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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA November finalCity of Oshkosh Community Development Department Senior Services Division Oshkosh Seniors Center 200 N. Campbell Rd. Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 232 -5300 (920) 232 -5307 FAX OSHKOSH COMMITTEE ON AGING MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2010 Mark Ziemer Director, Senior Services PRESENT: Kimberly Bauer, Corky Abraham, Claude Benedict, Lurton Blassingame, Kathryn Glander, Harold Singstock, Glenn Steinbrecher, Xandy Kloeckl, Ann Jungwirth, Ruth McGinley STAFF Mark Ziemer, Director of Senior Services, Mary Kay Rathe, Senior Connection Meeting called to order by Harold Singstock at 8 Today is an informal meeting as the agenda did not get posted 24 hours in advance. GUESTS: Sue Kreibich, Laurie Steffen, from The Ladies Benevolent Society CORRESPONDENCE: • Mark shared a letter of thank you from Corky Abraham for his receiving the Verl Franz Distinguished Leadership award and engraved clock. EDUCATION: • Ann Jungwirth introduced Sue Kreibich and Laurie Steffen from the Ladies Benevolent Society. Sue explained that the LBS are advocates for older adults and read their Mission and Vision statements. "The mission of the Ladies Benevolent Society. Advocates for Older Adults shall be to furnish financial assistance contributing to the health and well being of older adults presently residing in the Oshkosh area, to be determined by the Society ". Laurie gave the history of the LBS which is almost 150 years old. The original name was the Ladies Aid Society. They offered aid during the Civil War, were a "Home for the Friendless ", started what is now the Visiting Nurses Association and still offer help today through grant programs. Grants to the LBS are due the by February 1 St each year. Laurie talked of the possibility of a grant given to an organization to provide funds for urgent need type of help. Laurie's phone number is 751 -5121 and is the contact to start the grant process. Mark thought this may be something the Center would like to get involved with. Mark would like to develop a relationship between the OSC & LBS, as they seem to be a natural partnership for seniors Laurie stated that LBS will not sit on other boards. Sue noted that the OSC has a LBS publication in our library and that a copy can be purchased for $5. SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTOR COMMENTS: • Mark handed out the budget sheet from the Healthy Aging - Healthy Living 2010 Conference which was held on October 5 The budget showed a $10,922.38 carryover for the next senior conference. Next month COA will discuss their involvement in the next senior conference with a recommendation from the Planning Committee. • Mark is a member of the steering committee for the Life Study that the United Way and Oshkosh Community Foundation are coordinating. They were surveying a wide variety of seniors from Oshkosh, the Fox Valley and Green Bay. This is a regional approach to identifying gaps in services and the needs of seniors and all the issues. • The OSC 35 anniversary celebration was held the week of October 18 The formal gathering on Thursday was a big success; with a great turn -out of local dignitaries. OSC received a plaque from State of Wisconsin recognizing our 35 anniversary, as well as, a proclamation of "Oshkosh Seniors Center Week" by the city. • Mark spoke of a recent incident with a local senior who had multiple problems with his house. He did not have heat or electricity. The good news is that the UWO Hands on Oshkosh, OSC /LSS Senior Connection, Elderly Benefit specialist from the county and Mark worked together to start the process of resolving the most crucial problems. There are probably many other seniors in our community that could use some form of help. • The OSC annual budget is close to being finished. The city council budget workshop is Tuesday, November 16 • OSC has had outside organizations requesting placement on our volunteer application. Linda Verweil, OSC volunteer coordinator, is updating our application to include others outside of the Center. This further promotes the idea of civic engagement that the Center would like to embrace. • Mark Roloff has given his ok to fill the vacant OSC Office Assistant staff position with an Administrative Assistant. We are in the process of working on a job description and hope to hire in early January. • The Oshkosh Senior Center is now a Department in the city's organizational chart. • City council will determine if the city and county Health Departments will merge. They are getting input from a survey paid for and conducted by the county. Areas included are Neenah, Menasha and Oshkosh. BOARD PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS: • Harold Singstock suggested that COA have a monthly meeting on December 7 at 8 but no sub - committee meetings for December. • The executive committee has set a goal of updating the by -laws and having them ready approval at the April 2011 COA meeting. They would then be turned over to the city attorney, and finally, the city council. Committee members should give their input to Harold, Mark, Kathy or Lurton. • Harold posed the question to the committee on why sub - committees have to meet in person. Could items be handled by mail for review or corrections? Harold's hope is to get rid of some of the bureaucracy involved on the COA & sub- committees. • Handed out FOSC doll house raffle tickets to members. • Harold, Bob Cornell, and Ann Marie are meeting to discuss whether to have the Oshkosh Senior Center board report to the Committee on Aging. This issue affects the by -laws of both boards. • Brought up the idea of having a Christmas gathering with the other boards. The consensus was to pick a day in December for this event. • The by -law and annual reports are due to the city council in May 2011. Requested from the 3 COA sub - committees that they submit one paragraph stating what they worked on and /or what they accomplished in 2010 to include in the report to the city. Please send the completed paragraph to the COA secretary, Peggy Bellin to compile in April 2011. Sub - committees projects: • Ann Jungwirth's committee has lined up speakers: Mark Weisensel from Winnebago county and Mr. & Mrs. Leatherman. • Ruth McGinley's committee is identifying gaps in senior services • Kathy Glander's committee is working on the by -laws Harold asked that sub - committees set dates for meetings and stick with them, no matter who can attend. • After January 1 st, 2011, the committee needs to identify some associated members. If you have ideas, please pass them on to Claude or Kathy. COA would like to see at least 2 -3 non - voting, associate members. • COA Members are needed who have time to put in some work, not just attend meetings. They should plan on 3 -4 hours per month. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS /CONCERNS: Corky Abraham is on a Celebration of Lights float committee. He noted that Mark has offered the use of the North Building for assembling the float. Respectively Submitted, Mary Kay Rathe LSS Senior Connection @ the Oshkosh Senior Center