Re: Opening and Welcome

Commission Chair Ciriaco Gonzales called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. with a welcome to Sylvia George of Community Ministries of Rockville.

Re: Approval of Minutes

Chair Gonzales asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletions to the September minutes.   None were noted and the minutes were approved as read.  

Re: Club Reports  

Doug Bly, reporting for the Bethany House Club, said their last meeting had been held November 5th with 23 in attendance.  Doug said the Treasurer reported $1,400.40 in their account.  He went on to say that they had pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin pie and discussed their lasagna dinner and used book sale, two of their annual fundraisers.  They also discussed upcoming activities, a tree trimming in Hoover Hall on December 1st and their Christmas Party and buffet on December 3rd.   In closing Doug noted the good job Club President Lee Terry has been doing with fun and interesting activities and the acquisition of several new members. 

Katherine Foti, reporting on her Health Advocate Program, said she is still working on the resource list and hopefully will have the final report done by next months’ meeting, by January at the latest.   She also said she will be writing the combined December / January Senior Center Newsletter Senior Commission News report.                                                                                                      

Steve Lipson, reporting for the Senior Associates, said he had not been able to attend their last meeting and that their November 13th get-to-gether had been their annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.     

Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club said they were meeting today, jointly with the Young In Heart Club, for the annual Thanksgiving luncheon.

Stuart Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s, said there had been a very successful visit to the Sandy Spring Slave Museum on November 3rd.  He went on to say that their December meeting would be held on the 8th, at the Senior Center, a catered holiday luncheon.  In closing, Stuart said he wanted to thank everyone on behalf of the Lions Club, for another wonderful Train Show that was held last weekend with close to 1,000 people attending.
 
Kathy Neale said she had no report, as she was not currently assigned a liaison position. 

Re: RSI

Ciriaco said he had attended the R.S.I. meeting November 13th where there had been a lengthy budget discussion.

He also said Jill Hall had presented information on the City’s website where there are eleven surveys the City is encouraging all of it’s residents to look at.  The paragraph highlighted during the meeting concerned the PROS Plan (Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan) where the City is looking for feedback to help access the future need for parkland, open space and recreational activities.  Jill said there is one specifically geared towards Rockville’s seniors and she encouraged everyone to take a look at it and complete the questionnaire.

Ciriaco went on to say that the Treasurer presented  RSI with a financial statement which he passed out for the Commissioners to peruse.  It listed all the expenditures and receipts by category.  He also noted that there had been a brief discussion on the Pool and Ping Pong Room.  Some of the seniors had asked if members of the Gaithersburg Senior Center could come to thee Rockville Center to play members here without having to join the Center. Members decided that in order to come here to play the Gaithersburg seniors would have to join the Rockville Center or pay a fee each time they played here.

Ciriaco thanked Ron Barber and Rusty Embrey for their help with the Candidate’s Forum and Aging in Place Seminar.

 Re: Montgomery County Commission on Aging

Ciriaco said he had no report this month.

 Re: U.S.M. Report

Ciriaco said he had recently been passing out cards at the Center, speaking with members and looking for signatures on cards that were delivered to the Maryland State Legislators including the Governor, the President of the Senate, Senator Forehand and Delegates Barve, Gilchrist and Simmons.  In all, more than 1,000 cards from seniors all over the state were delivered with expressions of concern over the recent and proposed cuts to the budget that fund programs and services for seniors.  He also noted that the House would be voting on the slots issue today. 

Ciriaco also said the United Seniors of Maryland Rally would be coming up January 22nd as he encouraged the Commissioners to mark their calendars and plan to attend.

 Re:  Old Business

Ciriaco said there had recently been a meeting at the Center regarding the proposed additional parking around the building.  He noted that approximately eighteen neighborhood residents had attended with adamant ideas about restricting the number of additional parking spaces as well as access to the Center from Crocus Drive and Aster Blvd. and opening up an entrance off Gude Drive.  Ciriaco encouraged the Commissioners to attend a Planning Board meeting scheduled for November 28th due to the increased need for more parking for center members as well as the public for evening and weekend activities. 

The Commissioners asked about and discussed the new Recreation Center at Thomas Farm.  It was noted that when the building is built, there is a possibility that the seniors may use parts of it for an expanded program of exercise and fitness classes as the building would most likely not be used much during the day.  City staff will continue to working on this.

There was also a discussion on the recent City Elections.  Steve Lipson commented on the relatively high turnout and noted that as an Election Judge, he had been given a packet of materials from the City that included a pink sheet of paper with information on Good Customer Service.  He went on to say that he thought this was wonderful, adding that he was extremely pleased with City staff and the good customer service they continually deliver but suggested that more information and possibly training be given to volunteers at all the City activities and functions.

The discussion continued on to the Senior Center and a suggestion that a letter be written to Jill Hall, Senior Center Supervisor, on behalf of the Commission, requesting a new volunteer position at the Senior Center be created, a ‘greeter’ so to speak to welcome and assist everyone that comes in to the building through the front doors.  The discussion went on to add that they believed this idea could be an integral part of the new marketing plan to assist the image of the Senior Center as being an open, friendly, welcoming place to be.

Pete Sante asked if there had been any progress on the Home Maintenance Program.  Lorraine admitted that the Program had been placed on hold while she had been working on the Aging in Place Forum and that she was still waiting for the contractors the City had spoken with to return their proposals.  She said she would be following up on this as well as the snow removal program.  During this discussion it was decided that the Commissioners would work on a proposal for presentation to the Mayor and Council on the possibility of hiring someone contractually to work specifically on how to set-up and maintain this Aging in Place concept on a neighborhood level. 

During the conversation, it was suggested that the Commissioners extend an invitation to the new Mayor and Council to attend an upcoming meeting and enjoy a light breakfast while everyone got to know one another a little better.  The Commissioners thought February might be a good month to do this.  Additionally, Ciriaco volunteered to bring a lemon cake, Kathy Neale volunteered to bring plates, napkins and forks and Bette Sanders said she would pick up coffee for the December meeting for a small Commission Holiday

Re: New Business:

None

 Re: Staff Report

Lorraine thanked everyone for their help with the Aging in Place Forum.  She went on to say that around 400 people had attended and that the program had been taped and will be shown for those who were unable to attend with viewings at the Senior Center in the near future.  It will also be shown on the Rockville Cable Channel.  She said they plan to make copies available on DVD and VHS media.

 Lorraine went on to say that the Senior Arts Fair had been a wonderful success, lots of fun, and in the plans for next year.  She also mentioned that she is currently working on the FY ’09 budget and is open to suggestions.  The proposed Senior Services budget will shared with the Commission.

With no further business to discuss Chair Gonzales adjourned the meeting at 11:50 am.