Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Leadership Committee For Senior Services - 01/08/2009 iy ,trii Leadership Committee for Senior Services RECEf'b'�5e® Meeting Minutes ® Zavala Senior CenterAI�I Thursday, January 8, 2009 U 72099 11•A quorum of members was present and the meeting was called to ord- sc. C . Mario Ball, Secretary. OFFICE ►Roll Call Roll call was conducted by Marion Ball, Secretary. 10-Consider Committee Member Attendance Issues None ',MINUTES Committee members reviewed the November 2008 meeting minutes. Dotson Lewis motioned to approve the minutes as written. Miltan Martiz seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. ',STATE OF THE SENIOR CENTER ADDRESS Mr. Alfonso Cirlos, Zavala Site Council President, was absent. Connie Reschman, Zavala Senior Center Supervisor presented a comprehensive report of the activities, classes and special events hosted at the Zavala Senior Center. Please see attached report. ►COMMITTEE REPORTS (Written reports are to be submitted to the Secretary prior to each meeting) Program Operations Alan Bligh reported on the continued efforts for achieving national accreditation for our Senior Centers here in Corpus Christi. Mr. Bligh announced that in efforts to meet contract compliance for Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) funding we have assigned two Senior Center supervisors to the Social Services Unit. Monica Escamilla and Deborah Henry are currently reporting to the Nutrition Education Service Center to conduct HDM assessments and Benefits Counseling. Mr. Bligh discussed a proposed Senior Center Membership Program which would include charging an optional fee at each of the Senior Centers. Mr. Bligh stated that the only problem with this was that all the money collected would have to go directly into the City's General Fund. The committee is exploring other options to address this issue. The committee is also developing an Equipment Donation Policy and will clarify the process for designating donations to the Senior Center or the Site Council. Mr. Bligh announced that Site council elections will be held in May of this year. Elections are held every other year. A Senior Center Site Council Orientation will be hosted in April. All persons who intend to serve on the site council are encouraged to attend this event. A key role of the Program Operations committee is to visit all senior centers to educate members about the Site Council roles and responsibilities. Site Council Nominations are accepted in April and elections will be held in early May. The official Installation Ceremony is scheduled for late May. The committee is also reviewing term limits for site council officers. SCANNED V Mr. Bligh previewed a computer system at the Senior Center Director's Summit which he thinks would be beneficial to the Senior Centers here in Corpus Christi. Dotson Lewis encouraged that the Senior Centers look into getting this computer system. He suggested that at the very least, we secure a test program and seek potential grant funding to secure the complete order. The cost for the system is approximately $10,000.00 to $12,000.00 per site. The estimated total expense would come in a little under$100,000.00 for all the centers. Mr. Lewis mentioned that we would be the first senior center to have this program in this area. Mr. Lewis also mentioned this would be a good benefit to the center staff as well because it is more "hands on" for the seniors to sign themselves in and out and reserve their meal for the next day. Introductions Vicki Garza introduced Michael Ramsey as a prospective LCSS Member. Mr. Ramsey provided some background information about himself. He also stated that he is very excited to hopefully become a member of the Leadership Committee for Senior Services. Program Evaluations Donna Rodriguez reports that fifty-seven "How Are We Doing" comment cards were turned in and they were all from the Greenwood Senior Center. Results reflect 98% satisfaction with our services. Donna Rodriquez stated only 2%were not completely satisfied and three members requested a response. Mrs. Rodriguez stressed that all the centers should be turning in their cards. Marion Ball states that she had called the Ethel Eyerly Senior Center to make sure that they turn in their comment cards, but apparently they did not since Greenwood Senior Center was the only center to turn in comment cards. Mrs. Rodriguez stated that we discuss this issue at each meeting but the matter has still not yet been resolved. Miltan Martiz asked if it were possible for the Site Council to become involved in getting the comment cards filled out and turned in. Mr. Lewis stated that it's a matter of the seniors actually knowing where the comment cards are and where to turn them in. He said that most of the time the seniors just walk right by and do not even know that the cards are there. Mr. Lewis suggested that the volunteers who hand out the meal tickets could also hand out a card at the same time to see if the members would like to fill it out. Leticia Ochoa stated that announcements are made at the senior centers instructing members to leave the cards on the table and volunteers will retrieve the comment cards and put them into the box. However, they still didn't fill them out. Ms. Ochoa commented that a return of fifty-five comment cards is not a good representation of the four hundred and ninety congregate meal program clients which we serve. She also suggested that we post a report at every center regarding the response we receive on the comment cards