Welcome to The Santiva Heartbeat - News From the Santiva Islanders, our e-newsletter full of updates, event dates, and information for our members. The Santiva Islanders is an organization designed for all adults, offering exercise classes, special events, trips, health and wellness programs, social gatherings, seminars and lots of camaraderie.

We serve active adults on Sanibel, Captiva, and the surrounding area. Whether you are a year-round resident, part-time resident or visitor, please join us!

Correction: The book sale on November 11 has been moved to the Rec Center. 

Did You Know we are 100% Member Supported?

Island Seniors, Inc., a nonprofit entity now called Santiva Islanders, served for nearly 30 years as a support organization and advisory board to the City of Sanibel Seniors Program, providing volunteers and raising funds to help defray the cost of activities. Before Ian, these activities were administered by city employees with assistance from Island Senior volunteers and conducted at city owned buildings—the Center4Life before Covid and the rec center after Covid. 



The move to the rec center was supposed to be temporary as the city had bought a new building that it intended to remodel and use for senior programing. After Hurricane Ian, the city decided to instead use this building for other city purposes. The city also informed us that going forward, they intended to operate independently of Island Seniors, Inc. They wished us well as a separate organization, recognized the need for senior programing, and might once again provide some senior programing if not otherwise provided by other island nonprofits.

For now the city has apparently shifted its focus to an intergenerational model of programming for all ages, rather than recognizing the specific needs of the older adults in our community. Ironically, adults 50 and older comprise over 80% of the island’s population, however, there is no longer a senior center, nor any city funding for activities specifically for older adults.

Santiva Islanders is so grateful to St. Michaels for welcoming us into their Gathering Place where we are now offering programming 10 hours a week. With this new location and as Sanibel’s population recovers from Hurricane Ian, we hope to have a steady rise in memberships--we’re now at 148 members and growing. We feel that adult programing on the island is more important than ever before as our past and future members struggle with post-Ian recovery.  We are determined to continue our mission to provide much needed educational, social, and recreational programming for older adults. 

Calling all Volunteers!

As we rebuild our beloved organization, we need volunteers of all sorts, from planning and hosting activities, to working on the board, to helping us plan for our future. Here’s a sampling:

• Newsletter. We really need volunteers to plan The Heartbeat each month. Our administrator, Kate Pujol, does a crackerjack job of handling the design and layout of the newsletter, but we need help with the content. Please let us know if you have a few hours each month to help us. It will be fun! Volunteers can help remotely, or in person, depending where you are located.

• Happy Hour Hosts. Host one of our weekly happy hours at Mudbugs. Just show up early, secure our table, welcome guests, and have fun. We're calling ourselves "funteers".

• Activity Committee Funteers. We meet for a couple hours every month or two to plan for the coming months’ activities. Our next meeting is on October 3rd at 1pm at the Gathering Place.

If you’re interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, let us know. Email us at santivaislanders@gmail.com, call us at 239-413-7324, or stop by the Gathering Place on Tuesdays or Thursdays—someone will be there from 10:00 to 3:00.

Board Members Needed!

Are you interested in becoming a board member for The Island Seniors, Inc.?

The new term will begin on January 1,2024. Our board meetings are held monthly in person and remotely via Zoom.

Some non-profit experience is desirable. Since the Santiva Islanders recently lost all funding from The City of Sanibel, we are especially looking for individuals who want to serve on the board of a dynamic and evolving non-profit, that is redefining its goals and aspirations for serving the islands. We have a wonderful group of members and friends with varied backgrounds. IF interested contact Susan Talmage santivaislanders@gmail.com.

The Gathering Place

We have a new location to call home at “The Gathering Place,” which is centrally located on the campus of St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. We are thrilled to have a place to gather and offer our activities and classes. Please feel free to drop by and say hello on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00-3:00

The Gathering Place is located at 2304 Periwinkle Way. It sits behind the Church (it’s the Noah’s Ark building). The Periwinkle entrance is for construction crews only, so please enter through the Dunlop entrance-- across from Big Arts. There is plenty of parking behind the Gathering Place. Handicap parking is just in front of the building.

Save the Date!

A Jewelry and Book Sale will take place Saturday, November 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Sanibel Rec Center. You may know that Gene's Book store will not reopen on the Island due to the impact of Hurricane Ian. Gene has donated a large variety of non-fiction and fiction books for our fundraiser. Please join us to honor our beloved independent book store that was a fixture on the island.

There will also be vintage jewelry and accessories for sale that you don't want to miss.

Annual Membership Meeting

Our annual membership meeting will be held in December. The date and time will be published in our November newsletter.

Not to Miss Activities

Exercising with Mahnaz!

Island favorite, Mahnaz, conducts two unique types of exercise classes--

• Cardio and strength classes take place Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30. These classes begin with a warm-up, followed by cardio and strength training, and ending with a cool down and stretching. Enjoy musical throwbacks that will get your heart pumping. If you haven't already registered, please arrive at 10:00 in time to register and attend the class. Refreshments will be available after class with time to chat and get to know each other.

• Stretch and Tone is be offered on Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:00.  This class starts off with functional toning exercises, followed by balance movements, and extensive total body stretches.  Many of you have asked for this class. We know you’ll love it!

Come Play Bridge!

Join us on Thursdays from 12:30-2:30 for organized bridge play.

Chicago scoring is used, and pairs rotate tables every 4 or 6 hands, depending on the number of tables that day. If you’re interested in playing or want more information, please contact Bryant Korn at bryantekorn@gmail.com

Renew Your Membership

Our membership dues are $20.00 per year. Please join or renew your membership. As a member, you will be part of our family, and we will keep you well informed about all our events and activities. You will also receive special discounts on activities and meals. For example, if you join us for Mahnaz's exercise class as a member, the cost is $5/class or $40/month. Non-members can participate for $10/class or $80/month! Please email us for more information.

Click here to fill out a membership form.

CALENDAR

Click the calendar below to see activities happening in October.

Let Us Know What You'd Like to See on the Calendar!