Council on Aging, September 7, 2017
HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Conference Room – Senior Center
Present: Susan Sullivan, Faye Ellis, Wayne Howard, Maureen Locke, Eric Johansen, Rick Mansfield, Rebecca Tornblom, Peter Lukes, Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.
The Meeting was called to order by Sue Sullivan at 8:00 a.m.
The Minutes from the June 1, 2017 meeting were approved and accepted.
F.H.C.O.A. REPORT
Faye reported the account balances as follows:
Commerce Bank $16,235.96
Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.) $2,849.26
Leominster Credit Union C.D. $24,206.46
LCU Trip Account $6,725.45
Faye reported that the Friends purchased pens for the seniors and 3rd grade pen pals for a total amount of One Hundred Nine ($109.00) Dollars. Seven Hundred Thirty-four ($734.00) was paid for the bus to transport the pen pals from the Mayo School to the Senior Center for the pen pal party in June. The Friends’ portion of the bill for the senior prom at Wachusett High School was Five Hundred Thirty ($530.00) Dollars.
The Friends’ Fair will be held on Saturday, November 4th. Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars was raised during the weekend of Holden Days for the café on Friday, the table rentals for Holden Days and the cart on that day.
The Café is averaging 30-35 people each week. Some of the seniors that had been going to McDonalds for morning coffee are now coming here to the café.
The Friends contributed One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars to Clare’s programs for FY18. A donation was made in memory of Nancy Owens in the amount of Fifty ($50.00) Dollars. Sue Donaldson will fill the position on the board vacated by Nancy Owens.
The trip policy was discussed at the Friends’ meeting and some changes will be made to the way trips are reserved. This will be spelled out in the newsletter.
State and Federal taxes were filed, and the accountant was paid Nine Hundred ($900.00) Dollars.
HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT ~ Jim Robinson
No representation.
BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield
Rick attended the Elder Services of Worcester board meeting in June. He is on the board again and would like to try and get involved with the service committee. There will be more implications of programs and a new initiative with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. They are also working on a centralized intake update.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau
JULY EVENTS
Tuesday, July 4 … Closed in observance of Independence Day
Monday, July 10 … Emergency Preparedness.
Wednesday, July 12 … Country Western Concert w/Dawn & Dick Kelly
Thursday, July 20 … Book Discussion Group read the book The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
Monday, July 24 … Holden Professional Firefighters Luncheon and Information
Wednesday, July 26 … The Main Event Concert w/Bill Sbrogna
AUGUST EVENTS
Monday, August 14 … Emergency Preparedness
Wednesday, August 16 … Annual Senior Picnic
Monday, August 21 … Wachusett Community Band Concert
Wednesday, August 23 … Zentangle
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Friday, September 1 … Morning Glory Café closed in observance of Labor Day
Monday, September 4 … Closed in observance of Labor Day
Monday, September 11 … Free Legal Clinic … 10:30-12:30 … Attorney Arthur Bergeron of the firm Mirick O’Connell will offer free 15 minute legal consultations. If you have a legal question, please call 508-210-5570 to make your appointment. Appointments are required - no walk-ins.
Wednesday, September 13 … Mini Dish Garden Class … We invite you to join us as we welcome Tina Bemis from Bemis Nurseries in Spencer. Tina will offer a class in creating a miniature dish garden. The cost of the class is $5.00 per person. All materials will be provided.
Monday, September 18 … Protecting Your Home … 1:00 p.m. … Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm Mirick O’Connell will be here with a presentation. Topics include new case law regarding irrevocable trusts, MassHealth qualifications and protecting your home. Free and open to all.
Wednesday, September 20 … Scrabble … 10:15 a.m. … It’s a great way to spend the morning - having fun & keeping your mind sharp! You’re invited to bring a friend or even two!! Scrabble games will be provided.
Wednesday, September 20 … Flu Shot Clinic … 1:00-3:30 … This is the first of two Flu Shot Clinics we will hold. Please remember to bring your insurance card with you. The clinic is open to Holden elders and town employees. A very big thank you to our friends at Walgreen’s Pharmacy for providing this clinic.
Thursday, September 21 … Book Discussion Group … 10:00 … Our Book Discussion Group will be reading The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarity.
Monday, September 25 … Whistler & His Women … 1:00 … A handful of women had significant roles in the life of painter James McNeill Whistler, including his mother. Follow fascinating stories of Whistler and these ladies and learn about the artist’s works which portrayed them. This program will be presented by Vicky Aberhart, a Shrewsbury resident, and assisted by Linda Miller of Holden. Both women are docents at the Worcester Art Museum.
Wednesday, September 27 … Adult Coloring … 1:00-3:00 … Join us for Adult Coloring. We have a large variety of coloring books to choose from. All supplies will be provided or you’re welcome to bring your own. A delightful way to spend an afternoon. You’re welcome to bring a friend.
Thursday, September 28 … Pen Pal Party … 2:00 … Our annual meet and greet for our Pen Pal Program will be held at the Mayo School, 351 Bullard Street. Please remember, we ask you not to bring a gift for your pen pal and per school department regulations, no refreshments will be served. This wonderful and enjoyable event should last approximately 45-60 mins. Please call the Senior Center if you are UNABLE to attend so we can arrange for another person to sit with your student.
