HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-11 Council on Aging Minutes c'��ur t
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Meeting Minutes ;`;Euf' )t/�U
F, s TOWN CLERK
`'•-,M�.•^'' READING, MA.
Board - committee - commission - council: 311 DEC 16 PM 2 51
Council on Aging
Date: 2019-02-11 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jean Delos (Assistant Town Manager) ,Barbara Carney (Associate Member),
Joan Coco, Jolyn Ek, Margaret Havey, John Parsons, Pooja Parsons
(Associate Member), Thomas Procopio, Sandy Shaffer, Marilyn Shapleigh,
Debby Small, Brian Snell
Members - Not Present:
Sally Hoyt (Associate Member), Jayna Stafford (Associate Member), Jane
Burns (Director Elder Services)
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shapleigh
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order by Thomas Procopio at 6:30
Acceptance of Minutes from January: Jane Burns needs to be added to the list of members
present. Minutes Accepted with the noted correction.
Elder Services Report- January Report (Admin): Presented by Jean Dellos in the absence
of Jane Burns who is unable to attend this month due to an illness. The Board of Selectman
finalized their annual goals and 1st on the list Is a new senior center/community center.
The Select Board expressed interest in forming a work group to start meeting on this and
may reach out to the COA. Accepted.
Financial Report - December Report(Admin): Routine expenditures were noted. Accepted.
MVES Report: The Belly Full of Laughs fund raiser was held and was the most successful
ever; it brought in $50,000.
Old Business:
Dementia Friendly Reading: Minutes are attached.
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner- New Ideas: Wilmington does their dinner at a restaurant or
Hill View and it seems to be well attended. Sandy Shaffer suggested having the dinner at
the Pleasant St Center, but hiring a comedian (instead of the gift); Council members
expressed much interest in this Idea. Pooja Parsons suggested alternatively doing it at
Giggles, but that would be expensive and on Route 1. Antis probably does not have
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adequate space. The Council will plan to discuss options and bring Jane Burns up to date on
the ideas at the next COA meeting.
New Business:
Senior vs. Older Adult: Sandy Shaffer and Jane Burns have been discussing the use of
"senior"vs. "older adults" because the current Pleasantries says it's for"older adults". In
the past the heading said "senior newsletter". Sandy Shaffer did an informal survey and the
majority,preferred "senior newsletter". Jane Burns requested that It be discussed at the
COA. At Ards, employees tend to use"older adults". Older adults may be considered by
some to be less stereotypical. Discussion among the COA members included comments
that the informal survey results may be skewed by survey design and participant sampling
considerations. Also it was suggested that part of the feedback may have been a reaction
to the new graphic design of the newsletter. "Older adults" may be more Inclusive and
address concerns that younger"older adults"are turned off by the"senior center" notion or
the concept of"elderly". Further discussion was tabled until next month.
375" Dementia Program: The question was raised...should there be a program hosted by
the COA featuring Dementia Friendly Reading during the town's 375th celebration. Jean
Delos commented that little Information is available on the Internet and lots of coordination
with town services would be required, so a meeting was held a couple of weeks ago. Porch
fest is an example of events the celebration is considering. Logistics need to be worked out.
A volunteer committee is organizing the 375th celebration; technically the event is not a
town activity except for Paint the Town which will be held at the Pleasant St. Center.
Further discussion was tabled until next month.
Special Events:
. Austin Prep Brunch/Bingo - March 1n. Details are in the bulleting.
Next Meeting: March 11, 2019
Motion to adjourn by Brian Snell, seconded by John Parsons. All in favor. Meeting
adjourned at 7:19 by Brian Snell.
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