Carol Mower never met a volunteer opportunity she didn’t like. And she has met plenty of them.

“I always volunteered even when I was working. But the reason I wanted to retire is because I wanted to become a professional volunteer,” said Mower, 72. “I have strong feelings about volunteering. I think it is payback time. I’ve had a good life and I feel this is something I can give back to the community.”

Mower, who has a bachelor’s degree in speech and a master’s degree in speech education, has put her knowledge to good use in both her career and volunteer efforts.

After teaching speech at the University of Maine for more than 24 years, both full and part time, she began a career in radio sales at WABI. Twelve years later, Mower retired to devote her life to community service.

Her experience in public speaking fit the bill perfectly when she began volunteering for Eastern Agency on Aging’s Maine Medicare Education Partnership program.

“I call myself a Medicare advocate,” said Mower. “I speak to seniors’ groups on how to prevent Medicare fraud and have just completed a training with AARP and will speak to other groups about other types of fraud.”

Mower is also on AARP’s state communication committee and active in the local chapter. She is a board member of Triad, an organization which helps prevent and fight crimes targeted toward seniors.

“The elderly need help to be informed and I think if the information comes from one of their peers, it is more readily accepted,” she said.

Fiercely patriotic, Mower also works at the polls during elections and thinks everyone should get out and vote. She will soon be passing out candy in red, white and blue wrappers to friends as a reminder to make their opinion count in November.

“To add variety – so everything isn’t done with the elderly, I read to preschool children at a local day care in the RSVP Born to Read program,” said Mower. “I get a lot of satisfaction from reading to the children. It is so gratifying to see those little faces. And when you walk in they get so excited and start yelling ‘Mrs. Mower is here,’ and it is just wonderful.”

As an usher at the Maine Center for the Arts, her favorite shows to work are children’s programs.

“They’re just so much fun,” she said.

When not volunteering, Mower has what some might call challenging interests. She sets unique goals for herself.

“I think you need to set goals,” she said. “I have been to my last state – Iowa. Now I have been to all 50. But when I was nearing the end of them, I started on Maine lighthouses. Did you know there are 68 lighthouses in Maine? My goal is to see them all. I am up to 50 now. Some can only be seen by boat.”

Mower is also a movie buff, seeing every one that is nominated for an Academy Award, even traveling to other areas if necessary if a particular film doesn’t come to Bangor. She is an avid television watcher, as well.

“Oh, I watch a lot of TV, and I really enjoy the commercials, having worked in the industry,” she said. “I am really impressed by the good ones.”

But all these things aside, helping others is clearly Mower’s passion.

“Volunteering fulfills you,” she said.

“Carol’s a go-getter and always willing to try something new,” said Stacie Sparkman, volunteer coordinator at EAA under which MMEP falls. “I think she’s great. Everyone needs someone like Carol Mower in their life.”

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, log on www.eaaa.org or e-mail info@eaaa.org.