District 7 Holds Annual Meeting

The Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) recently held its joint Area Advisory Council and Board of Trustees’ Annual Meeting at Friends Life Center of Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio.

The keynote speaker for this annual meeting was Michael Mullen, of Moon Mullen Productions. He presented a program of Appalachian music by demonstrating various Appalachian instruments, along with history of the Appalachian culture.

Executive Director Pamela Matura welcomed guests and introduced the following: Congressman Ted Stickland, State Representative John Carey; two past board members: Bill Lester of Ross County, and Clare Fleser of Pike County; Andy and Linda Graham from Jackson County; Rusty Miller, AAA7’s attorney from Jackson County; and Carol Oebler from the Alzheimer’s Association of Cincinnati.

Executive Matura presented her annual Director’s Report, "Vignettes on 2000 Program Activities." In her report, success stories were shared from each department about how the Area Agency on Aging District 7 makes a difference in an older individual’s life. (To receive a copy of this report you may call 1-800-582-7277 and ask for Sharon Bowman.)

Sharon Bowman, Community Relations and Special Events Coordinator awarded resolutions to the Outstanding Senior Citizens from each county. Those receiving resolutions from Senator Michael Shoemaker were Lucy Earwood (Gallia County), Martha Deck (Jackson County) Lola Gertrude Beeler (Ross County), Jean Burchett (Scioto County), and Evelyn Bryant and Curtis Lindsey (Lawrence County). Resolutions from Senator Doug White were presented to Floyd M. Allen (Adams County), Mary Kieve (Highland County), and Steve and Burline Tolliver (Pike County).

Director Matura introduced the Board of Trustees officers for 2001: President Alan Foster (Adams County), Vice President Luella Henry (Gallia County), and Secretary-Treasurer Harold Walker (Highland County).

Outgoing board members receiving a plaque from Executive Director Pamela Matura were Don Davis (Scioto County) and James P. Salyer (Vinton County). Mr. Davis served on the Board of Trustees from 1995-2000. He served as President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer during his tenure. Mr. Salyer served from 1998-2000.

Prudie Snider, President of the Advisory Council introduced the Advisory Council officers for 2001: President Prudie Snider (Brown County), Vice President Ken McAllister (Jackson County), Treasurer Bob Allen (Gallia County), and Secretary Harold Bennett (Ross County).

Director Matura and Sharon Bowman presented Steven Cornett, a senior at Gallia Academy High School and a University of Rio Grande student a certificate for his accomplishment in designing the Area Agency on Aging’s web site. The Area Agency’s web site address is www.aaa7.org.

Each year during the annual meeting, a person in the ten-county area is selected to receive the William A. Jenkins Memorial Award. This year, Mary Voiles, who recently retired as Executive Director of the Jackson County Senior Citizens Center, was honored with this award. The Area Agency on Aging could always count on Mary to do her job. She made certain services were available to all of Jackson County by not only having a congregate meal site in Jackson, Ohio, but also in Wellston and Oak Hill. She developed a system that enables anyone in any part of the Jackson County who needed to go to the doctor, get needed prescriptions filled, or purchase groceries, their needs were met. Mary always focused on the needs of senior citizens in Jackson County.

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. is a non-profit organization funded by the federal Older Americans Act with funds administered through the Ohio Department of Aging. AAA7 serves senior citizens in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton Counties. All services are rendered on a non-discriminatory basis.