The Redmond Senior Center (RSC) is part of the City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation Department. It is dedicated to serving the recreational needs of adults age 50 or better. Older Adults from Redmond, and surrounding communities, are welcome to participate in its many varied and interesting programs.
The information on this web site is published to help local older adults take full advantage of the activities and services that the RSC offers. All information is subject to change.
The RSC is supported by tax dollars and many programs are free; however, it is not fully funded and operating revenue is generated by renting the facility and charging modest fees for some programs.
The RSC is located on the Redmond Municipal Campus adjacent to the Public Safety Building and across the big lawn from the City Hall.
The physical address is:
8703 160th Avenue NE
Redmond, Washington
The mailing address is:
Redmond Senior Center – MS: CHSC
P. O. Box 97010
Redmond WA 98073-9710
Our business hours are:
Monday through Thursday - 8:30 am to 9 pm
Fridays - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Our building boasts the following facilities:
- Complete commercial kitchen and dining room
- Dressing room, stage and multipurpose room that seats 200
- Card & game room
- Craft room
- Music & multiple-use classroom
- Billiards room with three tables
- Hotel-like lobby, beverage bar, and fireplace lounge
- Wellness complex consisting of a reception room and two examination rooms
- Gift shop
- Library and computer corner
- Garden plaza
- Greenhouse
- Staff office space and a conference room
The building has a square footage of approximately 21,000.
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Keeping Up with Our News
Newsletter Subscriptions
Published quarterly, the RSC News is our primary way of communicating with participants. It lists all the interest groups, classes, trips and special events that will take place at the RSC each quarter, as well as other news and information. Yearly subscriptions are $12 and individual issues are $4 (newcomers get their first copy free). The Front Desk volunteers will be happy to help you sign up for a subscription. (In the near future the RSC hopes to offer the RSC news in a PDF version for download)
Recreation Guide
Three times a year, the Redmond Parks and Recreation Department publishes a guide to all their programs and activities. The RSC has a limited number of pages in this guide to highlight our classes and programs. Usually this space is used to promote fee-based programs. The spring/summer issue of the Recreation Guide is mailed to all Redmond residents. Other issues are mailed to individuals who have previously registered for fee-based programs.
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A Little History
The Redmond Parks and Recreation Department began providing programs and services for the older adult residents of Redmond in the early 1970’s. From offices housed in a log cabin in Anderson Park, staff organized a variety of programs including lunches, classes, and trips. A core group of approximately 45 seniors met regularly for lunch and socializing, as well as visits with health specialists and various other programs. As the number of involved seniors grew, the programs moved around to other community buildings and more services were offered. A particularly notable program from the early years is the Senior Recycling Program. It was started by a group of senior volunteers with a wood frame collection station downtown. Their efforts were highly successful prior to the City's adopting a curbside recycling program. They contributed generously to the Aid Car Fund, Police Department programs, and other community needs. Proceeds were later used to help purchase a bus for senior transportation. The proceeds also helped furnish the fireplace lounge and game rooms in the current RSC building.
A bond issue was passed in 1986, which enabled us to create the permanent building that we utilize today. This facility was dedicated and opened for use in 1990.
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Senior Advisory Committee
This eleven-member committee, composed of older adult volunteers, acts in an advisory capacity to staff in assessing participants’ needs, and planning RSC activities. Senior Advisory Committee members are the voice for all the older adults who utilize the RSC. At least eight of the eleven members must be Redmond residents, and all must be over 50 years of age. Each serves a two-year term with only two consecutive terms allowed. Members also serve on subcommittees that address specific needs and interests at the RSC. The current subcommittees are:
- Fundraising
- Health & Wellness
- Hospitality
- Intergenerational
- Marketing
- Newsletter
- Programming
- Special Events
- Volunteer
Members are encouraged to serve in the areas where their skills and abilities will have the most impact.
New members are recruited each fall as every year several of the terms expire. Contact staff if you would like to apply for a position on the Advisory Committee.
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Volunteers
The day-to-day operation of the RSC depends on volunteers. Utilizing the many skills and abilities of our volunteers allows the RSC to offer a greater variety of programs and services. We average approximately 80-85 volunteers each month, who give over 15,000 hours to the RSC each year.
If you are interested in volunteering, please stop by the office and fill out a volunteer application. Your application will be routed to the appropriate staff member and you will be contacted to discuss the ways you might serve.
Volunteers must be available during weekday hours, over 18 years of age and able to pass a criminal background check which requires your social security number.
Volunteers are asked to commit for at least 2 – 3 hours a week for six months or more.
Volunteer Opportunities 
Reception & Office Assistance
- Greeter Volunteers - meet and greet participants as they arrive at the facility. They help ensure that everyone signs in and they give the facility a friendlier feel.
- Front Desk Volunteers staff our reception desk and perform a variety of tasks such as greeting newcomers and distributing information, signing participants up for free programs, answering the telephone, placing reminder calls to participants, and selling tickets for various events and special lunches.
- Beverage Bar Volunteers: make and serve the coffee, pour ice tea, and monitor the snack basket. They also provide friendly conversation and help spread information about the RSC’s programs.
Nutrition 
- Cashier: makes change, tracks participant count and passes out tickets.
- Kitchen Helpers: assist in meal preparation and serving, set and clear tables, and wash dishes.
Meals on Wheels
- Support Volunteer: calls program participants for their order, inventory stock and place order.
- Intake Volunteers: process new applications, interviews participants, and sets up and maintains the calling list
- Drivers: sort, pack, and deliver frozen meals to individuals who are unable to leave their home.
Programming
- Interest Group Leaders: individuals with skills or knowledge in a specific topic area lead groups, maintain participant lists, and help ensure that all participants sign in.
