Speech transcript delivered to senior citizens group, 1970s

MADAM CHAIRWOMAN - LADIES OF THE COUNCIL - GUS GUIFFRE AND DEAR FRIENDS THE PLEASURE OF BEING HERE THIS EVENING TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU IS MINE. SENIOR MEANS A HIGHER RANK OR STANDING BY VIRTUE OF LONGER SERVICE, A PERSON WHO IS OLDER THEN ANOTHER, A STATE OR (FACT OF BEING SENIOR, A SUPERIOR AGE - THAT MY FRIENDS MEANS - YOU - SENIOR CITIZENS, WE ARE HERE TONITE TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY HOMAGE TO YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO FEEL WORTHWHILE - FOR YOU ALL HAVE EARNED A SUPREME PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY. THERE ARE 2$ MILLION SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES - ALMOST 32 THOUSAND IN THE STATE OF NEVADA AND 1 5 , 0 0 0 IN CLARK COUNTY. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR. US, WS--vSUALL TRY TO ACCOMPLISH FOR YOU, SO THAT . 4 YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIVES WITH MORE INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY AND PURPOSE. 1 . GET THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF MORE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEMS AND VALUE OF THE RETIREE. 2 . OVER-ALL EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS AGE GROUP IN OUR SOCIETY. 3 . DEVELOP MORE AREAS IN WHICH RETIREES CAN SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. 4 . HAVE THE BUREAU OF AGING SERVICES REACTIVATED IN THE STATE - WE DID AND IT STARTS AGAIN AS OF 7 - 1 5 . STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING SENIOR CITIZEN CLUBS OF THE AREA. 6 . GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE NEED OF A SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER COMPLEX^ 7 . WORK WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO ENCOURAGE RETIREMENT PLANNING PROGRAMS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. YOU ARE THE SALT OF AMERICA, YOU CARRY THE SCARS OF ALL OUR HISTORY, YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MANY. YOU PRODUCED, FARMED, WORKED AT YOUR VARIOUS JOBS, RAN THE GOVERNMENT. NO TASK WAS TOO GREAT. YOU BUILT THE FUTURE FOR US ALL AND YOU DID IT SO WELL. YOUR STILL ABLE TO DO MANY GOOD THINGS FOR YOURSELVES, FOR EACH OTHER, YOUR COMMUNITY AND YES EVEN THE NATION. FOR YOU AND YOU ALONE HAVE 5 THE WISDOM, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, CONVICTIONS, DETERMINATION AND ENERGY THAT WE ALL STILL MEED. OUR DEVOTION TO YOU, SENIOR CITIZENS, HAS BEEN RIGHTFULLY INHERITED AND WE ALL PROUDLY AND HUMBLY FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSEFTS. I THA:;K YOU. SENIOR CITIZENS fy Q ^ 0 0 O WITH THE I PASSING OF OUR STATE 'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, NEVADA MUST FACE THE REALITY THAT MORE AND MORE OF . ' iyx, , #5 HER CITIZENS ARE NOW HER SENIOR CITIZENS. AS 3 TERM CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMENS CLUBS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS! I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE MANY AND MUST BE CONSIDERED. I T IS IMPORTANIITHAT THEY CONTINUE TO FEEL WORTHWHILE Ai2> AND TO HAVE A WELL EARNED PLACE IN SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE STILL CAPABLE AND PRODUCTIVE, WHO WOULD BE HAPPY IN JOBS. OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON CHARITABLE AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES. MANY WOULD WELCOME GUIDANCE AND COUNCELING TO HELP THEM BROADEN HORIZONS OF INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE. THE DIVIDENDS ON AN INVESTMENT IN THEM WOULD BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE TO US ALL. SENIOR CITIZENS I T IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY CONTINUE TO FEEL WORTH WHILE AND TO HAVE A WELL EARNED PLACE IN SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE STILL CAPABLE AND PRODUC-TIVE, WHO WOULD BE HAPPY IN JOBS, OTHERS WOULD LIFE TO SERVE ON CHARITABLE AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES. MANY WOULD WELCOME GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING TO HELP ? THEM BROAPEN-HORIZON3 OF INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE. THE DIVIDENDS ON AN INVESTMENT IN THEM WOULD BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE TO US ALL. ? AS 3 TERM CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEEB CLUBS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS I COME TO REALIZE THAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE MANY AND MUST BE COlvBIDERED. WITH TEE PASSING OF OUR STATE'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, NEVADA MUST FACE THE REALITY THAT MORE AND MORE OF HER CITIZENS ARE NOW HER SENIOR CITIZENS. " TO SIN BY SILENCE, WHEN THEY SHOULD PROTEST _ MAKES COWARDS OF MEN." ABRAHAM LINCOLN