Somehow it seems that Dodie Brockamp, outgoing executive director of the Silverton Senior Center, will be busier in her “retirement” than she was during her 12 years at the center.
A celebration of the Senior Center career of Brockamp is set for noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Senior Center, 115 Westfield St. A light luncheon and cake will be served.
Brockamp, who spoke to Our Town on Monday, Jan. 8, said she hopes to return to “exploring her own art,” perhaps in collaboration with other local artists at the Oregon Crafters Market in downtown Silverton. Brockamp was a liberal arts/fine arts major at Oregon State University and specializes in calligraphy and sign marking.
She also plans to continue to serve on a city transportation advisory committee as well as one that just began at the state level.
“I’m a senior with medical issues and no transportation,” Brockamp said, noting that key goals for her transportation work include accessibility and greater use of buses in town, perhaps on a dial-a-ride model or fixed stops. “I’m really passionate about transportation.”
Brockamp also plans to stay involved in work to establish a parks and recreation special taxing district for the greater Silverton area.
Brockamp’s memories of the early days of the Senior Center revolve around “getting things up and running.” The facility showed continued growth, then saw it dip precipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic. Things are cooking along strong now, Brockamp said, with 600 individual visitors per month and more than 1,000 total visits.
Brockamp said the center is ”cramped for space” and noted that one of her dreams was to find a way to create an industrial arts space somewhere on the property.
Brockamp, whose affection for the center is so strong she calls it her “baby,” learned it was possible to pull away from her duties during a medical leave in December.
Although still connected to the operation via email and Zoom, Brockamp said that “being forced to stay home told me I could let go. There are dedicated and competent people here who can step up to the plate and I just love all the volunteers. I see that continuing, which is really great.
“The center has been my life. I loved being executive director. Now I’m going to be just Dodie.”
– James Day
