Valley seniors planning convention

By CASEY RESSLER-Valley Life editor

The first Valley convention for seniors is in the works, and organizers are busy lining up presenters for the event.

The one-day convention is designed to give seniors a one-stop shop of information, on a wide variety of subjects.

Organizations ranging from medical providers to housing authorities are scheduled to attend the convention and have information prepared for Valley seniors. Organizers are still finalizing the list of agencies, but as of last week, at least 17 agencies had committed to coming.

The event will be the first one held in the Valley, and it eliminates the need for Valley seniors to have to travel.

"Anchorage has had conventions like this for years, but we've never done it out here before," said Don Anderson, a member on the Mat-Su Borough Senior Advisory Committee, which is planning the event. "We have quite a few seniors out here, from Trapper Creek to Sutton."

The event is being held at the Wasilla Senior Center, and one thing Anderson stressed is that it is open to everyone -- no matter where you live or what group you are affiliated with.

"It's for seniors, their families and caregivers," he said. "It's for all seniors, not just those who belong to one of the senior centers. Any senior can come."

The Mat-Su Borough Senior Advisory Committee has been busy planning the convention for well over a year, but now, it's all coming together.

"We had some people leave the board and new people come, and through all that time we've talked about doing it but never could get it going," Anderson explained. "Now, everybody's doing it together."

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with a lunch break scheduled until 1 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., presenters will be on hand again.

There is no cost for the convention, but lunch will be available for purchase at the center, Anderson said.

For more information about the convention, interested people can call Anderson at 892-7219, or Mat-Su Senior Advisory Committee members Freda Hatton at 745-2879 or Dee Pralle at 495-6633.