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Judy Ring
takes a spin on the dance floor Sunday with
93-year-old Evelyn Oleneski at the "Merrymakers Senior
Prom" at the DC Centre. Merrymakers is an organization
that provides social events for senior citizens. |
Published Monday June 30, 2008
Second prom as good as first
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BY KEVIN COLE -- WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Dareld Keil felt "almost" like a high
school senior again Sunday the moment he hit the dance floor
at what he called his "second senior prom."
Keil was among about 200 senior citizens
and 60 volunteers dancing and reminiscing at the first
"Merrymakers Senior Prom" at the DC Centre near 120th and
West Maple Road.
Merrymakers, a nonprofit organization that
offers social opportunities for senior citizens, sponsored
the free event from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Merrymakers dance band, led by Johnny
Ray Gomez, supplied vintage music. The opening number, "Cab
Driver," popularized by the Mills Brothers in 1947, got
people out of their seats immediately.
Jessica Prater, 20, was cutting a rug with
Keil for several songs before the pair stopped to rest.
Prater was one of 30 young people from the Bellevue
Christian Center who volunteered to help out at the event.
Dressed in a full-length blue prom gown,
Prater said it was her first prom.
"I was home-schooled, so I didn't have a
prom," she said. "I didn't even really know how to dance, so
I am learning fast. It's been great."
Across the dance floor were Jim and
Phyllis Fowler of Council Bluffs, who have been dancing for
all 57 years of their marriage. They said they don't plan to
stop anytime soon.
The Fowlers received many compliments
about their dance floor elegance, but Jim also stood out
with his two-tone, black-and-white wingtip shoes.
"I've had more compliments on the shoes,"
Jim Fowler said. "I guess people don't see styles like this
too much."
Sitting with the Fowlers were friends and
fellow Council Bluffs residents Charlotte Carlson and Jean
Burns. The ladies didn't want to reveal their ages but had
their young dance partners huffing and puffing.
"I could not keep up with (Carlson) out
there," said Upile Bikoko, 23.
Carlson, who did say that she graduated
from high school in 1951, said Sunday's prom differed from
her high school in one important way: "This prom has been
more lively."
The Merrymakers dance band appeared to
have a lot to do with that, churning out tune after tune
with hardly a break.
Gomez estimated that his own band, the
Johnny Ray Gomez Revue, played for 50 to 100 proms across
Iowa and Nebraska over the years.
"It's just great to see so many smiling
faces and rekindle old memories," Gomez said. "I am
surprised by how many people tell me that we played at their
schools and towns."
Julie Cerny of Papillion surprised Gomez
with a photo of him from her 1961 prom at St. Ludger's High
School in Creighton, Neb.
Gomez autographed the pristine picture of
him in a tuxedo with his accordion. He was only a teenager
himself when he began playing professionally.
Paging through a scrapbook of prom
pictures, Julie Cerny said the music of the Merrymakers was
"perfect" for dancing with her husband, Gene.
"Everything they play is good," she said.
"The temperature in the room seems to be going up, but maybe
that's just because so many people are dancing and having
such a good time."
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10370115
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Executive Director Cindy Copich talks about MerryMakers
"Senior Prom" on
KIOS -91.5 FM June 25, 2008
Audio File
[mp3 6MB]
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From Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil
-- [Link]
 The
Kanesville Apartments complex was filled
with older-than-average party-goers. They
were happy, talkative and ready to party.
The music began pumping; and for the next
hour, everyone sang, laughed and played
kitchen instruments.
Thanks to The Merrymakers
Association, seniors within the region have
been entertained with professional
performers for the past 22 years. Today,
Merrymakers serves more than 33,000 seniors
living in nursing homes, low-income senior
living and long-term care.
"The shows are normally a
one-person act," said executive director
Cindy Copich. "The entertainers are at a
level of quality that most could not afford
without help."
Johnny Ray Gomez is an
accordionist and entertainer who has been
with Merrymakers Association for two years.
Before coming on staff, Gomez was the
entertainment manager for 10 years at Bluffs
Run Casino and has recorded several albums.
"I sort of fell into
this," Gomez said. "Everyone that followed
me is now in the nursing homes, so it made
sense."
Merrymakers' desire to not
only entertain their audience but also build
a personal connection.
"I strive to touch their
funny bone, their memory and their heart,"
Gomez said. "We want to bring joy, laughter
and humor."
