Re: Opening and Welcome

Chair Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Re: Approval of Minutes

Chair Gonzales asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to June’s minutes.  There being none, the minutes were approved as written.  

Re: Club Reports  

Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club advised that there had been no meeting this month.  The club would resume their schedule in September.

Stu Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s, said there would be no more meetings until September.              

Steve Lipson said the Senior Associates had held their 5th Tuesday meeting at the end of July with fourteen members in attendance for a potluck lunch.  He went on to add that he was running late for their meeting last week and that by the time he had gotten there the members had left as there were only three of them in attendance.

Katherine Foti, reporting on her Health Advocate Program, said she had received about ten calls in response to her article in the August Senior Center Newsletter.    She said she had received inquiries from seniors looking for help with legal as well as transportation issues, housekeeping assistance and health care items.  Katherine said she was surprised that more than one person had indicated that referrals from the Senior Resource Guide had been of little or no use as they were seniors whose income was above the poverty line.  Katherine said she would continue to work on the program and would have more information next month.  A brief discussion began regarding the Commissions recent efforts to help Rockville seniors age in place, such as the Handyman Program.  Copies of a newspaper article from the New York Times regarding neighborhood alliances had been passed out to the Commissioners for their information on what is becoming a national concern (see attached)

Re: RSI

Kathy Neale, reporting for R.S.I., said their last meeting had been held in July and that the usual committee reports had been given.  She went on to say that they were working on their goals and accomplishments and it had been noted that the Bridge players had returned to the Center on a six-month trial basis.  Kathy noted that there would be approximately $1,500 in revenue for the Center each month from the proceeds of the program.

Kathy said R.S.I. discussed having a map added to the Center publications that would be going out to the public.  She also said they discussed the new parking area at the Center, noting that the project was to start in the fall.  In closing she reported that Jill had submitted a grant application to the State of Maryland to obtain funding for the expansion of the Exercise and Fitness Rooms at the Center.

 Re: Montgomery County Commission on Aging

No report.

 Re: U.S.M. Report

Ciriaco reported that U.S.M. held it’s annual legislative meeting on August 13.  A list of this year’s priorities was discussed (attached).  Ciriaco said the biggest issue was going to be the State’s budget and the $1.5 million deficit.  He indicated U.S.M. would be working diligently to make sure the senior issues were at the front of the line by January when the legislature reconvenes noting that several members were planning to meet with the Governor soon.

 Re:  Old Business

Pete commented on his meeting with Burt Hall and Lorraine regarding the Home Maintenance Program.  He said Burt and Lorraine had met with representatives from a few existing service companies. Burt stated the next step may be to write a Request for Proposals (RFP) looking for outside businesses to operate the program.  Comments were made that there was hope that the City would be able to obtain discount rates for the seniors.  Lorraine noted that she and Burt had been looking at both alternatives, having ‘new’ city staff service the program and outsourcing the work to existing companies.

Steve Lipson reminded all that we still have not identified a speaker for the Pain Management forum.

Lorraine commented that the Needs Assessment survey results were sent out to the Commissioners.  She added that the results would be presented to the Mayor and Council September 17th and she encouraged all the Commissioners to try to attend the meeting.  Lorraine said she had asked the company that had administered the survey and published the results to provide further breakdowns by age, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, 80 to 90, etc., by gender and by race.  Lorraine commented that affordable housing appeared to be one of the top priorities for the respondents with health care and transportation concerns following closely.  Ciriaco will call the City Clerk to try and schedule the presentation early in the evening.  Kathy suggested having refreshments prior to the Council meeting to give the Commission some visibility.  A suggestion was made to use funds from the Commission budget.

The Commissioners comments turned to a discussion on how to best get information to Rockville’s seniors.  Pete noted that there is a communication problem regarding the services offered by the Senior Center.  Only members get the Newsletter and half of them don’t participate in activities.  Steve indicated that marketing is needed and suggested placing brochures and Newsletters in the libraries.  Kathy Neale noted that R.S.I. continues to work on new marketing plans for the Senior Center.  The Commissioners decided that the Gazette would be the ideal location for more news and informational articles as most seniors do read the paper.  The possibility of having a weekly or monthly ‘corner’ to post items was discussed.  In the meantime Ciriaco and Steve offered to take copies of the newsletter and Center brochure to the two libraries.

  Re: New Business:

Kathy said she had been working on the Candidate’s Forum and had received copies of the questions and agenda that had been used in 2005.  She passed out copies of her recommendations for this year’s questions with a request that the Commissioners look over them and forward any suggestions to her via e-mail.  She also asked for volunteers to moderate the program and a timekeeper.  Lorraine said she would provide a list of the candidates for the invitations and then the Commissioners briefly discussed refreshments.

Ciriaco passed out copies of last year’s goals and accomplishments with a request that the Commissioners look over them and comment as necessary to him or Lorraine via e-mail.

 Re: Staff Report

Lorraine said that last year the Commission co-sponsored the first annual Aging in Place Program noting that this year the program would be presented in two parts.  This year the program will be entitled ‘To Move or to Stay – How to Choose’ and the first part would be held at Holiday Park and will feature program models that are already in existence such as Beacon Hill.  The second will beheld at the Center on November 8th and will involve the elements that go in to making the decision.  She said there would be several speakers, the Maryland Department Secretary of Aging, a psychologist and an independent living strategist who will talk about Universal Design and other home modifications.  She also noted that approximately five thousand invitations would be going out. 

In closing Lorraine mentioned a new facility at Town Center, VisArts.  Areas of the facility will be rented out to artists that will show various types of art, provide demonstrations and hold classes.  There will be a Senior Arts Fair on October 28th that will promote lifelong learning in the arts by encouraging older adults to explore the creativity within themselves through professionally led art classes, workshops and hands-on activities.     
       
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.