Gator Games Ambassadors Reel in Fun for Brunswick County

By Joan Leotta

“Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get the word out about anything,” says Khrystye Haselden, coordinator of the Brunswick County Gator Senior Games & SilverArts. These athletic games and literary and artistic (literary, visual, performing) arts are a wonderful way for seniors to stay physically, mentally, and creatively active. Seniors from all over North Carolina enter their county games, and first-place county winners in each category then compete at the state level.

To help Brunswick seniors discover this outlet for their talents and to learn how to participate, the county uses Games Ambassadors. Former game participants who want to encourage others to compete are nominated, selected, and trained in Raleigh. They share their Senior Games experience via talks at senior centers and other places; by helping distribute flyers; by assisting with publicity, media relations, and community awareness; and by helping with participant and volunteer recruitment at game events.

Introducing the Ambassadors

At present, three former games participants serve as ambassadors in Brunswick County: Joyce

Lowrimore, Gary Mlynek, and Christine Ettl-Mlynek. Joyce has served for twelve years, and Christine and Gary have just finished their first year.

Chris and Gary, St James residents who moved to Brunswick County from St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2010, have been involved as participants since 2012. Gary started participating in 2012 in both Senior Games (table tennis: singles, and more) and in SilverArts (woodworking and sculpture). He has received three gold medals and two silver medals over the years. Chris began in the Gator Games in 2015 (fun walk and opening ceremony events) and now participates in cornhole. In 2022 Chris entered SilverArts in digital photography.

“SilverArts keeps your creative juices flowing,” Chris and Gary say. “Both athletics and arts include discipline, dedication, and pride in one’s accomplishments. Our goal is always to promote the 5 F’s: Fun, Fitness, Family, Friends, Fellowship (and sometimes Food).”

Joyce adds, “We do anything we can to help our local games coordinator, Khrystye Haseldon, spread the word about the games.” Joyce was a Gatorette cheerleader for eleven years but continued on page 21