Lifetime Quest
Center offers trips, activities to keep seniors busy
L
Story by Glenda Sanders
Photos submitted
inda Cook was a little apprehensive when she attended
her first gathering sponsored by the Lifetime Quest Center
at Meridian Community College more than five years ago.
“The first time I came I only knew one person,” Cook
said, “and since then I have met so many people, made so many
new friends, and have been on so many trips I never would have
had the opportunity to take without Lifetime Quest.”
Cook, a retired teacher and Jasper County resident, is especially
excited about an upcoming New York trip with the group.
“I have traveled all over the world, but I have never been to
New York,” she said. “I am so excited about this trip.”
MCC’s Lifetime Quest Center, which began about 25 years ago,
provides enrichment activities, events, and travel adventures for
east Mississippi and west Alabama retirement-age residents.
“Lifetime Quest is a Learning in Retirement center that pro-
vides activities and programs which are interesting, fun, educa-
tional, and enriching for seniors,” said Marmion Francis, a coordi-
nator of the center.
Currently, there are about 275 Lifetime Quest members who are
age 50 and older. Annual dues are $60.
Many of the members are retired, but some still work. They
come from all backgrounds – teachers, business people, nurses,
and military retirees, among others, Francis noted.
Members can participate in Lifetime Quest activities such
as Lunch Bunch, an informative monthly lunch meeting with
a speaker held on the third Friday. Attendees receive a special
discounted rate in the MCC Cafeteria. Members can attend the
Lifetime Quest Reading & Discussion Group, which meets month-
ly on the second Thursday to discuss a book or story they are
reading. They receive free admission to performances on the MCC
Arts & Letters Series and enjoy a discounted rate for the water
aerobics class taught at the campus swimming pool. They can use
the campus library and take advantage of the dental hygiene lab
services. They receive free admission to home, non-tournament
athletic events and discounts at the campus bookstore. Three
times a year they hold Bingo Quest, which offers participants fun,
refreshments and game prizes.
Travel is one of the biggest draws of the program. Lifetime
Quest offers many travel opportunities for its members, both day
and overnight trips, said Diane Wells, a program coordinator who
oversees travel.
In the past, they have taken trips to the Biltmore in Asheville,
N.C.; Callaway Gardens in Georgia; the French Quarter Festival
“The first time I came
I only knew one per-
son, and since then I
have met so many peo-
ple, made so many new
friends, and have been
on so many trips I never
would have had the
opportunity to take with-
out Lifetime Quest.”
Linda Cook, Lifetime Quester
At left: Lydia Boutwell on the Chicago subway headed to Cubs’ game. Above: Pam
McGee, Beth Wuestefeld. Elizabeth Logan at The Bean in Chicago.
•15