To the editor:

I have warm memories of the 30 years my husband, Ed, and I lived in Lawrence before moving away to be near family because of his declining health. Although I am no longer a resident, I am grateful to be able to “visit” via the Internet.

I was very disappointed to read in the Journal-World about the senior center’s decision to discontinue permitting the OURS members to use the center for its Wednesday afternoon and Sunday evening dances. If I sound sentimental, I am. Ed and I were among the senior center members who organized the group over 30 years ago. It must be meeting the needs of many seniors to have lasted to this day!

What gave Ed especially great joy was the grassroots nature of OURS. The idea that a group of senior center members decided to create and take responsibility for a new program was not only a credit to them but to the center’s acceptance of them by allocating space in the building for the dances. The sounds of music and laughter were reflections of the participants’ feelings of “belonging,” certainly a fulfillment of one of the missions of the senior center.

In terms of the current situation, I do agree with John Glassman that the allocation of space for programs must be fair. That suggests to me that compromises and adjustments can be made by adults who respect, care, and need one another. Remember what OURS stands for: “Oldsters United for Responsible Service.”

Betty Dutton,

Estes Park, Colo.