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Great Ideas to Recognize Your Long-Time Members

By Maureen Arsenault, NISC Coordinator

In November on NCOA Crossroads, Tori Eaton, co-director of the Springville Senior Center, UT, asked: “Does your organization offer awards for long-time members?”

She wanted to honor a woman on her 95th birthday who had been a member for the past 45 years, the same year their organization was founded.  

Tori received many helpful suggestions from her senior center peers around the country. 

Hall of Fame

Jay Morgan, from the City of St. Petersburg Sunshine Senior Center, FL, told about their annual ceremony called the “Senior Hall of Fame.” It includes a formal recognition ceremony event, presentation of the Key to the City by the mayor and city council representatives, photos for the archive and posting on the “Senior Hall of Fame” wall, and an additional recognition at a public City Council meeting.

Carmen Rideout of the Sheridan Senior Center in Wyoming, held a similar event called “The Keystone Awards.” It was modeled after the Kennedy Center Honors and raised $33,000 for their organization.

Janis Marshall-Colby from the Town of York Maine Senior Center said they provide a dinner in honor of their age 90+ members with a cake titled “Our Honorary Member.” They usually present them with an award for their continuous membership and a free “Lifetime Honorary Membership.”

Sue Getman from the Wilmington Senior Center in Delaware told about their Lifetime Achievement Award. They annually honor a person 65 or older who went above and beyond. The reception during which the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented is also a fundraiser. You can find a 16-page compilation of this event in the Crossroads Senior Center Group Library. It includes two awards descriptions with eligibility criteria, event planning tips, and sample documents.

• Download the materials on Crossroads.

Peter Thompson of Senior Center Inc., in Charlottesville, VA, suggested using a name that is unique to your center, as opposed to something generic. They named their legacy society after Jean Robey, a woman who left her entire $400,000 estate to them in 1990, providing about 25% of the funds needed to build their facility in 1991. 

Other suggestions included Pioneer Award, the “Originals,” and “Charter Member.” 

Golden Eagles 

We followed up with Tori to see what award name the Springville Senior Center had chosen. They were inspired by a quote.

“We decided on the name The Golden Eagle Award,” she said. “We incorporated the quote, ‘The eagle dares to soar alone, reaching heights only imagined by others.’ During our annual craft fair, the mayor presented the award at our monthly birthday party. It was a surprise for the recipient—she thought she was just there for her birthday.”

• Read more in a newspaper article about the event. 

No matter what you call it, it’s important to celebrate those individuals who have inspired, volunteered, and contributed to the rich fabric of your senior center and, just as important, share their stories with your community.

want to live in a country where

older adults don't have to worry about their senior center being closed.