What follows is a brief history of the developments led by a group of citizens that were motivated by a desire to bring to West Windsor a degree of support and activity for seniors.

• Lunches for $1
• Health Programs
• Crime prevention programs
• Shopping Program
• Meals on Wheels
• Drop-in program a the Methodist Church
• Coffee hour at the Methodist Church
• Golden Age passes to all school activities.
• Free Tuition to unfilled courses at MCCC.
• Employment service

• Provide Transportation
• Visit on a 1 to 1 basis
• Provide a shopping service
• Dental care
• Better Blue Cross coverage at less expense.
• Cheaper Housing
• Telephone calling
• Adopt-a-Grandparent program

Following Mrs. Pierson's presentation the group discussed these ideas and a steering committee was organized consisting of the following five citizens, Mrs. Honore, Mrs. Tilton, Mr. Kohlhepp, Mr. Wilbur, and Mr. Lindsley.

On January 31, 1974 the Steering Committee of West Windsor Seniors met at 08:00 PM. Their planning and actions laid the foundation for organizations now working to meet the needs envisioned by this assembly of citizens.

The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. with the following members present: Mr. Lindslay, Mrs. Honore, Mr. Kohlhepp, Mrs. Tilton, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur.

I. Mrs. Honore presented census figures on population and income levels for senior citizens. Mr. Kohlhepp told of his contacts to obtain lists of senior citizens: Bureau of Transportation and the Census Bureau. Mr. Lindsley reported on tax and church lists.

II. It was decided that the final list we obtain would not be static but would be used for a variety of reasons and be updated continually.

III. Ideas on the mailing were discussed. The following points were made:

1. The letter would include 4 activity options to indicate preferences;
2. it will include a bulletin plus additions of community services in the area for senior citizens;
3. it will include a return envelope; and
4. A letter would announce a general planning meeting. We discussed the possibility of placing the information included in this mailing in newspapers and in well-traveled areas.

IV. Four committees were organized.

1. Program (Responsible for suggesting ideas of activities and how to implement them). Headed by Mr. Wilbur and Mrs. Tilton.
2. Mailing responsible for all publicity and for obtaining financial resources). Mrs. Honore.
3. Senior Citizens List (Responsible for creating and keeping up-to-date a comprehensive list of senior citizens). Mr. Kohlheppo
4. Arrangements (Responsible for general oversight and for planning details of meetings). Mr. Lindsley

V. It was decided to go ahead with the general meeting planned on February 21st. No general mailing would take place until after this meeting. There would be a press release announcing this meeting, the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee, and inviting all citizens.

VI. We discussed at great length program possibilities. We arrived at four tentative activities to emphasize:

1. Financial counselling (supplemental social security, Tax infomation, etc.),
2. Friendly visitor and telephone reassurance,
3. Picnic lunches and social activities,
4. Community volunteer transportation.

One can see the beginnings of the Keen Agers sparked at the moment when item 3 was developed. However, as you will see in the subsequent Grant Application letter prepared in January 9, 1975 the ball got rolling later in October 1974. Later as by 1977 Keen Agers name was adopted and as it began to get underway, the scope of activities was broadened! Please read on!

On February 13, 1974 Mr. Lindsley issued a letter to announce February 21st as the second meeting of the West Windsor Senior Citizens Committee. In this letter he states: "Our conversations will center on the plans and priorities the steering committee has drawn up, and any new ideas that may have arisen over the last two weeks. As you will notice in the "Minutes of the Steering Committee" four sub-committees were organized and it is hoped that each of you will align yourself with one of them. The meeting is open to all who wish to attend. Please feel free to invite people you know are interested."

The notes from the second public meeting have not been located, but the next major piece in these developments is issued in January 9, 1975, when the Steering Committee proceeded to prepare a grant application to be submitted to the Mercer County Office on Aging.

The grant which was submitted by Ross T. Wilbur, Chairman of the Steering Committee, contained six page report including sections on background, Compostion of West Windsor Senior Citizens Service, Summary, Objectives of the West Windsor Senior Citizens Service, Plan 1975 including Activity Calendar and Budget. This entire grant application can be found on the West Windsor Historical Site (This link is not active).

