ESCONDIDO: B-I-N-G-No! Joslyn Center game goes dark

Lack of manager forces Joslyn game to close temporarily

By JEFF FRANK - Staff Writer | Monday, December 22, 2008 4:07 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Bingo has been a Sunday staple at the Joslyn Senior Center for more than 30 years.

However, the center's bingo hall is temporarily dark for lack of a qualified volunteer to manage the games. The most recent manager moved out of state in November after losing his job, leaving Enterprises, Inc., the nonprofit group that runs the program, struggling to find a replacement.

It's not just a matter of grabbing anyone who raises a hand and plugging him or her into the spot. State and city laws require that managers of regular money-raising bingo games be unpaid volunteers and pass a police background check, said Charles Nisil, vice president of Enterprises, Inc.

Combine that with the fact that managing the games would take all day Sundays, and that's a tough sell.

"I understand," Nisil said. "Those are hurdles we have to get over."

Nisil managed the games for nine years before health problems forced him to back off. He still volunteers, but is unable to take on the load of managing the game again.

"I would love to do it, but I haven't gotten any better," he said.

Rather than shut the games down entirely, Enterprises and Joslyn Center officials decided to close through December, hoping that by putting out the word, they can attract a new manager in time to reopen in January.

Nisil is actually hoping to find two or three people willing to volunteer, in order to establish a management team. That would allow people to take days off and to have enough people on standby in case someone calls in sick.

The Joslyn Center game is one of the biggest in town, Nisil said, attracting from 110 to 140 people each week. Proceeds from the games allowed Enterprises to donate $42,000 in grants to charities this year, including Elizabeth Hospice, the Salvation Army and more.

"We are a big business at the center," Nisil said.

The manager's job takes up much of Sunday. Doors open at 9 a.m. to set up for the 12:15 p.m. games. The manager oversees all activities, then tallies receipts and readies them for deposit. He also makes financial reports to the police department. Typically, the day runs until 4 p.m., Nisil said.

"Whoever it is should be familiar with how a bingo operation functions and operates," he said.

Enterprises, Inc., is a nonprofit group that organizes social activities for seniors. Besides bingo, the group also puts together day trips and longer vacation opportunities for Joslyn members.

"They do a lot to support our senior center," said Amy Shipley, executive director of the Joslyn Center. "Every Sunday, it's something for 120 to 140 seniors to come together, socialize and have fun. That's why it's disappointing that it's not running now."

People interested in applying for the bingo manager position can contact Nisil at (760) 746-3184 or charlesjdenisil@att.net.

Contact staff writer Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.