Re: Opening and Welcome
Commission Chair Ciriaco Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. with introductions all around of the Commissioners and guests.      
                        

Re: Approval of Minutes
Chair Gonzales asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletion to the July minutes.   Stuart Crump advised that on page one, last paragraph, Marty Roney’s referral to the Williams Health Center should be to the Wilson Health Center.  With this correction, the minutes stand as amended.
    

Re: Club Reports  
Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club, said they had a regular business meeting on September 12th.  Pete said he had spoken briefly on the upcoming Candidate’s Forum and that the business meeting was followed by entertainment and a pot luck lunch.  In closing, he noted that the club has been discussing problems with membership (low numbers due to folks moving out of Rockville to assisted living and other venues as well as difficulty finding persons for leadership positions). Another factor of concern to the members has been the parking situation (small lot across a busy street).  They are considering the possibilities that they might disband or join the Young In Heart Club in lieu of having a separate club.

Stu Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s, said there had been no meeting over the summer and the first of this club year will be held September 24th.   There will be a pot luck lunch and a trip to the Cozy Inn is planned for October together with the Senior Associates.

Audrey Beck, reporting for the Young in Heart, said she had no report this month.

Nancy McIntyre said she had no report this month.

Richard Ahlberg, reporting for the Bethany House Club, said their last meeting had been held September 12th.  He noted that he and Karen Limpkin gave brief reports on activities and programs of the Rockville Senior Center.  Jack Spinnler, National Park Service Ranger, presented a slide show and talk on the National Park Service.  Jack is the son-in-law of Dorothy Walsh, Assistant Treasurer of the club.  Punch and cookies were served immediately following the program.   This was Richard’s last report, since he has resigned from the commission as effective September 1, 2005. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his new position at the National Lutheran Home.       
   

Re: U.S.M. Report
Ciriaco, reporting for U.S.M., said there had been a meeting on August 11th.  Legislative priorities were discussed with #1 (nationally) being Social Security. The priorities selected were as follows:

State Priorities
1. Increase funding for all aging programs and fully fund the 135 Medicaid Waiver slots.
2. Improve quality, funding and coverage of all long term care options.
3. Support affordable prescription drugs
4. Oppose cuts in Medicare funding

Federal Priorities
1. Preserve guaranteed benefits of Social Security and oppose Privatization .
2. Prescription Drug cost containment
3. Preserve and improve the funding, quality and coverage of Medicaid.

He also reported  that members of U.S.M. met with Secretary Roesser on August 20th.  After a presentation by the Department on Aging on what it is that they do, U.S.M. members strongly urged the Secretary to insure that Social Security be brought up at the White House Conference on Aging.                           

Ciriaco said that they also discussed public transportation, identity theft, tax relief, prescription drugs, funding for senior programs and long-term care.
   

In closing, Ciriaco noted that he has a speaker lined up for the next meeting regarding the development and construction proposed by JBG Companies at Shady Grove Road @ Choke Cherry. The purpose is to gather information from seniors as to what amenities are desirable for seniors in the development. The presentation will be open to all seniors wishing to attend.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 am.