Rose Ball receives award for work at Park Hills Senior Center

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 9:07 AM CST

They call her the Beverage Babe.

Rose Ball is also the newsletter writer-in-residence, the game hostess and the bulletin board artist. Now, members of the Park Hills Senior Citizen have another name for Ball.

Star Volunteer of the Year winner.

Ball is one of two winners of this year’s Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging’s Star Award. She and Bill Petrie of Bismarck were chosen from nominees in 33 senior centers in 10 counties in the southeast region of the state.

Nutrition Project Director Lana Johnson traveled to Park Hills Monday to present Ball with a trophy and a proclamation from the Missouri Senate.

“We usually present the Star Award at are annual recognition dinner in December,” Johnson said. “This year, neither recipient could attend, so we brought the awards here.”

Holly Buxton, administrator of the Park Hills Senior Center, nominated Ball for all her hard work. When Buxton was hired seven years ago, Ball was a volunteer in the drink area and was “very shy.”

“I can’t believe now that I ever thought she was shy,” Buxton said. “Rose is just one that doesn’t like being the center of attention and is very modest about all that she does.”

Ball works four hours a day, two days a week in the drink area, where she is known as the Beverage Babe. She also treats the seniors to trivia, gives prizes in guessing games, leads “Show and Tell,” and continually provides activities aimed at stimulating brain power.

Buxton used to provide a one-page, two-sided newsletter. Ball asked if she could take it over. She turned it into a 12-14 page newsletter that includes updates, information, trivia, puzzles, recipes, historical facts and more.

“I like it because people from Farmington and Bismarck come in looking for Rose’s newsletter,” Buxton said.

Ball said people in other states get the newsletter. Her goal is to have newsletter recipients in another country before she retires.

A former ward clerk with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Ball serves on the Senior Citizen Board, is secretary for the Board of Senior Aide Association, volunteers at the Christmas Center and local schools, and is a recipient of the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award from the Park Hills Senior Center.

Ball shared the credit for her achievements with Buxton.

“I couldn’t do this without her,” she said, then hugged Buxton.

Buxton disagreed.

“She comes up with ideas that are so special and we all love them,” Buxton related. “You can almost see those wheels in motion when you talk to her. I wish every senior center had a wonderful Rose Ball — there is never a dull moment when she is around!”

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

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