Renee Waugh, proud to be
the oldest resident at the apartment complex
at 90 and one-and-a-half-years "young,"
enjoys the monthly performances.
"They are all wonderful,"
Waugh said. "They are professional and very
talented."
There are 83 locations
being served in the entire region, with 19
locations in southwest Iowa, including
Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Logan, Missouri
Valley and Woodbine.
"We continue to expand our
services to the region," Copich said.
Each location can be
scheduled for performances once a month,
with 12 performers on a rotation. Performers
include guitarists, accordionists, singers,
an impressionist, a piano/organ/keyboard
player and a magician.
The Merrymakers
Association recently received a $31,000
grant from the Iowa West Foundation, funding
that will give the organization an
opportunity to serve more people.
"The Iowa West Foundation
really opened this area up for us to work,"
Gomez said.
Copich believes, with the
help from Merrymakers, the performances
provided increase the overall level of
activity for the seniors and build a sense
of community to increase their health.
Waugh played the kazoo
during some musical performances with Gomez.
"I like the polka Johnny
plays," Waugh said. "His music is good, and
I have a Czech background."
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View Video from
DesMoinesRegister.com
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| Beck Livermore, known as
"Berefoot Becky," plays accordion and sings while her
husband, Terry Ard, plays guitar at Scottish Rite retirement
center. They perform at nursing homes, thanks in part
to a grant from Iowa Arts Council. |
DesMoines Register. Sunday, January 13, 2008
Merrymakers Association receive Iowa Arts Council Grant
$6,000 to the
Merrymakers Association. The nonprofit agency
that organizes professional performances in nursing homes and
assisted-living facilities in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area
will expand its reach to the DesMoines metro.
View File [PDF]
New Cassel honors Father
Peter, Mulhall & Merrymakers
The New Cassel Foundation
honored two individuals and one organization at the 8th Annual
Spirit of Francis Celebration on Friday, October 5, 2007.
The dinner event, held in
the Atrium and Waterfall Cafe at Physicians Mutual Insurance
Company, recognized Father Val Peter, Executive Director
Emeritus of Girls and Boys Town, with the Spirit of Francis
Award. The award is given annually to an individual or
organization who has advocated for the overall dignity and life
experience of the aging person, through their unselfish
commitment. Father Peter was also the first chaplain at New
Cassel in 1973.
Sean Mulhall received the
Lempka Leadership Award, presented to an individual who mirrors
the art of voluntary leadership and spirit of giving to New
Cassel, as demonstrated by Dr. Arnold and Agnes Lempka, longtime
New Cassel supporters, now deceased.
The New Cassel
Distinguished Community Service Award recognizes a
person/organization who has advocated for the aging person in
the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area, leading by example to
lift up those with needs among our aging population. Merrymakers
Association of Omaha was presented this award for the many years
of providing musical entertainment to retirement, assisted
living and nursing home facilities throughout the community.
Father Peter was the
keynote speaker, entertaining the 267 people in attendance. The
event raised $43,000+ for the Foundation Charity Care Fund. Dick
& Mary Jo Coffey and Gene & Connie Kudlacek were event chairs.
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Residents clapped, laughed and sang to some of
their favorite oldies Thursday at Wesley Acres, 3520 Grand Ave.
Katy Ann Parker of Omaha performed for the residents courtesy of
Merrymakers, a nonprofit organization based in Omaha.
Merrymakers, a 20-yearold organization that spread into the Des
Moines area in March, pays for performances at retirement homes
using donations from individuals and corporations.
Some of the songs performed included the Glenn
Miller classics "In the Mood" and "Tuxedo Junction."
Howard Eldrenkemp, a resident at Wesley Acres,
said the performance was well done.
"She did encourage us to sing along, and I liked
that part of it," Eldrenkemp said. "She did a good job of
reminiscing."
He said he would have liked to hear more about
the background of the songs and more about why they were
written, but otherwise he thought it was good. |
"It gets us all involved," Eldrenkemp said. "Even
if a resident is standoffish, it gets us involved:" Cindy
Copich, director of Merrymakers, said the goal of providing
performances to elderly people is to bring them joy.
"We try to stimulate memories and get them
moving, clapping and
mostly smiling," Copich said. She said they began
providing performances in Des Moines because of contributions
from MidAmerican Energy and Weiss Construction.
Copich said they plan to hire professional
musicians to perform shows geared for senior citizens in the Des
Moines area. For now musicians travel from Omaha.
---Amber Bryant-Tapper
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