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Minutes 09-11-95 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1995, AT 4:00 P.M. PRESENT Elizabeth Collins, Chairwoman Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant Raymond Eney to the City Manager Geraldine Graham Beth Bailey, Public Information Edgar Sackett Officer Esther Stranahan ABSENT James McMahon, Alternate 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Collins called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited, followed by a moment of silent prayer. 3. ROLL CALL Attendance was noted. 4. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Mr. Eney moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Stranahan seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion Ms. Graham moved to approve the minutes of the June 5, 1995 meeting as submitted. Mr. Eney seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. 6. REVIEW OF SURVEY FOR SENIORS Chairwoman Collins advised that in May, 1995, a survey was placed in the library and other places. She received nine responses through the mail. They all wanted a senior center. They added things like a cafeteria for seniors, and trips. Chairwoman Collins said she talked to people on her own and asked them what they thought about a senior center and they thought it was a good idea. One lady said she already lives in a retirement community; however, she would like to be involved with the senior center. Chairwoman Collins stated that people have told her they have a clubhouse, but if you are alone and do not have a lot of friends, there is nowhere to go if you do not play cards. She said we never received responses from the churches. At this point in the meeting, Ms. Bailey arrived. Ms. Stranahan suggested placing the survey in the newspaper. Chairwoman Collins said the Board needs a place where the people could mail their responses to, such as a box in the lobby of City Hall. Ms. Stranahan offered to use her address for responses. Chairwoman Collins will contact the Boynton Times. She did not think the Board should ask the City Commission for a senior center if there is no support. At this time, Mr. Hawkins introduced Beth Bailey. Chairwoman Collins pointed out that the people wanted public transportation; however, the buses are not being used as they should. She suggested trying out a senior center on a trial basis by using a storefront or a room in the Civic Center to see if people will use it. Ms. Stranahan suggested advertising the buses in the newspaper occasionally, and putting out a simplified bus schedule. She felt the one that was previously put out is very complicated. Chairwoman Collins stated that maybe the buses can be publicized more now that Ms. Bailey has been hired. Chairwoman Collins advised that there is going to be a health fair at the Publix on Congress Avenue on Friday, December 1, 1995, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is being sponsored by all the stores in that shopping center and it is going to be geared to seniors. She suggested the Board set up a table at this health fair to let the people know about this Board, to push the buses by giving out free bus tickets, and to have them fill out the survey regarding the senior center. She also suggested reminding the people about the buses in the Boynton Times, since it goes to every house. MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 11, 1995 7. GOALS FOR THE YEAR Chairwoman Collins suggested that "bus ridership" be one of the Board's goals for the year. Also, she felt that with the high rate of seniors in this City, we could support a senior center. However, she did not have anything to back that up with. She will recirculate the survey and hoped to have it put in the Boynton Times. Ms. Stranahan suggested putting it in the "Plus" section of the Sun-Sentinel. Chairwoman Collins advised that the Recreation Department has trips, but there is a limit on how many people can go. They also have exercise and aerobic classes. These activities are not advertised as well as they should be. These are things that the people said they wanted. She said somebody was interested in playing cards; yet that activity exists at the Madsen Center all day long. 8. ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS Ms. Stranahan and Chairwoman Collins pointed out that the seniors like bingo. Chairwoman Collins advised that the Recreation Department used to save the fourth Thursday of every month to hold an event for seniors, such as line dancing and bingo. Chairwoman Collins stated that Mae Volen gets a tremendous amount of money from the County, in addition to their own trust fund, and they are supposed to support the seniors in the South County. However, we are at the north end of that division, and the Mae Volen Center is too hard for our people to find and too far for them to drive to. She said they were going to come up and help us, but they wanted to charge us and we do not have any money. Chairwoman Collins suggested having line dancing and bingo on the fourth Thursday in October (the 26th). She said there is plenty of time to publicize and try to get people to come and meet the Senior Advisory Board and other seniors, and find out what can we do to assist the seniors. She also suggested getting some of the children from Galaxy School to provide entertainment for the seniors. 3 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 11, 1995 Chairwoman Collins will send out the survey about the senior center again, and contact the Recreation department about the October 26 event. At her request, Ms. Graham will try to get the Edna Wallace dancers to entertain the seniors sometime this year. Chairwoman Collins suggested having bingo, along with entertainment or line dancing, every fourth Thursday of the month. Bingo and entertainment will be scheduled for October 26. Ms. Graham will try to get the Edna Wallace dancers for October, if not Chairwoman Collins will try to get one of the schools to entertain the seniors. Chairwoman Collins felt one of the Board's goals for this year should be to continue to find out the need for a senior center. She felt it would have to be open every day. Mr. Eney did not agree. He explained that there was a small senior center in Delray Beach that had many activities, including painting, computer, crochet classes, line dancing, arts and crafts, an annual Christmas party, free health fairs, luncheons, and support groups. They also had a little gift shop. They were well-funded and were only opened two days a week. It is now closed. He felt the Board's objectives for the year should be to continue with the monthly affairs. He pointed out that we have not gotten the support for a senior center. Secondly, he did not think the City would expend any money for a senior center. He said recreational facilities are basically funded by the County. The money is there, but you have to know how to get it. He said we need someone who knows how to get that money. Chairwoman Collins asked the members to think about what kind of a handout the Board can distribute at the health fair on December 1. She said perhaps Ms. Bailey could put together a flyer about the Senior Advisory Board. Also, maybe by then we will have a simpler bus schedule to pass out. Chairwoman Collins was also interested in trying to get all the seats filled on this Board. At Chairwoman Collins' request, Ms. Bailey told the Board a little about herself. She was a newspaper reporter in the Public Relations field for about 15 years. Most recently, she worked for the Sarasota County Government in the Public Information Office. She was also Public Affairs Director for the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program. She moved here in April. Ms. Bailey advised that the City of Sarasota has a wonderful senior center. It is called the Senior Friendship Center. It is a huge building and is only about five years old. It 4 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 11, 1995 started out small and has been able to maintain support for all these years. The community support for that center is tremendous. She will try to find out how that community was able to get that center. 9. OTHER None. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Eney moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Ms. Stranahan seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Eve Eubanks Recording Secretary (One Tape) 5