Thursday, September 28-Friday, October 6 … Absolutely Amateur 2017 Photo Contest … We invite all you “photo bugs” to enter our Annual Absolutely Amateur Photo Contest. The contest is open to elders 60 and over who are Holden residents or members of the Holden Senior Center. Amateurs may submit up to three (3) photos. Original photos of nature, scenes and wildlife of the Wachusett area (no pets or people). Photo size 3”x5” up to 11”x14”, matted or not (no frames please). Photos must be brought to the Holden Senior Center by 11:00 a.m. on Thurs., Sept. 28 and retrieved by noon on Friday, October 6. Identification must be affixed to back of the photo. We will have winners in the categories of Best in Show; Color Category (first, second, third); Black and White Category (first, second and third). This year we welcome Shirley Odorski and Dawn Ringquist, both multi-time winners of the contest as our judges.
Wednesday, October 4 … Public Power Week Luncheon … 12:00 noon … The Holden Municipal Light Department will once again host a luncheon in recognition of Public Power Week for HOLDEN SENIORS ONLY. Our menu will be grilled steak tips, smashed potatoes, vegetable, rolls and butter, dessert and beverage. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 508-210-5570. Reservations will be accepted through Thursday, September 28 or until we reach capacity.
ASSUMPTION COLLEGE STUDENT
For 8 weeks this summer, we were pleased to welcome Jen Brenner, a master’s student at Assumption College doing her practicum in Health Advocacy concentrating in assisting elders and also a member of Holden’s CERT Team. She presented two programs on emergency preparedness and “shadowed our outreach workers, learning what kinds of things they do and issues they encounter. She chose a Senior Center as compared to a health care/insurance agency in order to be exposed to more experiences than simply health advocacy.
VAN FARE INCREASE
In June, the WRTA voted to raise its fees. Beginning July 1, 2017 fees for both of our vans were raised as follows: Fares to all destinations in Holden will be $1.50 one way with an extra $.25 each way for one town out. The fare for each additional stop is $1.00/stop. For example to be picked up at home and brought to the Big Y and return home would be $3.00. The fare for one town out will be $1.75 each way. For example, to be picked up at home and brought to a destination in Worcester and back would cost $3.50. The fare for each additional stop will also be $1.00/stop.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT FOR TRIPS
Beginning August 1st, registration and payment for trips will no longer be taken at the Receptionist’s window. Registering and paying for trips can now be done in the following ways:
1) In person at the Holden Senior Center on Mondays from 1-3 p.m.,
Wednesdays from Noon-2 p.m. or Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
OR at the Rutland Senior Center, 53 Glenwood Road, Rutland
on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.;
2) You can drop your registration information and payment in the drop box
located in the lobby of the Holden Senior Center next to the carousel of trip flyers
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The box will be emptied daily and each
entry dated;
3) By mail addressed: Holden Senior Center, 1130 Main Street, Holden, MA 01520.
Envelopes will be dated on the day they are received. Please put the word “TRIP” on your
envelope.
FARMER’S MARKET COUPONS
For the first time in many years, we were able to put in our newsletter that a representative from Elder Services would be here to distribute farmer’s market coupons to those who qualify. I am pleased to report that all of the coupons were distributed. Not every market takes the coupons, so we have scheduled two opportunities for elders to take the van to a market in Worcester that accepts them.
MCOA REGIONAL REP
Louise received a request from MCOA to become 1 of 3 regional representatives from the Central Mass area. Basically that means that Louise will have to attend a minimum of 4 meetings/year (perhaps more depending upon circumstances). After attending these meetings, it will be Louise’s job to keep other Central Mass directors informed of what she learned at the meetings.
FORMULA GRANT AND ANNUAL REPORT
The Formula Grant from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs is not yet complete. Usually, at this point, its budget would have been completed, submitted and all the moneys allocated and Louise would have moved on to completing the Annual Report. This year the line item for the Formula Grant was reduced and EOEA has not decided what the dollar amount per elder on which our grants are based should be. They are allowing us to utilize the moneys as far as salaries go, however. So, Louise has the Annual Report 99% finished and will meet the deadline for its completion and submittal.
MCOA CONFERENCE
This year’s MCOA Conference will be held October 18-20 in Danvers. Maureen and Louise will be going for all 3 days. While we are gone, we will bring in volunteers to help Clare and Mary run the office. If you’d like to see what workshops are being offered you can go to www.mcoaonline.com and click on Preliminary Conference Booklet. If you’d like to attend all of any part of the conference, please let Maureen or Louise know, such that we can get you registered. There are grant moneys available to pay for conference fees.
FRIENDS OF HCOA MEMBERSHIP LIST
Maureen has once again taken over keeping the membership list. This just seems to make more sense in that members come to the window to ask if their dues have expired. This way we have a current list from which to obtain this information.
CARPETS
It appears that we are finally going to receive our new carpets. It was a long time coming but Louise’s understanding is that they will be starting the week of September 18.
CLEANING COMPANY
As you have noticed on your way in, the employees from the DPW are once again cleaning the buildings. The cleaning company was released from their contract. It is Louise’s understanding that a new cleaning company will be coming on board soon.
SAD NEWS
Louise suggested that board members send cards or get-well wishes to former COA director Cindy Beck.
NUMBERS FROM JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST
JUNE
Emma Riffelmacher Concert – 30
Katie Greene Storyteller – 50
JULY
Emergency Preparedness – 15
The Main Event Concert – 40
Holden Professional Firefighters Luncheon – 56
Country Music Concert – 32
AUGUST
Emergency Preparedness – 14
Wachusett Community Band – 27
Zentangle – 16
Annual Picnic - 97
Next Meeting: Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
CITIZENS ADDRESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 a.m.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Buffone