About OASC

The Purpose of the Ohio Association of Senior Centers is to support and enhance the ability of Ohio’s senior center network to effectively serve older adults by providing: Education, Mentoring, and Training to Senior Center and Aging Network Staff: Educational programs, workshops and seminars are offered throughout the year, including the annual conference, regional workshops and educational events cosponsored with other organizations. Center staff members can be certified on one of three levels based upon experience and educational achievements.

A Brief History

The Ohio Association of Senior Centers, Inc. (OASC) is celebrating 59 years of service to Ohio Senior Centers and, by extension, the older adults they serve. As OASC celebrates another milestone as the oldest state association of senior centers in the nation, we recognize that we have come a long way, we are leading the way into the future aging network and we look forward to the 2018 Annual Spring Conference “Staying Dynamic in a Changing World.”

In 1959, a small group of dedicated senior center directors led by Muriel Bertsch of Hamilton, Ohio met to establish a new organization. She had a vision of uniting senior centers in Ohio to enable them to become stronger focal points of service in their communities. This organization was originally known as the Ohio Association of Centers for Senior Citizens, Inc. In 1975, the organization incorporated. Then, in 1984 the name was changed to the Ohio Association of Senior Centers, Inc. (OASC). While a strong leader in Ohio, Ms. Bertsch was also a founder of the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). She often used her OASC experience as a guide in building NISC and for how other state associations could benefit the aging network. The purpose of OASC has remained essentially the same over all of these years, to provide leadership, advocacy, training and networking for its members.

Within the first few years an annual conference became the center piece of this active group. The OASC Spring Conference is still a “must attend” for senior center and aging network professionals. In 1983, a newsletter was first published and continues to be a vital link with members. In 1995, senior center staff certification became a reality and continues as an important part of the mission of OASC. In 1998, OASC made its presence known on the World Wide Web. In 2015, The OASC introduced Senior Center Certification which offers Senior Centers another level of professionalism and dedication to senior care.

The Board of OASC is made up of active, busy senior center directors and staff who work hard as volunteers on behalf of senior centers and the clients these senior centers serve. Through the years, board members have come from all over the state to add to the diversity of ideas and create a strong, effective organization that benefits urban, suburban and rural senior centers in their mission to serve senior citizens where they live.

As member senior centers, we are part of a great tradition. Together, we look forward to a bright future in the aging network as we serve older adults through senior centers. Please visit our website at www.ohioasc.org.

- Mission Statement

The Ohio Association of Senior Centers’ mission is clear, be an advocate for senior center professionals to obtain industry information, leverage industry contacts, and provide ongoing continuing education and useful information as it pertains to senior centers in Ohio.

Muriel Bertsch Award

Past Winners

2023 – Connie Huntsman

2022 – Stephanie FallCreek

2021 – No award due to COVID

2020 – Jodi Warnecke

2019 – Rhoda Price, Senator Theresa Gavarone & Chancellor Randy Gardner

2018 – Denise Niese

2017  Bryan Glover & Paula Taliaferro

2016 – Larke Recchie, O4A

2015 – Steve Schnabl

2014 – Kim & David Corey, PACA, Inc.

2013 – Marc Molea, ODA

2012 – Shon Gress

2011 – Lucinda Smith

2010 – Sue Armbruster

2009 – Deborah Newcomb

2008 – Cindy Farson

2007 – Grace Nash (posthumously)

2006 – Barb Klingensmith

2005 – Naomi Trout

2004 – Betty Montgomery

2003 – Mike Turner

2002 – Richard Hoffman

2001 – Senator Mike DeWine

2000 – Donald Barrett & Walter Ehrnfelt

1999 – Marjorie Harper

1998 – Jean Smith

1997 – G. .Robert Lazton

1996 – Ray Kingsbury

1995 – Kenneth Mahan

1994 – Helen  S. Brown & Lucile Costello

1993 – Lois Brown Dale

1992 – Robert Logan

1991 – Eleanor Thomas

1990 – Carol Austin

1989 – Governor Richard Celeste

1988 – Grant McDonald

1987 – Senator David Hobson

1986 – Rosalie Morgan

1985 – Bill DeJonckheere

1984 – Jane Carothers

1983 – Roberta Graham

1982 – Martin Janis

1981 – Alexander Monro

1980 – Margaret Lloyd

1979 – Maxie Gohe (posthumously)

