No retreat from good deeds in retirement.

Byline: Ellie Oleson

COLUMN: TELEGRAM & GAZETTE SANTA

The more than 2,000 members of the Retired Men's Club of Greendale do far more than gather at the Greendale YMCA every Wednesday morning.

They also support area charities with average annual donations totaling approximately $15,000. One recipient is the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund.

Board of directors' member Frederick Gay, who organizes the charitable giving, said, "The T&G Santa has done fine work over many years. It is such a worthy organization, as are all those charities we support."

The club donates to more than 20 area charities, including the Mustard Seed, VNA of Worcester Inc. and Worcester County Food Bank.

At last week's annual Christmas party, 400 pounds of food were donated for the food bank.

"We were thrilled. It took 20 people to carry out all the food," Mr. Gay said.

Wilson McLaren, club president, said, "It's important that we support our community. That's our aim, to help people who need it."

He said the club traces its roots back to 1952, when a group of retirees from Norton Company in Worcester decided they wanted to stay in touch.

They started meeting Wednesday mornings at the old Greendale YMCA, which once stood on land now bisected by I-190.

The club meets weekly, except holidays, from Labor Day through the second week in June at the Greendale YMCA, which was built on land donated by Norton Company.

The club welcomes all men older than 60 to join. The fun starts with cards at 7 a.m., followed by coffee and Danish at 7:45 and a weekly meeting and entertainment at 9 a.m.

Members may be best known for the Greendale Men's Chorus, which performs in green jackets at area nursing homes and senior centers "to entertain, mingle and spread the word" that there is life after retirement.

Club members also enjoy bowling and golf leagues and a wide variety of trips. This year's plans include several visits to The Hanover Theater, Newport Playhouse, and Colonial Theater as well as trips to the Gaspe Peninsula, Azores, Belgium, Costa Rica, Gettysburg, Panama, Tuscany, Cooperstown, Atlantic City and other destinations.

The club also hosts an annual Ladies Christmas Party, this year held at the Sheraton Four Points in Leominster; the men's Christmas party; President's Ball; and Ladies Day at Pleasant Valley.

Mr. McLaren said it costs $10 to join the club, which has annual dues of $5.

"We want to be affordable to anyone."

He said an average of 300 men attend each weekly meeting...