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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/11/2009CITY OF FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Meeting held February 11, 2009 Fort Collins Senior Center 1200 Raintree Dr. Fort Collins, CO 80526 Chair — Marcia Richards - 970-613-1505 Staff Liaison — Barbara Schoenberger — 970-224-6026 City Council Liaison — Doug Hutchinson, Mayor — 970-221-6506 Attendance: Marcia Richards Stan Ulrich Kathy Schuster Gale Criswell Palmer Withrow Excused Absence: Anita Basham Bob Phillips Cathy Martin Unexcused Absence: Janet Otto Joan Dienes Guests: Elaine Boni, HRC Liaison: Douglas Hutchinson, Mayor Staff: Barbara Schoenberger Karen Bryner I. Meeting Called to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Marcia Richards at 1:37 p.m. II. Introduction/orientation of new member Marcia Richards introduced and welcomed Palmer Withrow, the new appointee to the SAB. III. Attendance An attendance sheet was passed around. IV. Public Participation There was none. V. Approval of Minutes No action was taken on the minutes because a quorum was not present. VI. Correspondence There was none. VII. New Business A. Completion and approval of 2009 Action Plan Due to lack of a quorum this item of business was delayed until the March meeting. B. Communication Committee Report 1. Stan Ulrich reported that more members are needed on the Communication Committee, since that group will be responsible for developing the Speakers' Bureau. Marcia Richards, Chair, appointed Palmer Withrow and Anita Basham, pending their consent, to be added to the Communication Committee. 2. Barbara Schoenberger reported that A -Train Marketing had written an article to be submitted to 50+ Marketplace to coincide with the launch of the Sr. Center Expansion campaign. Barbara Schoenberger and/or Stan Ulrich will ensure that it is submitted by the deadline for the April edition. 3. Kathy Schuster suggested that business cards for SAB members would be appropriate, especially when they are speaking in the community on behalf of the SAB. It was decided to establish an e-mail address for the SAB before printing business cards. C. Plan for orientation of new members Marcia Richards and Kathy Schuster will set a date and meet with new members for an orientation to the work and activities of the SAB. D. Completion of budget, worksheet for City Council Barbara Schoenberger explained "Budgeting for Outcomes" process, which will begin in March for the 2010/2011 budget. A hand-out entitled: "Board and Commission Input Regarding Overarching Results" was distributed. The City staff and City Council are encouraging the various City Boards and Commissions to review the Results used in the development of the 2008/2009 budget, and to make suggestions for any changes to the Results Statement. The SAB suggested that the Results Statements should be amended to include a specific reference to seniors: ie " Help seniors deal with economic changes, health issues, educational opportunities, job market, foreclosures etc." Barbara Schoenberger encouraged SAB members to monitor the budgeting process online. E. Human Relations Meeting at the Bean Cycle Kathy Schuster attended an HRC committee meeting about elder abuse. The committee has recommended that the HRC and SAB sponsor a "Community Chat' about elder abuse in an effort heighten public awareness and begin to seek solutions regarding this concern. The committee is proposing that the Community Chat be held at the Senior Center on an evening in May. The SAB members agreed that they would like work cooperatively with the HRC on this project. This consensus will be confirmed with a vote at the March meeting when a quorum is present. VIII. Old Business A. Liaison Reports Stan Ulrich — Office on Aging Advisory Council: At the January 81h meeting, Margaret Long explained the process for provider reviews. It is a two -component process. The first one is conducted by the members of the Advisory Council who visit the provider sites and then report back to the OOA Director. The second component is the fiscal review. The Director and her staff then make the allocations to the various agencies and organizations. Katy Mason reminded the group about the Senior Tax Work -Off Program-- a program designed to aid low income seniors with their property tax. Participants must be at least 60 years of age and can work to retire part of their property taxes. Lynette McGowan told about a new class called "Powerful Tools for Caregivers," which focuses on family caregivers and which is fashioned after the evidence -based program on chronic diseases. Seventeen persons were trained as class leaders. The class will give