Rayanne Sester, standing, enjoys a short chat with a craft group at MASS. Although she enjoys her current role as director, she misses the one on one contact she had with people in her previous positions at MASS. (Reporter photo by Bonnie Morris)

MENDOTA - On July 24, 1978, a program to serve the community’s senior citizens was incorporated as Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS). To celebrate their growth and success over the past four decades, MASS is throwing a 40th anniversary “Cheeseburger in Paradise” party on Friday, July 27 and everyone is invited to attend.

The event will be a casual, Jimmy Buffett themed party from 6-9 p.m. at the Mendota Civic Center. The public is invited to come and reminisce about the past and celebrate the future of MASS. Food will be served beginning at 6 p.m. and a DJ will play tunes from 7-9 p.m. A cash Tiki Bar with “mocktails” and cocktails will be available. Food, coffee and entertainment will be provided by MASS and an updated history of MASS written by former director Carol Kern will be available at the event. Pre-registration for the party is appreciated but not required. 

Rayanne Sester, MASS executive director, said the first “Cheeseburger in Paradise” party was held in the Feik Parlor five years ago to celebrate their 35th anniversary. “We had a bigger crowd than expected and it was packed, so this time we’re having it in the ballroom,” she noted. “People will have plenty of room to dance, visit and have a snack.”   

How it all began

Although MASS is officially 40 years old, its origins go back even further. In 1970, Ann Rave, Lois Dinges and Clarine (Dinges) Spetzler began talking about the idea of a senior center in Mendota. The three – mother, daughter and granddaughter – saw the need for some place within the community where older people could gather and socialize.

The first organizational meeting was held in 1971 and after three years of meetings and discussions, the consensus was that the biggest need among seniors was transportation. In 1975, the Whistle Stoppers was formed by Dinges to address this issue. The group created a program to supplement cab fare for seniors but it hit a snag in 1977 when the local cab company stopped operating and the program had to be discontinued.

Later that year, the Whistle Stoppers attended a Mendota City Council meeting to ask for help but all the city could offer was a retired 1976 squad car. Without funding to pursue the city’s offer, the Whistle Stoppers chose to remain a social group.

According to Dinges, Rev. Hettinger of Holy Cross Church was instrumental in getting transportation started by taking sponsorship for a short time until the program received funding. Finally, through the efforts of Dinges and Edith Fles, the program was incorporated and Fles served as administrator for the first year.

Elaine Bradley took over as director in 1979 and over the years, MASS continued to grow with additional cars and services being offered. The first pork chop barbecue took place in 1983 and it continues to be one of the biggest fundraisers for MASS each year.

Carol Kern joined MASS as executive director in 1985 following the resignation of Bradley. MASS had been housed at the Mendota Community Center (former site of the Kanteen) for most of its early years. In 1988 when the new Mendota Civic Center opened, MASS moved to its current location. Again, more services were added and MASS was designated as a Community Focal Point for the northern third of LaSalle County by WIAAA (Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging).

Sester marks 25 years

Rayanne Sester was hired at MASS on July 27, 1993 as a part time outreach worker, which she did for the next 6 1/2 years. “I loved it. I drove down country roads looking for seniors, went door to door in the communities just looking for people who didn’t know about us,” she recalled with a chuckle. “Surprisingly, a lot of people still don’t know about us, especially in the outlying areas. We still go out and canvas our 10-township area of LaSalle County.”

Sester said some people she encountered while canvasing were leery but others welcomed her into their homes. “They wanted to talk - they were lonely and they told me so many stories and showed me things,” she said of those early days.

When the full-time information and assistance (I&A) position became available, Sester moved into that role. “I loved that too,” she said. “People came in regularly and they became like family. Back then, we did Circuit Breaker every year and then Medicare D came out in 2006, so some people came every year for that.”

After more than a decade as the I&A person, in 2013 Sester transitioned to the position of director. That was a difficult move for a couple reasons, mainly because she no longer had the one on one contact with clients. In addition, she discovered that there was a lot more to the director’s position than she realized.

