By Lois Williams

The first week of September the Minnesota Senior Federation lost a long-time member and a strong advocate and supporter. I personally lost a very good friend in the passing of Everal O’Brian of Iron Range Region. Everal was a member of the Iron Range Region from the time this region became part of the Minnesota Senior Federation.

I first met Everal 13 years ago when I attended my first Iron Range regional meeting. My involvement in the Minnesota Senior Federation was somewhat of an accident. I knew absolutely nothing about the Federation.

At an Itasca County Committee on Aging meeting the Senior Federation area representative stated he had to step down from that position and was asking for a volunteer from Itasca County to finish out the last six months. No one stepped forward so I agreed to help out.

My name was given to the president of the Iron Range Region from which I received information of their next meeting.

Information received listed the 9:30 a.m. start of the board of directors meeting and the 1 p.m. start of the delegate assembly meeting. I wasn’t informed that I was to attend the board of directors meeting so I showed up at 1 p.m. The first person I met was Everal who was signing in the delegates. She looked up at me and stated in a stern voice, “Where in the world were you this morning?” Already I was off on the wrong foot by missing the morning session.

When the delegate assembly meeting was called to order, Everal stood up and introduced me. She said, “I feel sorry for Lois. Itasca County is not very active in the Minnesota Senior Federation. If Lois is to become a good member she has a lot of hard work ahead of her.”

Guess what? My first impression of Everal was not a good one for me. The following week Everal called me saying it would be a good idea to attend the next meeting in St. Cloud to learn more about the Minnesota Senior Federation. The day of the meeting Everal picked me up at 6 a.m. for the drive to St. Cloud.

It wasn’t long into the drive for those first impressions to be thrown out the window. Everal became my mentor in the Minnesota Senior Federation and in many other areas. She became a very dear friend.

Everal worked hard to bring new members to the Minnesota Senior Federation. She believed that one new member would multiply into many more new members. Everal was 91 years of age and continued to be very active in the Minnesota Senior Federation. We are always looking to increase our membership. As strong active members just think what each of us could do for membership if we apply Everal’s theory. One new member would truly multiply into many more. Just think if we would take it a step further and mentor a new member. Our grassroots organization would be a very strong one.

The state convention is approaching fast on Oct. 10 in Little Falls. This is a very important convention as much is on the agenda to be voted on and decided as to the future of Minnesota Senior Federation. Let’s be mentors to others and encourage mentors to attend and become more involved in their organization. Click here for the registration form.