THE GOLDEN CIRCLE WAS CREATED BY ALZADA WINGATE MCNEILL, SECRETARY/ASSISTANT TO MR WAYNE NELSON, DIRECTOR, OF THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE IN ATLANTIC CITY.

WHEN THE NEW PAL BUILDING OPENED IN 1995, DIRECTOR NELSON WAS CHARGED TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND ALZADA MCNEILL CLEVERLY SET UP COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SENIOR COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE WOULD SERVE.

MRS. MCNEILL BELIEVED THAT CITIZENS AT THE AGE OF FIFTY WOULD BE NEARING RETIREMENT, OR IN SOME CASES ALREADY RETIRED AND THEY WOULD BE A GOOD POOL FROM WHICH TO GATHER VOLUNTEERS. IT WAS DECIDED THAT AGE FIFTY WOULD BE THE MINIMUM AGE THAT A PERSON NEDDED TO ATTAIN IN ORDER TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.

THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE THE SENIOR CITIZENS VOLUNTEER TO MENTOR AND TUTOR YOUTH SERVED AT THE PAL BUILDING. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FIVE PERSONS, AGE FIFTY AND OVER, WERE CONTACTED AND THE GOLDEN CIRCLE WAS ESTABLISHED.

IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN INTEREST, THELMA “DOLLY” DOGGETT WAS ASKED TO PLAN DAY TRIPS FOR SENIORS. THE TRIPS PLANNED BY DOLLY WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THE LURE OF THE TRIPS SEEMED TO BRING MORE AND MORE SENIORS INTO THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE GOLDEN CIRCLE BEGAN TO GROW IN MEMBERSHIP, THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF MENTORING THE YOUTH BEGAN TO DIMINISH. INSTEAD OF MENTORING AND TUTORING THE GOLDEN CIRCLE WAS ABLE TO SPONSOR MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE PAL ACTIVITIES.

SPONSORSHIP OF PAL YOUTH BECAME A PART OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’S ONGOING PROGRAM. SPONSOR FIFTY STUDENTS PER YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CHANGES IN THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. IN 2001, THE GOLDEN CIRCLE INCORPORATED AND BECAME A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE. IT BECAME A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND GAINED TAX EXEMPT STATUS.

THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT. THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED TO MOVE THE MINIMUM AGE TO 62. IN SEPTEMBER 2014, THE MINIMUM AGE WAS LOWERED TO 60 FOR 2014-2015 ONLY. THE MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY FROM THE 25 IN 1995 TO ALMOST 400 MEMBERS. IT HAS FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 2015 AND 2025. OUR PRESENT MEMBERSHIP IS 308.

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE OF SOUTH JERSY, INCORPORATED WAS HONORED AND RECEIVED A “FRIENDS OF P.A.L. AWARD” ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014, AT A BANQUET, HELD AT THE MAYSLANDING COUNTRY CLUB.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO AWARDS LUNCHEONS, HONORING OUR NINETY PLUS MEMBERS – ONE ON JUNE 12, 2024 AT HOWARD JOHNSON HOTEL IN ATLANTIC CITY, AND THE SECOND ON MARCH 28, 2015 AT THE GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL AND CASINO.

• SPONSORED PLAY, “MAMA, WAKE UP”
• CONCERTS AT UNION BAPTIST TEMPLE BY THE NEW JOHN HOWARD GOSPEL CARAVAN
• RAFFLE – MAJOR FUNDRAISER EVERY OTHER YEAR 50/50
• TRIPS – SHOWS IN PRILADELPIA, PA; NYC; HUNTERDON HILLS PLAYHOUSE; SIGHT AND SOUND THEATER IN LANCASTER, PA; ROAD THEATER IN WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ; PANAMA CANA; CARIBBEAN; NOVA SCOTIA; CANADA; MT. RUSHMORE; OHIO; WASHINGTON, DC; ANNAPOLIS, MD; NORFOLK AND WILLIAMSBURG, VA; REHOBOTH BEACH, DE; ATLANTIA AND SAVANNAH, GA; CHALESTON, SC; HOLY LAND IN FL; BETHLEHEM, PA; CAPE MAY, NJ; BLACK HERITAGE TOUR IN NJ; COLUMBUS MARKET; BERLIN FARMERS MARKET; BILTMORE ESTATES; ASHVILLE, NC.

COMPUTERS PURCHASED, CLASSES TAUGHT, ASSISTANCE FROM STOCKTON STUDENTS, COMPUUTERS WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED.

PURCHASED PODIUM FOR USAGE BY P.A.L. PROVIDED FOOD FOR THE ATLANTIC COUNTY FOODBANK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

MISSION STATEMENT:

THE MISSION OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE OF SOUTH JERSEY, INC. IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS MEMBERS BY ENCOURAGING AND STIMULATING THE SENIOR POPULATION TO REMAIN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH OUR YOUTH BY SHARING THEIR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES, AS THE SENIORS TRAVEL TOWARD THE SUNSET OF THEIR LIVES.

VISION STATEMENT:

THE VISION OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE IS FOR ALL SENIORS TO EXPERIENCE AND ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

PAST/PRESENT PRESIDENTS:

REBECCA JENNINGS

JANET LEWIS

ROBERT CANADA

EVELYN BRAITHWAITE

MAXINE BROWN

ELEANOR HALL

MARVEN HILL

RITA KRALL

ELAINE SCOTT

VIVIAN ROBINSON

ALMA JOHNSON

SONDRA THOMPSON

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2024