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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesCity of Oshkosh Community Development Department Senior Services Division Oshkosh Seniors Center 200 N. Campbell Rd. Oshkosh, WI 54902 Mark Ziemer (920) 232 -5300 (920) 232 -5307 FAX Director, Senior Services CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OSHKOSH SENIORS CENTER MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2009 PRESENT: Claude Benedict, Don Christman, Bob Cornell, Ellen Hofeldt, Dennis Penney Judy Pierson, Ralph Nielsen, John Hauser, Barb Goldthwaite, Don Wolter, Judy Troudt EXCUSED: Toni Anand, Dale Sonnenberg, Donna Pipkorn STAFF: Mark Ziemer, Director of Senior Services, Gerry Haverty, Office Assistant, and Jason Hubbard, UWO student intern Meeting was called to order by Ralph Nielson at 1 pm. President Nielsen called for approval of the September 28, 2009 minutes. There was a correction made by Bob Cornell that evaluations of Board members were tabled. To become president of the board, a person must have served on the board for at least one year; minutes were corrected. There was a motion by Mr. Benedict for approval of the September minutes as corrected. It was seconded by Ms. Goldthwaite. The motion carried. CORRESPONDENCE: No report. FACILITIES COMMITTEE: Don Wolter stated the next meeting would be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 9 am. Don has a new member for his committee, Jean Zimmerman. FUND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: No report. GOVERANCE COMMITTEE: Bob Cornell explained the two evaluations being discussed for the board; the first is for OSC Board as a whole, and the second is a self evaluation of board members. Available answers are Yes, No, and Unsure, and space will be left available for written suggestions and input. The evaluations will be handed out at the May meeting, and the information collected will be available at the June meeting. COMMITTEE ON AGING: Mr. Benedict shared about presentations by speakers regarding the 211 service. Mark encouraged people to try the service. Mr. Benedict spoke about CHIP (Community Health Improvement Plan). Mark and Paula are on the committee. The purpose of the committee is to identify community wide health priorities. The Gatekeeper program was introduced, this is a new program. The committee is trying to get more information on this program. Mr. Benedict discussed the idea of conducting a survey of seniors who have aging issues and need help and /or assistance. The idea of asking for help from a UWO department was mentioned. Mr. Benedict mentioned an article he read in the paper about one in every five seniors is living on one income of social security. This could be where help is needed. The education committee is working on having a speaker come to every other meeting to educate the board on community programs available. FRIENDS: No report. DIRECTORS REPORT: Mark attended the Ombudsman training. When training is completed, it is a once a week visit, 1 -3 hours, visiting an assigned nursing home or assisted living home to meet with the person assigned to you and check out their environment. The training was very well done; Mark encourages anyone interested to sign up for this program. Mark has been the interim director at the city health dept for one month. Medical background is not necessary as a temporary director, as the appointment was made by City Manager, Mark Rohloff. The State of Wisconsin has given the city six months to find a director. Mark is working with the health department in setting up H1 N1 clinics. The community clinic is planned to be held at the Seniors Center. Don Wolter questioned why the Seniors Center is under Community Development and who is in charge when Mark is not here. Mark requested the first person for people to report to is Molly Butz, followed by Sara Barndt or Gerry Haverty. The Library and Museum are their own departments. Mark would like to see the Seniors Center as its own department. This is the third month without Laurin Hoffmann, our maintenance person, who has been out on medical leave. Department of Corrections comes to the center to work on inside and outside projects decided by staff and the facilities committee. Workers are here from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. including lunch. We are in need of volunteers to supervise the workers. Ellen shared that it was not difficult to supervise the men as they worked. Judy Brewer is currently in charge of scheduling when they are at the Center. We hosted the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Group District meeting at the Seniors Center. Bella Vista catered the food for that meeting. Thirty people attended, including local and state elected officials. Greg Underheim and other representatives from national offices attended. Steve Hall gave a piano performance at the Center. Attendance was very good. Molly and Judy scheduled an evening dance. There is another afternoon dance scheduled for December. Attendance is significantly down; more discussion will take place within the program department. The Granny Smith event was successful. Barb Goldthwaite and Mark both participated in the run. One hundred people attended, however we need additional help to make this a bigger event, increase attendance, and raise more money. Our goal is to raise as much money as the Animal Shelter does for its walk. The Seniors Center raised approximately $1000. Donna Pipkorn had contact with Mark and final figures for the Fall Family Fun Fest, after all expenses, and is between $6,000 to $7,000. Mark has had several interviews with persons applying for the Volunteer Coordinators position. By word of mouth, people have been sending in their resumes. Mark intends to advertise this position in the newspaper. This is a 25- hour per week position. Mark challenges every board member to do more to help move projects forward more quickly. The fund development committee is facing challenges. Mark attended the Friends meeting with a list of 8 -12 different funding ideas. There is currently not a program in place for planned giving through the Friends. Mark encouraged bringing people to the Center who can donate major gifts. The Seniors Center continues to face the stigma of "bingo" and "cards now is the time to educate people on the value of the Center and raise awareness of our need for money. Mr. Wolter stated that the city manager established the Friends in 1986 separately from the Seniors Center specifically so the director would not have to fundraise. Mr. Wolter questioned why we have a fund development committee. Mark responded the fund development committee was created out of the board of directors to advance ideas on fund raising. Mr. Tom Spanbauer, president of the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center, is working on FOSC by -laws, board terms, and recruiting new members with new ideas. Mark is encouraging all committees and the FOSC to be more aggressive in their fundraising efforts. In a response from the committee asking what can be done, Mark stated the Friends currently give the Center $30,000 a year; however we need to continue to grow our programs and double that amount. Mr. Cornell suggested the idea of a meeting with the FOSC board and OSC board of directors. Mark will follow -up on this meeting suggestion. OLD BUSINESS: Mark said the Wii systems are set up in both buildings with a large flat screen television. They were purchased through the Women's Division donation. Other Seniors Centers are ready to challenge us to bowling, golf and other activities that come with the gaming system. NEW BUSINESS: Bob Cornell asked where the new recumbent bike came from in the north building. The bike was purchased from an anonymous donation. CONTINUING EDUCATION: No report. ADJOURNMENT: Motion made to adjourn by Dennis Penney seconded by Don Wolter. Unanimous. Motion carried. Respectively Submitted Gerry Haverty Office Assistant