WHO ARE WE? WHAT DO WE DO?
In February, 1996, following a meeting with a large group of senior residents, The Mount Laurel Police Department organized an advisory coalition committee that would assist its Community Policing Bureau with its community outreach programs.
Shortly thereafter, the committee decided to identify itself as the Senior Educational and Outreach Committee (SEOC). Our Mission Statement is: Dedicated to the security of Mount Laurel residents and its senior citizens, The Senior Educational and Outreach Committee devotes its energy and resources to programs and services that assist the Mount Laurel Police with its community outreach.
With the need to feel the community’s pulse, the committee developed a township wide survey. Published in newspapers and distributed by flyers, the survey quickly identified general resident and senior concerns. Shortly thereafter and through the ensuing years, SEOC, assisted by the Mount Laurel Police, has sponsored many educational programs and seminars. Speakers from the Community Policing Bureau, Internal Revenue Service, United States Treasury Department, and the Burlington County Consumer Affairs Office provided valuable information. Various crime prevention techniques were discussed and audiences from 25 to 200 or 400 were informed how they could best protect themselves from falling prey to or being a victim of fraud, counterfeiting, short weights and measures, con artists and the myriad other criminals who telephone or appear on doorsteps at any given time.
In April 1997, SEOC took on a major project. Police liaison officers suggested the committee visit the Maple Shade Police Department to inspect a computer telephone calling system. Named Elder Check, the system called seniors who were homebound, alone, or physically and/or medically handicapped. Directly following the visit, all SEOC coalition members enthusiastically endorsed a Mount Laurel computer calling system as a viable and useful major project, and SAM ( Seniors and Mount Laurel) was born.
SAM also brought about major organizational changes. In July 1997, SEOC applied for and was granted status as a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation and reorganized from a committee to a 17 member Board of Directors with 2 liaison police officers and a legal advisor. In addition, its Mission Statement was amended to identify its non profit corporate identity.
SAM also brought major fund raising, technical support, hardware, software, and programming challenges. Within a few weeks, software availability was discovered in California, and Comp Set System Consultants of Mount Laurel headed by Robert Maier, President, assumed responsibility for all computer related needs. The only SEOC costs were hardware and software packages.
Initial Funding was supplied by the Mount Laurel Police Superior Officers Association and the Mount Laurel Police Officers Association. Their substantial contributions provided the seed money, and then, SEOC reached out to the business community and the township at large. Donations, large and small, poured in and were recognized individually by donor. Over $6,000 was raised, and SAM was on its way to serving the community.
Since 1997, SAM has made thousands of calls to Mount Laurel residents asking them if they were “OK,” and in several instances, moved Police and EMT life saving support to those who did not respond. Following 11 years of faithful service, in 2008, SAM was brought into the 21st century with a complete facility replacement. Its modernized systems and improved equipment now serves the community and its users more reliably and rapidly.
In September 2000, SEOC supported the Mount Laurel Police Department’s Senior Citizen Dementia Program by purchasing a digital camera. The program, aimed at locating and returning seniors who stray from their homes, the camera enabled the transmission of a missing senior’s picture from the central computer equipment directly to a patrol car’s lap top computer. The picture and the computer network provide the rapid identity of a lost citizen, and the ability to return the person directly home instead of a hospital emergency room. This action reduces personal trauma and long term family concerns.
On Flag Day June 2001, a resurrected mail collection box, painted pure white and emblazoned with flags and decal signs, was installed and dedicated at the Mount Laurel Library. Its primary purpose is to collect and provide the ability to properly dispose of worn and tattered American Flags. Since its introduction, over 10,000 flags, domestic and foreign, have passed through this box. Periodically the flags are picked up by The Office of Veteran Affairs and moved to the County Fire Academy's incinerator. There, they are properly buried and the ashes disposed of with properly military honors. We thank the library for hosting this effort and coordinating the collection and disposition process.
Each year, you will find a SEOC booth at the Mount Laurel Fall Festival and the Police Exposition at Laurel Acres Park. Our purpose is to bring SEOC to your attention and display activities to which we devote our energy and resources. Please stop by and say hello, and while there, consider how some of the programs mentioned could help you or a loved one. If you would care to volunteer some time or monetarily support SEOC, please leave your name. Your donation, of any size, will be cordially accepted.
Since 2005, our Police Expo major activity has been to sponsor the sale of lottery tickets and coordinate prize awards. The awards are donated by members of the Mount Laurel business community and range from children’s bicycles to gift certificates. All proceeds from the lottery are transferred to the MLPD DARE program. When requested, we also operate food and drink booths.
On April 11, 2006, the Board of Directors amended SEOC’s Bylaws. This action reorganized the Board to 7 voting Directors and rescinded the requirement the board consist of representatives from specific community organizations and/or clubs. The amendment opens SEOC’s Board membership to the entire Mount Laurel community.
If you are stimulated to join this active organization and reach out to your community or just visit, please join us. The Board's Annual Meeting is at 2:00 PM, the first Thursday in January, and regular quarterly meetings are scheduled at the same hour the first Thursday's of March, June, September and November. All meetings are held in the Mount Laurel Court Room, 100 Mount Laurel Road.
Beginning in 2009, SEOC will be primarily responsible for soliciting funds in support of Mount Laurel’s Police Department’s acclaimed October, Laurel Acres Park, Police Expo. This program brings visitors from all over southern New Jersey, and SEOC is proud to support this worthy educational and special event by soliciting your and our business community’s support. All donations are tax deductible and should be made and addressed to SEOC, Inc, 100 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
SEOC’s only income, in support MLPD’s community outreach programs and services, will continue to be derived from your donations. Contributions, in any amount, may be made to SEOC and addressed to 100 Mount Laurel Road, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054. All donations are tax deductible. Those over $10.00 will be acknowledged.
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