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Nelda Barnett
is KAG's new President. She is not a newbie to KAG but is returning
after a very impressive and renowned adventure in service to older
adults, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our country. Let me introduce
to some and present to others KAG's 2009-2010 President.
Nelda has had a distinguished career in aging services and advocacy.
She began her career working with the elderly in the early 1970's
while working for the United Way of Owensboro. She worked for nineteen
years for the Green River Area Agency on Aging and during these
years she led the expansion of many services to the elderly including
the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and implementing Project Independence,
a program that helps older adults remain at home. She served as
Vice-President of the Board of the National Association for Area
Agencies on Aging and was President of the Southeast Association
for Area Agencies on aging and the Kentucky Association for Gerontology.
She currently serves on the Leadership Council of the National Council
on Aging. She has served as the first state President of AARP Kentucky
and just completed a six year term on the national AARP Board of
Directors. Ms. Barnett is the only person from Kentucky to have
this honor. She has been a delegate for the White House Conference
on Aging on two occasions and has testified before congressional
committees and the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. She currently
chairs an Advisory Panel for AT & T of special populations and
is now the President of KAG. Let's now hear directly from the 2009-2010
President of KAG.
An
Interview with Nelda:
Interviewer: Hello Nelda. Welcome back to KAG. You are not
a stranger to this organization, are you?
Nelda: No. I am not. I have been affiliated
with KAG for several years and have also served as President from
1989-1992.
Interviewer: What are your goals for
KAG as you re-engage with the organization and as President?
Nelda: I want to work on increasing
KAG membership and increase diversity of membership; including varied
professional groups, academicians, advocates, older persons, and
more. I think we need more people who represent Senior Centers and
older adults themselves. I'd also like to reach out to all areas
of the state. We must engage professionals and older adults from
areas that are not represented as well as they should be within
the membership. KAG must have a presence in every community. I'd
also like KAG to take a leadership role in training professionals.
Interviewer: What is your vision for
KAG over the next three (3) to four (4) years?
Nelda: KAG's vision must be about adapting
itself to the changing demographics, politics, environment, community
and professional arena that we moving towards. We must be aware
and cognizant of the impact of these changes in order for the organization
to be a spokesperson for older adults, gerontologists and the field
of gerontology. It is fun to be back!
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
REGISTER TODAY!
Download
the conference brochure
with registration information.
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