Christine Bryson-Lazo, president of the Verde Valley Seniors in Action Coalition (VVSAC) and chair of the Seniors in Action Business Alliance (SABA), is the recipient of the 2009 CSA Trailblazer Award by the Society of Certified Seniors Advisors (CSA), an international educational organization of professional experts that have earned the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation and bound by the Society's Code of Ethics. The CSA Trailblazer Award is given to the CSA who created a new program to help seniors and can show results of its impact. Learn more about the Society of Certified Senior Advisors at http://www.society-csa.com/
The two programs Christine is being recognized for is her work with the Verde Valley Seniors in Action Coalition (VVSAC), a senior advocacy 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to raising the quality of life of people over 60 through education and advocacy to our elected officials, service providers partners and agencies; and the Seniors in Action Business Alliance (SABA) formed to educate Verde Valley employers & business owners to virtues of mature workers, workplace productivity, business opportunities, the Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative, plus provide a variety of resources for mature workers. SABA's mission is to unite organizations, businesses and individuals of all ages through an ongoing dialogue in order to understand and support a senior-friendly business environment, promote the creation of businesses and services serving seniors' needs, and to be a catalyst for promoting the mature workforce in Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Mature workers searching for work or business opportunities are encouraged to attend the upcoming VVSAC and SABA meetings. Be sure to mark your calendars to hear the following important regional and state experts and to get involved with finding meaningful work, and even shaping economic development in the area of senior-related industries.
Scheduled speakers for the Seniors in Action Business Alliance meetings:
Tuesday, November 17 - Speaker: Mary Bauer, Career Development Specialist. AWEE (Arizona Women's Education & Employment, Inc.) and runs the Yavapai County office. AWEE is a not-for-profit organization that has been assisting the unemployed and underemployed in determining career direction, encouraging
training and education and becoming employed. Mary will speak about the program and the efforts to bring the program to the Verde Valley.
Tuesday, December 15 - Speakers:
Maria Ramirez-Trillo, AARP Worksearch program - Topic: Update on AARP's Worksearch program - how employers & job seekers can use this extensive AARP's national job database.
Tamara Gallinger, Family Partners, an Adult Foster Care agency - Topic: How to become an Adult Foster care home and family
All are welcome to attend - free of charge. SABA meets in the Tudor Room of the Sedona Community Center (Harmony & Melody Lane) from 8:00AM to 9:30AM on the dates listed above. Please RSVP to the chairperson, Christine Bryson-Lazo, at 282-1122 or saba.vvsac@gmail.com .
Scheduled speaker for the next Verde Valley Seniors in Action Coalition (VVSAC) meeting to be held at the Sedona campus of Yavapai College:
Wednesday, December 2 - 1:30 - 3:00pm
Dennis Garvey, director of the Center for Successful Aging at Yavapai College
Topic: Certificate Program in Gerontology - Dennis will speak about the benefits of obtaining a certificate in Gerontology especially to those service providers and their staff working with seniors. Yavapai College Clarkdale campus is planning on offering these classes in January 2010 however the college needs to see interest and support in the program.
