Tuolumne County Commission on Aging Post "Cathie Peacock, Fearless Advocate" / Senior Expo And Calendar 2011

Welcome to the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging blog: it’s our ongoing effort that we hope will bring information to help and inform seniors in our county.  
The commissioners, with their extensive and varied experience and expertise, are all volunteers and without exception are primarily concerned with doing whatever they can to improve the lives of our county’s seniors in and around the Motherlode.

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CATHIE PEACOCK, FEARLESS ADVOCATE - NOMINATED FOR AWARD

Tuolumne County Commission on Aging’s Cathie Peacock has been nominated for an award called “Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women.”  Cathie was nominated by Laurel Utecht, a member of Soroptimist International of Sonora (see nomination text below this section).

This award is described by Soroptimist International in the – excerpted - paragraph below.  Editor: Roberta Goodwin

The Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women
Formerly called the Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award, the Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women Award.  A Ruby is a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love: all words embodying strong and compassionate women. The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work.

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Ed. note: nomination written by Laurel Utecht, Soroptimist International of Sonora…

I have known of Cathie Peacock for many years, hearing her name many times associated with community fundraisers and community activities. I have been a volunteer at Interfaith Community Social Services for ten years and Cathie came on as our Director two years ago. Interfaith has served our community for over 20 years providing the necessities of life to any one who is in need.

Cathie Peacock

Since Cathie has been our Director our monetary donations have increased, our donations of food, clothing and household items have increased and those that use our services have increased, all through Cathie’s efforts. I have nominated Cathie for the Ruby Award because I have seen her involvement with women of our community that most would walk away from. I watch her mentor them, provide the aid they need, and be their friend.

There is Pat who is homeless and lives in the woods during the summer and finds a way to go to jail in the winter. Mary Ann, an alcoholic and hoarder who irritates most [people] she is around and Kate, the cat lady who lives in a travel trailer without electricity or water and her ten or more cats. Kate smells so bad that it is very difficult to be around her. However, Cathie will take her into her office and talk to her about the problems of Kate’s daughter’s recent suicide without ever wrinkling her nose.  

Many of these women are mentally ill and on medications. They don’t always take their medications and can become very difficult to be around.  However, Cathie never sees them as being difficult. She never speaks ill of any of our seemingly hopeless homeless women. She never preaches to them or demeans them. In her eyes they are as worthy a woman as you or I. 

Cathie has failed to mention Sonora’s Annual Christmas Eve dinner that feeds over 1,500 each year and provides gifts for all children in attendance. She is personally responsible for this event. To fund the dinner she organized “The Old Mill Run”.  I am unsure of how long these two events have been in existence but I know it has been many years. She appears to be dauntless and her energy level is unbelievable. 

On top of all that she does, this past winter a tree fell on her house making it unlivable. She continued with her work while living in a motel for much of the winter. She lives “up the hill” and never lets the snow stop her from doing what she does.

For those reasons and many more I have submitted Cathie Peacock as worthy to receive the recognition as provided by the Soroptimist Ruby Award. She treads where many women would fear to tread.

Ed. Note: Laurel says the award will be presented to Cathie on June 23^rd at the annual dinner for Soroptimist of Sonora.  She will let us know the location.

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SENIORS WILL BE HONORED

Senior Volunteer of the Year Ceremony

Written by Cathie Peacock, Tuolumne County Commission on Aging

The Tuolumne County Commission on Aging will be hosting a recognition and award event for senior volunteers serving in and around Tuolumne County.  This event will take place June 22, 2011 (Wednesday), 11AM in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 4^th Floor, 2 Green Street, Sonora.  Anyone wishing to recognize and nominate a senior should complete a Senior Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form and submit it by June 10^th.  Nominees must be residents of Tuolumne County; be 60 years of age or older, and NOT members of the Commission on Aging.
Nomination forms may be obtained from the Senior Center on Greenly Rd; Area 12 Agency on Aging offices on Standard Rd in east Sonora; Senior Lounge in downtown Sonora; the Little House in Groveland; UpCountry Senior Center in Sugar Pine.  All nominations must include a follow up telephone number for verification of submitted information. To request applications, or for any additional information, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802.

