HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-04-26 Council on Aging MinutesCObMCIL ON AGING
Meeting Held on April 26, 1972
A regular meeting of the Council on Aging was held on 1,;ednesday
evening, April 26, 1972, at the Dousing for the Elderly.
The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Beaton, the Chairman at
7:30 P.ia Those present in addition to Mrs. Heaton, were Mrs. Louanis,
!qrs. Sias, Dirs. Lantz, Tliss Leslie, Mr.. Evans,, 11r. Farnham., . Stratton,
and Mr. Emrich, At this time Mrs. ]Beaton and Council members extended
a welcome to Mrs. Dorothy N. Stewart.
Upon motion duly made and seconded., it was umnimouslys
VOTE? That the part-time employment of ItIrs. Dorothy N. Stewart,
retroactive to April 1, 1972, at the rate of $100.00 per month (based on
an average of 8 hours per week) be ratified and approved: and that she
is hereby appointed as Executive Director and Secretary of the Council on
aging.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously:
VOTED: To accept for the records the Secretaryts report for the
meeting held on March 22, 1972, copies of which had been previously mailed
to all members of the Council, with correction of page 3, paragraph 2#,.
Ir. Stratton, the Treasurer, reported as follows;
Present balance in Town-allocated Funds `p2601.26
Typing fees to Irene Dillon $36.00
Ad ',Reading Chronicle 4.00
Present; balance in Town-allocated Funds $2561.26
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously:
VOTED: To accept the above Treasurer's report as reads
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously.
VOTED: To accept for the records Mr, Stratton's proposal that
the Council on Aging, as of April 1, 1972, formally accept the management
of the Community Program for the Elderly, previously under the directon
of the Heading Housing Authority, and that the name of the program shall
henceforth.be Community Program for the Elderly (.formerly referred: to as
heading dousing Authority Co=unity Program for the Elderly).
Mrs.. Beaton advised the Council at this time the State Grant of
$1500.00 had not been received, whale the amount of $2600.00 to be receiv-
ed from the Town has already been allocated. She reported that the heading
Housing Authority was holding a balance of Local Funds until a technical-
ity regarding the total budget for 1972 (*8500) is clarified with the
Town of headings r meeting of the Finance Cow ttee is scheduled for Iay
9, 1972, and it is anticipated that the problem will be resolved.
Dirs. Beaton will consult Town Counsel as to the ruling of receiv-
ing funds from, organizations in reading, and report back to the Council on
Aging, as under the mousing authority this px°ocedure was pursued over the
pas-3 years.
Iirs. Florence Farelli of Leading informed Mrs. Beaton that she had
volunteered as a third driver for the €IYWI Van.
Dirs. Beaton will attend the reading Housing Authority meeting on
May 8, 1972, and will present a request to the Authority that Dirs. Dorothy
N. Stewart, Executive Director, be permitted to have the use of the reading
Housing Authority office at Frank D. Tanner Drive, on Thursday afternoons.
I~Irs,. Beaton brought up the subject of the Variety Crafts Class
as it had been proposed by the teachers that they work in class upon pro;-
jects which may be used for sale at the Tannerville Fair. She conferred
with Mrs. Herrick, Coordinator of the Norkmshop Group (Fair) and it was de-
cided that the Variety Crafts Class and the WTorkshop Group be kept separate,
as the itx.brkshop has adequate supervisors with YWs. Iviary Herrick as Coordin-
ator, plus three Co-Chairmen- Firs. Frances Doucette, Dirs. Pelletier and
Mrs. Kochwitz. Mrs. Beaton also informed the Council that Mr. Matthew
Doughty, a reading student at the Massachusetts College of Art, has offer-
ed his services during the month of May to help in all classes pertaining
to art (with the exception of Fridays) and also in torkshop. Mr. Doughty
vrUl conduct two sessions on art with the Discussion Group. After consid-
eration the Council members decided to continue the Variety Crafts Class
through June and endeavour -to obtain professional help in different fields
to enrich the present program. Further discussion was promoted by Mrs,
Beaton as to continuing the Fainting Class, under the direction of Dirs.
Herrick, during the summer months# There are sufficient funds available to
finance this program., and it was decided to continue a summer painting
schedule, if enough people are interested.,
Looking ahead to the Fall Program for the Elderly it was consid-
ered advisable to begin research as to some changes of the existing pro-
grams.
Under consideration are:
1. Choral Singing (with tentative approach to IIrs. Jane Rosa of
Reading- J10.,00 per class).
2. firs. Louanis suggested a class in "Buying & Cooking for One"',
and Mrs. Sias suggested that the Uddlesex Extension Service
in all probability could provide excellent information in this
area.
3. Mrs. Keaton felt that a class to fit the needs of the RGentle-
men Flderlyl~- might be satisfied in the area of "Photography"
or "'Light !i,Joodworkgl. This could be developed in the area of
framing of pictures, which is in great demand by the "Paint-
ing Classes". and one which they find is quite costly to ac-
commodate to their budget..
