HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-17-1995 - VI-B1 r
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ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No X-81
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 17, 1995
SUBJECT: Recognition of NACo Award for the Senior Times Newspaper
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DEPARTMENT Aging PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x
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ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT Jerry Passmore
Award Summary Description TELEPHONE NUMBER Ext 2000
List of Cooperating Organizations Hillsborough 732-8181
to share in the award. Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE:
To recognize the Department on Aging and cooperating organizations that
helped produce the Senior Times Newspaper: A Public - Private
Partnership which was awarded a 1995 NACo (National Association of
Counties) Achievement Award. This national recognition was conferred
upon the Senior Times Newspaper for promoting "responsible, responsive
and effective county government."
BACKGROUND:
The Senior Times, a free bi-monthly publication of the Department on
Aging, started as a four page newspaper with a circulation of
approximately 4, 000 in 1980. For the next 13 years the Senior Times
was published, printed and distributed by the Department on Aging using
local tax dollars and the assistance of local agencies. By 1993, in
order to save money ($15, 000 printing/postage) , increase circulation
and visibililty and improve public-private cooperation, the Orange
County Department on Aging established an agreement with the Herald-Sun
Newspaper for a new partnership whereby the DOA would be responsible
for the overall content and the Herald-Sun for the advertising,
printing and distribution of the Senior Times. All costs were covered
by advertising revenues received by the Herald-Sun. The Senior Times
expanded as a community project with the Carrboro, Chapel Hill and
Orange County recreation departments and the Friends of the Chapel Hill
Senior Center providing important programming information, and the
Chapel Hill Camera Club supplying photographs.
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The current estimated annual savings are over $75, 000, increased from
an initial $15, 000, due to the larger professional publication (28
pages) and expanded distribution (now 35, 000 copies) . The Senior Times
has become an important county newspaper to assist older adults in
making informed decisions and remaining active, and independent as much
as possible.
RECOIOIENDATION:
The Manager recommends formal recognition of the organizations listed
on the attachment for making the Senior Times a reality.
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ORANGE COUNTY,NORTH CAROLINA 3
SENIOR TIMES NEWSPAPER-. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
NACo 1995 AWARD WINNER
The Senior Times, a free bi-monthly publication for seniors in the Orange County area, is a
cooperative publication of the Orange County Department on Aging(DoA), which is responsible
for the overall content, and the Herald-Sun Newspaper, which is responsible for publication and
advertising. This is an ongoing community project with the Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange
County recreation departments, and the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center providing
programming information, and the Chapel Hill Camera Club supplying the majority of
photographs. Consequently, the Senior Times is seen as a community service encompassing more
than the Department on Aging. The three main components contributing to the success of this
public-private partnership are:
1. Cost savings to Orange County,with no cost to seniors
• Current estimated annual savings are over$75,000, increased from an initial
$15,000, due to the larger distribution and professional format
• Increased distribution to seniors throughout the county(35,000 copies)
• Using a fist supplied by the DoA, free copies of the Senior Times are
mailed, on request, to seniors who do not subscribe to the Herald-Sun
Newspaper
• All costs are covered by advertising revenues received by the Herald-Sun
2. Information is provided all seniors in Orange County
• Articles of interest as well as community and programming information for the
senior centers and recreation departments are provided the DoA for compilation
• A managing editor, paid by the Herald-Sun Newspaper, receives the information
and creates the layout-leaving room for advertisements(up to 50%of the space,
per the contract)
• The Director of the DoA is the editor in chief and reviews the final copy for
content
3. Protection of seniors from false, or inappropriate, advertisements
• Advertisements in the Senior Times denote an implied endorsement by the Orange
County Department on Aging
• While the Herald-Sun Newspaper has exclusive advertising rights, the DoA
Director as editor in chief, retains the contractual authority to request that
advertisements which might mislead, misinform, or be generally detrimental to
seniors, or Orange County, be either modified for future issues, or not published.
Why other counties should form publishing public-private partnerships
• Saves money
• Increases circulation and visibility
• Improves public private cooperation
For more information, contact: Jerry Passmore, Director, Orange County Department on Aging
(919) 732-8181 Ext. 2000 7-95
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1995 NACo Award for the Senior Times: A Public-Private Partnership
A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFF TO BE RECOGNIZED AND
RECEIVE A COPY OF THE AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION
1. Orange County Department on Aging:
Jerry Passmore- Editor-in-chief of the Senior Times -To Received Plaque.
Margaret Valiquette - Managing Editor of the Senior Times
Janice Tyler- Coordinator/writer of Senior Centers News, Section
Kathy Porter- Coordinator/writer of the RSVP Volunteers News Section
Katherine Leith- Coordinator/writer of special interest articles
2. Herald-Sun Newspaper
Beth Deacon- General Manager of Special Publications
3. Chapel Hill Recreation and Parks
Mike Loveman - Director - To be represented by Lisa Baaske
4. Carrboro Recreation and Parks
Richard Kinney- Director
5. Orange County Recreation and Parks
Bob Jones - Director
6. Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center
Elmer Oettinger - President
7. Chapel Hill Camera Club
Len Jacobs - President
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