Council on Aging, December 3, 2015
HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Susan Sullivan, Richard Mansfield, Faye Ellis, Wayne Howard, Maureen Locke,
Rebecca Tornblom, Jim Robinson, Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.
Non-Members: Rita Brennan Olson.
The Meeting was called to order by Chairman Susan Sullivan at 8:00 a.m.
The Minutes from the November 5, 2015 meeting were approved and accepted.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Faye reported the account balances as follows:
Commerce Bank $15,702.05
Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.) $2,140.30
Leominster Credit Union C.D. $24,061.45
LCU Trip Account $4,906.36
The annual Friends’ Fall Fair took in just over $4,000.00.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT ~ Jim Robinson
Jim submitted a financial report for the period ending October 31, 2015. There were no donations during that time period, but there were 10 disbursements totaling $4,800.00. Jim received a verbal update with a total of $8,800.00 in donations since the October 31st report. Sue and Faye have been working with Paula and Cindy on requests for help. Father Tim talked about the Help at H.O.M.E. fund at Mass at St. Mary’s Church.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
Louise reported that Marilyn Burnham has resigned from the HCOA board. Jacquie Kelly will be looking at the Do Something Questionnaires to see if anyone has shown an interest.
Louise reminded the board about the Holden Senior Center Christmas Party on December 16th at Val’s.
Clare is collecting children’s hats and mittens for one of the Worcester schools that has many needy children.
DECEMBER PROGRAMS
Every Friday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. – The Morning Glory Café is open.
Monday, December 7 … 1:00 p.m. Christmas Concert with the Wachusett Community Band.
Friday, December 11 … 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker will be Dick White.
Thursday, December 10 … 9:00 a.m. This breakfast is held at Mountview School, 270 Shrewsbury Street and is for HOLDEN ELDERS ONLY. Reservations are required. All of you are eligible to attend. Please let Maureen or Louise know if you would like to attend.
Saturday, December 12 … 8:30 a.m. Wachusett Area Rotary Club Annual Christmas Breakfast at The Manor Restaurant, 42 West Boylston Street in West Boylston. The Wachusett Singers will be on hand to entertain. The breakfast is for elders from the towns of Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling, Boylston and West Boylston. All board members are eligible to attend. Please let Maureen or Louise know, and we will add you to the list.
Monday, December 14 … 11:00 a.m. Harpist Rebecca Swett will offer a concert.
Thursday, December 17 … 10:00 a.m. The Book Discussion Group will meet and discuss the works of Erma Bombeck.
Tuesday, December 29 … 1:00 p.m. New Year’s celebration as we host THE MAIN EVENT with Bill Sbrogna. Bill has entertained here before. He has always been well received, and we have received many requests for him to make a return visit.
WELCOME ABOARD
We welcome Steve Stewart as our new custodian. Steve joined us just before Thanksgiving and is a wonderful addition to our staff. He has worked with the DPW for many years and is a delight to work with. If you see him around the building, please introduce yourself and welcome him.
We also welcome Mary Sloan, who is presently a van driver. Mary will be promoted to Transportation Coordinator beginning January 1st, taking over the duties from Naomi who has decided to retire. Naomi, however, is still here so Louise hopes you will take a minute to thank her for her service and wish her well in this new chapter of her life.
A VERY BIG THANK YOU…
…goes to the Wachusett Area Rotary Club for their donation of 12 turkeys which Paula and Cindy delivered to elders and families less fortunate. Also a huge thank you to Rotary District 7910 for their donation of packaged meals which we are also distributing to elders and families who have fallen on difficult times.
NUMBERS FROM NOVEMBER
Fall Prevention Series – 45
Veterans Day Concert - 39
Home Cooked Lunch – 31
The Senior Center is closed from 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 24 until Monday, December 28 in observance of the Christmas Holiday. We will also be closed on January 1st, in observance of New Year’s Day.
On behalf of the Staff, Louise wished the Board a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2016.
OLD BUSINESS
Sue will be naming a needs assessment sub-committee after the first of the year and will be discussing this with Jacquie.
Sue asked Louise to check with Peter on safety issues in seniors taking food out of the building.
Sue will be away for the next scheduled meeting on January 7, 2016. Rick Mansfield will run the meeting in Sue’s absence.
NEW BUSINESS
Rick announced that he will once again be serving on the board of Elder Services as of January. He passed out an ESWA information sheet from their website showing the services offered. Rick suggested inviting a speaker from Elder Services to come in every other month or so to speak at our board meeting.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
Citizen Rita Brennan Olson was in attendance and asked if the meals were continuing to improve. Wayne Howard stated that they are improving, and they are having more good meals than bad. Rita told the Board that she has been in touch with Julia. Sue told Rita that we have to be careful, as the relationship with Elder Services is with the Town of Holden and the Senior Center, not their committee.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 a.m. Sue wished the Board a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone
S