Why I Accepted an Appointment to the Clark County Commission on Aging.

Yesterday was my first meeting as a member of the Clark County Commission on Aging.

As we went around the room introducing ourselves, each new commission member was asked to share a little about their background and why they wanted to serve.

I'll admit, I was caught a little off guard.

I had spent plenty of time thinking about what the Commission does, but I hadn't really stopped to think about how I would answer that question myself.

Why did I apply?

The truth is, I wasn't actively seeking a government appointment.

A few months ago, I received an email from Clark County announcing that the application deadline for the Commission on Aging had been extended. I remember reading it and thinking, "That's interesting."

Then I started thinking about the work I was already doing.

I spend a large portion of my life working with older adults and their families. Through my real estate business, my volunteer work with Battle Ground Senior Citizens, Inc., and The Savvy Granddaughter™, I regularly help seniors navigate some of life's biggest transitions.

I hear their concerns.

I hear from adult children trying to help aging parents remain independent. I hear from seniors who want to stay in their homes but aren't sure what resources are available. I hear questions about transportation, caregiving, housing, social connection, technology, and planning for the future.

The more I thought about the Commission, the more I realized that many of the conversations I was having every day were the same conversations being discussed at a county level.

So I applied.

Not because I thought I had all the answers.

Not because I wanted another title.

But because I wanted to be part of the conversation.

I wanted to help ensure that the voices of seniors and their families are represented. I wanted to bring real-world experiences to the table from the people I serve every day. And I wanted to continue finding ways to give back to a community that has given so much to me.

I care deeply about older adults in our community, and I believe they deserve advocates who will listen, learn, and work to make Clark County a place where people can age with dignity, independence, and connection.

Looking back, maybe that's why that email caught my attention in the first place.