High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Generations Stepping Together : Community service: Surf City Volunteen Club joins students and senior citizens in an outreach program that has intangible rewards.

Few in this city--renowned for its blazing sun, thundering waves and warm beaches--may have figured senior citizens would actually enjoy the company of teen-agers rather than fear their presence.

That is, until now.

The Senior Spirit Society, whose statewide headquarters is on Balboa Island, is in operation at Huntington Beach Convalescent Hospital and other area convalescent facilities.

According to Senior Spirit Society’s CEO, Becky Haendiges, the society was created to “promote consistent, meaningful interaction between seniors and their community for the promotion of health, welfare, self-esteem and well-being.”

And since that community includes teen-agers, Senior Spirit decided to get them involved through the Surf City Volunteen Club. Operating at Marina, Huntington Beach, Edison and Corona del Mar high schools, the Volunteen Club involves 500 student volunteers.

“Teen-agers are in their prime years, mentally and physically, with energy to burn,” Haendiges said. “Reaching out to help a senior citizen in small, simple ways will increase their self-esteem and make them feel really good about themselves.”

Surf City Volunteens attracted our attention during “club rush” at Huntington Beach High last fall.

“Initially, I joined to try and win some of the prizes,” said Eddie Cho, a freshman at Huntington Beach. “But after meeting the residents and living in their world for awhile, I really enjoyed being there for them.”

*

The first meeting of the club took place at the Huntington Beach Convalescent Hospital. We were given a tour of the facilities and received a lecture on a variety of emergency life-saving procedures.

As volunteers, we weren’t allowed to perform any tasks requiring special training, so I spent most of the first month simply talking with the hospital’s residents.

“They are a group of cute, good-looking guys and gals who are so nice,” said Margaret Love, a senior resident of the hospital. “I love seeing them whenever they come.”

After a while, I became interested in helping out in rehabilitation. I worked with the physical therapists as they worked to improve the strength of residents who had suffered injuries or strokes.

I liked it so much that I kept going back, and before I knew it, I had completed the 40-hour training program to become a rehabilitation assistant.

Before the Halloween party, we helped the activities department convert the hospital into a haunted house.

“The Volunteens were a great help, blowing up balloons before the party and running the carnival during the party,” said Dindo Santos of the activities department. “Other Volunteens dressed up as monsters for the haunted house. They made the party better than last year’s.”

The teen volunteers have also helped at the Christmas party and at monthly candlelight dinners.

I also visited the hospital to watch “Monday Night Football” with everybody--men and women alike. We’re fast becoming one big family.

“When there’s so much negative press on television regarding teen-agers and gangs, we tend to overlook that the majority of teens are really wonderful,” said Sue Dolan, who is the hospital’s marketing director. “These Volunteens really opened my eyes and reassured me that things were still OK. They’re not a dying breed after all.”

At the recent Valentine’s dance, teens and seniors were able to close the generation gap by dancing together to such songs as “Rumpshaker” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

“The music was great and exciting,” said Josephine Cole, a senior resident. “The volunteers were also so sweet and considerate. We couldn’t have had the party without them.”

The Surf City Volunteen Club is still in its infancy, but we expect to grow as more teen-agers become involved.

“I like doing community service and have been volunteering elsewhere,” said Kelley Gary, a freshman at Huntington Beach. “Being a Volunteen was just another way to give to my community.”

With a number of convalescent hospitals in Orange County, there are opportunities to start similar clubs at your high school. For further information, contact Haendiges at (714) 673-4004.