It's Primetime at South Georgia Banking Company
The Primetimer’s Club, sponsored by the Ashburn and Cordele branches of SGBC, is dedicated to providing information and entertainment to senior citizens. Founded 15 years ago by Evelyn Barker, the club has been going strong ever since.
“I saw the need for senior citizens to have a club they can feel a part of,” says Evelyn. “Our philosophy is having a sharing, caring, loving spirit, and we were established with the idea of fulfilling a promise to meet the needs of people and provide a joy in being with others through instruction, inspiration, and fellowship.”
The Primetimer’s Club is one of the community’s oldest clubs, offering monthly programs, events, and trips to its members. Guest speakers come to the monthly meetings to discuss topics such as financial planning and management, fraud-prevention, and health related issues.
“You don’t talk to this group about assisted living and life insurance. They want to talk about living life to the fullest and making a difference in the lives of their families and the communities they share”, says Brinson Brock, City President of South Georgia Bank’s Ashburn branch.
The club is so well-known and appreciated within the community that organizations like Tift Regional Medical Center, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Tuner County Connections, and local churches want to be involved.
“We have a waiting list of people who want to present programs to us”, says Evelyn.
Aside from monthly informational programs and meetings, the Primetimer’s Club also gives senior citizens other opportunities to have fun. Evelyn coordinates trips to various local attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Braves Games, Cumberland Island, Callaway Gardens, Savannah, and even Branson, Missouri. Most of their trips are planned during the fall.
Several events are held every year for the members, the most notable being the Veteran’s Celebration held in June. Representatives from the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base, the reigning Miss Georgia, area physicians, and other outstanding speakers attend.
“Members leave this event with such a positive, upbeat, patriotic spirit. It’s the highlight for the year”, says Evelyn.
When asked about the club, members always have great things to say. “It’s a club that brings joy and closeness among the elders because they look forward to the different programs”, says Hattie King, a long time member of the Primetimer’s Club. “It’s a wonderful thing for the bank to be involved in doing. When I retired, I was looking for a place to go for enjoyment and to be with other people.”
And according to Virginia Turner, a 15-year member of the club, “The people that run the Primetimer’s Club are great. They go all out for the senior citizens!”
Interested? Becoming a member is easy, and there is no cost involved. Simply contact Daisy Speight at the main office in Ashburn (567-9686), or Brad Christian in Cordele (271-3000). They will get your name, address, and birth date and add you to the mailing list for the monthly newsletter. Also, ask the bank about checking accounts for senior citizens
