COUNCIL ON AGING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Present: Council on Aging Members Irving Goldberg, Virginia McIntyre, Jack Jordan, Lynne Waterman, Jack Dorsey, Jean Noussee, Marijo Gorney, Norah McCormack, Council on Aging Director, and Darlene Perkins, Outreach Coordinator
Absent: Mary Gaffney
Chairman Irving Goldberg opened the meeting at 8:35 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – September 11, 2013, October 10, 2013
Motion: Mr. Dorsey moved to approve the minutes of September 11 and October 10, 2013, seconded by Jean Noussee with one correction on the October 10 minutes. Vote unanimous
No Public Comments
COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Lynne Waterman distributed her report for the month of October. She highlighted her meetings with the Activity Coordinator and a new volunteer to plan a future program in genealogy; with staff from the Housing Assistance Corporation to plan a program on weatherization; with a local acupuncturist to plan a talk on this topic; and with staff from South Bay Mental Health to plan assertiveness training. She also spoke about the work being done on the Tax Work Off Program. There are 37 applications for 35 slots.
Lynne thanked DPW for doing the 5,000 mile check on the van and also for doing some small repairs. She also thanked the DPW for their work at the center. They did carpet cleaning, replaced filters in heating units, repainted lines in parking lot, replaced the roll over switch in one of the thermostats, fixed the main front door that was dragging. She also thanked the IT staff who replaced batteries for the back-up power for the telephone/cable lines and the water district who performed the twice yearly water meter reading and the fire alarm was tested by the alarm company.
Director Waterman also announced the new part time Office Assistant began her duties in October and she has already begun work on reformatting the newsletter.
The Director and Outreach Coordinator met with the new volunteer who is writing seniors’ biographies and with the volunteer who is continuing to update the Council on Aging’s Procedure and Policy Manual and with staff from a local companion agency who agreed to assist with the collating of the monthly newsletter.
The Director attended several meetings: Mashpee Cultural Council, Department Head, Human Services Committee, and Parkinson’s Support Network. She also met with staff from the District Attorney’s office to discuss their community service program. She also met with the President of Capers to discuss the holiday gift delivery and with the Human Service Director and staff from the Visiting Nurse Association to discuss the town contract and she also participated in a telephone interview to assist the Falmouth Council on Aging’s process to obtain a new senior center. Her upcoming goals are to continue working with the new office assistant to revamp the newsletter and to prepare the annual budget.
Motion: Jack Jordan moved to accept the Director’s report, seconded by Jack Dorsey. Vote unanimous.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Director Waterman distributed the Treasurer’s report. She reviewed the budget and noted the energy costs are expected to be significantly higher.
Motion: Jack Jordan moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Jean Noussee. Vote unanimous.
OUTREACH COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Darlene Perkins, Outreach Coordinator, distributed her report for October. She noted she attended the MCOA Conference in Sturbridge. The conference was well attended by other senior centers. She noted she attended workshops on issues that we are facing in our community and learning how other senior centers are working towards the same goals. Darlene noted she attended workshops on mental illness, hoarding, Medicare, health, and competence/guardianship.
Darlene reviewed her home visits as well as numerous client contacts by telephone and visits in the office. She reviewed the Brown Bag program and stated 20 seniors participated this month. She also attended an Emergency Preparedness presentation looking for information to share with our residence before winter is in full swing. She is looking to have the American Red Cross do a presentation at the senior center on this issue. Darlene will be including info in the December newsletter on emergency preparedness. There was a discussion on shelters and keeping seniors safe during storms. She continues to make referrals for homecare, medical insurance, housing, food and many daily activities to seniors who are struggling to stay sustainable within the community.
Darlene said she is meeting monthly with volunteers. The volunteer biographer, Marje Hecht has been working with one of our seniors to complete his story by his 90th birthday in November. Darlene also noted that we have a new volunteer driver and that 10 Mashpee residents turned 90+ and they received flowers delivered by volunteers which was much appreciated. Director Waterman invited the members of the council to go on these visits if they are interested and welcome to do so.
Darlene also listed the meetings she attended: Hoarding Task Force, Elder Services Board of Directors meeting, Outreach Coordinator meeting, Outreach at Mashpee High School with Director offering support to Seniors looking for ideas for their senior projects and she also met with Kathy Ganey, the public nurse. Darlene said that Lynne and she did an outreach at Mashpee High School for their senior project. The high school seniors get extra credit for working with us. Darlene said they started their holiday gifts and asked for volunteers to wrap gifts and deliver the gifts. The wrapping will be on November 17 and the delivery will be November 19. She also wanted to thank the men’s club who donated 20 $30 Stop and Shop gift cards for people who come in during the year who are in need.
Motion: Jack Jordan moved to accept the Outreach Coordinator’s Report, seconded by Jack Dorsey. Vote unanimous.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR REPORT
Director Waterman distributed the Volunteer Coordinator report and reviewed the report with the council members. She said we have 10 new volunteers to process the newsletter and three new volunteers for the receptionist desk We also have one new volunteer driver who will be taking Mashpee seniors to local medical appointments.
She noted we had a request from the police department for volunteers for their citizen’s police academy. Three volunteers helped out at the flu clinic at Christ the King in October and we have a request for 2 volunteers for their clinic in December...
Motion: Jack Jordan moved to accept the Coordinator’s report, seconded by Virginia McIntyre. Vote unanimous.
ACTIVITY COORDINATOR REPORT
Director Waterman distributed the Activity Coordinator report. Christine arranged a program on How to Save on Real Estate Taxes. 29 people attended. They also did the Soup Making for Men, the Travel Safety program. The Mashpee Police Department supplied a special travel safety tips brochure for all interested individuals. Sheila Curtis and Lucille Beagan from SHINE presented a special Medicare Open Enrollment program to 10 participants. Marilyn Farren presented a resume and cover letter program and this will be repeated again in February. The Octoberfest was a great success. 80 people enjoyed this event. The Comfort Keeper’s Wreath Making was attended by 20 which was the limit. Walgreens was here to discuss vaccinations for seniors. She said Walgreens
has been doing a great job. They are community focused and said we can call them anytime when we need something which is much appreciated.
Lynne requested that if anyone has any ideas for any activities or programs, to please let her know.
Motion: Jack Jordan moved to accept the Activity Coordinator’s Report, seconded by Jean Noussee. Vote unanimous.
Old Business
Jack Dorsey noted we still need another member for the Council on Aging.
New Business
Director Waterman noted they are looking for a new name for the newsletter. Two suggestions were Senior Experience at Mashpee or the Mashpee Connection. It was agreed to use The Mashpee Connection.
Director Waterman noted she will be including the number of new members each month in the newsletter. In October there were 12 new members. The community gardeners brought fabulous vases with flowers to the Senior Center. She sent them a thank you note.
Director Waterman said we have a subcommittee meeting tomorrow at 2:30 for room use. A request came in from a person who is looking to use a meeting room at the Senior Center every first Wednesday of the month from 1-3 for Reiki training. There was also a request from a business who wants to use a meeting room for an informational seminar. Following a discussion, Lynne thanked the members for their input and for giving her some direction.
Motion: Jack Dorsey moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jack Jordan. Vote unanimous.
Meeting adjourned 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Daigneault
Recording Secretary
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