Leadership changing at Lake City Center
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — Rick Currie said the Lake City Center nearly had to close its doors due to financial woes before he became executive director nearly eight years ago.
But now he's handing off a stable nonprofit to what he believes is good hands in Bob Small.
“I could not be happier with the replacement," said Currie, who will retire from the center effective July 1 and endorsed Small. “I’ll still be involved a while under his guidance. It will be a very nice transition. Bob is a man who is capable of taking this to new heights.”
Small ran the Area Agency on Aging's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for eight years before it was eliminated earlier this year when a grant that funded it was not renewed.
"I couldn't ask for a more natural fit and better opportunity to be an advocate for seniors," Small said of his new job. "Rick Currie, the board and volunteers have done a fantastic job, so I consider it a real privilege to step into that position."
Currie, who will be 71 in August, was a Kootenai County commissioner for eight years before leading the center. He has also been involved in the community through the chamber of commerce, North Idaho Building Contractors Association, Fourth of July parade and Jaycees.
"I've still got some irons in the fire with family obligations," he said. "I won't be a fly on the wall by any means."
Currie said he has been asked about whether he would be interested in returning to the political arena, "but I'll cross those roads as they come."
About 30 to 70 seniors generally attend the weekday meals at the Lake City Center. Its Meals on Wheels program to serve seniors who can't leave their homes is growing dramatically and served 2,900 meals last month.
Small said 10,000 Americans are turning 65 each day, so it's an exciting and critical time to serve seniors.
"We want to get more people to understand what the center offers," he said. "But the nice thing is that I’m not inheriting any problems."