NC Projects Gather to Celebrate, Train Seniors
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SCSEP project sponsors in North Carolina held the 21st Annual Carolinas’ Senior Aides Training Conference on October, 12-14, 2005 at the Blockade Runner Resort in Wrightsville, North Carolina.
The event, themed “Senior Aides: Old Enough to Care, Young Enough to Dare” is North Carolina’s way of recognizing and saying thank you to their participants while providing them with valuable training. This year, participants received training on resume writing and effective job search techniques as well as information on how the new SCSEP regulations will affect them.
This event attracted the attention of a few of North Carolina’s notables; Wrightsville’s Mayor, The Honorable Avery Roberts, gave the welcome address on Tuesday, October 13, and Rep. Garland Pierce was the guest speaker at the Town Hall meeting held later on that afternoon.
The conference included a keynote speech by Tony Sarmiento, president and executive director of SSAI and a motivational speech to help participants conquer their job search fears given by Ronald Penny, executive director of the North Carolina Central University Senior Aides Program.
Several workshops were conducted during the event:
- Scott Matthews, project coordinator at the State of Franklin Health Council conducted an informative workshop on Medicare Part D – The Prescription Drug Benefit.
- Arlene Ridgell, director, Senior Aides Program at North Carolina Central University and Cleopatra Solomon, vice president of program operations for the Winston-Salem Urban League provided a workshop on the reality of the new SCSEP regulations.
- Ellen Gadden, business employees’ instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College conducted a workshop on effective job search techniques.
Although the conference was jam packed with useful information, participants were able to have some downtime and enjoy the beautiful Carolina coastline with an evening harbor cruise to Little River, South Carolina.
This wonderful event was made possible through the teamwork and collaboration of the SCSEP project sponsors in North Carolina:
- Cape Fear United Way - Director, Glenda Holt
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers - Executive Director, Trena Palmer
- Cumberland County Senior Aides Program – Project Director, Patrick Hurley; Project Coordinator, Gwen Hampton
- North Carolina Central University – Director, Arlene Ridgell
- Senior Resources of Guilford – Director, Carol Wiley
- The State of Franklin Health Council – Director, Bettie Seay
- Winston-Salem Urban League – Director, Jimmie Sudler
Thanks to this collaborative effort, SCSEP participants came away from Wrightsville Beach with a better understanding of SCSEP and what it takes for them to achieve success in the program.