|
|
|
|
 |
 Left: Dr. Al Mott in 1980 at
Resorts International
in Atlantic City, NJ.
Let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Al Mott, Founder of Senior America Inc. In 1971,
"Senior America, Inc.," was created to promote the positive aspects of aging in
response to the then bleak media image of America's elderly. The first Ms. Senior America
Pageant, in which women over the age of sixty competed on the basis of their philosophies
of life, community service, poise and talent, was held in 1972 as a means of creating
public awareness of the continuing social contributions of "Senior Americans."
The Ms. Senior America contestants were then, and remain today, models of volunteerism,
serving in organizations ranging from traditional community service and church groups to
advocacy organizations such as municipal Senior Citizens Advisory Councils, the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Elder Advocates, and so forth.
|
| By way of example, Ms. Senior New Jersey 1993, Louise
Ferla, was honored by New Jersey Governor James Florio as one of New Jersey's seven
"Volunteers of the Year" for her outstanding work as a fundraiser for various
civic projects. All Pageant contestants (now from 47 states) additionally comprise the
Senior
|
America subsidiary, "Cameo Clubs."
Cameo Club members provide inspiration
and encouragement by appearing in nursing homes, hospitals and children's facilities on a
year-round basis, in addition to maintaining a schedule of lectures and media appearances
in which they can advance the dignity and value of Senior Americans. |
By 1981, the organization was formally established as a
nonprofit, IRS Section 501(c)(3) corporation. By 1983, ten years following the
original pageant, the National Pageant had representatives from coast to coast. By
shifting the spotlight away from the elderly as a burden and onto their role as one of
America's most vital natural resources, Senior America's initial goal was gradually met.
The "Ms. Senior America" Pageant now receives national press attention, and has
been featured in publications such as Life Magazine, Family Circle Magazine,
Good Housekeeping Magazine, Social
Security Magazine, Yankee
|
Magazine,
and in every major newspaper in the country. Pageant
contestants are now preferred "senior spokespersons" on numerous radio and
television shows. Geri Aksomitas, Ms. Senior America 1992, performed live on The
Nashville
Network (TNN) and Miriam Adams, Ms. Senior America 1995, races dogsleds
in Alaska's famous Iditerot. Other Cameo Club members have appeared on Prime of Your Life
with Arlene Francis, The Joe Franklin Show, PM Magazine, Evening Magazine, and To Tell the
Truth.
|
 In 1996, Senior America met another of its principal
goals by having the National Pageant broadcast on America One and the Nostalgia Network, a
basic-cable television network. This production showcased the energy and talent of
America's new senior citizens, bringing the organization's ongoing message of the dignity
and value of seniors to a national audience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior America,
Inc.
387 Herbertsville Road
Brick, NJ 08724 USA
Phone
(732) 746-2598
Fax (732) 601-9172
inquiry@senioramerica.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
