Speakers and Performers for the 2010 Conference:

Full Descriptions and Registration Information is Available in the
Conference Brochure

Graham D. Rowles -

Opening Keynote Address on Tuesday, June 8th, 9:30am
Beatrice Ruth Burgess Memorial Lecture

Honoring Wisdom and Experience in Planning with Our Elders:
Insights for West Virginia from Kentucky's Elder Readiness Initiative

Graham D. Rowles is Professor of Gerontology with joint appointments in Nursing, Behavioral Science, Geography and Health Behavior.  He has a BA and MSc from Bristol University, England, and a Ph.D. from Clark University (Massachusetts). His research focuses on the lived experience of aging. A central theme of this work is exploration, employing qualitative methodologies, of the changing relationship between elders and their environments with advancing age and the implications of these relationships for health and wellbeing. He has conducted in-depth ethnographic research with elderly populations in urban (inner city), rural (Appalachian), and nursing facility environments. Current research includes leadership of the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI), a statewide project to explore the implications for communities of the aging of the Baby Boom cohort. His publications include Prisoners of Space? and five co-edited volumes, in addition to more than 60 book chapters and articles. He was founding Director of the Graduate Center for Gerontology, is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied

Joanne Dennison -

Lunch Presentation on Tuesday, June 8th, 12:30pm

"It's Just..."

Joanne Dennison has owned her own business for 19 years which originally focused on the planning of meetings and events. Returning to her roots as an educator, she now spends more of her time in the front of the meeting room. Joanne works in personal and professional development. She has been affectionately tagged ‘The Guidance Counselor for Grown-Ups' by the individuals she has motivated and lovingly pushed, as they went kicking and screaming toward their goals. In what seems to have become a fourth career, she has experienced life as the caregiver of each of her parents who had divorced and never remarried. In some of her presentations and writings she talks about dealing with the concept of ‘the last parent---twice’. Known for her straightforward, and sometimes humorous, style of writing and speaking, Joanne has been called 'A lightening rod of inspiration' and 'someone you want in the room when you have a problem to solve.' Joanne earned her membership to the National Speakers Association in 2001 and has held leadership positions in two chapters, and on the national level.

Jane Marks -

Keynote Address on Wednesday, June 9th, 10:30am

Brain Health and Wellness: The Final Frontier

Jane Marks has worked in the nonprofit arena for 20 years and has been the Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association, WV Chapter since 2001. The West Virginia Chapter serves all 55 counties in West Virginia and six counties in eastern Ohio. In both 2002 and 2005 she presented workshops on legislative tactics at the national Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum in Washington DC. In May of 2005 Jane presented at the White House Conference on Aging Solutions Forum on Aging. Jane has served on the national Branding Task Force for the Alzheimer’s Association as well as the national Alzheimer’s Association End of Life Task Force. Currently she serves on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee for the national Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, she has served on the work group for an Administration on Aging Grant in conjunction with the WV Bureau of Senior Services, on the WV Center on Aging’s Rural Healthy Aging Network Project, WV Medicaid Redesign Long-Term Care Subcommittee, as well as the Vision Shared Long –Term Care Committee. Jane

Jane has been a public speaker for many years, is a published author, wife, and mother of two grown children.

The String of Pearls -

Performance on Wednesday, June 9th, 12pm
After the Anita Harbert Awards Presentation

The String of Pearls is a local tap dancing group of “young” Senior ladies between the ages of 52 and 79. They are under the direction of instructor, choreographer, Donna Sanders and are sponsored by the Senior Monongalians Inc. of Morgantown, WV. The membership includes: Dorothy Moore, Aida Everhart, Kathy Mayer, Deloris Fetty, Kathy Martin, Stephanie Stovash, Debbie Copen, Angela Caudill, Dee Dee Newlon, Kathy Lopez, Linda Stewart, Debbie West, Donna Sanders, Cindy Heiskell, and Jeanne Stoughton.

In addition to performing for the WVU Summer Institute on Aging, the ladies have performed at numerous other venues including: The Festival of Dance at the Metropolitan Theater, the pre-show for WV Public Theater summer productions, WV Teaming to Win Conference, Morgantown Christmas Parade, Mt. Morris Memorial Day Parade, Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater with the Mon River Big Band, numerous nursing homes and hospitals, Senior Centers and Senior Housing complexes. Typically the Pearls perform between 30 and 40 venues a year.

These dedicated and talented ladies dance to a variety of tunes including marches, classics, popular music of today and music from the Big Band Era of Glen Miller.

Some members have danced and performed in their younger days; some haven’t and are new to tap dancing; some are retired and are now grandmothers and great grandmothers; some are continuing to work. But all are finding time to achieve their dreams and secret ambitions – to dance, to perform and have fun as they kick up their heels and shuffle into your heart and soul.

The String of Pearls are Dy-no-mite!!!

For booking performances and/or information on becoming a member of The String of Pearls, contact Donna Sanders at 304-599-4286, Cindy Heiskell at 304-292-7259 or e-mail at dejasander@aol.com.

See a performance by The String of Pearls at the Creative Arts Center in June 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixfvXQCXpfY

The Songcatchers -

Evening Performance on Wednesday, June 9th, 5pm

Traditional Music: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Dr. Everett Alan Lilly is the son of Everett Lilly of the famed Lilly Brothers. He has played and/or recorded with Bill Monroe, Bill Keith and Jim Rooney, The Charles River Valley Boys (recorded “Beatle Country on Elektra and Rounder), Joe Val, and of course The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover with whom he made the groundbreaking Japan tours.

The Songcatchers were created several years ago at Mountain State University in Beckley, West Virginia where Everett was teaching bluegrass music and other traditional music classes. Everett and former students, Tiffany Underwood and Bill Atkinson, began singing as a trio and soon were joined by other students as well as younger people from the community and The Songcatchers were born.

The Songcatchers are featured on two recordings. They contributed one song to the CD, “Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed” which includes such notables as Tim O’Brien and Kathy Mattea. The Songcatchers also have their own CD titled “High on a Mountaintop.”

The Songcatchers perform in the Carter Family tradition with a bluegrass flavor. They are joined by some capable young people including 12 year old banjoist, Blaine Johnson, and 17 year old Jordan Young on mandolin. Everett’s young daughter, Ashley Lilly, is the newest addition on vocals. The Songcatchers have performed on Mountain Stage, The Vandalia Festival, The International Bluegrass Music Association Fanfest in Nashville, professional conferences, and a variety of other venues. For more information about The Songcatchers visit their website at thesongcatchers.com or contact Dr. Everett Lilly at evrlilly@mountainstate.edu Tele: 304-673-1389.