By Priscila Pancorbo

Dr. William T. Cox, Sr., Executive Director of RCRP, welcoming the retirees at the Thanksgiving luncheon.

More than 80 retirees gathered at the Charles E. Dudley Sr. Center on November 20, 2024, for Thanksgiving. The luncheon, organized by the Regional Conference Retirement Plan (RCRP), honored the seniors in the FYI: Forever Young and Independent program.

The event began with a welcome from Dr. William T. Cox, Sr., Executive Director of RCRP, who expressed his appreciation for the retirees and shared how the Regional Retirement program values and cares for them.

Among the attendees were four Regional Presidents who helped create the Regional Conference Retirement Plan, as well as Elder Joseph McCoy, the first executive director of RCRP, and member of both the Regional Conference Retirement Plan and the Office for Regional Conference Ministries.

Benton Hampton, who leads the F.Y.I. program, presented certificates recognizing individuals who support this project. Honorees included Ms. Vanesa Nora, Janet Jackson, and the two massage therapists who volunteer each week.

All attendees had the opportunity to reconnect with friends and enjoy an afternoon filled with stories and memories. Several retirees volunteer to be recorded on video expressing their gratitude for the program.

To conclude the event, Ms. Vanesa Nora played the drums, ending the afternoon with a music note. This Thanksgiving luncheon was the first but will not be the last.

The FYI: Forever Young and Independent program is sponsored by the Joseph W. McCoy Regional Retiree Cultural Center and meets weekly at the Charles E. Dudley Sr. Center on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each session includes intellectual stimulation and physical exercises, such as board games, arts, and skill-building presentations. Participants also enjoy chair exercises and massages to promote muscle development and relieve stress.

If you live in the Huntsville, Alabama area and would like to join this program, please contact the Office for Regional Conference Ministries at (256)-830-5002. We would be happy to welcome you to our community!