HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Leadership Committee For Senior Services - 01/09/2014 Leadership Committee for Senior Services
Meeting Minutes
Garden Senior Center
Thursday,January 9, 2014
► The Meeting was called to order at 3:50 p.m. by B. Sayles, Chairperson.
►Roll Call
Roll call was conducted by S. Beltz. Members present: E. Savoy, S. Beltz, E. Flores,W. Hardeman, B. Rye,
R. Irwin,A. Martinez,V. Salinas, and B. Sayles.
Members absent: A. Cabral, H. Lopez, and L. Hardeman, and I. Hobbs.
lo-Consider Committee Member Attendance Issues
• E. Munoz reported a vacancy for committee member A. Cabral. Ms. Cabral has not attended a
meeting since she was appointed and is not responding to notices or messages from Senior
Community Services or the City Secretary's Office. We will initiate a request to the City
Secretary's office for notice of attendance non-compliance.
No-Approval of Minutes
• Minutes from the November 7, 2013 meeting were distributed for review. There was no
meeting in December, in lieu of the Holiday Dinner. A motion was made by E. Savoy and
seconded by R. Irwin to approve the minutes. The motion was unanimously approved.
No-Old Business
Strategic Plan—Review of Subcommittee Assignments
Funding and Resource/Special Events
• B. Rye reported the subcommittee brainstormed during their meeting. The subcommittee
noted that Facebook is being utilized and wants to consider how to increase the followers, likes,
and publicizing events for each senior center. The subcommittee also discussed the possibility
of utility bill inserts, taking into consideration the production costs vs. the availability of funds.
Suggestions to include on a utility bill insert are information for the Meals on Wheels Program,
free programming at the senior centers, Senior Day at the Park, and other special events.
Another consideration might be information regarding Benefits Counseling and looping it into
how to become a member at a senior center.
• B. Rye added that the subcommittee is open to suggestions from the LCSS committee for any
community partnership possibilities. She stated that options being considered for community
partnerships are "adopt a committee," "adopt a senior," "adopt a senior center," partnering
with pet stores and other retail sources. Ms. Rye stated that an action plan from the
subcommittee will be forthcoming.
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Program Operations
• S. Beltz reported that she is surveying each senior center for their respective "welcoming"
protocol. She added I. Hobbs is researching the availability, costs, and sizes for digital readers.
Ms. Beltz reported that due to only two (2) subcommittee members being present, there were
no other items to report.
Program Evaluation
• C. Reschman reported that the committee's focus is the monthly Senior Luncheon. She added
that other types of events that are being considered are a "Tipsy Canvas" style evening dinner,
to include a painting class. She added that a special invitation would be sent out for attracting
new people. Ms. Reschman reported that another event suggested was a "Casino Night," to
attract new members. She concluded that more brainstorming will be done to designate, plan,
and create a special event.
• E. Munoz reported that funds are available for these types of special events. She suggested that
the subcommittee develop, recommend, and submit a budget with a proposal for the event, so
that funds can be made available. E. Munoz also suggested that the subcommittee partner with
other agencies such as YMCA and fitness centers to help make this type of event successful.
►New Business
New LCSS Member Endorsement
• E. Munoz reported that the City Secretary's office notified Senior Community Services that
Margaret Fratila has taken a seat on another board. Angela Munselle-Woods was being
contacted by the City Secretary's office for her recommendation of appointment. There will be
additional Biographical Forms forthcoming from the City Secretary's office for vacancies.
• Dr. Dan Jorgenson, Masters of Public Administration Program, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
University presented the Texas A&M Student Senior Center Survey. Dr. Jorgenson stated the
City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department had a need to examine the senior
centers and the project provided a learning experience for the students. Areas that were
included in the scope of the survey were Barriers to Participation, Suggestions for Improvement,
Health/Social Outcomes, and Benchmarking Participants. The final conclusion and
recommendations derived from the survey are:
• Evaluating the hours of operation
• Including additional activities that include activity/exercise and self-
development
• Deferred maintenance
• Dr. Dan Jorgenson reported a Likert Scale was used for the survey with a scale of 1 — 5 from
strongly disagree to strongly agree. The survey had a total of 298 respondents. There were
eight (8) students assigned to the project, four (4) to the survey team and four (4) to the
benchmarking team. Dr. Jorgenson reported that one (1) student was familiar with the senior
centers due to having worked with the Parks and Recreation Department, one (1) had worked
with city's Development Services, and the other six (6) were not familiar with Senior Community
Services at all.
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• L. Oliver reported the same presentation will be made at the February 25, 2014 City Council
meeting.
• E. Munoz asked for responses from Senior Community Services staff:
• T. Rodriguez stated she agreed with deferred maintenance being an issue, due
to the problems with the Northwest Senior Center and other senior center's
roofs.
• C. Reschman stated she was surprised at the findings for the age groupings and
transportation issues.