Centenarian Society Event

The Tuolumne County’s Commission on Aging is seeking information on local centenarians, those who have reached or surpassed the age of 100 years.  A special recognition and honoring event is planned for Wednesday, October 19^th, 11AM, at the Senior Center on Greenly Rd., in Sonora.  The Commission on Aging is asking eligible individuals’ family members, friends, churches, residential care and skilled nursing facilities to submit names.
In addition, anyone who has reached the ages of 96, 97, 98, and 99 yrs will be honored as well, in recognition of their status in Tuolumne County’s Centenarian University of Life. Those who are aged 96 years are freshman, 97 years are sophomores, 98 years are juniors, and 99 years are seniors.  Upon reaching the age of 100 years, those individuals will be inducted into the Centenarian Society of Tuolumne County.  Their name will be placed on the Centenarian Society wall plaque at the Senior Center on Greenly Rd.  Each name submitted will receive a personal invitation, including their families, and a certificate of recognition of their status in our communities.  The Senior Center will provide lunch free to the honorees, and $3.50 to all others, to be served by community leaders and Commission on Aging members.
For additional information or to submit names, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802 or JoAnn Rascon at 588-9004.

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ANNOUNCING 2011 Senior Expo

The 2011 Senior Expo will be held May 25, 2011 from 9am to 2pm at the MOTHERLODE FAIRGROUNDS, John Muir Building.  The Expo features the opportunity for blood draws, a very popular Senior Idol contest, and many various for-profit and non-profit groups will present their senior-oriented services and wares.  In addition, many booths will be informational. This is a FREE event open to anyone, particularly seniors, baby boomers, family, caregivers, and all interested parties. For more information, go to the website: http://www.seniorfair.com/

Features and typical booths: 

*      Senior Idol contest! DO YOU SING OR DANCE?

*      Medical: blood draw 9AM-2 PM (nominal fee)

*      Caregivers: information / options
*      Finance/Insurance
* Legal 

FOOD will be available

Hosted by:  The Tuolumne County Commission on Aging
Sierra Senior Providers (Meals on Wheels)

Co-sponsored by: Black Oak Casino *Ray Suess Insurance*
Blue Mountain Minerals* JS West* Bob’s Greenley Pharmacy*
Reminder: Stay updated on the latest info at: http://www.seniorfair.com/

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Commission on Aging Events Calendar 2011

1)  Commission on Aging Executive Board meetings 1:00PM, 1^st Monday each month, at the Senior Center

2)  Commission on Aging Public Relations committee meetings, 12:00PM, 1^st Wednesday each month, at Interfaith

3)  Commission on Aging general meetings 1:30PM, 2^nd Monday each month, at Area 12 Agency on Aging, Standard Rd., Conf. Room C
NOTE: the June 13^th meeting will be in Groveland at The Little House.

4)  May 25 – Senior Expo, Motherlode Fairgrounds, John Muir Building 9AM-2PM

5)  June 22 - Senior Volunteer of the Year Awards Ceremony 11AM at Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors' Chambers, 4th Floor, 2 Green St.  Sonora

6)  October 19 - Centenarian Awards Ceremony 11AM Senior Center Sonora
 

***2011 Speakers’ schedule***
(to inform the commissioners on senior related issues.)
>May - Linda Zach

>June - John Gray

>August - Kathy Toepel

 

All COA meetings are open to the public. Please come and give us your ideas, concerns, and information regarding senior issues!

In future, we will be blogging with more information on matters of interest to county seniors so stay tuned!  And please feel free to let us know YOUR ideas for events or forums that you want to see! We actively solicit your comments.  You may contact the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging by email aging2010@gmail.com.

To go to Friends and Neighbors website go here: http://seniorfan.com/ 
To go to the San Francisco Institute on Aging website, go here: http://www.ioaging.org/

Blog Editor: Roberta Goodwin

What thoughts have YOU?  Email them to me at: aging2010@gmail.com.  Roberta