Senior link is a partnership with the Anderson Police Department and Madison County Triad. Contrary to stories you may have heard, Senior Link had been in existence for over eight consecutive years in various modes. We are going through another change under Mayor Ockomon’s administration. This change could provide us with a program that could be very beneficial for our seniors.
The new Senior Link program could be the best model for programs that check on safety and security for seniors. The Anderson Police Department, instead of providing police officers to do the checks, is providing other resources. One example I will mention is that APD has fixed up an older police car with a new paint job, tune-up and Senior Link decals on the doors. Triad is providing the volunteers to make the house calls and phone calls.
Triad is strictly a non-paid volunteer program. We do not charge for people to attend our meetings, or have any kind of dues. Triad has a lot of volunteers who have donated their time, their expertise and sometimes their own money to help seniors. Not one volunteer has ever complained about needing reimbursement for their services. Some of these volunteers have donated countless hours serving seniors and their families. A few that I will mention is Bob Highsmith and his wife, Sally, who were calling over 300 Senior Link clients each month for the past seven years. Others like JoAnne Albea and Ludy Watkins have put in a lot of time creating documents for Triad among other things. Then there is Steve Weston, our webmaster for Triad, and Dan Skinner, who has donated more hours and resources than even I can imagine. Also, Jerry Yost is another valuable volunteer who spends his own money and time to help seniors in need. Our refreshment committee also puts in a lot of time helping us get ready for our meetings. We also have Patty Hamilton and Dellarose Gustin who help us plan future meetings and make phone calls.
These are all dedicated volunteers whose only reward is helping to protect seniors and trying to improve their quality of life. Their reward is in knowing that they made a contribution to those who are less fortunate. Our Triad volunteers are about giving something back to society. There is no room in our organization for those who think they need to be paid to do what our other Triad volunteers have been doing for free.
The most important ingredient in our relationships with law enforcement agencies, health care providers and other social agencies is mutual trust. Any negotiations on working conditions have to be done in the open with Triad. We will not tolerate maverick volunteers who have their own self-serving agendas who are trying to use Triad programs for their own personal or political gain. This would be a slap in the face to the many volunteers who have contributed so much and asked for nothing in return.
Psychology of scammers
The psychology of the scammers was one of the important issues that Irene Wegner discussed at last month’s Triad meeting. Irene gave a very informative talk that explained why so many of these scammers are so successful in stealing our money. First, they dangle the announcement that you can receive a lot of money for a small fee for taxes or bank fees or legal fees, etc. If you pay several thousand dollars they will send you millions of dollars. Once they have your attention and the first “fee,” they up the ante and try to get you to send more and more money till you are practically broke. They make promises they never intend to keep.
Dennis Lanane is chairman of Madison County Triad. He can be reached by e-mail at qparadigm@iquest.net.
Columns
DENNIS LANANE: Senior Link program is a good model
- Columns
-
-
Emmett Dulaney: When Twitter backfires
Twitter, that innocuous social media tool that lets users send out 140 character snippets to their followers, is being used more and more as a marketing tool.
-
John Williams: Valentine tip from Social Security
Valentine’s Day is a popular time of year for proclamations of love. Such displays of affection can be as simple and sweet as a heart with a “be mine” message, or as life altering as a vow before the altar.
-
Scott Underwood: TV section alterations on the way
Two Sundays ago, The Herald Bulletin introduced a new product called Click, replacing the TV Week section. Like TV Week, Click includes TV listings grids, sports listings and Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
-
'Big Joe' Clark: The $100 million IRA - and how to get one
Is it possible to save $100 million? No, but it is possible to invest and end up with that sum of money. Mitt Romney is not alone; there are others with mega IRAs.
-
Analysis: Exceptional voice seemed lost in Houston's excessive fame
Whitney Houston’s numerous comeback attempts never gelled into anything the public cared about.
-
Brian Howey: Automotive factor explains why Obama opens Indiana office
On Thursday, the Obama for America campaign opened up an office in Indiana, a state with a century-old love affair with the internal combustion engine.
-
Maleah Stringer: Be truthful when filling out an application to adopt a pet
Animal shelters, humane societies and animal rescue groups across the country use adoption applications to screen applicants.
-
Jim Bailey: Plenty of sports celebrities have spoken in Anderson
Those who like to hear about their favorite sports from the horse’s mouth have had plenty of opportunities over the years in Anderson.
-
Howard Hewitt: Ivo Nardi of Italy leading organic push
Much of Europe is way ahead of the United States when it comes to the demand and supply of organic products.
-
Don McAllister: Dovetailing on a great column with a word on encouragement
Every day starts a new story, and this one tips its hat to a great column that recently appeared in The Herald Bulletin by Jesse Wilkerson where he emphasized the value of choosing one’s words.
- More Columns Headlines
-







