At 53, Rob Ewers didn't think he belonged at the senior center, but he heard it was one the best places in town for dancing.

No smoking, great big-band music and a variety of dances - he and his wife sucked it up and went.

"It was hard the first couple of times," said Ewers, now 62. "But everyone was so genial we felt like we belonged after a few times."

Some members and the administration want to change the name of Central Wyoming Senior Services, also known as the Casper Senior Center, to make people feel more welcome and willing to visit the center that offers daily meals, a pool hall and of course, weekly dances.

They also want to attract younger members by doing away with "senior" in the name.

During a baby boomer study done by the city, Ewers said people mentioned the name as being a deterrent for them.

"It sent up a red flag and people said, 'That's where old people go,'" Ewers said. "It wasn't just the baby boomers. It was 85-year-olds. We want to get rid of that stigma."

Baby boomers are different from other generations, said Wayne Clements, executive director of the center at 1831 E. 4th Street and a baby boomer himself.

Clements said many senior centers around the country will look at similar name changes in the near future.

Aging is going to be different for baby boomers, Clements said. A lot of them haven't planned as well and they are going to want to do more things in retirement, such as travel and stay active.

"We don't want to think we are aging," Clements said. "We are probably more vain."

The target age for the senior center now is 60, but Clements said he would like to get more people in their 50s attending meals, classes and dances. Some people might be reluctant, like Ewers, to come because of the name.

The center has developed a competition to choose the new name. Members are submitting their ideas and, and next month, the senior center's board of directors will decide if they like any of them.

A few of the nominees that Ewers has heard and liked: Our Place and The Casper Club.

"We are skirting around the idea of old," Ewers said.

Some members are opposed to the name change, Clements said, because they are proud of being seniors.

Another avid dancer, Dick Reedquist, said the senior center is good for people in their 40s and 50s because of the inexpensive activities it offers, the computer labs and the companionship.

And the swing dances, fox trots and waltzes.

He hopes the name change will increase the overall community use of the center at and bring in some younger people.

"We want to get away from the senior center image and attract baby boomers," Reedquist said. "The name change is the first step."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.