Come join us for an afternoon of BINGO and lots of fun with friends! Tuesday, October 12th at 1:00pm will be our monthly BINGO game. No there is no cost to play, just a good time to be had by all!

Dust off your dancing shoes!  Classic Country Band will be at the Senior Center on Wednesday, October 13th from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm to perform a free country music concert. 

Come and dance or just sit and listen to the classic country tunes we all love!

The Bemidji Senior Center’s monthly Pancake Breakfast is on Saturday, October 9^th from 8:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.  The “Best Pancakes in Town” are just $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. The meal includes juice, coffee and two sausages in addition to the pancakes. The Senior Creations Gift Shop will also be open.  Fundraiser proceeds go to support the Bemidji Senior Center.  The Bemidji Senior Center is located at 216 3^rd St NW, Bemidji.  Call 751-8836 for more information.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Bemidji Senior Center will hold its Annual Membership Meeting and Member Appreciation on Tuesday, September 28^th at 1:00pm in the Bemidji Senior Center Dining Room at 216 3^rd St NW, Bemidji.  All Bemidji Senior Center members are encouraged to attend. There will be refreshments and a drawing for door prizes.  For more information on how to become a member of the Senior Center, please call 751-8836.

The Bemidji Senior Center is hosting a Soup and Bread Dinner Fundraiser on Tuesday, August 24th from 4:30pm-6:30pm at the Bemidji Senior Center, located at 216 3rd St NW.  The cost is $8.00 and includes:  choice of soup (chicken and wild rice, beef stew, or taco soup), fresh baked bun, cookie, and coffee/water.  All proceeds will go to the Bemidji Senior Center.  For more information, please contact the Senior Center at 751-8836. 

The Bemidji Senior Center’s monthly Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser is on Saturday, August 14^th from 8:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.  The “Best Pancakes in Town” are just $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. The meal includes juice, coffee and two sausages in addition to the pancakes. The Senior Creations Gift Shop will also be open.  Fundraiser proceeds go to support the Bemidji Senior Center.  The Bemidji Senior Center is located at 216 3^rd St NW, Bemidji.  Call 751-8836 for more information.

The Bemidji Senior Center, located at 216 3rd St NW, is holding a rummage and bake sale fundraiser on Saturday, August 7th from 8 AM to 3 PM.  There will be homemade baked goods, craft supplies, household items, books , jewelry and so much more!  Sale proceeds will be used to support Bemidji Senior Center programs.  Contact 751-8836 for more information.

The Senior Creations gift shop will be open as well from 8am – 3pm.

Lutheran Social Services will resume congregate dining in the Bemidji Senior Center dining room beginning Wednesday, July 28th at noon. Please call 1-800-488-4146 to make a reservation. Money will not be collected at the site for those 60 and older, LSS will be sending out donation letters once a month for the meals. Suggested donation for those 60 and older is $5.00 per meal. For those under 60, price of the noon meal is $8.75. Brief paperwork is needed at the time of your first visit.

Image via Pexels

Written by Andrea Needham

Ready to Un-Retire? Tips for Starting a Small Business Past Your Working Years

If you’ve recently retired and found that a life of leisure is not for you, rejoice! There are many reasons to rejoin the workforce on your own terms as a small business owner. From keeping you mentally alert to helping you maintain a social life, working at 65 and beyond may actually be more pleasurable than giving up the timeclock altogether. Keep reading for a few quick tips on how to start your own business without jeopardizing your nest egg.

Choose a structure.

First, you’ll need a business structure if you want to make things official. If you’re not sure which structure to go with, start by thinking about whether you want to protect your personal assets. A Limited Liability Company, or LLC, offers this advantage, as well as exemption from extra taxes. If an LLC sounds like the best option for you, you may be asking yourself, “How do I start an LLC in Minnesota?” It’s actually simpler than you think, as just a few steps are required (as detailed by ZenBusiness), and you can make the process even easier by hiring an online formation service.

Define your niche.

As an entrepreneur, you have to cater to your clientele. This means you’ll need to take a close look at your business idea before you get started and then continually evaluate as you go on. This might mean that you test your initial idea and run it by a group of potential clients for input. It might take you a bit longer to get started, but knowing exactly what your customers want will ensure that you do not overspend on products or services they do not.

Craft your online presence.

The internet is where the vast majority of business takes place these days. For this reason, much of your early initiative should be devoted to creating an engaging website and social media presence. Use a reputable online job board to find the right web designer or social media manager, but do take a look at their portfolio before you sign a contract or hire a freelancer for the job.

Business Ideas for Seniors

The above tips apply to virtually any business. But what if you do not know what you want to do? A few of the best businesses for seniors to start include:

• Owning rental properties. Rental properties are an excellent source of passive income, particularly for seniors who consider themselves handy. When you own a rental property, your tenants pay you a monthly fee that is, ideally, much more than your mortgage. And if you can do property maintenance and upkeep on your own, you’ll save a bundle. All it takes is a few properties to generate a respectable income.

• Teaching. Education is a great part-time job or business for seniors who wish to freelance instead of operating a brick-and-mortar location. You can even teach online if you are tech-savvy.

• Franchisee. Seniors make excellent franchise owners because they have more time to devote to running their business. According to Statista, there were over 770,000 franchise establishments in 2019. Franchises run the gamut from fast food to dance studios, and the investment required ranges, as well. Do your research, but know that there is a franchise available for virtually all interests.

Retirement isn’t for everyone. Whether you just need something to fill your hours or want to bridge the gap between a fixed income and financial freedom, the above tips can help you get started. Remember: Start by understanding some of the nuances, such as where to find financing and how to master your online real estate. Then, choose a business that makes sense for you. Most of all, enjoy your post-retirement business adventures.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do in your spare time, check out the Bemidji Senior Center. We also offer classes and programs that educate on a variety of topics like fall prevention and driver safety.

The Bemidji Senior Center is once again offering Fall Prevention:  Moving Beyond “Get Rid of the Throw Rug”.  This free educational series will take a proactive approach on actions you can take to help prevent falls.  This four-part series is designed to inform, educate, and empower.  Sessions will be held on the following Tuesdays:  August 3rd, August 17th, August 31st, and September 14th from 1:00pm-2:00pm at the Bemidji Senior Center located at 216 3rd St NW, Bemidji.  

The series is designed for participants to attend all four classes.  You must sign up for the class ahead of time as space is limited to 15 participants.  Please stop in to the Senior Center or call 751-8836 to register.