We may not have anyone in the category of 100-year-old Harold H. Fisher, who last year still worked full-time, but Kaua’i has had its share of success in an annual event honoring the state’s most outstanding older worker. Last year’s
We may not have anyone in the category of 100-year-old Harold H. Fisher, who last year still worked full-time, but Kaua’i has had its share of success in an annual event honoring the state’s most outstanding older worker.
Last year’s winner was Dr. Sharon Bintliff, 66, who not only works full-time as emergency room medical director at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, but commutes from Kamuela on the Big Island to do it.
Another previous Kaua’i winner was Jeanne Stanwood, then 82 and a social worker from Kapa’a who recently was still recruiting other active elderly (most much younger than herself) for a foster grandparents program.
Fisher, of Michigan, still works full-time at his firm, where he designs religious architecture, his specialty for more than 50 years.
The search is on for Hawai’i’s most outstanding older worker for 2002, and as has been the practice for the past four years, the state winner will join other state winners, America’s oldest worker, and outstanding employers of older workers in Washington, D.C.
Locally, the contest is coordinated by Marilyn Seely, executive director of the state office on aging, but nomination forms are available online as well, at www.experienceworks.org.
Those wishing paper nomination forms by mail can write to Seely at Prime Time Awards, 250 S. King St., #406, Honolulu, HI 96813, or call her toll-free at 274-3141, then 6-0100# after the recorded message.
Workers may enter themselves, or be nominated by employers, family members or friends. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 31.
Experience Works, the nation’s largest provider of mature-worker training and employment, launched the Prime Time Awards Program in 1998 to highlight the valuable contributions older workers make in their communities and places of employment.
The program this year includes a week-long series of events in Washington, D.C., capped by a gala awards banquet and ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 21, at historic Union Station.
Winners and an accompanying person will be guests of Experience Works during their trip to the nation’s capital.
Applicants must be 65 years of age or older, currently employed, and working a minimum of 20 hours a week in paid employment. The winner must be willing and able to travel to Washington, D.C. in September for the awards festivities.
Participants in government-subsidized employment programs are not eligible.
A nomination form must include a brief narrative that describes the nominee’s overall contributions to the business, including longevity, experience, skill level, work ethic, any disabilities the nominee has overcome to perform his or her job, and a description of his or her community involvement.
Experience Works is a national, nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers. Established in 1965 as Green Thumb and renamed Experience Works this year, the organization reaches more than 125,000 mature individuals in 50 states and Puerto Rico each year.
In addition to operating the Senior Community Service Employment Program (under Title V of the Older Americans Act), Experience Works provides staffing services, training programs and Geezer.com, an e-commerce Web site featuring senior-made, handcrafted products.
Experience Works also leads the Prime Time Awards Program, the only year-long, nationwide effort to recognize and honor the contributions of mature workers. More information is on the Web site, www.experienceworks.org.
