her first day on the job May 1, Montoye responded, “The first thing I’m going to do is make coffee. I don’t want to step on any toes though, so if someone else has already made the coffee, the first thing I’ll do is get a cup of coffee. I’m looking forward to learning about all the community connections and building more. I’m looking for ways to grow and serve the community.”
