“TJ Mac” Brings Situational Awareness And Safety to Senior Connections Center
Executive Director
Speakers have been inviting to Senior Connections and have been awesome and informative this summer. People are actually calling to let the center know that they plan to attend on a Monday to listen to a particular speaker and the topic they will address.
Everyone is welcome to come in and join.You can plan to eat lunch, bring your own brown bag lunch, or you can just enjoy a nice iced tea or water. It’s listening to the speakers that’s important to some, and that’s what Senior Connections is here for, to present information you might need to lead a more independentlifestyle.Many members enjoy gathering and meeting their friends at 9 a.m. to have some coffee, read the newspapers, play some dominoes, or just sit, chat, andcatch up with each other.Officer Tammie Jo Mc-Cleney, or “TJ Mac” as she is affectionately known, was invited in to discuss Situational Awareness for Seniors and she was a popular speaker at Senior Connections on Monday, July 25. We had 25 senior citizens who were impacted by her presenceand her presentation.TJ Mac was gracious enough to join for lunch that day. People were anxious to meet her and having her in-house really made members feel special. She had everyones full attention as she gave some of her backgroundhistory, and impressed members with her 31 years of tenure as a law enforcement officer.
“Head on a swivel” will be part of everyones new vocabulary as they go out into the world. TJ said those in attendance would have “new eyes” as you look at things differently with increased knowledge of Situational Awareness and Safety. She wanted everyone to be aware of things, especially as you enter places.
She mentioned to be mindful of where you sit in restaurants, at the movies, at the mall, especially food courts, and at convenience stores. Look inside first and see if anything weird is going on or looks out of place. Try not to sit by the front doors as that is where people come in and a shooter is not going to shoot at the back, they will start shooting right there where they came in and if you are sitting by the front door you may increase your odds of becoming a victim.
TJ didn’t come to scare, but to make everyone slow down and think. Put that phone away for now, be sure you lock your car doors always, be mindful of where your purse is, lock those car doors when filling up your cars with gas, and be mindful of where you sit in places. You don’t have to sit where they place you and you can say “I’d like a table by the back of the place.”
AsTJ Mac related stories and incidents, she said, many could have been prevented if only peopleknew more. Sometimes, stuff is just going to happen, but she stressed that you could minimize chances of being a victim by just doing some thinking and by being aware.
She mentioned her Guns & Glitz Women’s Gun Club that she has started at the Fayette County Gun Club and she extended an invitation to all women who want to know more and who want to be exposed to others with the same mindset.You don’t have to use a gun either, she stated, but she again invited women to come out and get a feel for the group that meets on the third Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A group of them even go out to eat afterwards for more camaraderie and bonding. Cindy V. has already joined this group and she also stated that it has been good for her to meet new people and to work on her skills, while being in a learningenvironment.Officer TJ McCleney, is currently working for the MoultonPolice Department.
Senior Connections schedule most days of the week, are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We provide this schedule so folks can see what is coming up, what is new, and what there is to do. There is also a monthly calendar on our website that you can visit:www.navidadvalleycc.orgSenior Connections is located in Wolter’s Park, right by the Pavilion. Call the center at(979) 743-3227.