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 January 2019 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 five grandchildren. She attends Temple Baptist Church. Karen received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Karen has retired as the executive director of the Butler County Community Resource Council, having served in this position for 10 years; previously, she served as the administrative assistant for eight years.
Karen currently serves as secretary of the Board of Trustees for the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library; volunteer member of Poplar Bluff's Retired Senior Volunteer Program; member of the Vietnam Veterans Association; Adult Sunday School Teacher and Church Clerk for Temple Baptist Church; and member of the Slow-Movement Support Group in Poplar Bluff. She became a board member of the Aging Matters Board of Directors in the Fall of 2016.

  Desma Reno– Cape Girardeau County

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.

   Sharon Montgomery – Dunklin County

  Sherri Snider– Iron County

 Chris Reagan – Madison County

 Rosemary Prude – Mississippi County

      Becky Branum – New Madrid County

        Becky Branum grew up on a farm in Dunklin County and                     graduated from Holcomb High School. She attended Southeast           Missouri State in Cape Girardeau. After getting married she                 moved to New Madrid County in 1972 where she worked on the         family farm and did some substitute teaching. Their family farm         was voted New Madrid County Farm Family of the year in 1992.

Becky was past president of New Madrid County Agri-Women; past member of Beta Sigma Phi, serving as corresponding secretary; served two years on State Promotion and Education committee for Missouri Farm Bureau; and is currently serving as a trustee and assistant Sunday School teacher at her church. Becky also serves as treasurer of the New Madrid County Farm Bureau, serves on the SEMO Electric High School Scholarship Board and on Congressman Jason Smith's Military Academy Advisory Board. Becky became a member of the Board of Directors of Aging Matters in the Fall of 2017.

Ron Birmingham - Pemiscot County







        

   Jacob Yount – Perry County

    Jacob lived in Bollinger County before moving to Perry County       in 2016. He graduated from Mineral Area College with an AAS       in Business Management-Accounting. Jacob has worked as an       agent at Lakenan Insurance in Perryville since 2012 with a             primary focus on insurance for businesses and municipalities.         He became a member of the Board for Aging Matters in the Fall of 2017.    

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.

Stephanie Schenck – Ste. Genevieve County

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.

 Sandy Joy – Wayne County

 Gina Matysik - Ex-Officio