In response to the stay-at-home order issued for the state of Illinois until April 30, clubs in Sun City were forced to make the difficult decision to suspend activities for the time being. For some residents, this sudden loss of meaningful social interactions may have the potential to lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which could affect one’s physical health and mental well-being.
To combat this issue during the shelter in place order, club leaders like Vice Chairperson of the President’s Club, Mary Fiala, have set some time aside to keep in contact with club members. Fiala who is President of three other charter clubs including the Book Discussion Club, Clayground, and the Concert Band primarily utilizes phone calls and emails as a means to keep in touch with other members.
“Sometimes we use video chat, but not always. I have not called every single member, but we’re doing fine. We’re all cognizant of the fact that we have to do this right now,” Fiala said.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) strongly emphasizes the importance of maintaining social networks with close friends and family especially during times of uncertainty to help sustain some level of normality.
Fiala maintains a positive attitude and despite the limitations of not having access to their usual facilities, she tries to find activities members can participate in online at the very least. For the Book Discussion Club, Fiala informed members that while they’re unable to hold their regular meetings in Prairie Lodge, the Huntley Area Public Library has an array of materials available online.
“I want to send an email that although the library is closed right now, members can still reach the library through email and can read books through their computer or their tablet,” she said.
Any resident with a Huntley Area Public library card can take advantage of the large variety of online resources accessible through the library website. Residents aren’t just limited to books either. Library card holders have access to everything from free music downloads to being able to stream movies and TV shows all from the comfort of their homes. The library is also assuring those with any borrowed materials will not be penalized even if the materials are past the return date.
The Huntley Area Public Library is scheduled to re-open to the public on May 2.
As President Trump has called for the extension of the current shutdown until the end of April with Illinois doing the same, members of Sun City’s clubs are left to continue on with their daily lives without the hustle and bustle provided by club activities. However, with today’s technology, staying connected has never been easier. This offers individuals the opportunity to stay in contact with others regardless of their location while continuing to maintain a sense of community involvement.
As for Fiala, all she can do is wait as she continues to call and exchange email updates with members of the clubs she belongs to. “Once we get back, we will do what we do best in the lodge,” Fiala said.