Sester recalled the first year as director being a tough one and feeling overwhelmed at times. While attending a regional meeting that year, someone told her that it takes about five years to really feel comfortable in the position of director, which was comforting to hear. “In October, I’ll be at five years and I feel comfortable now,” she said. “So, I think that was correct.”

And yet, Sester admitted that she still misses seeing clients. “I go out and talk to people in the senior center when I have time and we all help with fundraisers or if a staff member is gone, I pitch in,” she noted.

Sester was quick to emphasize that as a “paper person and perfectionist who likes to write” she also enjoys the challenges of being director.

MASS executive director Rayanne Sester digs into a pile of paperwork on her desk. Sester said the amount of information needed to receive state and federal funding has increased tremendously over the years. (Reporter photo by Bonnie Morris)

Transportation grows

For MASS, the biggest area of growth has been in transportation services, which was the vision originally put forth by the organization’s creators in the 1970s. Five years ago, MASS increased its transportation coverage area from the 10 northern townships to all of LaSalle County after being approached by WIAAA. “They offered to work with MASS and the board agree to take over county wide transportation,” Sester said. “It’s been growing slowly because we couldn’t go gung ho, but we have seen a tremendous increase in LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby and Ottawa, as well as transports between OSF in Mendota and Ottawa, and people going to the wound clinic in Peru, which is one of the only ones in the area.”

Eventually, Sester’s goal is to have an Ottawa-Streator route, which will be the last phase for transportation. She said MASS can fulfill requests for rides they get from Streator, but since they do not have a driver in Streator, she is not marketing there. “We have a fantastic staff of drivers,” Sester noted. “They really care about the people.”

Currently, the fleet of vehicles at MASS has increased to seven mini vans, two cars, and a 12-passenger bus. Sester said up until two years ago, storage of the vehicles was an issue. At that time a large building in Mendota became available to rent and now there is plenty of room for the vehicles along with some space for storage and a small office area. With a lot of help from volunteers and the city, the building was cleaned up and readied to provide a centralized location for transportation.

“It’s been perfect,” Sester said. “All of our vehicles fit in one central spot. It has all come together perfectly for the drivers.”

In addition to the paid staff, the services offered at MASS are made possible with the help of more than 100 volunteers who pitch in with the various fundraisers. Sester said some centers choose not to serve people outside of their funded area, but the policy at MASS is to never turn away anyone who requests services. The exception is in transportation, which is limited to LaSalle County due to funding restrictions. As far as other services, she said people come from all over the area. “If they come to our senior center and request help, we help them,” she emphasized. “My motto is you help if you are requested because that’s what you’re here for and you go over and above - that’s how I feel.”

In addition to the ongoing services such as Medicare and Medicaid assistance, MASS has many new activities for seniors to enjoy. Currently, a craft group meets every week to work on their projects and socialize, Bible studies are held, Wii bowlers meet and there are various card groups. Sester said in the winter, a group of guys come every day to play cards. “I love to hear the voices and the laughter,” she chuckled. “I love to have people in the senior center, that’s what it was built for.”

Congregate meal program to begin

The newest service coming to MASS is hoped to draw even more people to the center starting on Oct. 1. Sester was very excited to announce that MASS will become a congregate meal site on that day. She said many years ago, a meal site was located at the high rise in Mendota but since then, the northern part of LaSalle County has not had one. MASS will partner with Voluntary Action Center (VAC), which does the meals for the county, and they will bring in hot meals at noon five days a week.

“We have the senior center, why not use it,” Sester said. “It will be something new to bring people here, get a great meal, socialize and use our transportation services. I don’t know how well it will go over but we’re going to try it. It’s one more part of growing and I’m excited.”

Looking back over her time at MASS, Sester never dreamed she would stay this long but said it has been a good place to be for 25 years. “I put in a lot of extra hours but it’s where I’m supposed to be - making connections with people and helping, it’s been good.”

As MASS prepares to celebrate 40 years on Friday, Sester said she is excited to visit with people at the party. “I invited everyone, even the governor - he can’t attend but he sent us a letter of congratulations,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I also invited Jimmy Buffet but I haven’t heard from him.”