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.
- 1988 – 1989 – Pam Garretson
- 1990 – 1991 – Jean Smith
- 1992 – 1993 – Mike Turner
- 1994 – 1995 – Sharon Minturn
- 1996 – 1997 – A. Eugene Smiley
- 1998 – 1999 – C. Susan Oliver
- 2000 – 2001 – Jean Smith
- 2002 – 2003 – Kathy Womer
- 2004-2005 – Lucinda Smith
- 2006-2007 – Bryan Glover
- 2008-2009 – Denise Niese
- 2010-2011 – Mike Turner
- 2012-2013 – Dave Bibler
- 2014 – 2015 – Ellen Farthing
- 2016 – 2017 – Shon Gress
- 2018-2019 – Jodi Warnecke
- 2020-2021 – Connie Huntsman
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