ANNIE Silver Community Center pushes to rekindle interest

Members push for revived interest in community center

After making little progress at its November meeting, the Annie Silver Community Center board may be closer to electing new members.

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of this small beach town are trying to put the meaning of the word “community” back into The Annie Silver Community Center.

The center’s board of directors met on Dec. 6 to address several issues, including a decline in interest and membership, and also to replace retiring president Linda Yarger, whose last official day was Sept. 30.

Jim Hassett has been unofficially filling the role as president of the board since Yarger’s departure, and because of an insufficient turnout at the Nov. 15 meeting, there were not enough members present to make nominations for a new president and vice president.

This was not an issue at the December meeting, as not only all current board members were in attendance.

But former members and members of the community showed up at the most recent meeting to voice their concerns about the future of the community center.

“This is the first time I’ve really stepped in. I’m a community member and I’m concerned after reading the article (in The Sun) last week about Annie Silver surviving,” said Bob Wallace, longtime Bradenton Beach resident. “I’d like it to be here always for everyone.”

Wallace wasn’t the only member of the community who came out to show support for the center and its future. Now that the board is working to get new members elected, the public attention is bringing many residents inside to show support for this decadesold Island institution.

“I just would like to get involved. I saw bingo here after seeing the article in the paper and I want to just help out,” said Maggie VanWormer, a resident of Bradenton Beach and a first-grade teacher at Anna Maria Elementary School.

Hassett was nominated to fill the vacant president position and Donna Kirkpatrick was nominated to fill the vice-president role that would be left vacant by Hassett if elected president. With the nominations solidified, the election will take place at the Jan. 10, 2022 meeting.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN The Annie Silver Community Center board discusses elections at its Dec. 6 meeting.