When I was 15, I knew for sure what I was going to do for the rest of my life. I would be a professional ballroom dancer. There was no “Dancing With The Stars,” only the movies to show me what a magical life I would have.

Well, life intervened and so did my parents.

I went to college, although I was sure I wouldn’t need the classes I took. Then the dance studio I was with closed, so my plan changed. Now I would redirect my college classes and become a teacher. A better plan and one that served me well for many years.

Better plans seems to be what this world is about. They built a saw mill to make lumber for the local builders, then a better plan put that lumber on the train and sent it to other builders. Better plan? And fishing was easy in our waters with lots of fish, then the better plan was to share this bounty with a greater area. Many boats came and the fish got less plentiful. Better plan?

What I’m getting at is the “better plan” needs to have a well thought-out conclusion, a thought-out process with long-term goals and people willing to stay in for the long haul. And I’m seeing that our own Hansville Community Center is in this process of making well thought-out, long-range plans. And as usual, many volunteers are willing to stay in this for the long haul.

I’m not sure everyone is aware of the Planning Committee that is looking for funds to help rejuvenate the Club House, or about the many hours they have spent in research, meetings, and taking classes to learn about grants and funding sources. But you’ve probably heard about the other plans like the annual Rummage Sale. Do you know about the hundreds of hours it takes to sort and make the Community Center’s Club House into a bargain-hunters dream?

Have you attended a Neighbor Luncheon? This is when you come to the Club House and for a small fee you get a wonderful lunch, sometimes a speaker, and as a bonus you could meet someone new, a neighbor you didn’t know yet.

Have you gone to a Soup Supper? There was such a night a few weeks ago, where heads of all those committees we have throughout our area were invited to have soup and give their opinion of what would make the HCC better or what they would like to see happen there. Another Soup Supper was held to introduce our new postmaster, Steve Hicks.

I can’t list all the events being held at the Hansville Community Center, but here are some you’ll want to make sure to attend this year, in addition to those I’ve already mentioned: the Ladies Aid Dinner Dance, the Children’s Christmas Party, the Pinewood Derby, Bingo, Picnic in the Park, Car Show, Book Sale, and the Flotsam and Jetsam Garden Club meetings. If you visit www.hansvillelog.org, you’ll find many more.

As I said before, the Hansville Community Center is fully involved in meeting the wants and needs of our community and the board is working hard to make these plans well thought out to a conclusion with long-term goals. So, thank you, President Judy Tallman and the board of HCC. And if you want to be part of these exciting plans, they could use all the volunteers they can get.

Just give them a call or show up at a board meeting. You’ll be welcome.