-Hinton Resident Picked as Alternate-

U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced that Liz Acord of Bolt, WV has been accepted to represent southern West Virginia at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. Ms. Acord was nominated to be a delegate to the conference by Congressman Rahall and she will join seven other West Virginians at the conference.

"I am confident that Liz Acord will be an outstanding representative for The Third Congressional District of West Virginia," said Rahall. "She has an important task in representing southern West Virginia and I believe she will be up to the task."

Ms. Acord is retired from the Raleigh County Assessor's Office. She is a member of the National Silver Haired Congress. She is especially interested in Social Security and Medicare as well as the other major issues that affect senior citizens.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging will be held on October 23 to 26, 2005 in Washington, DC. It will be the fifth such conference in the history of our Nation and the first since 1995. The conference will focus on the issues of the aging community of the present and the future, including the 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.

"As each day passes we are all getting a bit older and in this changing world it is critical that we review opportunities to increase the quality of life for seniors," said Rahall. "It is my hope that this conference will result in policy recommendations to Congress in the area of aging. The strength of democracy is hearing the voice of the people and this conference is one great way for community members to give their recommendations on issues that face all of us in the aging community."

The White House Conference on Aging Policy Committee pinpointed six issue areas for the agenda of the conference: Planning Along the Lifespan, Health and Long Term Living, The Workplace of the Future, Social Engagement, Our Community, and Marketplace.

Congressman Rahall also named Mary Lou Haley, of Hinton, WV as an alternate to the conference. Ms. Haley will attend the conference in the event that Ms. Acord is unable to attend.

Ms. Haley is a retired small business owner. She is currently the acting president of the Summers County Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the board of the Hinton Area Foundation and the Summers County Council of Aging, as well as serving as the regional contact for the AARP in Summers County.

"The residents of southern West Virginia know how important the senior community is to our area," said Rahall. For more information on the conference, visit http://www.house.gov/htbin/leave_site?ln_url=http://www.whcoa.gov/