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2010 Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award

Nominations are now open for Minnesotans to identify senior citizens who provide outstanding volunteer service. A copy of the form and instruction sheets are available through your local county contact at the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs or from the MBA. 2010 Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award Form & Instructions. If County Fair Board staff need a temporary award certificate, staff can use the Senior Citizen Volunteer Certificate 2010.

The Minnesota Board on Aging, along with the Minnesota State Fair Board and the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs began honoring outstanding senior citizen volunteers in 1960's.  County Fair Board staff advertise to the public to nominate individuals who contribute significantly to their communities.

Outstanding seniors are judged on leadership, diversity of accomplishments, variety of volunteer services performed, quantity of accomplishments and quality of activities. Only volunteer services performed after the age of 65 are considered by the judges.

Two individuals are selected at the county level and recognition is given at their county fair. Each county Fair Board, then submits these two individuals and their volunteer history to the Minnesota Board on Aging. Judging of nominations is conducted by a panel of 9 representatives from the three sponsoring agencies. Four individuals are selected, 2 runners-up and 2 winners. All awards are signed by the Governor and presented on Senior Day at the State Fair, which is September 2, 2010.

2009 Outstanding Seniors Honored at the Great MN Get-together

The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) honored outstanding seniors at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair. The Outstanding Senior Citizen awards are a cooperative effort of the Minnesota Board on Aging, the State Fair and the Federation of County Fairs.

The 2009 recipients of the Outstanding Senior Awards are: Wayne Sandee, representing Blue Earth County; and Marge Pribyl, representing Le Sueur County. Presenting the awards will be Lt. Governor Carol Molnau and Kathleen Harrington, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging. Runners-up were Gerald Cotton, Lake County, and Charlotte Stoker, Clearwater County.

Special guests included Minnesota Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau; and Kathleen Harrington, chair, Minnesota Board on Aging. More than 300 people attended the ceremony.

The 2009 ceremony was held Thursday, September 3, at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell. Outstanding senior volunteers from counties all across Minnesota were on hand for the ceremony.

Outstanding seniors are judged on leadership, diversity of accomplishments, variety of volunteer services performed, quantity of accomplishments and quality of activities. Only volunteer services performed after the age of 65 are considered by the judges.

*Show left to right: Leah McLean, KSTP TV- 5; Outstanding Senior Man Wayne Sandee, of Mankato, Blue Earth County; Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau; Kathleen Harrington; and Bill Lunn, KSTP TV- 5.
 

*Show left to right: Bill Lunn, KSTP TV- 5; Arlene Washa, accepting on behalf of the Outstanding Senior Woman, Marge Pribyl, of Elysian in Le Sueur County; Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau; Kathleen Harrington, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging; and Leah McLean, KSTP TV- 5.

*Click on images to see larger view.

Wayne Sandee, Mankato, has been involved in a number of volunteer activities since turning 65 such as assist with the inventory at the Neighborhood Thrift Store; volunteer for Retired and Senior Volunteers (RSVP); create the PACT Ministries/Food 4 All; serve on the MVAC Advisory Board; deliver meals through Hot Meals on Wheels; coordinate food distribution for the Evangelical Food Bank; assist in the start-up of the Welcome Inn, a homeless shelter for women and children; and share weekly devotions at Primrose, an assisted living facility.

One of Wayne's recommendations wrote, "Upon his retirement in 1994...Wayne embarked on a series of groundwork projects that eventually led to agencies that meet and serve immediate needs of vulnerable populations in the Greater Mankato area."

Wayne is a retired social work faculty member at Minnesota State University - Mankato.

Marge Pribyl, Elysian, volunteers at the Waterville-Elysian Food Shelf where she orders food and pays bills; at the Elysian Library for story hour, fundraising, bookkeeping; an advisor for Horizon, a program to alleviate poverty in rural areas; order food and package for delivery for REACH (Resources with Extra Attention in a Child's Home); collecting items for Santa Anonymous; attending planning meetings and assisting at special events for the Lake Area Women of Elysian; education tutor for Buccaneer Buddy; and, responding to identified needs through the Anonymous Local Donors program.

A quote in one of Marge's recommendations reads, " Marge has been a community volunteer and trusted person in our community for such a long time that people actually send her checks in the mail to use as she sees fit. I have seen Marge use her "magic money" to do some of the nicest things...buy winter boots and snow pants...purchase lunch tickets for a student."

Marge is a retired kindergarten teacher.

About the Outstanding Senior Award

The Minnesota Board on Aging, along with the Minnesota State Fair Board and the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs began honoring outstanding senior citizen volunteers in 1965. County Fair Board staff advertise to the public to nominate individuals who contribute significantly to their communities.

