Advisory Committee

Harold Downing

Harold "Hal" L. Downing is an attorney in Winter Park, Florida, practicing primarily in the area of real estate law with the firm of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A. A 1979 graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law, Hal has been a member of the City of Orlando's Child Daycare Taskforce and the Downtown Orlando Partnership (a special events organization). He was an integral part of the successful effort that made Orlando a venue for World Cup Soccer in 1994; he also researched, compiled and wrote the three-volume bid submission and organized and hosted two international visits from FIFA (the international governing body for "football") during the selection process. He served for nine years on the board of directors of the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival and chaired the event in 1998.

He later served on the board of directors of the Orange County Historical Society and was directly responsible for administering the Orange County Regional History Center's collection. Hal is married and is an avid cyclist.

Fran Carlin Rogers

Fran Carlin-Rogers, President, is a consultant on senior transportation issues. She is a nationally recognized expert in the area of at-risk drivers, with particular emphasis on driving and dementia, driver and vehicle assessment, senior mobility counseling, and transportation alternatives. Fran works with communities to help develop innovative programs, education, and resources for senior mobility. She is a popular presenter with consumer and professional audiences across the nation.

With more than 25 years of professional experience in community services and healthcare, Fran has been actively involved with diverse local, state and national organizations focusing on policy, advocacy and development of programs for seniors and has served in many leadership capacities. She was a delegate to the last two White House Conferences on Aging in 2005 and 1995.

Margaret Sanders

Margaret Sanders' philanthropic background includes service as a community volunteer, advocate, trainer and consultant. She has promoted effective grantmaking and worked in the areas of community needs assessments, effective governance, and program design and development. Formerly a senior program manager at the Rollins College Philanthropy Center, Ms. Sanders has founded and/or served as board member and volunteer for various types of nonprofits including grantmaking organizations. She has also served on local government boards. Ms. Sanders is a graduate of Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Thaddeus Seymour

Thaddeus Seymour is Professor Emeritus of English at Rollins College, where he was its twelfth president, serving from 1978 to 1990. Previously he was President of Wabash College in Indiana and Dean of the College at Dartmouth in New Hampshire.

Seymour organized a planning program to prepare for the 1985 Centennial of Rollins. Major grants and national recognition soon followed, as the College was cited by TIME magazine as "a small college on the move" and by U.S. News & World Report as one of the ten best comprehensive small colleges in the country.

Chairman of the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, Seymour served nine years on the Board of the Winter Park Public Library, which he chaired from 1996-98. He served on the Board of the Winter Park Health Foundation and chaired its Committee for Older Adults for five years. Other board service includes ten years as Chairman of B.E.T.A., a helping service for women and children, and Chairman of the Community Advisory Committee for the Zora Neale Hurston Festival.

In 1997 he and his wife Polly were recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as Winter Park Citizens of the Year.

The Seymours have five children and eleven grandchildren.

Judy Thames

Judith (Judy) G. Thames has more than 35 years experience in aging issues, community services, and building coordinated service networks to help older people maintain their independence. She started as a direct service provider and developed the first Meals on Wheels program in Orange County. Later, she continued as the Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging for Central Florida to champion the needs of older people.

Judy is the immediate Past Florida State President for American Association of Retired Persons ("AARP"), having served for six years. She is a recognized speaker on healthcare, long term care, Social Security reform and older drivers and their mobility challenges. She is a member of two national social impact work groups dealing with the mobility issues faced by an aging society and a work group on how to involve volunteers in significant social impact issues.

Judy is a trustee for the Winter Park Health Foundation ("WPHF") and serves on theWPHF Older Adult Work Group; she is a member of the Orange County's Commission on Aging's Partnership for Services Committee and is a member of the Seniors First Foundation Board. She has received numerous awards including the University of Central Florida's Professional Alumnus Award from the School of Social Work, The Professional Achievement award from UCF's College of Health and Public Affairs, the Florida Council on Aging Hall of Fame Award, the Mayors Award for Senior Advocacy, and the Outstanding Partners Award from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. She is married to a family physician and has five children, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.