Erie County men's group seeks more members

SANDUSKY — A group of Erie County men is inviting peers to join them for coffee, doughnuts and fellowship. The group — which seeks to boost its membership numbers — meets each week at the Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water St., in Sandusky. Current men's group officers are Carlos Alafita, John Ceccoli, Ron Renzoni, Clarence Samstag, Ed Smith, Rich Schlesselman, Jim Stauffer, John Bossart, Bud Schenk and Ed Hall. These meetings started in 1966 when the YMCA Senior Fellowship Club started, and Wilbert Ohlemacher served as president. Ohlemacher worked as an engineer and later a journalist before his retirement. He felt the need for other men to have the opportunity for gathering, learning about local happenings and being with one another. In the beginning, about 80 to 90 men attended meetings. The interest grew to more than 200 men as that group continued at the YMCA. They met over coffee and doughnuts and learned from other active leaders what was going on in the community. Over time, the group has grown just as the area has and now includes all men of Erie County who are interested in attending. The men still meet weekly over coffee and doughnuts, and their programs have included guests from local industries; government; schools; community news; health care workers; entrepreneurs; attorneys; and others. In many cases, after the presentations, charitable donations have been made to various groups and causes, such as to schools' music programs and to environmental concerns. There is no age limit or requirement to join this group. Any man who is available from 9:45-11 a.m. on Mondays can attend these meetings at the Erie County Senior Center. The group follows Perkins Schools' decisions for weather closings. Annual membership dues are $5 to buoy up donations and $1 at each meeting to offset the coffee and doughnuts. any men come at 8:30 a.m. to meet and become reacquainted with those who attend. Birthdays and holidays are marked in special ways, and drawings for lottery tickets keep involvement interesting. For questions, contact Stauffer at 419-515-4349 or Bossart at 419-626-3700.