The News of
Sun City Center October 2015
People Who Care John and Linda Bowker
By Phyllis Hodges The volunteer activities noted on calendars around Sun City Center are mind-blogging and very much valued by the many groups whose very survival depends on these people. This month our focus is on John Bowker and Linda, his partner of 62 years, who have strived to make a difference in the lives of their friends and neighbors from the time they moved here in 1991 from New Jersey. Although John is the most visible of the Bowker team, he says that Linda, although active with her own interests,
Linda Bowker prepares for Sunday afternoon Bingo at The Courtyards.
Editor’s Note: “People Who Care” is a new feature about your friends and neighbors who donate significant time and energy to add quality to your Sun City Center lifestyle. If you have suggestions for “People Who Care,” please email newsofscc.ca@ gmail.com is the wind beneath his wings in his endeavors as well. They are indeed a team, with a thirst for enhancing community communications. In 2003, John led the charge for a Community Association-sponsored Information Center/History Society. Initially in Old Town Hall, the move to Cherry Hills Drive in 2006 became a true labor of love. The Bowkers invested considerable time and capital to make it a success. In fact, their efforts were acknowledged with a plaque on the building. That’s when the real work began to organize and preserve CC’s past, with John as Chairman of the History Society. He took on the Historian role a couple of years before that but recognized quickly that loosely collected records needed more concerted attention. John maintains a History Society office in the new Information Center and has recruited volunteers to help sort the materials for storage in the climatecontrolled room there. Because of John’s
John Bowker has a vast knowledge of SCC’s history, which he shares in presentations around the community.
vast knowledge, he frequently is asked to give presentations about SCC’s history. Another high-profile Bowker project is eNEWS, an online newsletter that John emails to over 4,000 homes every week or so. Many hours are spent digesting community tidbits derived from a myriad of sources to provide an overview of “things we want to know.” John is on the FunFest Committee and serves as Membership Directory Editor responsible for the first 29 pages and cover. He also issues resident updates. He has been the host for
Meet the Candidates night for the past 10 years. Being big supporters of the Emergency Squad, John and Linda have filled various roles there over the years; currently, they are dispatchers and John is the Squad’s historian. They are also active volunteers at the SouthShore Regional Library, The News of Sun City Center and South Bay Hospital. When they moved to The Courtyards (Aston Gardens) a couple of years ago, they jumped in with both feet. They immediately became Ambassadors, a See People on page 2.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Emergency Squad’s EMTs By Kai Rambow “I’ve been sick for several days and need to go to the hospital,” one resident stated. However all ambulances were out on calls. “Call 911,” the dispatcher advised. “No, I’ll wait,” replied the resident, “I want to be helped by a neighbor.” This is the kind of impact EMTs, ambulance crews and the Emergency Squad have on our community. “This is a great job,” enthuses Dave Watt, “You’re working with neighbors. Everyone makes a real effort to get along. You really know these people, so you don’t want to let them down. It’s the same thing with the people we serve. You’re doing something that’s really worthwhile.” Watt is a retired police officer, started as an EMR, then drove before qualifying as a EMT. He notes as a police officer people aren’t glad to see you most of the time, however, when the ambulance shows up people are glad to see them. EMTs take charge of the care of patients. They assess, provide interventions if needed (there is a set of defined treatments), call paramedics if needed
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EMT Shirley Bardell checking on-board ambulance supplies before starting her volunteer shift.
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(treatments requiring more). Drivers usually assist the EMTs with patients. Regardless of background, everyone goes through the same training. Shirley Bardell, another EMT, who is also an RN explains, “It’s a slightly different set of skills than nursing. Everyone needs to learn the squad’s protocols, take a national test for registry and recertify every two years.” Watt, with his policing background concurs; the required skills are different. His police training did not help him when his wife twisted his arm to join. Watt is glad he joined. The teamwork and sense of family at the squad were instrumental in deciding to move from Apollo Beach to here. Robin Watt, (friendly arm twister), points out “people have family across the country; they are alone until we show up. Those people feel relief and support from us, their neighbors.” Bardell shared, “you go to someone’s house. They’ve been lying there [from a fall] and the first thing they do is give you a hug.”
Sun City Center On the Inside
33573.................................................................................14-17 Arts & Entertainment ................................................18 - 21 Club News ......................................................................9 & 10 Comics & Puzzles....................................................... 34 & 35 Crossword ............................................................................. 35 Editors Corner..........................................................................2 Events...................................................................................... 11 Faith in Fitness.........................................................................2 Faith & Service ........................................................... 30 & 31 Fraud Forum ............................................................................4
Golf ................................................................................ 22 & 23 Military.......................................................................... 28 & 29 Pets................................................................................. 32 & 33 Poetry ..................................................................................... 13 Sports ...............................................................................21-23 Solutions ................................................................................ 27 Sudoku.................................................................................... 35 Travel ....................................................................................... 20 Where In The World News of SSC........................................................................... 26