Mason County Senior Activities Association
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Mason County Senior Activities Association

The Mason County Senior Activities Association oversees the Mason County Senior Activities Center and its two major funding sources, The Nifty Thrifty Store and the Pavilion.
MCSAA was founded in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Donations are usually tax deductible. The organization's articles of incorporation and by-laws are available at The Center.

Mason County Senior Activities Center
Our facility is 16,000 square feet. We are located west of downtown Shelton, WA at The Pavilion, 190 W. Sentry Drive. Individuals and groups take part in programs, activities and services which support their independence through health and wellness programs and encourage their involvement in the community.
We are open from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am to 3 pm Fridays. The Center is closed on most national holidays; see the Activity Calendar for details. Our Center is staffed by loyal volunteers who serve as receptionists at the front desk. Our building also houses the administrative offices of the Mason County Senior Activities Association.


MCSAA Board of Directors


Operating Officers
President: Gary Miner
Vice President: Bill Bezanson
Secretary: Lori Shipman
​Treasurer: Synnove Pettersen

MCSAA's operating officers are the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers are selected from among the Board of Directors to serve one-year terms.

Board Members
Leona Osterman
​Patti Vernie
Synnove Pettersen
​Irene Garavito

The MCSAA Board of Directors is composed of members of the association that have been elected by the membership at the December General Meeting. Each director serves for three years with three director positions elected each year. Four of the members serve as board officers for one-year terms.

Staff


Activities Center
Center Director:
Penny Wilson

Activities Coordinator: 
Teresa Sanders

Bookkeeper & Volunteer Coordinator:
Alex Banks

Kitchen Manager:
Debra del Bosque

Staff:
Terry Knobloch
​
The Pavilion
Event Coordinator: 
​Kate Morgan



Nifty Thrifty
Store 
Director:
Michelle Marks

Assistant Manager:
​Melissa Elliot


Staff:
Linda Trail
​Cathy Jones
Mariah Ward
​

The Center is staffed by volunteer receptionists.  Nifty Thrifty has a staff of dedicated volunteers to help production.

History

MCSAA was incorporated in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Donations can be tax deductible. The organization's articles of incorporation and by-laws are available at The Center. 
​
History
The Mason County Senior Activities Association (MCSAA) was formed in 1976.  Our first home was at the corner of 2nd and Cota.
​
In 1981 we were incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization.  Donations were now tax deductible.  The organization’s articles of incorporation and by-laws are available at the Center.

Throughout the years, MCSAA has occupied several locations, dabbling in real estate as a result. 

          1976  First home on the corner of 2nd and Cota
            1985  Moved to the old Shelton Armory, located across from Safeway.  Mason Transit Authority now owns that                         building
            1987  MCSAA purchased the West Realty Building located on 7th and Franklin
            1988  Nifty Thrifty opens in Gateway Center.  This is the first thrift store in Shelton and acts a s an ongoing
                   revenue source, allowing MCSAA to be self-funding.
            1992  MCSAA bought and renovated the old Sears building on 9th and Railroad
            1992  MCSAA also bought the vacant lot on 7th and Franklin with the hope of building a new Center
            2006  Empty lot on 7th and Franklin was sold when it became clear that a new build was not feasible
            2013  New location at The Pavilion (190 W. Sentry Dr)
            2013  Nifty Thrifty moved into the building at 826 W. Railroad

All these moves and subsequent changes required good leadership and lots of fund raising.  Many people have stepped up over the years.

Marge Emsley-Brown became the first official Director in 1981. 
  • She and Lou Redman were instrumental in the registering MCSAA as a non-profit incorporated entity. They were also a huge part of developing a revenue stream, with Nifty Thrifty opening as a result.
  • In 1986, fund raising began in earnest.  With the help of Skookum Rotary Club (along with others), $250,000 was raised.
  • The fundraising goals were realized in 1987 and the first building was purchased on 7th and Franklin.

Pat Babnick began her 7+ years as Director in 1989. 
  • Fundraising for an expanded or larger center took up much of her time.
  • The original intent for the funds raised was to build a new center, but the building on 9th and Railroad, along with the vacant lot on 7th and Franklin were purchased instead (in 1992).

