Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/06/1992The Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board held an outreach meeting at the 1st Presbyterian Church, 531 S. Collge Ave., on Thursday, February 6th, 1992. There were approximately 45 seniors attending. The board meeting followed a potluck lunch and short business meeting of their organization. Attendance: Council liaison: Bob Winokur (absent) MEMBERS Billie Higgins Kathleen Jones Yvonne Myers Marjorie McTaggart Kay Rios Jill Taylor Vicki Moody STAFF Barbara Schoenberger (assigned) Jean Helburg GUESTS Stephanie Besser Yetta Rollins EXCUSED ABSENCES Larry Chaussee Pat Long Margaret Watts Peggy Santich I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 1:10 p.m. by Vice Chair Kay Rios, after an introduction by Yvonne Myers who set up the meeting with the church group. II. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION/BUILDING TEAM REPORT: Kay introduced the board members, and invited questions from the audience. Stephanie responded to a query about handicap accessibility for seniors, saying that RSVP has been charged by the federal government with the responsibilty of making sure that public buildings, especially those where non-profit agencies are housed, are accessible. She suggested that any questions or complaints about the subject be referred to RSVP. Jean Helburg was introduced, and gave an overview of the senior center site selection process to date. She asked for further input from any and all present, and answered questions and comments from the floor. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Yvonne clarified the January minutes (section IV.F.) regarding an outreach meeting with the American Baptist group. They were interested, but couldn't work out a mutual time frame. The minutes were approved as clarified. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Ratify business of January meeting: It was moved and seconded to ratify the business of the January meeting when a quorum was not present. Motion carried. B. Elections: A revised slate was presented, consisting of the present officers to serve for another year: Pat Long, Chair; Kay Rios, Vice Chair; Marjorie McTaggart, Secretary. Further nominations were solicited. There were none, and the slate was approved by unanimous vote. C. "Moonlight and Roses": Barbara invited everyone to attend the Valentine's Day dinner at the Lincoln Center, and explained the occasion. She also asked board members to help get things ready that afternoon. (At this time, the church group concluded their participation, and everyone left. After a short time, the board continued its meeting.) D. Retirement brochure: Kay discussed returning to City Council to ask that they sanction the brochure, and print it. Marjorie moved that Kay proceed with the request that City Council sanction and print the brochure. The motion was seconded, and passed unanimously. E. Senior Resource Network: Kay reported that a Public Access committee has been formed, and that it currently consists of 2 council members, and city staff. As the board would like to have Steve Snyder, volunteer technical adviser, be a member, it recommended that Kay write a letter to City Council giving them a summary and progress report, on the two years work we have done on this project. F. Health care concerns: Kay reported that United Seniors and some local doctors have been meeting about some of the local health care concerns for seniors. Jill has attended and says dialog has started. Dr. Bermingham will meet with this board at our March meeting. G. Board vacancy: Jill Taylor has been appointed to fill the vacancy left by Ron Bergen's resignation. She was welcomed. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Service organization reports 1. RSVP: Stephanie had already reported about handicap accessibility responsibilities. She added that VITA counselors are now on duty on Monday and Thursdays at the Senior Center. Reminiscence program training will start next week. A new coordinator for the Handyman program, Bob Rankin, is on duty from 8:00 a.m. to Noon, Monday through Friday at the RSVP office. 2. PVH: Jill reported that the name of the May h conference as been changed to "Healthy Seniors Expo '92." It will be held Thursday, May 21st at the First Christian Church, and will include information booths, exhibits, and speakers. Aspen Club plans to sponsor blood pressure testing monthly. 3. Senior Center Council: Vicki reported the council members made decorations for the "Moonlight and Roses" dinner. There will be a charge imposed for use of the center's copy machine for personal copying to cut down on overuse. 4. OOA: No report, but members said there are still openings on that advisory board after at least 4 appointments are known to have been made. 5. Friends of the Senior Center: Barbara reported that flyers/brochures are now available, and that there is a need for more members, especially to market the group. Vicki added names of officers, duties, and future plans. VI. OTHER BUSINESS A. Jean Helburg reported further on response to request for input on site selection, stating there have been more than 200 from the newspaper article alone. She stated that the Building Team's recommendations plus one more will be presented at the city council work session on February 25th, alongwith all proposed sites. It will be a part of the packet that goes to each council member. Marjorie McTaggart and Yvonne Myers are to be the designated representatives at that session. All board members are encouraged to be there. Jean also reported that she is on the Human Services Task Force, a policy -making group that would like to make a 10-minute presentation to this board. The boardsuggested it be at the April meeting. She will see to it that a report is mailed to board members beforehand for study. B. Yvonne noted that there was no public notice of this outreach meeting. Both Jean and Barbara will look into how the city handles public notice. She also reported on her meeting with the American Baptist Church's senior group where she explained the process and progress of the new senior center, after which the group voted their survey as a group. VII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. Marjo ie McTaggart, Secretary Pat Long, Chairman Approved: Cultus Library, and Recreational Seras Recreation Division February 9, 1992 Mrs. Fran Sloane, First Vice -President Seniors Interdenominational Group First Presbyterian Church 531 S. College Avenue Fort Collins CO 80524 Dear Mrs. Sloane: The members