HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 0508121
ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
May 8, 2012
PRESENT: Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Keith Cook, Ed Flowers, Haryo Marsosudiro, Thelma Perkins, Jeane
Suddarth, Jan Wells
STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Vice-Chair Alex Castro. Introductions
included newly-appointed member Keith Cook. The minutes of the April 10 Advisory Board meeting
were approved following the motion by Ed Flowers and the second by Jeane Suddarth.
In her Director’s Report, Janice Tyler announced that she had received a phone call the previous day
from the Oprah Winfrey Network wanting to interview a family who was moving an older relative into
their home. The Community Resource Connection fair will be held at University Mall the following day.
The recently-completed One Stop Voting service held at the Seymour Center was very successful with
more than 600 persons voting on the previous Friday. Department on Aging staff had attended the NC
Association on Aging training conference in Raleigh the previous week. During his keynote speech at the
Conference, State Division of Aging Director Dennis Streets recognized Orange County for its progressive
work in Aging planning and services. The fifth anniversary of the Seymour Center’s opening will be
celebrated on May 30, 4:00-8:00pm. Also, a Proclamation of May as Older Americans Month in Orange
County was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at its May 2 meeting.
Mary Fraser summarized the summer student intern assignments for the Department. Two UNC
occupational therapy students began this week, working from the Central Orange Senior Center under
the supervision of OT consultant Jenny Womack. The UNC School of Social Work has assigned a
graduate student originally from China who will focus on bridging the communication gap with the large
number of Asian seniors who frequent the Seymour Center. Ms. Tyler stated that the Asian population
is the largest minority group in Chapel Hill.
Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that Donna Prather’s name has been submitted to the Board
of County Commissioners for possible appointment to the Board. One vacancy remains and one
applicant has recently applied – Deborah Rider. Three current members are also up for reappointment.
Haryo Marsosudiro asked not to be appointed to a second term.
Mary Fraser gave the Advisory Board a Master Aging Plan update. She thanked the Advisory Board
members who were in attendance at the May 1 MAP presentation to the Board of County
Commissioners made by the Capstone students, the Advisory Board Chair and the Department Director.
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The response from the Commissioners was overall very favorable. A reception in recognition of the
work accomplished by the MAP workgroup volunteers will be held at the Seymour Center on Monday,
May 14 at 4:30pm. Peggy Cohn has commissioned caps to be awarded at the event to the Capstone
students to commemorate their tremendous contribution to the MAP process. Ms. Fraser stated that
the reception will also be an opportunity to recruit volunteers for the implementation stage of the
process. The next Capstone Team has already met with staff and will meet again in August. Two of next
year’s Team have agreed to serve as summer practicum students with a stipend provided by Carol
Woods. One of these students will accompany Ms. Tyler as she meets individually with members of the
MAP Steering Committee to identify actions that can be implemented during this first year of
implementation with no additional resources. The next task will be to determine how the information
on outcomes can be collected. Alex Castro expressed concern about limiting implementation strategies
to those that can be developed with existing providers and no new funding. The Steering
Committee/MAP Evaluation Committee will meet twice a year to identify progress and barriers. Ed
Flowers emphasized the importance of keeping the community involved in the process. Mary Fraser
responded that a progress report will appear in each issue of the Senior Times. Mr. Castro added that
the identified cross-cutting issues must be kept on the agenda of all planning groups. He volunteered to
serve as liaison to the Orange County Transportation Planning Committee. He also suggested that the
MAP Management Team continue as a part of the implementation process.
During Committee Reports Haryo Marsosudiro reported that the Friends of Central Orange Las Vegas
Night fundraiser was a success. Their Annual Meeting will be held May 11. Also, an October 27
fundraising cruise from Charleston, SC to the eastern Caribbean is being organized by Jerry Passmore.
Ed Flowers announced that the number of Orange County nursing homes has been reduced to four with
the closing of Britthaven of Chapel Hill. Jeane Suddarth stated that the Senior Tar Heel Legislature will
meet again in June while the State Legislature is in session.
Janice Tyler announced that the Orange County bid process had resulted in Nantucket Grill being
recommended to continue as caterer for the Senior Lunch Program. The Board of County
Commissioners will consider this recommendation at a June meeting. She also stated that she will
conduct Board orientation for new members once the other vacancies are filled.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary