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Minutes 05-15-06 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 15, 2006, AT 3:00 P.M. AT THE SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Denise Chamberlain, Chair Lillian Bruzzese Elizabeth Jenkins Rose Love Robert James Betty Spinelli, Alternate Steve Lulkin, City Liaison Absent: Leota Suah Christine Wilson I. Call to Order Chair Chamberlain called the meeting to order at 3: 10 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. IV. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved as presented. V. Approval of Minutes Motion Ms. Bruzzese moved to approve the minutes of March 6, 2006 as presented. The motion was duly seconded and passed unanimously. VI. Chairperson's Remarks A. Introduction of Guests Chair Chamberlain introduced Sheila Pechman, representing RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, part of the Area Agency on Aging. Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 15, 2006 B. Update on Membership Chair Chamberlain mentioned there was an opening on the board for an Alternate, and she encouraged the board members to recruit among their friends. C. Certificates Chair Chamberlain distributed Certificates of Appreciation to the board members who were not present at the recent City Board Dinner. VII. Old Business A. Survey Results The board was surprised at the small amount of feedback they received from the survey. They distributed 700 copies of the survey to City facilities, housing complexes, and churches. They received survey r~sponses back from only nine people. Among the responses, two wished to be drivers, and the rest were interested in clerical work. None of the respondents listed the housing complex in which they lived, but all respondents gave their names and addresses. B. Church Responses The pastor of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church was willing to consider the program but needed more information. The senior woman's group, Senior Saints Ministry, of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church meets on the third Saturday of the month at the church at 10:00 a.m. A meeting was scheduled for June 22 at the Church. Representatives from the Senior Advisory Board and RSVP will go and provide detailed information about the program. Ms. Pechman of RSVP planned to bring application forms for RSVP, since all volunteers in a We Care had to be members of RSVP, partly for insurance purposes. Ms. Pechman believed the next step would be to call people to solicit volunteers and she thought calls to the churches might lead to this information. Chair Chamberlain was dubious that this would succeed. Chair Chamberlain also noted that the boards of most of the City's housing complexes were not functional from May through September, so this might not be a good time to call them. Chair Chamberlain spoke to someone at Colonial Club, who wanted more information but not until November 2006. Ms. Pechman still believed friendly calls should be made, starting with the churches, to see who might be interested in the program. Chair Chamberlain read the letter from Elizabeth Jenkins to "The Pastors of Boynton Beach," explaining what the We Care program was all about and requesting to send them information outlining the program in more detail. After receiving it, she hoped they would lend their support. Everyone thought the letter was excellent and thanked Ms. Jenkins for writing it. A copy of the letter is attached to the minutes of this meeting. Ms. Love wanted more information on the insurance aspects of the program, because she was sure the woman's group at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church would want to know. The 2 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 15, 2006 response was that the person who drives the car is covered by his or her own insurance. If there were to be something not covered by that insurance, R.S.V.P. would step in as a secondary insurance. Ms. Pechman also noted a person using the service usually signs a waiver stating they would not sue if something happened. VIII. New Business A. Discussion of Survey Responses & We Care Chair Chamberlain thought before meeting with the churches, they should meet with the nine respondents to the survey to tell them more about the program and what would be expected of them. Ms. Pechman thought that was a good idea - to get the people together, tell them the vision, and how it could get started. Ask them for suggestions, she said. The date of June 26 was agreed to for this meeting. Ms. Pechman felt that once the board started making presentations to homeowners associations, the program would naturally grow. It was decided to have a meeting with the nine respondents to the survey at the Senior Center at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 26. Chair Chamberlain commented the board had to arrange for a telephone to be used at the Senior Center when the We Care program got started. They had previously discussed getting a cell phone. It was mentioned that volunteers could also call from their homes, but it was felt a central place was best. Ms. Pechman offered to ask at RSVP for suggestions about the telephone. Ms. Brusseze noted that Boynton Beach Leisureville did not have a We Care organization, but Palm Beach Leisureville did, so perhaps they would like a presentation on it. The board will start calling on associations in the Fall. B. New Info Sheet on Available Transportation Chair Chamberlain spoke of the need for a single-sheet listing of all the different transportation possibilities available for seniors, including the telephone numbers and pertinent facts. The information was now available in a series of pamphlets and brochures, which was not practical. She envisioned that this could be made available in churches, at the Senior Center and in local stores like Publix and Walgreens. The Palm Tran Connection is a bus that takes people to and from doctor appointments, but there is a 4-5 page application that has to be filled out initially. Also, you have to be over 70 years of age to use it. (These two facts could be put on the flier as an aid.) Mr. James noted that his complex, Village Royale on the Green, paid $43K for a bus that goes once a week to various supermarkets. Now there was also the Shopper Hopper, and the trolley that also serve his complex. Mr. Lulkin noted a new transportation company was coming to Florida, a private enterprise. They were proposing a $30 annual fee and $1 a mile. He offered to provide the information to the Chair, who could distribute it to the board members. He would keep the board advised of developments. 3 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 15, 2006 Persons 80 years of age and older can get a free pass from Palm Tran to use its services all over the City. ReDOrt on the Senior Center Mr. Lulkin commented that if the Senior Advisory Board wanted to put an article in the Senior Center newsletter at any time, he would be happy to take care of it. The next issue would be in July. The board thought information about We Care would be a good choice for an article. Mr. Lulkin noted he had to have the information for the article by the second week in June. The Senior Center registered 735 participants from January through April this year. Mr. Lulkin noted the accreditation package had been sent out in February, but had been returned for some requested revisions. They hoped to complete the revisions and mail it back out in the week following this meeting. The movie that was partially filmed at the Senior Center, the Boynton Beach Club, was discussed. Many members had enjoyed seeing it and found it thrilling to see the Senior Center in the movies. A volunteer recognition breakfast was held. A Mother's Day show and ice cream social was held and it was very successful. IX. Adjournment The board decided to skip the September meeting and have their next meeting on November 6. The meeting was duly adjourned at 4: 15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ti1'- ~., Susan Collins Recording Secretary (052406) 4