The race is on for the Best Older Worker of 2009.
Missouri’s annual Older Worker of the Year contest seeks to honor a Missouri resident who is 65 or older, employed at least 20 hours a week, and displays dependability and new skills on the job.
The winner and regional finalists will be recognized at a two-day awards ceremony in September in Jefferson City.
“Older workers go above and beyond the call of duty every day,” said Margaret Donnelly, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, a contest sponsor. “They’re an asset to any organization. I urge Missouri employees to think about their older co-workers and nominate one of them for this award.”
Last year’s Older Worker of the Year was Jean Hines. At 84, Hines works at Carden Machine Shop in Sullivan, finishing parts for aircraft including the F-18 Hornet and the Osprey helicopter deployed in Iraq. Some of the parts are worth $6,000 each. A few seconds of grinding in the wrong area can result in the part being scrapped, but Hines has never ruined one. In seven years, she has never been late or missed a day of work.
Nomination forms for 2009’s Older Worker of the Year are available on the Department of Health and Senior Services’ website,   http://www.dhss.mo.gov/2009OlderWorkerNomForm.pdf. Completed nomination forms must be postmarked, faxed or e-mailed by Aug. 1, 2009.
Mail entries can be sent to: Missouri Outstanding Older Worker Contest, Division of Senior and Disability Services, Bureau of Senior Programs, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO  65102-0570. They can be faxed to (573) 522-3024; or e-mailed to Evelyn.Patino@dhss.mo.gov.
Nomination forms must include a narrative explaining why the nominee deserves to be selected Older Worker of the Year.
Now in its 19th year, the annual Older Worker of the Year recognition is sponsored by the Missouri Senior Employment Coordinating Committee, consisting of the AARP Foundation, Experience Works, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries, Department of Economic Development/Division of Workforce Development, and the Department of Health and Senior Services/Division of Senior and Disability Services.
For more information, please call 573-526-8574.