SCOR President Florence Hart and Historian Ivy Bangs reminisce over photos from past group trips. Photo by Kerrie Anne Merz.

"Is SCOR to be like a weed that grows rapidly and dies quickly? Or like a flower that grows steadily with constant care and makes our little world a more beautiful and pleasant place to be?"

That question was asked and entered into the minutes of the October 10, 1978 meeting of the Senior Citizens Of Riga. The answer should become obvious when SCOR meets next Tuesday to celebrate its 25th anniversary, 114 members strong and growing every year.

"We’re having a big shindig," said SCOR President Florence Hart. The party, which is open to the public, will be February 13 at Gatherings at the Senator’s Mansion. Lunch will be served at noon. Entertainment will be provided by a woodwind ensemble from the Eastman School of Music, and Churchville Historian Ron Belczak will be the guest speaker.

Ivy Bangs, a charter member of the group and historian since day one, will present the history of the group in pictures. As a nod to the club’s genesis, Hart said SCOR will be inviting area churches to the lunch. "Since we started in the churches, we thought we would have them all as guests," she said.

According to a history written in 1995 by the late historian and SCOR member Ray Adams, the group began when the Riga Bicentennial Committee was meeting in 1975. "It was suggested something should be done in Riga for our older citizens … Joan (Jacobs) and Shirley (Hart) either volunteered or were appointed to get the ball rolling," Adams wrote.

On February 24, 1976, the first meeting was held at the United Methodist Church, with a luncheon served by the Methodist women, according to Adams’ history. A survey was taken to determine the needs and wants of the senior population with socializing, crafts, tours, bingo and card games getting the most votes.

Senior Citizens Of Riga continued to meet at noon on the second Tuesday of each month at area churches and community buildings.

In January of 1977, SCOR found a new home at the Harvey C. Noone Post American Legion, on Buffalo Road in Churchville, and has met there ever since.

Until this year, the club supported itself through dues, along with sporadic help from the Town of Riga. In 1976, yearly dues were 25 cents, plus one dollar each month to cover coffee, tea, sugar and milk. Ten cents per month was collected for a memorial fund. Money was also raised through parties and wedding receptions put on by the group and craft and baked goods sales.

This year, dues are $6 annually for residents of Riga, or $12 for non-residents. Most monthly meetings require a dish to pass at the door, or a small fee to cover lunch. For the first time this year, President Florence Hart had secured a yearly budget from the Town of Riga to help defray the costs of group activities.

Entertainment at the monthly gatherings can include anything -- from the "live visit" from Susan B. Anthony planned for November 13, to the "Victorian Tea Reception" to be held May 8. The March 13 meeting is a surprise—participants will not know what will happen until they get there that day.

The group takes bus trips each year, visiting places such as Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, the wineries in Naples, "The Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, Colonial Williamsburg, and many other parks, sporting events and theater productions.

This year, visits to Casino Niagara in March, the Corning Glass Museum in May, and Branson, Missouri in October, are among the many plans being made already. Trip prices are discounted for members.

Hart believes retirement is not the time to sit back and relax. Club members do all the event planning themselves. She said she also believes senior citizens should continue to give back to the community in their retirement. "We should be a giving group, too," she says.

So SCOR sells raffle tickets at each meeting, netting $800 last year: $300 went to help a homeless family of four in the community, $200 helped another local family, $200 went to a group member in need and $100 was donated to the Bethany House, an organization to help battered women.

Bangs, who is looking for help with her job as historian, is one of six members in their nineties. "She does it so well no one will ever take it over," said Hart.

The same could be said of Hart, who has made a big difference as group president for the past two years, getting a budget from the town and creating the first SCOR handbook. "She’s brought a lot of life into the organization," Bangs said.

With so many members in their eighties and nineties it’s a testament to the group’s solidarity that so many turn out for functions. "They’re all there to help you. Nobody needs to say ‘I can’t get there because I don’t have a ride’ because there are a lot of people to help you," said Bangs.

Hart said volunteers often deliver the luncheons to house-bound members, or those in nursing homes. "Everybody’s so pleasant," said Bangs. SCOR is open to anyone over the age of 55, whether or not they live in the town of Riga.

Anyone is welcome to come and see the friendships, generosity and good times that grew from seeds planted by a few hardworking people 25 years ago. "We’d like to invite the general public to the party," said Hart.

Reservations must be made before the event. Tickets are $7 for members, $14 for non-members, and can be purchased by sending a check made payable to SCOR to: Millie Huey, 3302 Union St., North Chili, NY 14514.