San Andreas, CA…On October 11, 2017, the Calaveras County Commission on Aging celebrated the annual selection of the Senior Volunteer of the Year with four top awards on behalf of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. Lifetime of the Year award was presented to King McPherson of Murphys, Senior Volunteer Man of the Year was Al Duncan of Valley Springs (picture attached), Senior Volunteer Woman of the Year was Sue Friedman of Murphys (picture attached) and Senior Team Volunteers were Becky and Tom Hall of Mountain Ranch. Each of the winners were nominated by another community member, who had glowing reports of the countless hours each nominee had contributed in a volunteer capacity, working unpaid under all kinds of obstacles and schedules. Two County Supervisors, Gary Tofenelli, District 1 and Mike Oliveira, District 3 were present at the luncheon to award the Certificates of Appreciation to the honorees.

The Chair of the Selection Committee, Susan Tomasich of Mokelumne Hill, guided the process of selection of the winners from applications representing volunteers from all parts of the county. This recognition of seniors was started in 1976 and completes a forty-first anniversary in 2017. The event was, again celebrated at the beautiful Dodasa Ranch in Burson, host location for the past two years.

The Calaveras Commission on Aging is always seeking new members who would like to address issues affecting the growing senior population in the county. Each of the five districts has three Commissioner positions assigned and vacancies do exist. It acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors on the group of county citizens representing 30% to 40% of the entire populace. The Commission meets the first Friday of the month at 10am, at various locations throughout the county, in order to expand exposure and knowledge of its role. The current chair is Rex Whisnand of Copperopolis who can be reached on 209.785.8166 or at wisper.whise@gmail.com with any questions on the organization.