Past Presidents
Charles Battaglia, Jr.1998 - 2000
.”When I reflect on my involvement with the Network in Aging over the past twelve years, I think back to the challenges we faced in the mid 1990’s. As a new member on the board, it became abundantly clear that this was a critical time for the organization since we had recently lost the benefit of our funding support from the Geriatric Education Center. After a period of some intense soul searching and with a renewed sense of purpose, it was decided to reshape the mission of the organization and continue to operate from the dues of the membership and without the benefit of grants. The organization would continue through the efforts of a working board of directors, various committees, and a conscientious, hard working part time coordinator, JoAnn Lewandowski who continues to be the backbone of the Network in Aging. Thus, the future of the Network would be governed by its ability to successfully meet the needs and expectations of its customers - its 300+ members.
I continue to be impressed by the resiliency of the Network and the dedication of its members who selflessly give of their time and expertise to further the goals of this organization. During these challenging times of tight budgets and a workforce governed by the “do more with less” philosophy, our members managed to collectively and cooperatively develop an array of educational and networking opportunities that further the professional growth and development of our members and the aging services network of Western New York.
It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the commemoration of our 20th anniversary. I am proud of all that we have accomplished including our vibrant web site and an array of well-attended seminars on important, relevant topics. Over the years, our unique organization has been enriched by the collective synergy of a diverse group of professionals from the academic, business, health, and human service fields. During the past twelve years that I have been associated with the Network in Aging, I have had the pleasure of working with some extraordinary people, many of whom I can now also call friends in addition to colleagues. In looking ahead to the challenges we face in addressing the ever-changing needs of a diverse and growing elder population, I am acutely aware of the importance that collaboration will play and the role of the Network in helping to facilitate those opportunities for interdisciplinary communication.
To all who have contributed to the success of the Network in Aging, I extend a heartfelt thank you as you have my deepest admiration. I extend an open invitation to all who have yet to join or actively participate in the activities of the Network in Aging. I will close with one of my favorite quotes from Helen Keller: “Never doubt the ability of a small, dedicated group of people to change the world - Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”