Cheryl McCoy began her tenure as Director in 1996.
  • MCSAA paid off the new building on 9th and Railroad
 
Karen Popke became the 4th Director in 1997 and led the organization for 9 years
  • In 2006, the vacant lot was sold after it became clear that building a new Center on the vacant lot was not feasible
  • The funds from the land sale were invested and later used as a down payment for The Pavilion

Fred Corbett served as the fifth Director from 2007 to 2009

Terri Shaw became the next Director and remained the leader for 9 years
  • Hard work and perseverance allowed MCSAA to purchase The Pavilion
  • After the relocation of the Center, Nifty Thrify moved to the building on 9th and Railroad under the supervision of Patti Vernie
  • Nifty Thrifty was voted “The Best of Mason County” in the Mason County Journal in 2015.  This was accomplished through Patti’s marketing of online sales and a terrific staff of dedicated employees and volunteers.
  • MCSAC was awarded a renovation grant from the State of Washington in 2016.  The board began the laborious process of resurfacing and staining the concrete floors in the main hall as well as replacing the dance floor and updating the heating and A/C equipment.

Karla Knudsen-Johnston became the interim Director in the summer of 2016.  The Board accepted applications and conducted interviews through September.

In October of 2016, our Activities Coordinator, Stephanie Roberts, became the 7th director.
  • For the 3rd year in a row, Nifty Thrifty was voted “The Best of Mason County” in the Shelton-Mason County Journal.
  • 2016 also provided the added surprise of having long time volunteer Reda Keller voted “Best Salesperson in Mason County”.
  • Nifty Thrifty earned the prestigious nomination for the annual 2016 Chamber of Commerce “Best Business of Mason County”.  Nifty Thrifty is truly flourishing under the leadership of its staff: Patti Vernie, Michelle Marks, Terry Knobloch and Linda Trail.
    ​
In December of 2017 our Store Director, Patti Vernie, earned the position of Executive Director of MCSAA.
  • She oversees The Pavilion, the Senior Center and Nifty Thrifty
  • We received partial property tax exemption in 2017
  • In April 2018, applied for and received full property tax exemption
  • Newly created auxiliaries to the membership allows the Senior Center to move forward with more fundraisers
  • Restrooms have been completely remodeled and are now in ADA compliance

In March of 2020 our Store Manager Michelle Marks was promoted to Store Director
  • She oversees Nifty Thrifty 
  • Nifty Thrifty continually is voted "The Best of Mason County" in the Shelton-Mason County Journal 

In early 2021 our Activities Coordinator, Val Wedman became the interim Director. The Board accepted applications and conducted interviews through October.
  • The Association earned the prestigious nomination for the annual 2021 Chamber of Commerce “Best Non-Profit of Mason County”.  The Chamber recognized all of the good works the association does for seniors here in Mason County and beyond.
​
In November 2021, our Bookkeeper, Penny Wilson was promoted to the position of Manager of MCSAC
  • She oversees The Pavilion and the Senior Center
  • We started our own Senior Nutrition Program, and reestablished a relationships with Food Lifeline



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MCSAA's Weather Policy
When inclement weather hits our area, KMAS Radio (1030AM) announces any adjusted hours. MCSAA follows the Shelton School District's schedule. If they close, we close; if they have a delayed start, we will too. Closings are also announced online at MasonCountyDailyNews.com & Shelton School District \

​Beyond the local news, we use two other forms of communication to let members know if we will be closed.  We send out a robo-call, using our regular telephone number and a robo-text using the number 1-855-376-6215.   


​
  Contact Us
Mason County 
Senior Activities Association
190 W. Sentry Drive 
Shelton, WA 98584

360.426.7374
About the Mason County Senior Activities Association
Our mission is to create and nurture opportunities for senior residents of rural Mason County to maintain optimal physical, emotional and spiritual health by helping them to maintain connections with necessary clinical, nutritional and social-emotional support services as well as to each other.

All material on this web site is copyright 1976-2021 by Mason County Senior Activities Association (MCSAA). All rights reserved.
  • Association
    • MCSAA >
      • About Mason County Senior Activities Association
    • Donate and Volunteer
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Activities Center
    • Senior Lunch
    • Fitness
    • Activities
    • Van Trips
    • Events & Community Services
    • Join Us
  • Newsletter
  • NIfty Thrifty
  • The Pavilion
  • Scrapbook
    • Newsletter Archive