Welcome
Bringing a Senior Center to Lake Arrowhead: The Lake Arrowhead Gathering Place
IRS and the State of California have approved the Non-Profit Status of the Lake Arrowhead Gathering Place!
In 2023-2024, Club President Teri Ostlie challenged our club to come up with a BIG IDEA for a major project.
Our club has contributed to infrastructure projects to benefit the mountain community and visitors over many years:
- Rotary Point, overlooking Lake Arrowhead, with the bench constructed in 1954 (daffodils planted in 2025)
- Bus Shelter in Cedar Glen for students of all grades to use while waiting for the school bus.
- Rotary Centennial Park in Twin Peaks, donated and built by our Club in 2005 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary, International
- This project continues our Club’s efforts to improve the quality of life for our community
Rotarian Joyce Patrick-Eckert presented her vision to the board of directors: a senior center for the Lake Arrowhead basin. Despite being the largest community in the mountains, we have no dedicated space for seniors to gather. The board enthusiastically approved the idea.
We are currently seeking a building location with parking within the Lake Arrowhead basin to serve as the new home for our center. Ideally we are hoping to secure a charitable donation of a building or a long-term lease to help bring our vision to life.
Club and community members have contributed many hours to this effort:
- Conducted a fact-based, comprehensive Community Needs Assessment. Click here to read or download the Needs Assessment:
- Formed a separate Non-Profit (The Lake Arrowhead Gathering Place) to bring the creation and operation of the proposed Senior Center to life.
- Reached out to various community partners to seek a suitable location in Lake Arrowhead Basin
- Participated in the County’s Area Plan Update for Aging and Adult Services:
- Submitted Commented on the Aging Plan Update
- Presentations to County Supervisor Dawn Rowe (and provided copies of the Community Needs Assessment)
- Presentations to the County’s Aging Commission, (and provided copies of the Community Needs Assessment) specifically requesting:
- https://content.clubrunner.ca/7199/DownloadFile/Edit?ClassCode=HomePage&DownloadFileId=350a7899-4a0c-4149-9af9-434d47058c56&SelectedId=a78215f9-aae9-4291-9089-3819cb5c2bed
- They update the DRAFT PSA 20 Area Plan for Senior Services to identify the unmet need of a Multipurpose Senior Center in Lake Arrowhead
- On page 133, there is a blank space for "Multipurpose Senior Center Acquisition or Construction";
- Add a Senior Center in the Lake Arrowhead Basin.
- It can listed as an Unmet Need that needs funding
- Update other areas of the Plan to include unmet need of a Multi-Purpose Senior Center in Lake Arrowhead
- Seek funds through various County, State or Federal programs … so it will be funded in the next Area Plan cycle
If you are interested in volunteering or have suggestions for potential locations, please reach out to Rotarian “Joy” Joyce Patrick-Eckert, Executive Board President, The Gathering Place. Joy can be contacted at (909) 300-3616 or via email at lakearrowheadseniors@gmail.com.