White River Area Agency on Aging Seeking Senior Arkansans for Silver Haired Legislative Session

The Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, in partnership with the Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging, is seeking Arkansans who are at least 60 years old to volunteer to serve as delegates to the Seventeenth Biennial Silver Haired Legislative Session taking place on August 25 -26, 2010. Delegates will act as legislators in this non-partisan session by writing, debating, and voting on bills addressing issues critical to older Arkansans.

Organizers are seeking one delegate from each Arkansas County. Anyone who is interested in becoming a delegate should contact the Area Agency on Aging in their county or the Division of Aging and Adult Services. County candidates need to circulate qualifying petitions and submit them to their Area Agency on Aging by April 15, 2010. Elected delegates will receive training on topics such as the legislative process, how to write bills, and how a bill becomes a law.

The Silver Haired Legislative Session has been conducted biennially since its institution by a 1977 General Assembly resolution sponsored by Rep. B. G. Hendrix and the late Rep. W. F. “Bill” Foster. It is one of at least 28 such sessions held throughout the country to give senior citizens a chance to participate in the legislative process.

For more information please contact Peggy Pearce at 870-612-3000 or 1_800_382_3205. You may also access information on the DAAS website at www.daas.ar.gov