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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 - Senior Advisory Board - Annual Report1 CITY OF FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD Annual Report 2011 Mission Statement: The Senior Advisory Board shall serve to help aging citizens live full and interesting lives so that they might continue to contribute, participate and share in the life of the community, as determined by the Fort Collins City Council. Outreach  In September, the Board held a joint luncheon meeting with the Senior Center Council, Mayor Karen Weitkunat and officials from the Parks and Recreation Department.  Members of the Board chaired the planning committee for the 23rd annual Bridging the Gap Networking Event, held in Fort Collins this year. It was well attended by 191 participants and with 52 exhibitors represented.  Members of the Board, in collaboration with the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, planned for an event in November to vision what makes Fort Collins an attractive community for retirees and how to continue to promote this.  Information from the Community Conversation for Growing Older in Fort Collins was added to the SAB Web page under fcgov.com.  Board members attended the Parks and Recreation Board Meeting in September to become better acquainted with this Board and their goals .  The Board’s Communication Committee created and produced a tabletop display and informational brochure about the SAB for use at networking and other community events. These were designed and printed by Columbine Health Systems.  Senior Advisory Board members participated in a host of area events for seniors: Bridging the Gap Growing Older in Fort Collins - Silver Tsunami As a Golden Opportunity 2011 Long Term Care Holiday Market at the Senior Center Human Relations Commission Breakfast Senior Center Expansion Annual Meeting Salute to Seniors Senior Art Show Senior Law Day Sundance Family Festival and Chili Cook-Off Aspen Club presentation “Amazing in Aging” Active in supporting events and activities for the Senior Center Expansion  Members of the Senior Advisory Board participated individually in a variety of ongoing activities in the community including: 2 Bridging the Gap Planning Committee Columbine Health Systems Elder Care Network Foundation on Aging Metropolitan Planning Office on Aging Advisory Council Parks & Recreation interface RSVP Grocery Delivery Program Senior Council First United Methodist Church Senior Center Member Senior Center Expansion Committee Senior Law Day, where the Board distributed information about its mission Transportation Planning Transit Task Force of UniverCity Connections Wellness Expo, where the Board had a table with information about its mission Total hours Board members volunteered for seniors in 2011 is 1,115 hours. Advocacy  Members of the Board attended a City Council to speak on behalf of seniors affected by changes to the Dial-A-Ride service area.  The Board offered feedback to Pete Wray on the City’s Pedestrian Plan.  The Board heard a presentation from Craig Foreman about Electric Assisted Bicycles on the City’s Paved Trails and offered feedback on the proposal.  Members of the Board attended a Senior Center Expansion Project Overview.  Mayor Karen Weitkunat attended the joint luncheon with the Senior Center Council and spoke about the anticipated dramatic increase of seniors nationally and locally, and therefore the importance of recreational and community planning for this upcoming change in demographics in Fort Collins.  Members of the Board, in collaboration with the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, planned for event(s) on November 10 and early 2012 to vision what makes Fort Collins an attractive community for retirees and how to continue to promote this.  Members of the Board spoke at two City Council meetings to update the Council on the November 10 event.  Board members presented information about the November 10 event at two City Council Tuesday meetings.  One SAB member serves on the Senior Center Expansion Committee and has kept the Board abreast of ongoing progress of the Expansion Project. 3  The Board submitted letters to the City Council addressing transportation issues for seniors.  The Board continued to highlight transportation issues relevant to seniors by working with the Transportation Board and transportation advocacy groups and by providing input to transit officials. This year Board members continued to advocate for transportation directly from Poudre Valley Hospital to Medical Center of the Rockies.  The Board sent letters to Senators Udall and Bennet and Representative Gardner requesting their support of S. 1942: The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act.  The Board sent an email to Aislinn Kottwitz (City Council liaison) expressing concerns that the recently adopted tiered billing system may cause undo hardship to some seniors and asking if there was a process to address hardship situations.   The SAB continued to participate in a supportive role in the Senior Center Expansion Project.  Board members attended public presentations, workshops and focus groups for the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. Communication  The Mayor and two members of City Council were invited to and attended the Art Show at the Senior Center to encourage interaction between elected officials and seniors in the community.  The Board provided key topics from our meetings to the women’s Commission for circulation to all interested City Boards and Commissions.  Guest Presentations: o Fort Collins Pedestrian Plan by Pete Wray. o Volunteers Of American Caregiver Support Program by Taylor Cobb. o Electric Assisted Bicycles on the City’s Paved Trails by Craig Foreman. o "The Right to Ride: Senior’s Fight for Transit in Fort Collins, CO" by Celene Van Buren. o Current status of Meals on wheels by Sheila Adams, Director of Meals on Wheels. o Mary Warring representing the Mobility Council which is planning to coordinate transportation providers (public, private and nonprofit), with the goal to ensure accessible transportation for everyone. o EMS "House Calls" by Ted Beckman. o The new Transfort bus schedule (with a change in format) by Holly Reynerson.  Senior Advisory Board members have served as liaisons to these boards, commissions, and groups: o AARP 4 o Affordable Housing Board o Alzheimer’s Association o Aspen Club o Bicycle Advisory Committee o Bridging the Gap Networking Event o Columbine Health Systems o Elder Care Network o Foundation on Aging o Front Range PC User Group o Golden K Kiwanis o Homeless Prevention Initiative o Human Relations Board o Larimer Center for Mental Health o Long Term Care o Mason Street Corridor project o Meals on Wheels o North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization o Office on Aging Advisory Council o Pathways Hospice o Poudre River Library o Professionals for Seniors o RSVP/VOA o Senior Center Council o Senior Center Expansion Committee o Senior Law Day o Transportation Board o UniverCity Connections o Women’s Commission breakfast meeting to develop/improve communication between boards and commissions.  The Senior Advisory Board recognized two outstanding seniors in the community by nominating the following: o Kathy Schuster for the Human Relations Award. o Bob Phillips for the Senior Service Award at the BTG Networking Event.