HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-05-24 Council on Aging MinutesCOUNCIL ON AGING
Meeting held on May 24,,, 1912
A regular meeting of the Council on Aging was held on Wednesday evening,
May 24., 1972, at the dousing for the Elderly,
'resent were Mrs*, Baton, the Chairman, Stratton Mr* Evans Y,
riche also Mrs, tewartp Secretary to the council, Since there were only four mem-
bers of the Council present and five are required for a quorumv the Chairman
im-
mediately adjourned the meeting until the next regular meeting to be held on. Junes
25th,;
Respectfully submitted,
u
Secretary
PoS. owever$ those present j together with Mrs* Frances Murpk-y. the newly
appointee A0m1 iistrator of taa-, 0-))A3ined Visiting 1Lursesr Association, and its. Treas-
urer' Mrsg :inifred Schuh, ; dirs. Reaton welcomed as visitors
cussed informally (no votes -vere taken) several matters of general interest,
Mrs. Beaton reported that Mrs. louanis,,who had been quite illj, was now
recuperating in New Hampshire and we all loop forward to her speedy recovery and
return to Reading.
Mr# Stratton reported that $4718.79 is being held by the Reading Housing
Authority for the Council on Aging until the money is released from the Security
Bank and Trust Company of T.akefield (in liquidation) and that of the 2600.00 allo-
cated by the Town of Reading; $1754.81 remains after payment for the first bus trip
and other bills,
Mrs. Beaton reported that she had been in touch with: Mr. Dewey Smith of
the Finance Committee and tiro Gould$ Town Accountant, It is hoped that procedure
for making the $4718,79 available for use by the Council will soon be worked out.
A conversation she had with Toum Counsel definitely determined that it will not be
permi.ssable for the Council to solicit contributions from organizations or iindiv
iduals It may be well to consider the possibility of having an outside group
incorporated for this purpose
July 7 has been set as the date for a picnic to be held at the home of
rs* Stewart., as part of the summer program for the elderly
It was reported that several of the older people attended the Senior Citi-
zenst Rally at the John Hynes Mei~orial Auditorium in Boston on. May 23rdp, and thought
it was an excellent program., The principal thrusts were for a 2 increase in
Social ecurityj, a minimum Pension Flan of $4500.00 for a couple 03(x,00,00 for a.
single persons and a National Health ecurity flan,.
On May 25 Mrs Beaten hopes to attend a Transportation Meeting in relation
to the Handicapped and the Elderly
In a conversation she had with P1r. Jack Crain of the executive Office of
:gilder A-ff'ai.rs j, Ylrs,, B_eaton learned that the Reading Council'.., will no: longer be in,
the Middlesex Northeast Councils on Aging area but will..be part of Region
in the new regional all.ocation*
Mrs. Farelli who, has been a recent volunteer to drive the R van
feels she will be available to drive this summer, if not for the full s er,
most of the time,*
lar® Evans confirmed the dates of the uannapowi.tt Players, Colonial.
Chorus., and. Barber Shoppers who will perform for the Sumner Program at the
Reading Housing .Authority,
Mr, Farnham who was absent, had contacted Mrs, atop and information
regarding two summer theatre parties, was referred by Mrs. Beaton to the Council..
June: 24 is the firsts a matinee for "Meet Me in t®. Louisa with Jame Powell*
The necessary publicity will appear in the Reading Chronicle,. June 1 issue to
enable the ~g?',Iderlyrr in Reading to make the necessary reservations with Mrs
Stewart, The next theatre party will be August 5, rrThe King & I" - a matinee,
Mrs.. Beaton reported that the Office of Elder Affairs had assured her
the grant of $1500, from the State for a Health Program, is> quite definite, and
within a few months (probably July) should be received by the Council.. Our
guest, Mrs, Murphy, who is definitely most concerned over the "health" question
regarding the " d:erlyr" feels there is a tremendous need for counselling, and
helpful information given anyone; who is 5 or older., of the various types of
medical assistance that are available, especially to those who are living on
a limited budget. She feels it is most important if a Health programer is set
up, that initially a meeting should be held: with a group of doctors, a repre-
sentative of a hospital, Middlesex Tuberculosis Association, Cancer ;Associ-
ation, and also a member of the Red Cross, who would be able to give direct
information and set everything of'f to a good beginning. Mrs. Raton suggest-
ed that the Eastern Middlesex,, 14ental, Health Association might also be includ-
ed, s4 Murphy said she would set up a meeting to whichrs,, Beaton;, Mrs
Stewart and other interested Council. Members would be invited;
Emrich presented a letter from the University of Ma.ssac us-etts$,
Amherst, in regard to Cable T .V. which he felt was something that Mrs. Beaton.
should investigate.
This informal discussion terminated at 10:00 P M