The Kearsarge Area Council on Aging (COA), serving seniors in nine area communities, announced its new board of trustees at its recent annual meeting.

New London resident and previous chair of the board Hardy Hasenfuss handed over the reigns to East Sutton resident Derek Lick, who will now serve as chairman. Lick is an attorney with Sulloway & Hollis, PLLC, in Concord and has lived in the community with his wife Debbie and four children for 12 years.

Lick is excited about his new role, stating, “KCOA is a hidden treasure of an organization that I stumbled upon by accident more than a decade ago. The organization, its dedicated staff, its members and its volunteers so impressed me that I, too, volunteered, and I have done so continuously since then. I was initially introduced to the organization when I was asked to assist the Board of Trustees of KCOA on a discrete matter, and that led to an invitation to join the board to help guide the organization as it grew. Ten years later, I remain impressed with the deep and far-reaching impact KCOA has on those it serves as a result of the hands-on day-to-day assistance and the sense of friendship and community it provides. We are lucky to have KCOA in our community!”

COA Executive Director Nancy Friese commented on the leadership change, “Hardy served our organization for many years with his deep commitment to healthy aging and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. And, our staff and board colleagues look forward to Derek’s special brand of engaged leadership as COA looks forward to continually meeting new and emerging needs of seniors in the greater Kearsarge area.”

COA has an active board of trustees who work in a hands-on fashion, representing many of the communities it serves. New trustees this term include New London’s William Helm and Patti Mourneault from Grantham. Friese welcomed the new board members, “Patti and Bill are tremendous new assets to our already-strong board. I am excited about the new ideas and strategies that will help COA, now that we are entering into our third decade of serving area seniors.”

Bill Helm shares this excitement, noting, “Tina and I retired from our home in the Boston area to New London in 2001. Since settling here I have been involved in a variety of community volunteer activities, and am now serving as Chair of the New London Planning Board in addition to my service with COA. I believe COA provides an opportunity to support an important service component for the Kearsarge area communities.”

Patti, who has lived in Eastman with her husband Henry for the past 13 years, is co-chair of EastmanCARES, a committee charged with identifying resources and creating programs to help support and meet the needs of the community. Morneault remarks, “COA provides a broad array of services, activities, and education to seniors. These are issues that I am passionate about and I’m thrilled to be involve with such a wonderful and vital organization.”

COA’s board of trustees includes Vice Chair Mary-Lou Hinman from Danbury, Treasurer George Jamieson from New London, Marilyn Kidder from New London, Paul Linehan from Elkins, Lynda Reinish from Concord, Roger Smith from New London, Jim Southard from Sunapee, Kathy Taylor from New London, and Rae Tober from Grantham.