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Home My WebLink About2005-08-05 Regular Meeting Cr GRAPEVINE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AGENDA Friday, August 5, 2005 — 2:00 PM SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER 421 CHURCH STREET MULTI-PURPOSE II ROOM 817-410-8130 1. Call to Order 2. Welcome Guests 3. Introduction and Swearing In of Newly Appointed Board Members Dick Guckel — appointed Marti Chaplin - appointed Tena Burrell — appointed Anne Pitts - appointed 4. Consideration of minutes for June 3, 2005 meeting. 5. Citizen Requests (linv 6. New Business a. Housing Authority Report — Debra Wells b. GRACE Report— Pat Frosch c. FOGSAC Report — Dick Guckel d. Newsletter Survey Report— Chris Smith 7. Adjourn IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS PUBLIC MEETING AND YOU HAVE A DISABILITY THAT REQUIRES SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT THE MEETING, PLEASE CONTACT THE SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER AT 817-410-8130, AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS WILL BE MADE TO ASSIST YOUR NEEDS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551.001 et seq, ACTS OF THE 1993 TEXAS LEGISLATURE, THE BOARD MEETING AGENDA, WAS PREPARED AND POSTED ON THIS, THE 1st OF AUGUST, 2005, AT 2:00 PM. LiiheAt) 44-,044) SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER INTERIM DIRECTOR H:GSCAB agenda07/29/05 GRAPEVINE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD Minutes of August 5,2005 Meeting Page 1 of 3 Cr 1. The Grapevine Senior Citizens Advisory Board met on August 5, 2005 at the Grapevine Senior Activities Center. The following members were present: Dr. Edith Pewitt—Chairperson Dorothy Kritz—Ex-officio, Grapevine Senior Activities Center Pat Frosh, Ex-officio, GRACE Martie Chaplin, Secretary R. Bruce Walters Dick Buckel Tena Burrell Others present: Eileen Hinson—Interim SAC Director Chris Smith—Recreation Supervisor Ted Ware—City Council Member Liaison Debra Wells—Housing Authority Director Geri Foster—Secretary's Office and Notary 2. Welcome Guests Eileen introduced Chris Smith and he explained his role at Parks and Recreation. Geri Foster mentioned she was here to give oath of office for new appointees. 3. Introduction and Swearing In of Newly Appointed Board Members took place: Dick Guckel, Martie Chaplin, Tena Burrell and Anne Pitts were sworn in. 4. The minutes of the previous meeting on June 3, 2005 were considered and amended to correct the misspelling of Sandra Millett's name and approved. 5. Citizen Requests -There were none. 6. New Business Edith explained the history of how the Board came about; learning about seniors' concerns about transportation and then Newsletter issues. The Senior Citizen Advisory Board is not to replace the Senior Advisory Council but to address concerns of all seniors in the area. That is why Edith had asked for certain reports for this meeting which included: a. Housing Authority Report by Debra Wells. Debra explained the Housing Authority's function is to act as landlord and listed the properties available. Debra also reported the many improvements they have been able to do. Their Voucher Program also allows people to submit Vouchers to landlords that will accept them to pay for some of the rent. (, Dick asked where subsidies come from. HUD provides funding not state or local agencies. Tena commended the work Debra's group does. GRAPEVINE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD Minutes of August 5,2005 Meeting Page 2 of 3 Cr' b. GRACE Report by Pat Frosch—Official groundbreaking took place, figuratively speaking, for building purchased at 837 E. Walnut, for renovation of house as the permanent home for Clinic and also food pantry. Clients will then shop for their groceries using vouchers given them. Hope is that it will be ready the first part of November. The Clinic will go in first. November and December busy for holidays so it Pantry will probably transition after Christmas. Seniors and Disabled deliveries will continue. Other projects are: They are currently registering for school supplies. The Women's Chamber provides supplies and GRACE identifies those in need. GRACE has increased aid for seniors by increasing amount of aid for utility bills and medications. Also GRACE is hoping to help Seniors to fill out applications for prescription drug programs from pharmaceutical companies. Tena Burrell said there are also senior advocacy programs,e.g. 211 hotline which has volunteers who will also help with paperwork. Pat also mentioned that Dick volunteers at the Tech Center and Susie, his wife, in pantry. c. Dick Guckel delivered the following report on the Friends of the Grapevine Senior Activities Center (FOGSAC) • A non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, formed last year (F . The purpose of Friends of the Grapevine Senior Activities Center(FOGSAC) is to receive tax deductible gifts to support the GSAC. The funds will be used to improve technology, recurring programs and further educational opportunities. • Officers: o Ken Anderson, President o Dick Guckel, Vice-President/Secretary o Roger Jones, Treasurer o The three of us teach computer classes at the Senior Center • Membership: 73 • Many members have also donated. • What has happened since inception? o Purchased 13 Microsoft Office Pro suites for$360 (saving the city $4,000). o Purchased four computer LCD flat panel displays for Senior Center staff to provide more work space as recommended by Linda Gregory. o IBM grant of$1,000 was received January, 2005. Money was used to buy laser printer and remainder for cartridge replacements. o FOGSAC became a member of Office Depot's Advantage program. Anyone may use FOGSAC's Advantage number to add to the Reward gift card. • Volunteers of the Year: Eileen and Stan Hinson for their raising of funds by selling Red Hat pins and donating the proceeds to FOGSAC GRAPEVINE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD Minutes of August 5,2005 Meeting Page 3 of 3 Cr • Future Plans o Identify appropriate GSAC projects to support o Pursue further grants o Continue to encourage membership through renewal and new members • Discussed, with Doug Evans,problems that seniors have with the city web site. o Explained concerns to Mona Pimentel o The web site is currently being reorganized o With your permission, I would like to officially represent the Senior Advisory Board with this task d. Newsletter Survey Report by Chris Smith. Sent 1,050 out and got 310 back which was above average expected response. Results show high readership. One of the things Parks and Recreation is going to work on is getting newsletter to Seniors more on time. Appears people would like to have monthly and by postal mail. Chris offered to give anyone from the Board,who requests it, a copy of the summary of comments they compiled. Eileen and her staff has a copy already. Chris confirmed that copies of Newsletter are also available at SAC in response to question from Pat. Chris also mentioned that to continue doing it the way we've done it they are looking into alternative ways to produce it versus using the current software. Dick is helping with research too with Eileen. 7. Other issues: Edith asked Eileen if she has had time to pursue more information about Care Givers Programs. Eileen Iriw said there were classes at Harris Methodist HEB for Caregivers but she hasn't done any more follow up for now. Dick discussed classes he is attending in Saginaw. Tena Burrell offered to provide classes through Area Agency on Aging as a certified volunteer. Chris also offered the idea of using the Recreation Center which is open till 10 p.m. versus setting up special night at Senior Center for these programs. Edith asked if there is news about a new SAC Director. Chris said yes but cannot make an announcement right now. There was some final discussion of Dick working with Chris over making it easier to find the Senior Activities Center information on the city's web site. 8. Meeting Adjourned Respectfully submitted, Martie Chaplin Minutes approved by the Board on 9/204.-&e. 1 alleD