Advisory Council Meeting

January 11, 2007

Minutes

Held at 1501 Blue Spruce Drive

Fort Collins, Colorado  80524

 

Members Present:	Roger Bailey	Paul Bell	Steve Budner
	Rene DeMattei	Marcy Greenslit	Gerry Hinks
	Elnora McCloughan	Barbara Nuss	Mary Shultz
	Lloyd Spawn	Earl Stevens	Barbara Tuttle
	Stan Ulrich	Don Venneberg	Sharon Zamora
Members Absent	Nancy Arthur	Janet Montera	Ellen Pihlstrom
	Karen Reinhardt
Staff Present:	Ruth Coberly	Tina Hugo	Margaret Long
	Katy Mason	Lynette McGowan	Laura Sutherlin
	Karen Wagner
Guests Present:

CALL TO ORDER

Earl Stevens called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.

INTRODUCTIONS

There were no guests present.

OPEN DISCUSSION/COMMUNITY INPUT

There was no open discussion or community input.

CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA

Stand as presented.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF November 9, 2006   

Mary Shultz recommended a change to page 2, 7^th paragraph.  The line should read “Addition to staff of .75 Outreach Coordinator and 1 full-time ARCH Program Coordinator”.

CHAIR REPORT

Earl Stevens voiced his disappointment that more advisory council members did not attend the meeting on Friday, January 5^th with the Legislators, and the Speakers’ Bureau training on January 11^th at 12:00 p.m.

 

UPDATE ON OFFICE ON AGING

Margaret Long discussed collecting in-kind hours that council members contribute to the Office on Aging by attending the advisory council and committee meetings.  Margaret stated that she and Stacie Hougard decided that the hours,; accounting wise, would not benefit the Office on Aging at this time.  She noted that the attendance log has been revised so that members will now only need to check their name. 

 

Margaret announced that February’s meeting will be used as a time for strategic planning.  Margaret stated that this would be a good time to look at making changes to the format of the council or committee meetings.  Lynette McGowan will facilitate this meeting.  In order for the meeting to move quickly Lynette would like to receive input on what members would like to see as outcomes.  The meeting will include lunch and is scheduled for February 8^th from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

 

Margaret reported that she had presented the 4-year plan to the County Commissioners and has submitted the final draft to the State.  The Commissioners had signed off on it, but she has not heard from the State.

 

Margaret reported that the Office on Agingcounty would like to offer mileage reimbursement to council members who travel more than 10 miles one-way.  The county reimbursement rate is currently 48.5 cents a mile.  Please contact Tina Hugo at 498-6809 or thugo@larimer.org if you are interested in receiving this reimbursement. 

 

Margaret announced that she had just received the Dial-A-Ride certification forms.  Margaret stated expressed concerns with the client form being too complicated (15 pages long).  She is also concerned about the healthcare provider form being completed because it is 16 pages long.  Margaret asked the council if there were members interested in volunteering to help make calls to help seniors and healthcare providers complete the process.  Rene DeMattei, Barb Tuttle, Marcy Greenslit, and Roger Bailey volunteered.  Roger commented that there maybe HIPPA barriers when calling the healthcare providers. 

 

Margaret announced that Ellen Pihlstrom may not attend the advisory council meetings for awhile as she is ill. 

SENIOR ADVISORY REPORTS

Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Report

Marjorie McTaggart was not present.  Marjorie called to have Katy Mason relay a message about available flashing lights through Transfort which riders can carry with them to help the bus drivers see them over the snow drifts.

 

 

 

Loveland Senior Advisory Board

Earl Stevens announced that the board has completed their study session.  Earl stated that there will be a Senior Advisory Board summit in February that will include both Loveland and Fort Collins Advisory Bboards.

 

Foundation on Aging

Mary Shultz reported that the Foundation on Aging gave grants to four local agencies and will be evaluating how this process works.  The purpose was to reduce that amount of time that the board is involved with funding requests.  The recipients of the grants are RVNA, Catholic Charities Northern, Elderhaus, and the Office on Aging Caregiver Support Program.  The grants were for $1,000 each.  There are guidelines on how the agencies are to use the money.  The Foundation will continue to fund individual requests.

