2002 ~ Community leaders celebrate the Sr Center ribbon cutting in Town Hall Building C. L to R front row Chamber Director Frank Ferrara, Chamber Board President Judi Yates, Mayor Sharon Morgan, Councilwoman Sharon Hutcheson, Sr Service President John O'Flynn, and Sr Service Board member XXXXXX; back row Councilman John Wyman, State Rep John Kavanagh, Councilwoman Peg Tibbetts, and Sr Service Treasurer Walt Dunne. Chamber Ambassadors in the red jackets are Gary Oakeson and Elaine Rugg.
Since the fountain first rose over the newly developed community of Fountain Hills in 1971, residents have stepped up to volunteer their talents, enriching and enhancing the quality of life for all calling the former cattle ranch home. This strong spirit of volunteerism did not diminish with the town’s incorporation in 1989 as evidenced by two residents whose visions and efforts led to our organization that still serves the senior residents of our community today.
After serving six months as a member of the interim Town Council, Marti Lemieux responded to a community need of citizens needing temporary assistance with meals being provided to their homes. Her persistent efforts to work with various agencies as well as through the red tape and many challenges resulted in the birth of Home Delivered Meals, an ongoing program currently operating as Meals on Wheels.
Another community visionary that stepped forward following incorporation was John O’Flynn, a successful and retired CEO who had the dream that Fountain Hills should have its own standalone Senior Center to serve our seniors. After its modest beginning in the Kiwanis Building where a collection of loaner medical equipment began, small activities held and volunteers met, John and a handful of like-minded believers organized as Senior Services Inc. and joined the meal delivery efforts, further advancing the mission to serve seniors.
A significant opportunity arose in 2002 when the Maricopa County Library moved out of Town Hall Building C (currently the Medical Complex on Palisades) to the newly constructed voter approved facility on La Montana. An actual Senior Service Activity Center was able to move into the remodeled space at Town Hall expanding their programming activities and opportunities, celebrating with a ribbon cutting attended by local dignitaries, Chamber members and enthusiastic volunteers.
As activities, services and participation grew so did the efforts to raise funds for a permanent senior service facility. But in 2004 as plans were being made to construct a new town hall, vacating the three buildings on Palisades (including the Senior Center), the Senior Service Foundation was formed to invest all the funds that had been raised over the years to support the goals of Senior Services, Inc.
The Town made modifications at the new Community Center to accommodate the Senior Service activities and funds raised for a senior center building were redirected to support existing and new programs and activities to benefit the senior community. These efforts continue today through Senior Services Inc., recently rebranded as “Encore for More” to demonstrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to fulfill it’s mission to provide community seniors even more opportunities that enhance senior living in Fountain Hills. Encore recently established an affiliation with the well-established Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association (FHCCA) to assist in growing and expanding their mission. After a thirty-year history of serving and enhancing the lifestyle of seniors in Fountain Hills this new association with the Foundation will ensure the future of our organization that has become an integral member of our community.
Please accept our invitation to enjoy a more detailed, interactive and entertaining review of the events and people “behind the scenes” that made serving seniors an essential component of Fountain Hills and helped us to evolve into Encore for More! Just click on the link below to view the video prepared by former President Lynn Strang for the 30th Anniversary Celebration that took place on February 13, 2020.
Consider joining us to serve, contribute or enjoy all that Encore has to offer. For more information, please visit our website at www.encoreformore.org. Your participation will be a rewarding experience that will continue the fifty-year spirit of volunteerism in Fountain Hills and perpetuate our Town logo’s slogan as being “All that is Arizona”!
Please enjoy this video prepared by former President Lynn Strang for the 30th Anniversary Celebration that took place on February 13, 2020 for more insights and back stories on how Encore has evolved through the years.
The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce is creating a series of videos featuring their members from the business community and their non-profit members. This video features Encore for More, formerly Senior Services Inc. Narrated by Encore board member Jill Haislip, the video features Encore Treasurer and New Adventures Coordinator Rose Gonsoulin.
As part of the recent Flutter event celebrating non-profits that contribute so much to our community and raising funds for the 2024 grant cycle, a video was made highlighting some of the organizations that have previously benefitted from these grants. Encore for More was included in this video that showcased the Bingo and New Adventure programs. Featured in the video are Encore Board Members Jill Haislip and Rose Gonsoulin.
Resident of Fountain Hills for 20+ years, Gail enjoys card games including "social" duplicate bridge, playing pickleball; traveling the world; but most importantly, she is a forever dog lover.
Resident of Fountain Hills since 1998, volunteering in many community organizations to achieve her goals of: improving the local business environment through the Chgamber of Commerce; froadening educational opportunities through the Golden Eagle Foundation' preserving and educating people about our local history through the River of Time
Resident of Fountain Hills since 1998, volunteering in many community organizations to achieve her goals of: improving the local business environment through the Chgamber of Commerce; froadening educational opportunities through the Golden Eagle Foundation' preserving and educating people about our local history through the River of Time Museum; soliciting and encouraging donations to support local nonprofits through the Community Foundation; advancing fiscally responsible policies in organizations and government.