For our purposes here, we extract from the Grant Application page 1 "Background" paragraph 2 and 3:
"A questionaire was sent out to a mailing of 287 senior citizens whose names (the) Steering Committee had assembled, asking what services older persons felt were needed. While only 15% responded, there appeared to be a need for a day center, telephone reassurance programs, transportation, and a friendly visitor program in that order."

First Covered Dish Supper Held
October 8, 1974

"Two planning meetings were held during the summer of 1974 with very limited attendance but at the suggestion of several senior citizen couples who attended, a covered dish supper was planned for October 8, 1974 with a turnout of 31 persons. Those present urged monthly suppers. About 40 persons attended the meeting of November 19 and the supper on December 10th. Arrangements were made with the assistance of the West Windsor Recreation Commission to transport 32 persons to and from the Nut Cracker Ballet in Trenton on December 30. It appeared that the program in West Windsor was off the ground with the naming of the additional persons to the Steering Committee."

Additionally, from the Grant Application on page 2 Section "Objectives":

"In spite of the above general characterization, there appeared to be many who are isolated by poor health, advanced years and who lack interest or opportunities for activity outside of their home. Most are managing on greatly reduced income. A number of those participating in the evening suppers, do participate in activities in the neighboring townships but this participation is limited by transportation.

The Steering Committee of the West Windsor Senior Citizens Service is anxious to develop the program so that it will offer a variety of opportunities and services to the elderly persons living in West Windsor Township and coming in from neighboring areas of Mercer County. Obviously, those in better health who are more mobile and who have retained active interests in the community, are the persons who have come forward first to participate in the evening suppers.

III. Objectives of the West Windsor Senior Citizens Service
Those involved in organizing the West Windsor Senior Citizens Service have been interested in assisting the elderly themselves determine the priority of the needs they have as residents of the township and to assist them in providing services to meet such needs. To date, this objective has been implemented by the following activities:

1. Locating and identifying the name and address of those elderly persons residing in the township or in areas immediately ajacent thereto.
2. Surveying what the elderly believe to be their most pressing needs and to adt on this information
3. Responding to the need for social activity by carrying out monthly suppers followed by a business meeting and brief program of entertainment.
4. To the extent feasible, tying in with existing programs, such as the telephone reassurance program under the direction of the Princeton chapter of the American Red Cross. Two members of the West Windsor group have volunteered to assist in that program.
5. Developing tours. The first tour took place on December 30th as noted above.
6. Exploring the reality of the need for transportation by establishing an ad hoc committee on transportation under the leadership of Mr. Roy Okeson.
7. Establishing a permanent organization through the appointment of a Steering Committee of 9 senior citizens and 5 community representatives from the original planning group.(See list attached.)"

The fate of the Grant application is not presented here. The events of 1975 are being researched. The Chronicle and Keen Agers archives may shed new light on this period. The date of adopting the name Keen Agers must have occurred in 1975-1977 time frame, because minutes on Keen Agers meetings are available for August 1977. A photo album exists for 1976 - 1978. Fortunately, some of the residents that are familiar with this period are still in the Township.

Today's West Windsor Township Senior Services, the Senior Center, and equally importantly, the West Windsor Keen Agers Club all trace their existence to the initial planning of 1974 and the years that followed.

If you seek more information on these developments, we suggest that you visit the West Windsor Historical Society web site. We are indebted to the long line of Keen Ager historians and in particular the work of Ruth Finklestein who during the earliest of these activities served as the recording secretary for the proceedings for the Committee that met to form West Windsor Senior Citizen Services. Ruth, in years past, forwarded copies of records and files to the Historical Society.

The history of West Windsor is properly left to the West Windsor Historical Society. The records, letters, and photos that were the basis of this site were derived from the historical files of the Keen Agers. These files have passed down over the last thirty years through Keen Ager Historians to safeguard and preserve them. Most recently, Bert LeSalle and his wife late Jean protected these files. Currently, the Keen Ager Historian is Dottie Malcolm and she is assisted by Lolly Dey.