Re: Opening and Welcome

Acting Chair Doug Bly called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Re: Approval of Minutes

Acting Chair Bly asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletions to the March minutes.  It was noted that on page three, Jill Hall’s title was incorrect and on one occasion, Norene Stovall’s name was spelled incorrectly.  With these corrections the minutes were approved as amended.

Re: Club Reports

Audrey Beck, submitting a report in her absence, noted the Young In Heart Club had filled 26 boxes with snacks and gifts for wounded soldiers at the US hospital in Mosul, Northern Iraq.  The packages were mailed March 27th.  She advised that Al Pecararo and his committee packed the boxes and delivered them to the Post Office with the club paying the postage.  On April 17th she advised the meeting would be comprised of the election of officers followed by Officer David Baker of the Montgomery County Police Dept. who would discuss security concerns.  In closing, Audrey advised there would be a colonial luncheon at the Fairfield Inn near Gettysburg with transportation provided by a charter bus for their May meeting.  The bus will be leaving the Civic Center at 9:00 a.m.

Stuart Crump, reporting for the Willing 3 C’s Club said there had been no meeting since the last Commission meeting, with the April meeting coming up on the 19th with Bingo and refreshments.  Stuart indicated he would be attending..
 
Pete Sante, reporting for the Triple F Club, said there had been a change in the location of their last meeting as their ‘home’ church was undergoing some renovations.  He said the group met at the Rockville Christian Church where he attended the meeting along with Karen Lumpkin.  Pete noted that Karen had spent quite a bit of time going over all the upcoming activities, trips and programs.  Pete said he spent some time talking to the group about the mercury problems with the CFL light bulbs as well as giving the group some information about the Center sponsored stamp club and their activities.  In closing, Pete noted the declining enrollment of members in the club, now down to approximately 60

Reporting for R.S.I.,  Pete said he attended the meeting on Tuesday, April 15th where the members spent most of the meeting going over their financial report.  Pete said he had spoken briefly about Hyenok, the new Korean Intern, and the activities of that group.

Doug Bly, reporting for the Bethany House Club, said their April meeting had been held on the 7th with 38 members and 2 guests in attendance.  The Treasurer’s report noted $1,675.15 in the club account.  The members discussed their upcoming installation luncheon scheduled for June 5th at the Flaming Pit in Gaithersburg for the following officers: President Betty Tolson, Vice President Eileen Quinlan, Treasurer Louise Gregory and Secretary Alverta Dronenburg.  In closing, Doug said the entertainment was ‘John Brown & Dolly’.

Karen Lumpkin, submitting a written report for the Golden Ringers, noted that there were 88 members in attendance at the meeting April 9th with a program from the University of Maryland.  Karen also said the members had donated numerous items for the soldiers in Mosul, Northern Iraq, items that had been suggested by medics in the area as ‘morale boosters’ that the hospital was in need of.  It was noted that they also donated monies to pay the postage to send the items.

Re:  Montgomery County Commission on Aging

No report

Re:   U.S.M.

No report. 

Re:  Chair Report

No report.

Re:  Old Business

Katherine Foti, reporting on her Health Care Advocacy Program, said she and Norene and Doug had met and prepared a draft proposal for their STARS program (see attached).  During the discussion the committee members decided to invite Mary Fleisher, the Wellness Coordinator, to their next meeting in May.  It was also decided that the May Health Fair would be a good time for the Commissioners to prepare a short survey to be handed out at their table, possibly along with copies of the Health Care Directives in different languages as they had done last year.  During the discussion, Lorraine said she was waiting to hear whether her request for a Mental Health Social Worker would be approved in the upcoming budget and was hopeful that there would be someone coming, once a week after July 1, that would be available to help the committee, Mary Fleisher, Roni Kidd and the seniors with various support groups for seniors at the Center.

Re:  Staff Report

Lorraine reminded the Commissioners that there was $172.00 left in their budget for the fiscal year, and that they would not be able to carry that money over to next year.  She suggested that if they should need anything special for their display at the Health Fair, the monies from their budget could pay for that. 

She also told the Commissioners that they may notice, when they receive their Summer Guide, that some of the fees have gone up.  She said everyone has been asked to raise the prices of their classes that cost more than $25 by $1.  This money would be going in to the Recreation Fund to help subsidize the fees paid by low-income families.   She said that any monies left over at the end of the year that had been brought in by senior programs would be transferred to the Senior Assistance Fund.

Lorraine also reminded the Commissioners that they would be selling flowers at the May 3rd  Senior Center Yard Sale and at Hometown Holidays to benefit the Senior Assistance Fund.

In closing, Lorraine passed out a chart with the current and proposed fee schedule for the Rockville Call ‘N Ride Program.  Lorraine explained the fees charged to the participants had not been increased for more than a decade.  She pointed out that the lowest income level fees would only increase by $1 but the higher income qualifiers would see more of an increase with the maximum being $10 for the $34 coupon book.  Lorraine also said she was going to put an upper level income cap on the program, similar to  Montgomery County’s, where there had not been a cap before.

In closing, Norene said she had received a flyer in one of her last utility bills with information on how to obtain “Scratch & Sniff” samples to learn how to detect the odor of natural gas in your home.  For anyone interested in obtaining some, please call 202-624-6092
      
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.