Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Senior Advocates Are Needed Badly

Senior Arkansans are being sought to become advocates for senior adults.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) of Southwest Arkansas, consisting of Nevada, Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Ouachita, Sevier and Union counties oversees the program.

Legislation drafted during previous Silver Haired Legislative Sessions (SHLS) has had major impact on many bills considered by the Arkansas General Assembly, the AAA says.

Members of the 1998 SHLS will be striving to continue this vital work. The 1998 SHLS will be held in Little Rock on August 26.

Participation in the SHLS is open to all Arkansans age 60 or older. Candidates for SHLS delegates must complete a SHLS petition form and collect the signatures of 25 residents of their county who are age 60 or older. Completed petitions forms must be returned to the AAA no later than April 30.

If there is more than one candidate in a county, an election will be held. The election will be open to all residents of that county who are age 60 or older.

Notification of election dates and polling places will be made prior to each election. Elections are coordinated by the AAA and will be held in May. Absentee voting will be allowed two weeks prior to elections. Absentee ballots may be obtained through the local Senior Adult Center.

One delegate from each county will be elected to the SHLS, with an additional three delegates to be appointed by the AAA from those who served in previous Silver Haired Legislative Sessions.

The purpose of the SHLS is to train older Arkansans in the legislative process so they can be better advocates for the elderly, the AAA says. It also provides them an opportunity to bring important aging issues to the attention of the Arkansas legislature and the general public.

It is not necessary to have previous experience in advocacy or politics to participate. Delegates will receive training on the legislative process and on aging service programs. They will also learn how to write their own bills.

Training will be conducted in Magnolia on June 9 and 10. Bill writing will following on July 7. Expenses for training, bill writing and SHLS will be paid.

This is more than an exercise in civics, according to the AAA. "This is an opportunity for older Arkansans to exert a powerful influence on the legislation affecting their health, welfare and continue independence."

Petition forms or additional information may be obtained by contacting the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Arkansas at 1-800-272-2127.

Ricky and Vicki Marlar celebrated their 25th anniversary Tuesday, March 3, with a dinner at the Rails in Waldo. The celebration was given by their daughters, Tonda Pennington and Tamra Marlar.