4. At this time it is most essential to secure a new Ceramics
Teacher for the Fall Program. Unfortunately [sirs. Etling,
2.
who has been a delightful addition to the Program for the Elder-
ly, has now moved to .Teton and finds it impossible to continue
teaching her Ceramics Class after the summer recess. Mrs. Beaton
and Mrs. Stewart were offered some suggestions to pursue and are
hopeful they can successfully find a replacement for Mrs. Etling.
Discussion was entered into relative to the small size of the
kiln and the excessive heat it generates in the work-room of ivxr.
Smith, in charge of maintenance. However, at this time there is
no sign of funds being available for an addition to the present
building, but Mr. Evans brought forth the idea of considering a
"portable".
Further discussion was given to the Variety Crafts Glass, and,
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was-unanimously:
VOTED, That the Variety Crafts Class be discontinued in the Fall to
replaced with a new program.
Dirs.. Beaton reported that she has been invited to a meeting at the
High School on May 2, to discuss possible ways that students right participate
in Community Projects as part of their curriculums,,
At this time Mrs. Beaton introduced the topic of 't'amer Programs."
Hr. Evans reported that the Colonial Chorus will lerform august 23,, 1972. He
had also enquired of 1'ir•. Taylor, Colonial Chorus, if he knew of anyone taho
would be prepared to direct "Chorus for the "El.derl " in the Falb
At this meeting no confirmation of dates was in hand regarding the
letters mailed to the "Selectmen", (Barber Shop) and Quannapowitt players for
the Summer Program
The proposed schedule for the "Summer PrograOl is
June 28, 1972 Quannapowitt Players Mrs. Sias & Ivir, Farnham
duly 12, 1972 Cook-out & Ganes Ivir, Stratton & fir. Evans
July 26, 1972
Square Dancing
Mrs. Beaton. & ;hiss Leslie
Iugust 9, 1972
Cook out & Barber
Shop Quartet
August 23, 1972 Ice-Cream.Smorgas-
bord & Colonial
Chorus
Mr. Stratton & Krs. Lantz
Mr. Emrich & Krs. Louanis
Tiirs. Louanis brought up the matter of Bus Trips for the Elderly and
the following schedule was established:
Ii:ay 9, 1972
Council ride) 1.mhurst, Mass. Lunch at
2 buses - $280.00 the Grist Miill, with a
1 nurse - 15.00 Gift Shop tour.
June B, 1972 Golden ~ e Gloucester, with lunch
at the Gloucester House.
34
June 22, 1972 Council ride Nantasket
July
August
September
Mrs. Stewart of
for the Elderly, feeling
with many of them before
Council ride
(date to be decided)
Golden Age
(date to be decided)
Fitzwilliam
entworth-b the-Sea
Golden Age A hurst-® :munch at the
(date to be decided) Grist Bill, & Gift
shop tour
fered her home, and rustic outdoors, for a picnic
that this night be a good way of getting acquainted
the "Fall Season.'.
Mr. Farnham reported that at this time there is nothing conclus-
ive to report relative to Theatre Parties, but on advice from Mr. Stephen
Slane, of the North Shore Music Theatre, he is hopeful that reduced rates
will be available. He said that as soon as the schedule for the summer is
out he would pursue the matter further.
:tars. Sias thew brought the Council up to date on the Volunteer
Program of visitors to nursing homes and shut-ins. Twice favors had been
made by the volunteers and taken when visiting, and also a visit had been
made to the Summer Avenue Nursing Home. In September the visiting group in-
tend to meet at a. luncheon to discuss the Fall Program., and in the meantime
they are thinking up ideas that would be pleasing to the shut-ins# There
are six to seven ladies visiting regularly,
Mrs. Beaton brought to the notice of the Council an announcement
of the fourth annual meeting of the Massachusetts Legislative Council for
Older Americans, to be held at Hynes Memorial Auditorium in the Prudential
Center, Tuesday, May 23rd.
Miss Leslie reported that the Eastern Middlesex Geriatric Committee
will hold a program on May 3, 4 and 5 at the Congregational Church. This
will relate to Caucus 4 - "Health Fain in Tewksbury during April at the
Knights of Columbus Hall, :any organizations were represented, and resid-
ents of Tewksbury were able to receive chest X-rays and blood-scans for a
nominal fee of $5..00,, Firs. louanis and dirs. Beaton also attended.
Mrs. Beaton also talked about a luncheon meeting of the Middlesex
Northeast Regional Councils on Aging she attended recently, at which future
possible Health, Hone Care and Transportation programs were discussed. It
is expected that these will be handled can a regional basis, and that Region
4 will be the one of which Reading will be a part. She was told that with-
in a few weeks all Councils would be receiving letters about these matters.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, and
upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn,
and the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 9:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
-ecretary