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Minutes 05-04-09 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 4, 2009, AT 3:00 P.M. AT THE SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Denise Chamberlain, Chair Steve Lulkin, City Liaison Bernice Begleiter Lillian Bruzzese Elizabeth Jenkins Rose Love Betty Spinelli Absent: Virginia O'Connell I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll. IV. Approval of Agenda Motion Ms. Spinelli moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Bruzzese seconded the motion that passed unanimously. V. Approval of Minutes The following correction was requested: Page 2, under "Silver Alert Update," change "Bonds" to "Barnes." Motion Ms. Love moved to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2009 meeting as amended. Ms. Begleiter seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 1 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 4, 2009 VI. Chairperson's Remarks ?Memberships – Still need alternates Chair Chamberlain stressed the need to fill the open alternate positions. Anyone interested in serving should be encouraged to apply. VII. Old Business ?Update – "Community for a Lifetime" The Community for a Lifetime Committee had been meeting monthly and was currently working on a survey to be provided to seniors for the purpose of assessing City services. The questions to be included would have to be further defined, but would focus on safety, crime, education, healthcare and cultural activities. It was suggested the areas of focus would be rated as follows: Very important ? Important ? Not important ? No opinion ? The Board members suggested "other" be substituted for "no opinion," in the rating criteria. Chair Chamberlain would convey the Board's suggestion at the next Community for a Lifetime Committee meeting. Also to be discussed was the method by which the survey would be distributed. Previous suggestions included the City's website and newsletter, and the Senior Center newsletter. Chair Chamberlain noted High Point, the community in which she resides, now had their own closed-circuit television through Comcast Cable. She would attempt to contact the various developments to determine whether they provided this service as well. If so, the survey could be posted on the closed-circuit channel, and viewers could send their responses to the Senior Center. This would be discussed further by the Committee. ?Update – Flyer and letter sent to Boynton Beach Community High School Color flyers were provided last week to the High School notifying sophomores and juniors of volunteer opportunities at the Center and community service hours to be earned. Volunteers would be provided with an orientation at the High School. 2 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 4, 2009 Feedback had been provided by attendees at the Center, and it was noted the nursing school students who had recently volunteered at the Center had not interacted with the seniors, and mostly chatted among themselves. As such, it was agreed volunteers should be provided with assigned responsibilities. A letter was sent inviting clubs and organizations at the High School to provide a presentation or show for the seniors at the Center. This would provide an opportunity for the students to interact with the senior generation while accruing community service hours. It was suggested the students assist the seniors with computers. Chair Chamberlain noted computer classes were provided at the Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for those wishing to acquire computer skills. Seniors utilizing the computer room on Tuesday and Thursday were computer savvy and did not really require assistance. VIII. New Business ?Discussion of possible "roles" for high school seniors in intergenerational programs at the Center Suggestions included the following: Setting up interviews. The students could interview the seniors ? and the seniors could interview the students. These interviews could be included in a newsletter or other forum. Assisting the seniors in decorating and serving refreshments at ? holiday times and at parties. Posting flyers. ? Socializing, chatting, and playing cards, mah jong, pool and other ? games. Interaction between the seniors and students. Students could gain ? firsthand knowledge about the Great Depression and World Wars I and II, while the students could converse about the current recession and world problems. Assist the seniors with letter writing, journaling and scrapbooking. ? Mr. Lulkin noted a new "how-to" program would be offered on creating memory books. The class would be instructed by a resident. 3 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 4, 2009 ?New ideas from members relating to any senior problems. Chair Chamberlain had been advised by Mr. Lulkin of equipment installed in buildings similar to auto hazard lights that would alert paramedics to a location at which medical attention was needed. Chair Chamberlain had contacted the Fire and Police Departments, and they were not aware of that type of apparatus. Fire and Police vehicles contained Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to facilitate shorter response times. The Fire Department staff did suggest addresses on buildings and residences be bold, as this would assist Fire and Police in rescue efforts. Seniors living alone were often the targets of scam artists attempting to take control of their finances. In such circumstances, it was suggested appropriate agencies be contacted such as Health and Human Services, the Elder Hot Line, and Children and Family Services. Churches often worked with abuse investigators for the elderly, and staff at the Senior Center would be able to provide resources as well. References should be checked for anyone moving into someone's home to assist the elderly. Churches could be called to enlist teen volunteers to assist seniors during the hurricane season. Those calling for assistance could make a donation to the church while helping students to earn community assistance credits. Other ideas offered by the Board were as follows: Placing a list of emergency telephone numbers, medications and ? physicians on the refrigerator; Having a handyman on call; and ? Installing a Life Alert system. ? ?Senior Center report – Steve Lulkin Mr. Lulkin reported the following: 1,050 people had been registered at the Center from October to the ? present date. While many of the "snowbirds" had returned home, the Center was still ? providing lunches for 70 people each day, and an average of 150 people attended the Center daily. 4 Meeting Minutes Senior Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida May 4, 2009 . Classes were well attended, and the computer classes had been booked since September. . The Volunteer Recognition Dinner was held last week, with 76 people attending, including Vice Chair Hay, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Recreation and Parks Director, and Parks Superintendent. Five- year awards had been presented to the volunteers. (Ms. Begleiter left the meeting at 3:50 p.m.) . The Mother's Day event and Ice-Cream Social would be held this Thursday, from 1 :00 p.m. to 3 p.m., and a vocalist would be on hand to entertain. . All of the improvements to the building had been completed, as had the final grant report. The first reimbursement had already been received and staff was awaiting reimbursement for the remaining items. The next meeting of the Senior Advisory Board would be held on November 2, 2009. Chair Chamberlain noted the Board would no longer be meeting in September. IX. Adjournment Motion Ms. Bruzzese moved to adjourn. Ms. Spinelli seconded the motion that passed unanimously. The meeting properly adjourned at 3:56 p.m. /;. c-.' ~';'. r , ',:.t.: C-=. .i: J,I"!.!~_J i-~ Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 050609 5