Aging Matters is governed by an eighteen-member Board of Directors. One delegate from each of the counties served by Aging Matters is elected by adults, 60 years and older. These members are elected to a three-year term with 1/3 elected each year. There are no term limits for serving. The Board is responsible for policy making in accordance with State and Federal regulations. They meet monthly, except during the summer months.

The Board meeting October 2017 Agenda is accessible for viewing when it becomes available.

Current Board Members:

Roger Huff – Bollinger County

Roger graduated from Arcadia Valley High School in 1965 in Ironton, Missouri. His started his career working at Hydroline in Rockford, Illinois, in quality control for six years. Moving back to Ironton, he worked in various positions for six years at Town & Country. Roger worked as the maintenance supervisor at the hospital in Pilot Knob for one year. He then moved to the St. Louis area when he went to work for Acme Battery for 15 year as a machine operator. He worked for Meridian Medical Technologies, also in St. Louis, for eight years in quality control and the chemical department, leading him to retirement. He and his wife moved to Marble Hill in 2010 and he has ever since been active at the Nutrition Center and New Salem Baptist Church. In 2013 Roger became a member of the board at Aging Matters.

Karen Crook - Butler County

Karen Crook resides in Poplar Bluff with her husband, Fred Crook. They have three children and three grandsons. She attends Temple Baptist Church. Karen received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. For the past ten years, Karen has served as the executive director of the Butler County Community Resource Council; previously, she served as the administrative assistant for eight years.
Karen serves as vice-president of the Board of Trustees for the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library; she is a voting member on the Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation; chairperson for the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Alliance; member of the Butler County Coalition for SEMO Rescue and Restore; member of the Community Advisory Council for FCC Behavioral Health; and member of the Youth Committee of the South Central Workforce Investment Board. She became a board member of the Aging Matters Board of Directors in the Fall of 2016.

Vickie Sue Watling – Cape Girardeau County

Born and raised in Cape Girardeau County, Vickie graduated from Cape Central in 1960. In 1965 she and her husband moved to California and settled in the Los Angeles area. She worked for Montgomery Ward in the credit department and records of return for five years. For the next ten years Vickie worked for U-Haul as an area sales manager. She later worked for a property management company for approximately 2-3 years, doing background checks for rental property. She also worked for about one year for Henkels & McCoy, Inc., a fiber optics company. Vickie spent her last 14 years working for Reliable Truss & Lumber in Fontana, CA, retiring in 2007. In 2009 Vickie and her husband William Watling chose to move back to Missouri and now live in Jackson. Vickie serves on the Site Council at the Jackson Senior Center; is president of the Ostomy Group at Southeast Health; a member of Heritage Association in Jackson and Cape Girardeau; she serves as a hospitality hostess for Christian Women’s Group in Cape; Docent at Glenn House for a year and currently at the Oliver House in Jackson. Vickie is a member of the Silver Haired Legislature and is presently serving on the Aging Matters board since September 2013.

Betty Laseter Newton – Carter County

Betty attended Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, receiving a 2-year degree. She worked in various positions in her husband’s practice, primarily in medical terminology. Betty is an active volunteer at the Van Buren Nutrition Center and serves as director of the community garden in Van Buren. She has served on the Carter County Extension Council for over nine years; is a member of Silver Haired Legislature; and volunteers with the American Red Cross disaster team in Van Buren. Betty has been on the Aging Matters board representing Carter County since 2007.

William Dale Beaty– Dunklin County

 William Dale Beaty attended two years at the Arkansas State       University. He served two years in the United States Army  (October 1966 to October 1968) with a short tour of duty in Vietnam. Dale worked 36 years for Aramark Uniform Services, retiring as district manager. His current and past civic activities include: member and past master of the Poplar Bluff Lodge; member of the Moolah Shrine Temple of St. Louis, Missouri and past president of the Three Rivers Shrine Club of Poplar Bluff. He is currently the board chairman of the Public Water District #3 in Dunklin County. In 2015, Dale was elected to the Board of Directors of Aging Matters representing Dunklin County and also serves as a Silver Haired Legislator.

Diane Riehl – Iron County

Diane Riehl received a B.S. in Education from Southeast Missouri University in 1974. She spent her entire working career as an eligibility specialist for Family Services in Iron County from 1975 to 2007. Since retirement Diane does substitute teaching at Arcadia Valley and Bellevue in Iron County. She is an administrative board member at Ironton United Methodist Church and has been on the Aging Matters board representing Iron County, since 2008.

Cora Lee Stephens – Madison County

Cora Lee graduated from Marquand High School in 1958. While working at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis as an admitting clerk, she attended Harris Teachers College for one year. In 1960 Cora Lee went to work for the Civil Service serving in various positions over a 27 year career. She was the Special Examiner for numerous Civil Service Commission Area Offices at Air Forces bases including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Chicago and San Antonio. In 1975 Cora Lee joined the Air Force Reserve, serving concurrent with the Civil Service, and later went to active duty in the Air Force. Her military career included serving as the Military Admin Specialist, Career Counselor, and Civil Engineering Specialist - prime beef/rapid runway repair. She managed staffing and training offices in military installations and was instrumental in establishing the Civil Service Special Examining Unit for the Air Reserve Technician Program. She is an active member and volunteer with the American Legion Post #416; she’s a volunteer Ombudsman for SEMO AAA. She also provides transportation for family and friends needing help getting to St. Louis for medical appointments and treatments. Cora Lee has been on the board of Aging Matters since 2010.