caregivers the tools necessary to deal with problems they will encounter as caregivers. AARP The bus, sponsored by Chapter 759, to Senior Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 25`h, is filled to capacity with 51 registered participants. Additional names are being added to a waiting list. At the last meeting, the Board of Directors of AARP discussed projects for "Make a Difference Day". Tentative plans are to, once again, co-sponsor a "shredding project' with the Public Service Credit Union; this event proved very successful last year. Poudre Retired School Employees Association Carole Wright, a Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) trustee spoke at the Feb. meeting of PERA. She talked about the present economic situation, and reassured the persons in attendance that PERA is still a sound institution. Although PERA, has lost billions of dollars, the organization is strong enough to withstand the loses in short term situations. Finances are based on long-term actuarial studies which are designed to absorb fluctuations in the stock market. Additionally, PERA's investments are well diversified. Communications Committee Report The committee is interested in developing an SAB Speakers' Bureau When the SAB is invited to present a program for a service club, a church group, or other community organizations and agencies, the Speakers' Bureau would assign a member of the SAB to speak at the event. To ensure that members cover the same information regarding the objectives and functions of the SAB, the Communications Committee will develop a power point presentation to be used by each speaker. Appreciation was expressed for Cathy Martin's article "True Confessions of a Newbie", which appeared in the February issue of 50 Plus Marketplace. The 50 Plus Marketplace printed 2 others articles that will be valuable for seniors: the entire copy of the OOA "Answers on Aging Resource Guide and an article about the county's tax work -off program by Katy Mason. Kathy Schuster — RSVP: On a trial baisis, RSVP has added some fresh fruits and vegetables from the food bank to their frozen food weekly delivery. What is the difference in RSVP frozen meal delivery and Meals on Wheels delivery? RSVP MOW State/Fed funded United Way, Grants & donors must be 60+ more lenient frozen meals hot meals weekly delivery daily delivery donation only sliding scale payments must be 600 cal. & 1/3 daily allowance less restrictive prepared and shipped from Florida prepared locally at hospital do not have special diets can accommodate special needs RSVP is starting a new Handyman program in conjunction with the Sertoma Club. Handyman services are being offered to the agencies that have a relationship with RSVP (known as stations). This is not the same as the Handyman service provided to individual clients. The Director of RSVP, Diane Stobnicke, expressed an interest in co -sponsoring the elder abuse "Community Chat" proposed by the HRC. B. Senior Center Expansion Committee report — Barbara Schoenberger confirmed that Bud Herin, Chair, has retired from the Senior Center Expansion Committee; Bud has agreed to remain on the Expansion Committee until a replacement can be found.. The committee continues to work with the marketing company to refine their message and prepare for the launch of the campaign. The committee is actively seeking individuals who are committed to the expansion project offering not only funds, but enthusiasm for, and education about the Sr. Center Expansion to the public at large. A kick-off event is scheduled at the Senior Center on March 24`h , 5p.m. to 6:30p.m. with food and beverage provided. C. Social meeting with Mayor & City Council It was agreed that the Art Show at the Senior Center provides a good venue for a social meeting between the SAB and the Mayor & City Council members. The Art Show is scheduled this year for Friday, May 1S`, 4p.m. to 6p.m. Additional planning and discussion are to occur at the March SAB meeting. D. Plan for attending City Council meetings New members and members, who have never attended a Council meeting, are encouraged to attend a meeting E. Monthly presentations at SAB meetings No presentation is planned for the March SAB meeting. IX. Other Business A. The first Bridging the Gap committee meeting is scheduled for February 181h, 12 noon at the Senior Center. B. Barbara Schoenberger spoke about the accreditation process for the Senior Center. Members of the SAB are invited to a breakfast at the Sr. Center on Feb. 191h at 6:30, when the accreditation official is in Fort Collins for the on -sight review. X. Adjourn Submitted by: nn'^ Karen'Bryner, Rec6rding Secretary Marcia Richards, Chair Kathy Schuster, Secretary