At its Charting the Future event on Friday, September 5, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging proudly presented Herb Janick with its 2025 Volunteer of the Year award, recognizing his extraordinary dedication to supporting and advocating for older Mainers.

When Herb Janick retired six years ago, he knew he wanted to devote his time to meaningful volunteer work. What he didn’t know was that it would lead him into the complex world of Medicare counseling – and to becoming an indispensable advocate for older Mainers.

Originally from Connecticut, Herb built a distinguished career as an attorney, before making Maine his permanent home in the early 2000s. He was eager to contribute to his community in retirement.

“I’ve always believed that if you’ve been fortunate in life, you have an obligation to give back,” he said.

He first connected with Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) through its Money Minders program, inspired by his father’s experience with Parkinson’s disease and vulnerability to financial exploitation. But when the Covid-19 pandemic put that program on pause, he pivoted to SMAA’s Medicare Counseling – despite admitting he knew “absolutely nothing about Medicare” at the time.

What began as a trial soon became a passion.

“Medicare is incredibly complicated – far more than it needs to be,” he said. “But the impact you can have on someone’s life is immediate and profound.”

He recalls saving one client more than $30,000 on prescriptions, another more than $1,000 – both moments that brought clients to tears of relief.

“People are often so anxious, confused, and overwhelmed,” he said. “When you can take that burden off their shoulders, it’s powerful.”

Beyond Medicare Counseling, Herb has played a key role in strengthening SMAA’s volunteer program itself. Drawing on his professional background, he along with other Medicare volunteers, helped develop a stronger volunteer orientation process. “SMAA really invests in its volunteers,” he said. “They do a great job of matching people to roles that fit their skills and interests, and of creating a community among us.”

That sense of camaraderie, he adds, helps combat the isolation many older adults – and sometimes volunteers themselves – experience.

His leadership extends to the board as well, where he’s helped advance SMAA’s advocacy work, including efforts around the Older Mainers Act.

“It’s exciting to see agencies across the state working together in a new way,” said Herb. “Telling our stories to legislators is critical, because the needs of older Mainers are only going to grow.”

Outside of SMAA, Herb is an avid cyclist who recently biked the length of the United Kingdom – a 1,020-mile journey he later shared with participants of SMAA’s Adventure Club. Whether on a bike or in a Medicare Counseling session, he brings energy, focus, and generosity to everything he does.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Herb on our board,” said Megan Walton, CEO of SMAA. “He is not only a passionate champion of our mission, but also a thoughtful listener, a collaborative teammate, and an inspiring leader. Herb embodies the very best of volunteer service, and his impact is felt throughout our organization and the lives of older Mainers we serve.”

Being named SMAA’s Volunteer of the Year, Herb says, is both an honor and an opportunity.

“It shines a light on the importance of volunteering,” said Herb. “Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something – and often, you get back far more than you give.”