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Senior Services Council sets May release, September decision for Senior of the Year nominations
Summary
The council agreed to publish a revised nomination form in May, open nominations through the summer, and decide winners at its September meeting with a celebration timed to the October senior expo.
The Senior Services Council agreed Tuesday to revise and re-issue its nomination form for the Senior Man and Woman of the Year, open nominations in May, collect them through the summer and make selections at the council's September meeting, with winners celebrated during the senior expo in October.
Council members said they want clearer nomination responses that describe a nominee’s contributions to the senior community and volunteer activities rather than brief, personality-based endorsements. Laura (staff member) told the council she will distribute the existing nomination form and a proposed timeline to members and, with another council member, will simplify the form before it is released after the May meeting.
The council discussed practical steps to improve nomination quality. Members asked staff to ensure nominators provide an email and phone number so staff can follow up when submissions lack required detail. The council agreed that a written nomination form is required as the official record; optional supplemental material such as short videos could be accepted only if a written form is also submitted and the file format and delivery method are specified in the form.
Members debated timing. Several council members said June would be tight because of summer schedules; others favored opening nominations early (May) and keeping decisions for September to avoid the summer slowdown. The timeline the council approved in principle: release the revised form after the May meeting, accept nominations over the summer, finalize selections at the September meeting and hold a public celebration in October at the senior expo.
Council members also instructed staff on process safeguards: they will not deliberate by email (members were reminded that “reply all” exchanges on nominations could be construed as deliberation), staff will print online submissions to match hard-copy forms if an online survey is used, and staff will highlight the community-contribution question on the form to prompt fuller answers.
The council did not vote on changing selection criteria at the meeting; instead members asked staff to circulate a concise revised form and timeline for review and to bring the final version back after May for confirmation.
Votes at a glance: The council voted to accept the meeting agenda at the start of the session and later voted to adjourn at 4:07 p.m. (see Actions below for roll-call details).
