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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 051413ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes May 14, 2013 PRESENT: Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Alex Castro, Ed Flowers, Lorenzo Mejia, Thelma Perkins, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Richard White EXCUSED: Leo Allison, Dan Hatley STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center. The minutes of the April 9 meeting were approved following a motion offered by Richard White and the second made by Jeane Suddarth. Lorenzo Mejia provided feedback from his participation in the previous week’s Resource Fair at University Mall. A participant expressed concern to him that the Seymour Lunch program does not present a welcoming atmosphere to new attendees. Suggestions were made for addressing this situation, such as designating an ambassador or designating special seating for new participants. Janice Tyler announced that the Resource Fair had 205 registered older adults in attendance. Staff estimated that 400 persons participated. Mr. Mejia asked about the promotional efforts made in advance of the event. Discussion followed on the impact of sponsor table placement on the opportunity to make contacts, the selection of the day and time chosen, and the need for more publicity in the future. Ms. Tyler displayed the Older Americans Month proclamation that the Board of County Commissioners adopted at their May 7 meeting. She reported on the recent NC Association on Aging advocacy boot camp and UNC Hospital - Hillsborough’s topping off ceremony. She also announced that the University Mall Senior Striders program, funded by UNC Healthcare, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on May 21. Mary Fraser began the Master Aging Plan update by promising a draft of the Year Two work plan for review at the June Advisory Board meeting. The following month she will present the implementation report for Year One. She stated that, since the Advisory Board’s last meeting, she and Ms. Tyler had met with next year’s Capstone team who will implement Project EngAGED in Orange County. They had also met with the four summer interns who will work on different aspects of MAP. Thelma Perkins asked about the efforts being made to increase diversity in program participation. Ms. Fraser noted the outreach to the Asian population through the employment of a Chinese-speaking social worker and participation in the Health Department’s Latino coalition. There is also work beginning on outreach efforts to the Burmese communities. The Mobility Management grant has been approved by the NC Department on Transportation but will not be funded until the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization’s transportation plan update is approved. The late April public forum required as part of that process was criticized in the press for its lack of citizen participation. The draft plan has been distributed but awaits Commissioner approval in three counties. Janice Tyler announced that OPT has agreed to establish a new route in the St Mary’s Road area to accommodate persons on the waiting list for transportation to the Central Orange Senior Center. Ms. Fraser also reported on the recent co-housing forum convened with the help of Charles House Director Paul Klever at the Seymour Center and attended by 60 people. This forum will be repeated at the Central Orange Senior Center in June. Another forum on development of pocket neighborhoods will be held at Seymour this evening with a nationally recognized expert in the field as the presenter. Other upcoming MAP events include a mental health forum, an LGBT organizing reception, and the first meeting of the LTC Learning Collaborative. Heather Altman commended all involved in the Master Aging Plan during the past year for all that has been accomplished. Janice Tyler promised to see that all Advisory Board members are included on the Senior Center listserv that promotes upcoming events bi-weekly. She also expressed her appreciation to Orange County’s first Director of Public Affairs, Carla Banks. A question was raised about sequestration’s impact on funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Janice Tyler responded that the funding reductions have yet to be finalized. Discussions with the Orange County Manager’s staff about the Department’s proposed budget have been favorable and a position has been transferred from Asset Management to better coordinate facility maintenance. A representative of the UNC aging research community, Cheryl Zimmerman, is interested in serving on the Advisory Board as an ex-officio member. The Chair suggested that she be invited to the meetings on a quarterly schedule to share information on research developments within the University. After discussion about changing the location of next month’s meeting to co-locate with the housing forum at Central Orange it was decided to adhere to the published meeting schedule. Heather Altman announced that her enrollment in a doctoral program at UNC has created a schedule conflict due to a required 4:00 class. Staff will survey the Advisory Board members electronically to see if the 3:30 to 5:00 meeting time could be adjusted. During Committee Progress Reports the Chair stated that Carolina Villages hopes to officially launch in the Fall of 2013 and is still accepting charter members. Janice Tyler reported that the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center held their annual meeting the previous week; Seymour Friends’ annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday. The Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connection now counts more than 30 agencies as members and is concerned about future funding for the project manager. The Songs for Seniors project was officially launched at the Resource Fair. Richard White has been formally nominated as an Orange County delegate to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature. Alex Castro reported that the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Meals On Wheels program is currently delivering 128 meals per day. The expansion into Bingham Township has been postponed temporarily. The Advisory Board may have to consider assigning someone to Keith Cook’s role as MAP liaison with the Orange County Housing community. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler Secretary