Rose and her husband have lived in Fountain Hills since 2002. She loves volunteering for Encore for More and especially enjoys organizing the New Adventure trips. She is active in the Community Garden and has two cats who keep her on her toes.
After living in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Cathay and husband Burt retired to Fountain Hills in 1998. Cathay said it was easy to make new friends in their Eagle Mountain community.
In 2004 she enrolled in a digital camera class at the Community Center and witnessed the spirit of volunteerism that makes Fountain Hills so
After living in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Cathay and husband Burt retired to Fountain Hills in 1998. Cathay said it was easy to make new friends in their Eagle Mountain community.
In 2004 she enrolled in a digital camera class at the Community Center and witnessed the spirit of volunteerism that makes Fountain Hills so special. This prompted her to become a Technology Learning Center volunteer, serving as Coordinator of the program since 2017 where she taught tech workshops assisting seniors to stay current in technology. TLC brought Cathay and Encore’s President Gail Pape together and in 2023 Cathay was recruited to the Encore Board where she serves as secretary. “Fountain Hills reminds me of the small Chicago suburb in which I was raised. The enthusiasm and willingness to help others is very apparent. It is a joy to live in this wonderful town.”
Cathay enjoys her early-morning walking group, her dog Buddy who was rescued off the streets of Yuma, and socializing with friends and neighbors. She and Burt always look forward to the annual visits from their five grandchildren.
After retiring in 2006, leaving the snow and winter of Minnesota behind, Mary moved to Fountain Hills. She is active with the River of Time Museum and Exploration Center as well as her church. Mary loves her book club but also leads a very active and adventuresome lifestyle that include extensive traveling, hiking and scuba diving loggin
After retiring in 2006, leaving the snow and winter of Minnesota behind, Mary moved to Fountain Hills. She is active with the River of Time Museum and Exploration Center as well as her church. Mary loves her book club but also leads a very active and adventuresome lifestyle that include extensive traveling, hiking and scuba diving logging over 500 dives! In 2019, Mary joined the Encore for More Board (formerly Senior Services Inc.) and assumed the responsibility for building, coordinating and scheduling the Speakers Bureau Program.
Jill has a passion working with seniors. Her career began in Senior Living as a Sales Director/Specialist and Director of Sales/Marketing for Emeritus Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living and Senior Lifestyles where she assisted hundreds of resident's transition into those communities. She became involved with our community in 2019 wh
Jill has a passion working with seniors. Her career began in Senior Living as a Sales Director/Specialist and Director of Sales/Marketing for Emeritus Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living and Senior Lifestyles where she assisted hundreds of resident's transition into those communities. She became involved with our community in 2019 while working at Fountain View Village, transitioning into a position with our Chamber of Commerce assisting local businesses and residents in promoting and enhancing our community. Currently a Fountain Hills Realtor with designations of Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and Military Relocation Professional (MRP), she assists seniors, their families, snowbirds, etc. with downsizing, relocating and transitioning to multi-generational homes, Senior Living and everything in between. Jill is a proud Daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a volunteer with Honor Flight Arizona.
Moving to Fountain Hills in 1989, Cassie and Bruce worked on the third and successful incorporation election. Cassie was hired by the Interim Council as the first Town Clerk/Director of Administration and served for 13 years. Four years later she was elected as Councilmember and served 2 terms. Installed in the first class of the Museu
Moving to Fountain Hills in 1989, Cassie and Bruce worked on the third and successful incorporation election. Cassie was hired by the Interim Council as the first Town Clerk/Director of Administration and served for 13 years. Four years later she was elected as Councilmember and served 2 terms. Installed in the first class of the Museum Hall of Fame, she and Bruce received the Biz Persons of the Year Award. Affiliations include the Civic Association, Chamber of Commerce, Noon Kiwanis, Arts Council, Sunridge Foundation (now FHCCA), Museum.
After retiring and moving from Illinois to Arizona in 1996, Joanna and her husband Dick moved to Fountain Hills in 2008. Falling in love with the Community, Joanna found a home in Encore's Bingo program. She says Bingo is a special place to volunteer, allowing her to contribute to the Seniors of our Community as well as Encore for More, formerly Senior Services.
Carleen Watts served as a Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) for the United States government for over 32 years. She worked within the Inspectors General community investigating internal fraud for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense, the Veterans Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service. During her tenure she also served
Carleen Watts served as a Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) for the United States government for over 32 years. She worked within the Inspectors General community investigating internal fraud for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense, the Veterans Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service. During her tenure she also served as a Senior Instructor and Program Coordinator at the Financial Fraud Institute, a division of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco, Georgia. She’s been a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) since 1996.
In 2012, after retiring from federal service, Carleen accepted a contract position with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), regaining her Special Agent title while following the path of US dollars sent to Afghanistan to support reconstruction projects. Her first year’s assignment was spent at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan followed by five more years at SIGAR’s headquarter office located in Arlington, Virginia.
Carleen now lives in Fountain Hills, Arizona. She is a graduate of the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy, Class 7 and a FHLA board member. Prior volunteer work includes the Fountain Hills Crisis Response Team, Fountain View Village, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Streetlight USA.