 Rosemary Prude – Mississippi County

      Becky Branum – New Madrid County

   Ron Birmingham - Pemiscot County







        

   Jacob Yount – Perry County

Mike Harper – Reynolds County

Mike graduated from Southern Reynolds R-2 High School and attended Mineral Area College. He is the County Clerk for Reynolds County, serving in this position for the past 22 years. Mike served as chairman of Region VIII Council on Developmental Disabilities for 15 years; past member of the Education Enrichment Board, Friends of Reynolds County; and the Reynolds County Food Pantry Board. He does volunteer (MO PTC) tax preparation for seniors and the disabled and is active in his church. Mike has been on the Aging Matters board since 2009.

Cindy Jenks – Ripley County

Cindy Jenks grew up and graduated high school in Bedford, Virginia. She attended Phillips Business College in Lynchburg, Virginia, got married and moved with her husband to Missouri. His career took them to various locations within Missouri and Florida. Since 1989 they have lived in Ripley County. In the 1990's Cindy trained as a manual weather observer and obtained a government sub-contract for the manual weather observation station in Harrison, Arkansas.
Cindy is a past president of the board of the Independent Living Center in Poplar Bluff and currently on the executive board of the Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program. She volunteers for AARP and is on their speakers bureau. Cindy also volunteers for South Central Missouri Community Action Agency and volunteers for health and school fairs. Cindy considers it imperative that the government keep and add to the programs that are beneficial to seniors. Agencies as these serve as a voice for the people and bring awareness to the problems where assistance is needed. Cindy has served on the Board for Aging Matters since the fall of 2014.

Sandy Lerczak – St. Francis County

Sandy’s working career has been in the health care field, currently, serving as the marketing manager for VNA Tip Health Care. She worked at Cedar Hill Manor long-term care facility as the assistant administrator for three years and has worked with various office managers on Medicare and Medicaid billing. Sandy has volunteer activities include working at health fairs, Meals on Wheels, flu clinics and fundraisers for low-income families. She has served on the Aging Matters board since 2008.

Karen Zerwig – Ste. Genevieve County

Karen graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in December 1976 with a BSBA in Accounting and Associate of Applied Science in Computer Science. She later graduated from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville in 1988 with an MBA in finance and management. Karen experienced an extensive career with Unisys Corporation in various positions as district financial manager, director of resource management, financial analysis and skills analysis.
Following her 29 years with Unisys, Karen opted for a career change and became a senior services consultant. Karen enjoys helping seniors understand their Medicare options, plans, etc. She assists them with Medicare plan comparisons and also helps them work through any issues with Medicare/Medicaid.
Karen is a member of the Ste. Genevieve Elks and the Bloomsdale American Legion Booster. She also provides Medicare Educational Workshops for organizations and facilities. Additionally, she serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Holcim, one of the largest cement plants in North America. Karen has served as a board member of Aging Matters since the fall of 2014.

Helen Sander – Scott County

Helen has been with VNA (Visiting Nurse Association) since 1981, currently serving as the Hospice Coordinator. She graduated from Mercy Junior College in St. Louis in 1968, beginning her career in nursing at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau for one year. Helen moved to Rolla, MO to work at Phelps County Memorial Hospital for one year. She than spent the next five years at St. John’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Her nursing career also included two periods of employment at Missouri Delta Hospital in Sikeston. Helen has served on numerous boards, including Guardian Angel Parish Council of Catholic Women as President and Vice-President; the Foster Grandparent Program; the Aging Committee of the Community Caring Council; Alzheimer’s Association; the Heart Association; the American Cancer Society; and the Multi-County Women’s Conference. She was also active with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Helen has been on the Aging Matters board since 2006.

Mary Ann Taylor – Stoddard County

After graduation from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Physical Education, Mary Ann taught high school physical education for four years, one year in Bloomfield and three years in Dexter. She has served as a chairperson for the Park and Recreation Board in Dexter for 33 years; delivered Meals on Wheels for 28 years; and currently serving on the local Regional Healthcare Foundation Board. Mary Ann has served on the Aging Matters board since 2000.

Donald D. Schroeder – Wayne County

Born in Wisconsin, Donald served in the United States Navy completing two tours in Vietnam. For the next 37 years, he worked for General Motors in Jamesville, Wisconsin, retiring in 2003. Donald moved to Missouri in 2005. As an active member of the Lions Club, he worked with the literacy council in Wisconsin for 6 years, and served with the Williamsville educational group. He has been a member of WAPC – Williamsville Area Progress Community since 2011. Donald has served on the Aging Matters board since 2008.

Ann Barnes - Ex-Officio