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ICAA initiativePromote Active AgingWeek throughpublic officialsParticipating in an ActiveAging Week event is valuablefor public officials and anexcellent way to recognizeyour organizationAs you prepare your list of Active AgingWeek events, consider kicking offthe action by reaching out to electedofficials. Community outreach is likelyalready one of your organization’s goals.By extending that reach to electedofficials, you can bring a local celebrityto your event, recognize your clientsand organization, and garner additionalpublicity.For an elected official, meeting yourparticipants is a wise idea. After all,older adults vote. According to the USCensus Bureau, people ages 45 yearsand more had the highest turnout ofany age group in the 2008 presidentialelections.1 In the 2006 congressionalelections, 63% of people ages 65-plussaid they voted.2 And, in Canada, people65 years and older are more likely tovote than younger age groups in all levelsof government: federal, provincial andmunicipal.3In Cincinnati, MayorMark Mallory (right)issued an Active AgingWeek 2009 proclamationand delivered it personallyto the head of the residentcouncil at Evergreen/Wellspring RetirementCommunity74When a public official recognizes ActiveAging Week, it’s a good way to createawareness about the events you arehosting. In addition, it is rewarding tohang a letter or proclamation on the wall,to read the text during your events, andto commend your participants.Which officials may recognize the week?Hosts of previous Active Aging weekevents cite officials at the local and stateThe Journal on Active Aging May/June 2010icaa may-jun-2010.indd 7410-06-17 10:02 AM

MayorCouncilpersonCounty supervisorCongresspersonMember of parliamentState senator or assemblypersonThe organizers at each host site decide what they wish to do. At somelocations, it may be a single activity,such as a health fair or a walk. Otherhosts plan an activity every day, oron several days during the week. Thenumber and type of activities is up toeach host. For more information aboutActive Aging Week, visit www.icaa.cc/aaw.htm.Letter of commendation. This type ofletter recognizes good deeds. It mightbe appropriate for older adults whosignificantly contributed to the week—for example, as a volunteer. Pleasenote that the accomplishment must besignificant to merit a commendationletter.RNIOATNALCOUNCIL ON ACTIVEAGWho to contactContact officials in your local area whohave jurisdiction over the area whereyou will be holding Active Aging Weekevents. These officials are most likelyto be interested in the activities of theirconstituents. For example:Letter of greeting. This letter mightwelcome people to Active Aging Weekevents, congratulate the host sites forproviding quality-of-life events forolder adults or express support for thephilosophy and events of the week. representative of all the dimensionsof wellness, with a focus on physicalactivity delivered in a fun, no-pressureatmosphere educational free to participants, so cost is not abarrierINThe following information is a generalguide to the types of recognition publicofficials could provide, and how you canapproach them.What you can requestThe following items may differ depending on which official you contact (forexample, a local mayor versus a statesenator or member of parliament):The International Council on ActiveAging’s annual health promotionevent is held in the last full week ofSeptember. Active Aging Week eventsare:GIn Powhatan, Pennsylvania, the board ofsupervisors passed a resolution to nameActive Aging Week, a “national annualhealth promotion event for older adults.”And, in 2009 a candidate running ina state election joined residents at theBellingham Retirement Community inWest Chester, Pennsylvania, to present aproclamation, reported Lindsey Cherner,Corporate Marketing Coordinator atSenior Lifestyle Corporation. Chernernoted that “many of the communitymarketing coordinators requestedproclamations from local officials andmost received them.” They approachedpublic officials in the beginning ofAugust and followed up regularly.Once you are at the proper office, thestaff person can provide you with specificguidelines of what to include in yourrequest, the turnaround time and thepresentation options.Active Aging WeekSeptember 20–26, 2010Theme: Be active your wayEIn Baltimore, Maryland, MayorSheila Dixon and the Baltimore CityCommission on Aging and RetirementEducation (CARE) urged everyone in thecity to participate in Active Aging Week.In the press release issued by CARE,Mayor Dixon said, “We as a City wantto take time during Active Aging Weekto motivate our older adults to becomemore active in their everyday lives, andlive up to the motto that, ‘An activesenior is a healthy senior.’” A press releaseissued by a government agency canextend the reach and authority of yourpublicity.Telephone or email the official’s officeand ask about the steps for requestinga proclamation or letter. You mayimmediately be speaking with the properperson or be referred to an office ofprotocols or public affairs.I NTlevel. For example, during Active AgingWeek 2008, the mayor helped residentskick off the week during opening dayat Spring Harbor at Green Island, acontinuing care retirement community inColumbus, Georgia, and at Bethel Park,a Holiday Retirement community inBethel Park, Pennsylvania.2010Proclamation. In this document, anofficial proclaims the entire week or a dayas Active Aging Week (Day) to honorthe purpose of the event. A proclamationis the document that has “Whereas ”throughout.How these documents are presented mayvary. For example, a letter may arrive