- Program Receptionists: help maintain and coordinate the appointments for outside service providers such as Eastside Legal Assistance Program
- Special Projects: helps Program Coordinators implement programs such as special holiday luncheons, lectures and/or events. May help with setup and/or cleanup as well as promotion and planning.
Record Your Volunteer Hours
Each time you volunteer, please stop in the office to sign the “Volunteer Log” and record your hours. Hours recorded in the log are used in reports to the City, and assist in determining volunteer recognition.
Volunteer Recognition
While giving volunteer service is rewarding in and of itself, the RSC staff believe it is important to recognize the generous time contributions so many make to the RSC.
Each year there are two events to recognize our volunteers’ contributions. In February, the Redmond Rotary hosts a luncheon to recognize RSC volunteers who have contributed 85 or more hours during the previous year. In September, during National Senior Center Month, an event is held at the RSC for all volunteers with at least one hour of service during the previous year.
Older American’s Month Recognition
Each May, the RSC Senior Advisory Committee recognizes two senior volunteers who have given significant service to the senior community, as well as one business or organization that has meaningfully contributed to the betterment of Redmond older adults. The honorees are presented at a City Council meeting, where the Mayor proclaims May as Older American’s Month in Redmond. Honorees are also treated to dinner at a local restaurant and a reception is held in their honor.
If you would like to nominate someone for this honor, nominations forms are available in March. Please inquire at the Front Desk.
Other Volunteer Opportunities Beyond the RSC
The RSC has affiliations with many other organizations that utilize volunteers. If none of the opportunities at the RSC are a good fit for you, perhaps one of the following might be a match:
- Yarn Donations
- LWSD Lunch Buddy program
- Help with Special City Events
- English as a Second Language tutors
- Volunteer transportation drivers
- City Hall Reception Desk Volunteer
Contact the RSC for more information.
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- Ken Wong, 50 Plus & Teen Programs Administrator - oversees the overall management of the RSC. His primary duties are to direct the staff and see that the facility is maintained and utilized properly. His duties involve employee recruitment, training and reviews; staff and volunteer recognition; and purchasing. He is the liaison to other City departments and works with the Senior Advisory Committee to ensure that the RSC is meeting our participants’ needs.
- Teri Burke, & Karen Phillips, Program Coordinators - plan, implement, and monitor all fee-based programs and free activities that take place at the RSC. Their duties include developing new and interesting classes, planning and promoting events, and maintaining current classes and interest groups. They also oversee our daily nutrition program, and weekly Meals on Wheels program.
- Terry Sturtz, Administrative Assistant - as the lead in our office, she handles a wide variety of tasks, including coordinating volunteer and staff schedules; preparing our daily deposits and making sure all monetary handling procedures are followed; tracking the details of facility rentals to outside groups, and answering a multitude of questions every day.
- Janice Dunlap, Driver - helps plan and implement our day trips, hikes and shopping outings; drives our bus and makes sure all bus maintenance takes place according to schedule; and conducts regular safety checks. In addition, she performs a wide variety of support tasks around the RSC.
- Christine Benavides, Diana Chartier, Amy Tang, Lynn Spencer, & Lois Young, Office Assistants - handle many of the office duties such as processing registrations and helping with participant questions. They support the Front Desk volunteers and generally help hold the place together.
- Facility Monitors - rarely seen by our daytime participants, their duty is to ensure that the building is used properly when it is rented to private groups, or used by other City departments, after our normal business hours.
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Holiday Observances
Each year the RSC is closed in observance of the following holidays:
| * New Year’s Day |
* Veteran’s Day |
| * Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
* Thanksgiving |
| * Presidents’ Day |
* Day After Thanksgiving |
| * Memorial Day |
* Christmas Eve |
| * Independence Day |
* Christmas Day |
| * Labor Day |
|
Please consult our current newsletter for up-coming holiday closure dates.
Maintenance Closures
In order to keep our building in top condition, it is necessary to close each year to allow our maintenance crew room to work. This closure usually occurs from the Christmas holiday through the first week in January. Please consult our newsletter for specific dates.
Sign-In, Please
Everyone who comes to the RSC is asked to stop at the Greeter’s Desk each time and sign-in. This log helps us track the RSC’s use and provides data for reports that are required by the City. This log is also used in the event of an emergency to help staff determine who is in the building.
In addition, those who participate in on-going interest groups are asked to sign-in a second time in the group’s log book. The interest group logs are used to track participant interest and room usage. Logs are also used to notify participants when there are unexpected changes in the group’s schedule.
All volunteers are also asked to sign-in on the clipboard in the main office. Volunteer service is vitally important to the RSC and we are required to carefully track your hours. This will mean that those who volunteer on the same day they participate in an interest group will need to sign-in three times. It may seem redundant, but each log tracks different important information.
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How to Find Us
The RSC is located at 8703 160th Ave NE. on the Redmond Municipal Campus, adjacent to the Public Safety building (Police Department).
If you are traveling northbound on I-405 or coming from Seattle, take highway 520 eastbound to the West Lake Sammamish Parkway exit, turn left at the traffic signal. Follow West Lake Sammamish Parkway to the traffic signal at NE 85th Street, turn right. Follow NE 85th Street to the traffic signal at 160th Avenue NE, turn left. The entrance to the RSC is the second driveway on the left, just past the Northeast District Court parking lot.
If you are traveling southbound on I-405, take the Kirkland/Redmond exit (#18). Head east to Redmond on Redmond/Kirkland highway. When you get to the traffic signal at 160th Avenue NE/Cleveland Street (you will see Jamba Juice on the corner), turn left. Follow 160th Avenue NE to the traffic signal at NE 85th Street, continue straight. The entrance to the RSC is the second driveway on the left, just past the Northeast District Court parking lot.
