As part of Older Americans Month, the Rowan County Council on Aging held its fifth annual “Service to Seniors” Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center. Citizens South Bank served as the corporate sponsor for the event, with assistance from Oak Park Retirement and Bayada Home Health Care.
The awards program established by the Council in 2008 is designed to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses in the community that have provided exemplary service to older adults. Award nominations were received from the community during March and mid-April. An Awards Committee of the Council selected four individuals and one organization from those nominations to honor at the luncheon. In addition, seven local businesses were recognized for achieving certification from the Council as a “Senior Friendly Business.”
Individual honorees included Bob Goodwin, Kenny Hayes, Mary Anne Laningham, and Josephine Dillon. Goodwin was recognized for his leadership as a Senior Games Ambassador on the state and local level as well as his volunteer support of the Red Cross, Rowan Regional Medical Center, and Rufty-Holmes Senior Center helping with older adult issues. Hayes is a long-term volunteer with the Rowan County branch of the State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and the AARP Tax-Aide Program operating out of the Senior Center. In addition to serving as a volunteer counselor with these programs, he has become a leader in working to improve how both programs operate to benefit individual older adults. Laningham is a past Board President of Rufty-Holmes, and has supported many of the Center’s needs over the past ten years, as well as encouraging others to take advantage of its offerings. Dillon was selected from nominations for the Older Worker Award, and will be Rowan County’s entry in a statewide award program designed to recognize the value of older adults in the workplace. Dillon is an employee of Comfort Keepers of Salisbury.
The Salisbury Rotary Club was honored as an organizational winner for its sponsorship of the Flight of Honor Program. Approximately seventy-five local World War II veterans have been taken through multiple flights to Washington, DC for a day of visiting the city’s war memorials. Special efforts were made to treat the veterans with the honor and respect deserved for their sacrifice and service. Dianne Scott and Don Clement accepted the award on behalf of the Club.
Businesses recognized for achieving Senior Friendly Business Certification over the past year included Salisbury Audiology, My Farm Fresh Market Place, Victory Wealth Management, renewal (accepted by Cathy Foster), Powles Funeral Home (accepted by Matt and Will Staton), Marquee Charters & Tours (accepted by Kimberly Hobbs and Mike Breedlove), JJ’s Construction Company, renewal (accepted by Jim Duncan), and Home Instead Senior Care, renewal (accepted by Maxine Lang).
Bob Bruce, the current Council President, welcomed guests to the luncheon and served as Master of Ceremonies. Eileen Solomon, Council Secretary, presented the awards. Lunch was catered by Fabulous Foods & Catering.
The Rowan County Council on Aging was re-organized in January 2007 for the purpose of educating and informing individuals and the community about public issues affecting older adults; to develop strategies for improving conditions for older adults in Rowan County; to advocate for older adult needs and public policies to address them; and to promote a “senior friendly community.”
For more information about the Rowan County Council on Aging, contact Rufty-Holmes Senior Center at 704-216-7714.