inthe mail or be picked up. A proclamation may be presented by the mayor oranother official to a representative group.This presentation may take place inthe council chambers during a regularmeeting, or on-site by an official whois willing to travel to the Active AgingWeek event.Submitting your requestThe type of document requested requiresdifferent background. Be thoughtfuland complete in your statements. Theofficial’s staff will use this informationto determine if they will issue a letter orproclamation. Make sure you show howActive Aging Week or the individualsreceiving a letter have a direct impact onthe city or area the official oversees.Generally three to six weeks notice isrequired by a public official. Becausethey are likely to receive many requests,officials with a large population ofconstituents may need more notice.Requests for proclamations are also likelyto take a longer period of time as theywill receive more scrutiny.A public official will provide only somany documents to any organization ina given year. Check the guidelines to beaware of limitations.Continued on page 76The Journal on Active Aging May/June 2010icaa may-jun-2010.indd 757510-06-17 10:02 AM

PromoteActive Aging Week through public officialsContinued from page 75Example of a letter ofgreetingWhat’s needed: Name of event being recognized Why the event is significant to thecommunity Event date(s) Due date Contact information, includingmailing address, telephone and email Two paragraphs that state what theparticipants are doing that isvaluableFor example:Active Aging Week is an annual healthpromotion event for older adults in thelast week of September. Older adults,their families and friends have theopportunity to experience a variety offree activities, such as classes, educationalseminars, health fairs and communitywalks, in a safe, friendly and funatmosphere.Older adults who participate are learninghow to stay mentally and physicallyhealthy. They are finding out how theycan stay productive and engaged in lifethrough all their years, which enablesthem to be leaders in their communitiesand in their families. By participatingin Active Aging Week, older adultsare taking the steps to stay healthy, beindependent and able to live in theirhomes. Contact information, includingmailing address, telephone and email Two paragraphs on the individual’saccomplishment, which details thedeeds and contribution to the WeekFor example:During Active Aging Week, [volunteer]provided exceptional services to improvethe quality of life for older adults.Active Aging Week is an annual healthpromotion event for older adults in thelast week of September. Older adults,their families and friends have theopportunity to experience a variety offree activities, such as classes, educationalseminars, health fairs and communitywalks, in a safe, friendly and funatmosphere.[Volunteer] was the leader of theplanning committee that worked forsix months preparing events that wouldencourage physical and arts activity.At 84 years, she showed enthusiasmand purpose by contributing over 96volunteer hours. During the week,she led group stretching, taught twoclasses on watercolor painting (one forgrandkids and grandparents), and joinedthe group that walked along the river fortwo miles. [Volunteer] was resourceful,capable, cheerful and a role model for allof us.Example of a proclamationWhat’s needed:What’s needed:Name of eventEvent date(s)Due dateContact information, includingmailing address, telephone and email Five to eight short paragraphs on whyActive Aging Week is significant andshould be proclaimed as a special event Name of person being recognized Event date(s) Due dateWrite a letter of request for a proclamation to accompany your draft of theproclamation. An example of a draftI [public official] congratulate all of youfor attending this week’s events, and forbeing leaders in our community.Example of a letter ofcommendation76 proclamation appears on page 78. In yourrequest letter, make the case by outlining: How Active Aging Week (nowin its eighth year) is the annualhealth promotion spearheadedby the International Council onActive Aging that contributes tothe community by introducingolder adults (and their families)to the options for increasing theirindependence and quality of life. Facts, such as the number of olderadults in the service area, andprojections of that number increasing.The area agency on aging or libraryreference desk will know how to findthe number of older adults in thearea, as well as projections for futuregrowth. Some cities or counties postthis information on their websites. How the week’s activities supportthe (city, district, province, county)mission to keep older citizens healthyand independent. Encouraging olderadults to be healthy, independent andlive at home (thus reducing healthcarecosts and usage) is a goal of federal,state and provincial governments, localhealth departments and area agencieson aging. Some states are emphasizingpreventive care. Visit the website ofthe local government’s senior servicesor area agency on aging to find itsstatement of purpose. The positive effects of being active,such as reducing the risk of obesity,high blood pressure, diabetes,osteoporosis, stroke, depression,Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, andpremature death. The evidence onhow physical, social and intellectualactivity prevents and controls chronicdisease is found on the websites for: Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (www.cdc.gov/aging/) Federal Interagency Forum onAging-Related Statistics (www.Continued on page 78The Journal on Active Aging May/June 2010icaa may-jun-2010.indd 7610-06-17 10:02 AM