of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board wish to thank you for inviting us to hold our meeting with your group on February 6th. Because the board represents the interests of all seniors in the community, we try to hold outreach meetings several times during the year. Some of the things we are working on (and were on our agenda there) are a retirement brochure; a senior resource network for inclusion with the city's proposed 24-hour infor- mation system; and local health care concerns. Reports of what is happening at senior service organiz- ations such as RSVP, the Aspen Club at PVH, the Senior Center, and the Office on Aging are always included. We are also looking at innovative ways to keep fees at a low rate for senior activities. Our regular meetings are held the second Wednesdays of each month at the senior center at 2:00 p.m. We welcome guests, and any senior concerns or ideas at any time. Again, thank you for your hospitality, and all the good food. It was a pleasure to see your active, interesting group. Sincerely, Marjorie McTaggart for t`he Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board 281 North College Avenue • Fort Collins, CO 80524 • (303) 221-6640 February 6, 1992 TO: City Council Through Bob Winokur FROM: Kay Rios on behalf of The Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board SUBJECT: 24-hour City Hall Hot -Line and the Senior Resources, Network Over the past two years, our group has been involved in different phases investigating the possibility of a Senior Resources Network. These have included a couple of task forces, both county and city, and our members have met with individual City staff and other senior organizations in this regard. As a group, we fully support Ann Hall Hot Line and we are ver) resources component as part of terms of communication between public which they serve, this is like to see this concept become should be the host for the proc expertise and equipment. Azari's concept of a 24-hour City interested in having a senior that link -up with the City. In public representatives and the the wave of the future. We would a reality and we believe the City ram since staff already has both As you explore the feasibility of this idea, we ask that you also consider the senior resources aspect as well. We maintain that seniors (and the public in general) should have access to information through both phone in queries and computerized programs. For the future, we envision terminals available to the public in such places as the Library, Utilities Office, Police Station, and Senior Center, equipped with information ranging from housing to health care to recreational aspects. The information could include descriptions, addresses and contacts for those agencies which would have more detailed information available. And, as one other component, a phone line could also be available for either general information, personal assistance or emergencies. (Steve Snyder, of S.M. Systems and Research Corporation, has developed a simplified prototype of a screen which can be easily accessed by anyone regardless of computer training.) This sort of information has already been gathered by Choice of Larimer County and the Helpline and is available for a small fee. The information which they have already gathered could easily be put into the City's system and used in this manner. It is our understanding that Choice plans to update the information on a regular basis and perhaps the City could look into subscribing to this service. We would hope that this program, and the entire City Hall Hot Line concept, might be incorporated into the City's planning and budget process for the near future. We would offer our help in any manner which Council feels appropriate and would be happy to supply you with our prototype and our write-ups for this program. Steve Snyder would also be happy to serve as our liaison to the Council Public Access Committee. With his expertise in the field of computers, he would be a valuable resource. I will furnish a contact number for him upon request. Please advise us as to the status of the 24-hour City Hall and, predictions for the future in this regard. February 15, 1992 TO: City Council through Bob Winokur FROM: Kay Rios, on behalf of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board SUBJECT: Senior Retirement Brochure After meeting with City Council last month and discussing this project further among ourselves, we feel we need to take a new direction in regard to the brochure. We still believe that recruiting retirees would benefit the city's economic development. We do not, however, see our group in a marketing role. That was never our intention and that's why we looked for someone else to step in and accomplish that end. One of our goals in all of this was to have a brochure available which would address those amenities that Fort Collins has to offer seniors. We still believe this is a necessity. The information was gathered from each of the specific areas: Colorado State University Continuing Education, Poudre Valley Hospital, Parks and Recreation, etc. and, so, accurately portrays those areas as they wish to be portrayed. As to the market end, we feel that we have made great in -roads in terms of bringing Fort Collins' name to national attention as a pleasant retirement spot. We made the national wire service this past year with our brochure idea and Money magazine's 1991 year-end issue lists Fort Collins in their top list of 1150 fabulous retirement havens." We realize that, given the current leadership and attitude of the Chamber of Commerce, further discussion of marketing this idea for economic development purposes would probably only generate negative press. Our feeling is that those "powers that be" will eventually come to understand that the growth industries of the future are those industries that serve the older American. When that occurs, the path has already been laid to pursue this market further down the road. In the meantime, we would like to finalize our involvement by getting the brochure printed and having it made available for any queries regarding senior activities and opportunities. We would ask that Council sanction this brochure as an official City brochure. We would also ask that Council consider underwriting the printing and graphics costs. The brochure could then be available for use by the Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and any other organization that may receive requests regarding senior life in Fort Collins. Please advise us as to Council's decision in this regard.