The Down East Seniors Club held its Oct. 31 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. Vice President Charles Smith led the meeting. Jim Hackney played for the singing of “God Bless America,” which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Smith gave the invocation, and Ed Hamrick read factoids for the date in history. Bill Cates provided humor.

Julius Brauer introduced Rhonda Suggs as the speaker. Suggs is the director of Beaufort Area Transit System, an operating division of Beaufort County Developmental Center. BATS was created in 1999 to transport BCDC clients to the center and back to their homes. Later, it was expanded to provide transportation for a fee for anyone in Beaufort County. The fees are generally less than it would cost an individual to operate their own private vehicle because the service is supplemented by the county, state and federal governments. The main requirement for a person requesting the service is that they phone in their request the day before the service is needed. This allows BATS to schedule their vehicles more efficiently and not overschedule. BATS now operates 11 vehicles, which are equipped to handle people in wheelchairs and take them to outside the county if needed.

Bill Cates won the 50/50 drawing. Guest Fritz Tanner won the drawing for a BATS tote bag.

Next week ,Frank Stallings will present Stan Deatherage with Moore Aquatic Center.

The Down East Seniors Club is a group of older men who meet every Wednesday from

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. They enjoy fellowship and an interesting program. Guests are welcome.