• E. Munoz reported that the general impression of the Texas A&M students with senior centers
was their anxiety due to the generation gap but that they did enjoy the project after working
with the members.
• L. Oliver suggested that the committee take the survey as information and use it as a guide for
working on the strategic plan. The subcommittees may use it as benchmarking for our current
programming.
►LCSS Subcommittee Reports
Funding and Resource/Special Events
• B. Rye reported there are some changes to the calendar of events and those changes will be
sent out to the committee via email. She added there will be a book drive coordinated by RSVP
for the students of West, Texas that were affected by the explosion. This event is in celebration
of Martin Luther King Day.
• B. Rye reported that a monthly "Walk to be Well" will be held on the second Saturday of each
month, beginning on Saturday,January 11, 2014. Senior Community Services will be hosting this
first walk and Dr. Pradeiro will be the guest speaker. A goal of the monthly walk is to have a
"spin-off" discussion at each senior center. Ms. Rye added the planned Senior Community
Services trip for February will be rescheduled for March or April. There will also be a Chair
Volleyball Invitational on Thursday, February 27, 2014 with final details to be announced by co-
chairs, Deborah Henry and Evila Salinas. Additionally, there will be multiple Valentine's Day
events at the different senior centers.
• A preliminary Holiday Dinner report was that there were 250 plus attendees. The floor was then
opened to comments:
• H. Savoy reported the food was good and a super job was done.
• W. Hardeman thought the Zumba dancers did a great job and were a positive
influence on the event. The volunteer service was exceptional and he was very
impressed.
• V. Salinas stated he was very impressed by the event.
• C. Reschman stated the door prizes that were donated were very good and she
commended Patsy Matejek for the job she did in obtaining the door prizes.
• B. Rye commended D. Henry and N. Chavera for the job put forth for the Holiday Dinner.
• E. Munoz reported a total of$2810.00 will carry over and that the raffle baskets were a big hit.
She added more raffle basket tickets could have been sold; however, we ran out of printed
tickets.
• B. Rye introduced the 2014 Holiday Dinner Co-Chairs, Tammy Rodriguez, Diana Bueno, and
Sonia Garza.
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Program Evaluation
• H. Savoy reported that call backs will be conducted by V. Salinas and Mr. Salinas will report back
next month.
Program Operations
• S. Beltz reported that there will be a Site Council Summit on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at
2pm. The first choice of location will be Lindale Senior Center and the second choice will be
Oveal Williams Senior Center.
►SCS Division Program Updates
General Highlights
• L. Oliver reported on the 2013 Center Activity Data Report. A copy was provided to the
committee. The Ethel Eyerly Senior Center resumed operations at the senior center on
December 18, 2013. L. Oliver provided a review of the center rentals at each facility and noted
that the Northwest Senior Center had the most with ten (10) rentals. She added that rentals
have an impact on revenue and reminded the committee of the need for revenue.
• L. Oliver reported that the fire alarm system installations will be completed during the week of
January 13, 2014. In February, the TRAPS/Texas Recreational Parks Society Conference will be
held in Corpus Christi hosted by the City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department.
Senior Center Operations
• E. Munoz reported M. Morris is very pleased with the work that the committee has done on the
Strategic Plan. She added that Mr. Morris has conveyed that same message to the City
Manager.
• E. Munoz reported that the Annual Report has been provided to M. Morris with key actions and
items reported. A copy can be provided to each LCSS member as requested.
• E. Munoz requested that committee members assist in directing individuals to the Corpus Christi
Senior Community Services Facebook page. At this time, there are 286 likes for the page and
Elena Flores was commended for developing the page background which includes the Corpus
Christi Parks and Recreation Department logo. Ms. Munoz added that events, reminders,
information, and photos are posted to the page. E. Munoz invited the committee to like the
page and added that the page will be updated a minimum of twice weekly.
• E. Munoz stated that demonstrations can be provided at the senior centers to aide members in
liking the Facebook page.
• E. Salinas reported there will be a cancer prevention presentation by lecturer and author, Ty
Bollinger, at Lindale Senior Center on Thursday, February 6, 2014, 7pm-8:30pm. The
presentation is free.
Program Performance Review
• C. Reschman reported that the Nutrition Program did meet the the DADS units of congregate
and home delivered meals. She will have the report documents at the February meeting.
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• C. Reschman stated that the Nutrition Education Service Center is very short staffed, due to
illness, limited duty, and job vacancies. She added that interviews have been conducted for the
vacant position of Kitchen Supervisor.
• C. Reschman reported that the funding received from the Texas Agriculture Grant had a
decrease due to funding formulas and that more agencies are vying for the grant; therefore,
funds are allocated to more agencies.
►Identify Items to be Placed on Next Agenda
• None.
No-Public Comment
• None.
►Adjournment
A motion was made by B. Rye and seconded by R. Irwin to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was
adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
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