HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes_3_10_2026 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, March 10, 1 -3 pm
Seymour Center and Virtually
Minutes
In Attendance: Tracy Holsinger, Sandy Walker, Jackie Podger, Jerry Gregory, Vibeke Talley,
Rachel Bearman, Joanne Wilson, Jeff Charles, GiGi Rashdi; Virtual: Mary Lucas, Jon Wilner,
Guest(s): Rafael Velez; Staff: Janice Tyler, Marilyn Hohl, Leiha Edmonds (virtual), Dawn
Smith (virtual), Estella Johnson, Brandi Beeker; Excused Absences: Daniel Leonard
1. Welcome-Tracy welcomed the group.
2. Introductions and Announcements-The group went around the table and online to do
introductions.
3. Approval of Minutes- February 10, 2026. The minutes were approved.
Director's Report
4. Staff Updates-Seymour Center Evening Facility Manager Interviews have been held.
S. CPAAA Annual Monitoring visit- March 9-11. This was originally scheduled for February
but was rescheduled due to inclement weather. The monitoring visit went well with all
programs receiving high marks.
6. 1001"Aging Well Together Radio Show on Feb. 26. Janice and Marilyn were the interview
guests for the 1001" episode.
7. AARP Great Places to Live Series featuring Chapel Hill. We are one of three cities being
featured for this year's series. Plans are underway with the AARP producers to select pers
and places to be featured.
8. Orange County Government Academy-will be held on March 11 at the Seymour Center.
9. VITA Tax Season now through April 15. Call for an appointment.
10. Orange County Senior Games registration is open through March 27.
11. Just a sample of events this month. Review Endless Possibilities for a complete list.
a. Sentimental Journey Singers- March 16-20 2:30-4 p.m. Seymour Center.
b. Celebrating Women's History Month with Woman of Warrenton - Eva Clayton
March 20 1-2:30 p.m. Seymour Center
c. Job Fair—April 13 at the Seymour Center co-sponsored with DSS
d. Project EngAGE recruiting event, including Panel Discussion with Graduates,
Senior Resource Team Tabling, Wednesday,April 29 2:15—3:15, Passmore
Center
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
12. Second Quarter Year 4 Reports
a. Transportation
Volunteer Driver Program (VDP)
7 new riders enrolled in program
Drivers provided 23 one-way trips to 21 riders
$1653 in VDP funds paid for 68 rides with Lyft, Uber, MOD, Taxi
4 drivers receiving requests in Q2
Transportation Call Center:
321 incoming calls received
• 101 unique callers
1185 minutes logged from all calls
Outreach Events:Transportation Information Table at Seymour Center—Second Thursday
of every month/At Passmore Center—Second Tuesday of every month
Make the Connection: Transit 101 — 10/6, 11/3, 12/1
What's APPening— 10/8, 11/12, 12/10
b. Social Participation and Inclusion
• We continue to strive to offer programming that meets our indicators throughout
both centers
• Staff trained with OC Office of Civil Rights &Civic Life on interactions with law
enforcement in December especially in light of ICE activity in the area
• With such a high number of classes in CHCCS, we decided that Rachel and Dawn
will train with Ryan to prepare to present at the OCS schools while Ryan focuses on
CHCCS.
• Ryan Lavalley presented the first Ageism presentation at Phillips Middle School on
January 14th-the response was good with students and teacher
• Still haven't been scheduled for any other Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools or Orange
County Schools with prodding from our end for administration to keep nudging
teachers to reach out
c. Employment
• 1 have around 35 clients that I am currently work with. Actually, nowthe number
was around 45. Some more activelythan others.
• The primary concern of the clients is that no one will hire them because of their age.
I spend a good amount of time with them helping them to remember that they have
many skills that they have acquired over the years and that they tend to be very loyal
and hardworking.
• 1 have just finished the revision of a document that was last revised in 2016 entitled
"Mature Job Seekers Guide". It will be posted on the OCDOA website and we will
distribute hard copies as well.
• 1 reviewed two workshops.
0 2nd Act Cafe (Feb 26th)focused on helping seniors determine what they really
want to do in their next work-life, recognize their transferable skills and
understanding the difference in the job searching market today as opposed
to what is was in their younger days.
o Getting Job Ready(March 24th)workshop focused on nuts and bolt job
searching techniques such as interview skills, resume writing, networking
techniques and Dressing for Success.
• 1 informed them that the Job Fair was coming up on April 13th in corporation with
DSS.
d. Communication
• The First EP Launch Party was a major success! There were 16 multilingual
attendees. The second program will be in May and will focus on on-the-spot
registration.
• Interviews forthe next MPH Practicum intern are happening in the next month.
• ADA compliance training for the Department happened March 6. Marilyn will
continue to train the divisions based on their specific document remediation and
needs.
13. 2027-32 MAP Survey and next steps
Leiha shared, virtually, "We just revised the survey with workgroup leaders. I am making
final tweaks and we will then pilot the survey to test language etc. later this month. I will
share the finalized survey for the next board meeting!The survey will run from the beginning
of May to the end of June with paper copies and be available online through July."The group
discussed survey content and outreach opportunities.
New Business
14. Aging Board Report to BOCC on March 10 at 7 p.m.Whitted Building.Tracywill be
speaking tonight to the County Commissioners.
15. Board Appointments and Attendance Policy. Jance reiterated the attendance policy.
Janice shared applications that we currently have for the board, as we have two
vacancies. Rafael submitted his application and the board will be recommending his
appointment. Applications will be reviewed at the May meeting for the remaining
vacancy.
16. FY 26-27 Budget. Janice shared timeline information between the County Manager's
office and the departments for County Manager's budget proposal and other budget
deadlines. The general consensus of the board is that the department cannot afford to
take any budget cuts. Board members agreed to advocate to the BOCC, if needed. We
will wait to see what the Manager's budget looks like when presented on May 5.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
17. Senior Tar Heel Legislature—Vibeke Talley, STHL Delegate and Rafael Velez, STHL
alternate delegate. The letters were sent via email and mail to Raleigh. They also shared
with the OCBOCC at their last meeting. STHLs met last week in Winston-Salem and
discussed what they will be focused on in the next long session.
8 more letters have been collected since February. They will be tabling tomorrow and
will add any letters received. Marilyn will scan and mail the letters when they are
delivered to Passmore and then email the PDFs to Vibeke and Rafael.
18. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee—Jackie
Podger. Jackie shared they are continuing to do visits for this quarter. Next week she will
visit Carolina Pointe, and she will report back with her first-hand info in April.
19. Friends of the Passmore Center-Spring Market will take place on May 9.
20. Friends of the Seymour Center- Charleston and Savannah trip has been moved to May
4-7.
Next meeting: April 14 from 1 —3 p.m.—Passmore Center