1978 – Catherine Gille

1977 – Jean Maxwell

1976 – Muriel Bertsch

Community Partners Award

Past Winners

2023 – Mosser Construction

2022 – First National Bank of Sycamore, Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities

2021 – No award due to COVID

2020 – Lawn Plus

2019 – University Hospitals Parma Medical Center

2018 – Culligan Water Napoleon, OH

– RSVP of Washington County

2017 – Cambridge Lions Club

2016 – The Meadows of Kalida, Leipsic and Ottawa

2015 – Huron City Board of Mental Health & Addiction Services (MHAS)

– Ashtabula City Technical & Career Center

2014 – Southeastern Med Cambridge, OH

2013 – Pantec Career Center Perrysburg, OH

– Martin Bartik of Edward Jones Investments Fairborn, OH

2012 – Rupp Seed Inc. (For Profit) Wauseon, OH

– Norwalk Lions Club (Not-For-Profit)

2011 – I.O.O.F Chapter Yellow Springs

2010 – Grace United Methodist Church Hamilton, OH

2009 – Hardin County Hospice

– WCLT Radio Newark, OH

2008 – County Commissioners Association of Ohio

2007 – Dublin Retirement Village Dublin, OH

2006 – Bowling Green State University

2005 – Fifth Third Bank Tiffin, OH

2004 – Lowe’s of Defiance

Senior Center of the Year Winners

Past Winners

2019 – Preble County Council on Aging, Inc

Board of Directors

2022-2024 OASC Board of Trustees

President:

Anna Tobin, Exec. Director – PSA 6
Meals on Wheels Older Adult Alternatives of Fairfield Co.
253 Boving Rd
Lancaster, OH 43130

President-Elect

Maureen Fagans, Exec. Director/CEO – PSA 2
United Senior Services
125 W. Main St.
Springfield, OH 45502

Treasurer

Barb Klingensmith, Exec. Director – PSA 11
Country Neighbor Program, Inc.
39 South Maple
PO Box 212
Orwell, OH 44076

Secretary

Stephanie Fallcreek, President/CEO – PSA 10A
Fairhill Partners12200
Fairhill Rd
Cleveland, OH 44120

Past-President

Connie Huntsman, Exec. Director – PSA 8
O’Neill Senior Center, Inc.
333 Fourth St.
Marietta, Oh 45750

2022- 2024 OASC Executive Directors

Jamie Smith, Exec. Director – PSA 9
Tuscarawas County Committee on Aging, Inc.
425 Prospect S
Dover, OH 44622

Amy Houpey, Exec. Director – PSA 1                                                              Warren County Community Services                                                                         6141 Market Ave.                                                                                                           Middletown, OH 45005

Denise C. Niese, Exec. Director – PSA 4
Wood County Comm. on Aging, Inc.
305 N. Main St.
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Robert Warren, Exec. Director – PSA 3
Auglaize County Council on Aging
610 Indiana Ave
St Marys, OH 45885

Shelley Ratliff, Exec. Director – PSA 2
Preble County Council on Aging
8000 East St. Clair St
Eaton, OH 45320

2022 – 2024 OASC Executive Directors

Bryan Glover, Exec. Director – PSA 5
Seneca County Comm. on Aging
382 South Huron St.
Tiffin, OH 44883

Malinda Ruble, Exec. Director – PSA 4
Maumee Senior Center
2430 South Detroit Ave.
Maumee, OH 43537

Mike Turner, Program Asst. – PSA 8
United Seniors of Athens County
701 E. State St. – Suite 101
Athens, OH 45701

Robin Richter, Exec. Director – PSA 4
WSOS Community Action  Commission, Inc.
PO Box 590
Freemont, OH 43420

Shon Gress, Exec. Director – PSA 9
Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center
1022 Carlisle Avenue
Cambridge, OH 43725

Jodi Warnecke, Exec.Director – PSA 3
Putnam County Council on Aging
1425 E. Fourth St.
Ottawa, OH 45875