NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  

DATE: April 18, 2005     Release #3.20

Sherwood Park, Alberta:         

300 SENIORS ATTEND S.U.N. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Over three hundred seniors attended the second Annual General Meeting of Seniors United Now held at the Ramada Inn in Edmonton on April 11, 2005. A new board of directors was elected and consists of President - Bernie Stanton, Vice President - Ireen Slater, Treasurer - Gordon Voth, Secretary - Betty Simmonds, and 5 Directors: Elizabeth Allchin, Teri Brunet, Guy Ouellette, Arnold Budd and Ron Ellis.

In addition, a motion to nominally increase membership fees and a motion to establish an Executive Director position were approved. The more active we become the more we see that we have to do said Ron Ellis, outgoing President of SUN. The approval of the motions will go a long way to ensuring continuity in SUN activities and our ongoing success.

In his keynote address Ellis thanked the provincial government for its initiatives on seniors issues. However, he added, if anyone thinks that these initiatives lessen the need for an organization that will speak out and act in defense of seniors, they are living in a fantasy world.

Ellis stated that for SUN to move forward we must find a way to break the cycle of isolation, apathy and eventual hopelessness that affects far too many people as they grow older.  Though society as a whole must bear responsibility in this matter the greater portion of the responsibility is ours. Seniors are in the unique position of having knowledge and experience beyond the ordinary. We have a responsibility to use that knowledge and experience in guiding our elected officials and they have a duty to listen.

During a discussion following the meeting Ellis advised that his biggest disappointment over the past year was the minimal media attention given to seniors groups. He went on to point out that only the CBC covered this annual general meeting.

Ron Ellis, SUN Past President

For further information contact the S.U.N. Office             

Tel: 780.449.1816

Fax: 780.449.1475

Email: unitenow@telus.net