 

Mary reported that the Ffoundation is currently looking at how the Boulder Office on Aging is associated with the Boulder Foundation on Aging.  Mary stated that the idea is for the Foundation to work with the Office on Aging to supplement funding and help obtain grants. 

 

Larimer County Commissioner

Karen Wagner reported that she has been reassigned to be the lLiaison for this advisory council.  Karen noted that she felt that there was good information given to the lLegislators at the January 5^th meeting.  Three of the new legislators attended.

 

Human Relations Commission: 

No report given.

 

Commission on Aging: 

No report given.

COUNCIL MEMBER BIOGRAPHY:

Mary Shultz gave a brief autobiography.

COMMITTEE & STAFF REPORTS

Education Committee

Mary Shultz reported that the committee spent time discussing the Speakers’ Bureau PowerPoint presentation, Job Fair and Bridging the Gap meetings. 

 

Executive Committee

Earl Stevens reported that the committee planned the December meeting and meeting with the lLegislators on Jan. 5^th.  Dr. Roger Bailey suggested looking at other non-profit agencies for funding.  The committee decided on the 3-hour timeframe for February’s meeting.  The committee also discussed having the Speakers’ Bureau training before this advisory council meeting. 

 

Health Committee

Katy Mason reported that the committee distributed the Medicare Part D brochures to pharmacies.  The committee discussed doing Pandemic presentations via the Speakers’ Bureau.

 

Membership Committee 

Elnora McCloughan reported that the council currently has 19 members.  She asked if we should be looking for more.  Margaret Long stated that we should wait until the Commissioners open up Boards & Commissions in March or April because several members may be leaving as of July 1.  Margaret is concerned that we don’t have representation from Estes Park.  Stan Ulrich noted that we do not have an elected official.  Tina Hugo will email Elnora what as to which member’s terms are ending in June.

 

Nutrition Committee

No report given.

 

Housing Committee

No report given.

 

Transportation Committee

Elnora McCloughan announced that the committee needs more people on it.  Elnora reported that Foxtrot has reduced trips because of funding cuts and that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will start three van trips. 

 

Staff Reports

Lynette McGowan emphasized how important it is for her to know what the council wants to see as far as outcomes for the council wants to see before the February strategic planning meeting.  Lynette will meet with the Executive Committee next week.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Lynette by calling 498-6820 or email lmcgowan@larimer.org.  Lynette described the February Strategic Planning meeting as an interactive exercise. 

 

Lynette reported that she has been really busy with caregiver calls since the beginning of January.  She is also working on some proposals for grants.  One is from the National Alliance Caregiver Coalition.  Lynette stated that if chosen we would receive some funding and training.  She is also working on a proposal for the Colorado Trust, and Diane Stobnicke from VOA is completing one for the Bohemian Foundation.  Lynette stated that during the next six months the state funds for program development need to be spent.  She announced that the Volunteers of America Respite Program has been developed.  There is also a church based respite program that has been developed.  Lynette stated that there will be a 6-part training for caregivers in the Spring.

 

Katy Mason reported that the Senior Property Tax Work-Off program is coming up, and she distributed flyers.  Katy explained that this program is not an Administration on Aging program, but a Ccounty program.  The Ccounty funds this program with $20,000.  Katy’s job is to interview applicants and she places them in jobs within the county.  The guideline to qualify is 200% of poverty level.  Katy noted that she always has more people apply than can be placed.  She will start taking applications in February and will place people in March.  The seniors that are placed really enjoy the work.  She plans to hire about 45 people, down from 55-60 people in 2006.  She explained that in 2007 the pay has been ey had raised the pay to $6.86 per hour andhas raised the maximum earned cap from $300 to $400.to $400 from $300.  

 

Laura Sutherlin reported that the state has chosen Vision Link out of Boulder for development of the ARCH website.  Laura announced that she attended the Administration on Aging’s National Conference in Washington DC.  Laura stated that she felt it was a very good conference and had good turnout from other ADRC’s around the nation. 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Earl Stevens announced that Judy Jones was involved in an accident and is at Poudre Valley Hospital.

 

Earl Stevens announced that Good Morning America has been exploring different senior centers throughout the country and will have a segment on the Chilson Senior Center on January 23^rd (corrected from the 16^th after meeting).  Good Morning America airs from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Earl adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m.