Outstanding seniors are judged on leadership, diversity of accomplishments, variety of volunteer services performed, quantity of accomplishments and quality of activities. Only volunteer services performed after the age of 65 are considered by the judges.

Two individuals are selected at the county level and recognition is given at their county fair. Each county Fair Board, then submits these two individuals and their volunteer history to the Minnesota Board on Aging. Judging of nominations is conducted by a panel of 9 representatives from the three sponsoring agencies. Four individuals are selected, 2 runners-up and 2 winners. All awards are signed by the Governor and presented on Senior Day at the State Fair, the second Thursday of the Fair.

2008 Outstanding Seniors receive award at Minnesota State Fair

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and Mary Koep, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging, presented awards to outstanding senior citizens Aug. 28 at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair. Award recipients were Betty Wenner, St. Peter, representing Nicollet County, and Don Brand, New Ulm, representing Brown County. Runners up were Lorraine Linser, Grand Rapids, representing Itasca County, and Dale Mowbray, St. Peter, representing Nicollet County.

Other outstanding senior volunteers from counties across Minnesota were also on hand for the ceremony.

Outstanding seniors are judged on leadership, diversity of accomplishments, variety of volunteer services performed, quantity of accomplishments and quality of activities. Only volunteer services performed after the age of 65 are considered by the judges.

From left to right: Don Brand, Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, Betty Wenner and MN Board on Aging Chair Mary Koep

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Wenner received her award for helping in classrooms in the St. Peter schools, serving the Benedictine Living Community, assisting with the annual Nicollet Relay for Life cancer walk, volunteering at the St. Peter Senior Center, working with the American Legion and supporting youth educational and sporting activities. She also is a Sunshine visitor to shut-ins and organizes and leads day tours for senior citizens.

Brand is board chair of the New Ulm Area Food Shelf and has been active in it for 10 years. He also has been a volunteer with the Second Harvest Heartland Food Shelf, with the buckthorn removal project and the redesign of Loretto Park. He has been active in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity parish and with the New Ulm Area Catholic Schools. He is active in the American Legion, the Senior Center, Minnesota Valley Action Council and the Lutheran Social Services home-delivered meals program. He also volunteers with Pro Kinship for Kids, a program for children from disadvantaged families.

Mowbray transports senior citizens to medical appointments, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, is a health insurance counselor for the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging and is a board member and singer with the Riverbenders Barbershop Chorus. He volunteers with the St. Peter Senior Center, assists seniors with tracking finances and other personal business, is a driver for the Nicollet County Veterans Service and is a member of the Greater Mankato Optimists Club.

Linser has volunteered for many years at elementary schools in the Greenway School District and is a volunteer at the YMCA. She also volunteers serving the homeless at the Community Café and at the local nursing home. She has volunteered at the Kids Fair, at the Coleraine Senior Club, at the Bruce Bauer Senior Center and at her church.

The Minnesota Board on Aging, along with the Minnesota State Fair Board and the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs honored four outstanding seniors at the Great Minnesota Get-Together on Thursday, August 30, at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell.

The 2007 recipients of the Outstanding Senior Awards are: George Rossbach, of St. Paul, representing Ramsey County; and Everal O’Brien, of Hibbing, representing St. Louis County. Runners up were Phil Busch, Akeley, representing Hubbard County; and Dorothy Harsh, Lake Park, representing Becker County.

Presenting the awards were Governor Tim Pawlenty and Mary Koep, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging. Outstanding senior volunteers from counties all across Minnesota were on hand for the ceremony.

Pictured left to right, KSTP-TV personality Leah McClean, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Outstanding Senior George Rossback, MBA Chair Mary Koep, and MBA Executive Director Jean Wood.

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In addition to the Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards program, the Minnesota Board on Aging also has a booth at the State Fair. The MBA booth is open in the Ramberg Senior Building from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Minnesota Board on Aging, in cooperation with the Minnesota State Fair and the state’s Federation of County Fairs, honored 95 outstanding senior volunteers at the 2006 Outstanding Senior Awards ceremony held at the State Fair on Aug. 31, 2006.

Outstanding seniors were judged on leadership, diversity of accomplishments, variety of volunteer services performed, quality of accomplishments and qualify of activities. Only volunteer services performed after the age of 65 are considered by the judges.

Governor Tim Pawlenty joined Board on Aging Chair Jeanette Metz in presenting the 2006 Outstanding Senior Award to Marlene Rolloff, of Brown County, and Louis Henderson, of Freeborn county. The event was emceed by Kristin Stinar, of KSTP Television News.

Pictured left to right: Outstanding Senior Award winner Marlene Rolloff of Brown County, Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Jeanette Metz, MBA

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Pictured left to right: Outstanding Senior Award winner Louis Henderson of Freeborn County, Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Jeanette Metz, MBA    
                               
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