EAA sponsors George Hale awards

Even though I have worked at Eastern Agency on Aging for more than six years, I am still amazed by some of the seniors I meet. They are truly inspirational. So, in honor of Older Americans Month in May, EAA is holding the first ever George Hale Silver Frame Awards: the Picture of Active Aging in Eastern Maine.

George Hale typically needs no introduction, but for those of you who may be new to the area, he is a broadcasting icon. Currently George co-hosts the WVOM-FM 103.9 show “Maine in the Morning” with Ric Tyler and does a sports commentary on WABI TV5 on Fridays.

“We are very excited about these awards because there are so many seniors doing great things in eastern Maine who deserve to be recognized,” said Noelle Merrill, executive director of Eastern Agency on Aging. “And George is the perfect person for whom to name the award, as he is inspirational and the epitome of active aging.

EAA is in search of nominees in two age groups – 60 to 75, and 76 and older – who have shown themselves to be exceptional role models in any one of the following categories, added Merrill:

. Artistic-Creative.

. Fitness or Outdoor Enthusiast-Adventurer.

. Life-Long Learner-Entrepreneurial.

“The Active-Creative category includes painters, quilters, gardeners and others who are living vital lives and sharing their talents with the world, and we want to know about them,” said Merrill.

The second category is Fitness or Outdoor Enthusiast-Adventurer, which means living life to the fullest extent possible.

“The recent 19-kilometer Caribou Bog Ski Race in Bangor had 43 participants, and 22 of them were over 50 years of age, and two were over 70,” said Merrill. “Clearly our many senior athletes demonstrate that as people age, they don’t have to give up their physically active nature.”

The last category is Life-Long Learner-Entrepreneurial. Lifelong learning is an attitude of being open to new ideas and decisions, or an eagerness to learn new skills.

“Lifelong learning throws the axiom ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ out the window,” said Merrill. “It’s said that brain fitness can be developed by formal education, being actively mentally engaged in life, continuing to learn, and exercises designed to challenge cognitive skills. Given that Maine is the oldest state, it shouldn’t be hard to find those entrepreneurs or lifelong learners in our midst.”

I am sure by now that most of you are brimming with ideas of whom to nominate, so here are the nuts and bolts of the contest.

An essay of 350 to 500 words describing why the person is a good candidate for a George Hale Silver Frame Award is required. You may enclose a photo, but it is not necessary. Send the essay to Noelle Merrill, Eastern Agency on Aging, 450 Essex St., Bangor 04401.

“Please check with the nominee first because some people don’t want to receive public recognition,” said Merrill. “But we think that those who remain active and involved in the community are examples of greatness for the rest of us. We also would like to publish these essays to our Web site.”

The winners in each category will receive $100 cash and will be honored with a celebratory lunch in their communities during May. The winner will have his or her picture taken with George, which EAA will put in a silver frame. Essays will be judged by area notables and George Hale will present the award.

The deadline for nominations is April 30. Eastern Agency on Aging staff, board of directors and advisory council members are not eligible for the award.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For more information on EAA, call 941-2865, toll-free (800) 432-7812; e-mail info@eaaa.org, or visit www.eaaa.org. TTY 992-0135.