National Triad Award Winners
Zoeller: Anderson resident receives national triad award for service
ANDERSON, Ind. – Anderson resident, Dennis Lanane, was recently honored with the National Triad Award for his years of outstanding volunteer service to the Madison County Triad.
Lanane, chair of the local triad, was nominated by the Office of the Attorney General and Madison County Sheriff Ron Richardson. He was recognized last week during the National Association of Triads conference.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller also attended the event, “Law Enforcement and Aging: Building Safety Nets for Older Adults,” held at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Illinois.
“Dennis Lanane is a great example of how effective community leadership can bring positive results – especially to those who are vulnerable,” Zoeller said. “It is an honor to recognize him for his years of volunteer service and selfless efforts to protect senior citizens from fraud and crime.”
Lanane has helped senior citizens with various issues including identity theft, scams targeting older adults and Medicare.
According to the group’s website, Madison County Triad volunteers, law enforcement agencies and senior organization leaders created the coalition to facilitate the protection of seniors from crime through education and to improve their quality of life.
The award is given by the National Association of Triads which is also part of the National Sheriffs’ Association.
Gorham Police Department Volunteer David Garthe Receives National Award
Mr. David Garthe has only been a volunteer with the Gorham Police Department for three years, but has made a world of change. Officer Ted Hatch recalls that The greatest percentage of what David has done for the Gorham Police Department is “…to take the lead for the Triad projects”. He says “Our Triad went from a struggling group to a great cast of senior’s and business members. He has helped us navigate through situations with members in the community by using our business resources, or guiding seniors in need to resources for the proper support. He has a quiet voice, but a strong commitment to make Gorham a better community for senior citizens.”
Specifically, Mr. Garthe procured materials and manpower to install safety locks for a senior residential area. He created and disseminated a senior safety survey and expanded the local Triad to include an adjoining town. He created collection sites for and delivers free emergency cell phones to seniors. He is on the forefront of projects to keep older adults safe. The new Triad, with his assistance, is now broadcasting on a cable network.
These are a few of the reasons Mr. Garthe was named for the Betsy Cantrell Trailblazer Award – named for Mrs. Betsy Cantrell – the very first National Triad Director and co-founder of the Triad concept. The award is given to a new Triad leader who has demonstrated a dedicated spirit to creating a safer environment and quality of life improvement for the older adults in his or her community. Mrs. Betsy Cantrell was the first recipient of this award and it will continue in her namesake, moving forward.
The award is presented by the National Association of Triads, Incorporated – a not for profit subsidiary of the National Sheriffs’ Association. National Triad is in its twenty-second year of assisting law enforcement in keeping older adults safer in their communities by utilizing older adult volunteers, law enforcement and the private sector to educate the public about targeted crimes; the fear of crime; hold safety events and conferences; and create safer environments, among other projects.