T.O. man saluted as Senior of the Year

The city of Thousand Oaks Council on Aging (COA) hosted its annual Senior of the Year awards ceremony and social on Thurs., June 1 at the Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks. The ceremony recognized senior nominees for volunteer activity and dedicated commitment to the seniors of the community.

Five 2005 Senior of the Year nominees were honored during the ceremony. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and representatives from the offices of state Sen. Tom McClintock, RThousand Oaks, and U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks, presented certificates of appreciation to nominees. The evening culminated with Thousand Oaks Mayor Dennis Gillette presenting Richard Doering with the honor of 2005 Senior of the Year. Doering volunteers for the Retired and Se

nior Volunteer Program's (RSVP) tax consulting for the elderly program.

The other nominees were Hospice of the Conejo employee and volunteer LaVonne Laughlin, Lutheran Social Services volunteer John Leslie, Goebel Senior Center dance instructor Bhojo Shahani and Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza volunteer Gordon Wolfgram.

Doering, 67, has lived in Thousand Oaks for 22 years. In 2001, he started volunteering with the tax program, which helps seniors prepare state and federal tax returns. In 2003, he became the volunteer program coordinator and helps seniors, 90 percent of whom live on $20,000 or less per year, do their taxes.

He gives annual classes to teach volunteers the tax code and how to use specialized computer software provided by the IRS. During the 2005 tax season, almost $11 million dollars in income was processed in more than 1,200 returns. The IRS said the program saved those who used it to file returns $91,650 in preparation fees.

In addition, Doering offers financial consulting through the program year-round. His knowledge of entitlements for the disadvantaged has allowed Doering to help several seniors find funding and schooling resources for their children and he has counseled those with disabled children on their eligibility for tax deductions.

For more information, call the Council on Aging at (805) 449-2743.