so the seniors know the cards are being reviewed by our committee. Marion Ball reviewed the revised comment card format that had previously been created. She noted that the cards contain the-same information, but are presented in a different format. Theresa Swirenko asked Leticia Ochoa to elaborate more on the idea of posting a report on the comment cards. Ms. Ochoa explained that she provides a comments card report to the Program Evaluation Sub-Committee each month. She suggests that we post a similar report at the senior centers so the members know that they aren't just throwing away the cards. She notes that the seniors might appreciate knowing that someone is actually reading the cards and trying to improve the operation based on their feedback. Mr. Lewis suggested that the supervisor or the site council should announce the comment cards during meal service to try to get more seniors to fill out the comment cards. Mrs. Garza asked Connie why her center did not turn in any comment cards. Connie Reschman stated that the problem that she sees at Zavala Senior Center is due to the high rate of illiteracy. Therefore, she would have to meet with a majority of the members on a one on one basis to assist them in completing the surveys. Connie Reschman stated that she occasionally reminds the seniors about the comment cards, but, most the members don't complain about anything. 2 11110 Ms. Ochoa emphasized that the first question "Were you satisfied with our services todayT is very important because those answers generate the numbers which are reported to Parks and Recreation administration and City management. Theresa Swirenko commented that there must be a way to get more seniors involved even if they can't read or write. Ms. Swirenko suggested a group session and read the questions aloud and asking for a show of hands of what their opinion is. Lisa Oliver said that it was a great suggestion which they might want to put into action. Vicki Garza motioned to implement the new format for the comment cards. Alan Bligh and Ruth Perez seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Leticia Ochoa shared that Pat Byrd from Ethel Eyerly Senior Center was the one who created the revised format for the new comment cards. Funding/Special Events This committee was unable to meet. Lisa Oliver expressed a special thanks to everyone who attended and volunteered during the Holiday Dinner. Ms. Oliver mentioned that the Chairpersons for the Holiday Dinner were Deborah Henry and Connie Reschman. She also acknowledged Theresa Swirenko for the follow up phone calls to potential sponsors. Lisa Oliver advised that the committee will be reviewing a special events calendar for the division. Each senior center is also completing a list of standing events throughout the year. She also reviewed the Senior Day at the Capital event scheduled for February 10, 2009. This event is to recognize the contributions of older adults and also an opportunity to educate our local legislators about programs and services offered in their prospective areas. The one day event is in Austin and expenses are on your own because there is no funding for this event. Marion Ball asked how many days this event will be. Ms. Oliver stated that we would probably leave on February 9r" and return on February 10th. No motion was made. Marion Ball encouraged everyone to be thinking of possible fundraising events since last year there was no fundraiser. SCS Division Program Report Lisa Oliver reviewed the Program Performance Measures for December 2008 through January 2009. Ms. Oliver announced that the Senior Centers will be closed from 2 pm to 5 pm on January 15, 2009 due to a Staff-In service. The centers will also close in the afternoon on January 22, 2009 so staff may complete the annual CPR/First Aid Training. Lisa Oliver reported that we received the pre-application for the Community Development Block Grant (Unmet needs for Senior Centers) and more information will follow. Ms. Ochoa announced that the Texas Feeding Texans Program grant application was accepted and approved for$444.43. ►Parks and Recreation Department Update Lisa Oliver reviewed details regarding the Community Development Block Grant process which was previously presented. 3 wll *Unfinished Business Guy Williams noted that the revision of the LCSS By-Laws which were approved at the last meeting appeared to "be a bit repetitive. No one made a motion to change the revised By-Laws. Theresa Swirenko motioned to accept the By-Laws as written. Dotson Lewis seconded the motion and they were unanimously approved. ▪New Business: Lisa Oliver reviewed a letter from the City Secretary's office which was sent to Mrs. Kathy Harron, former LCSS Chairperson who has since resigned. The letter stated "To assist the Council in their consideration, it would be helpful for them to know if the eligible members currently serving on your Board wish to be considered for reappointment. The eligible members whose terms expire are: Donna Marie Rodriguez (R.S.V.P.), Dotson Lewis (Community), Theresa Swirenko (Agency), and Kathy Harron (R.S.V.P.). Please inform this office as soon as possible if these individuals would like to be considered for reappointment. The City Charter provides that no person shall be reappointed to serve for a period longer than six consecutive years unless their service is requited by virtue of their position or title as the result of employment or to complete an unexpired term. The members whose terms expire and the date of original appointment are: Alan Bligh (Community) (2-12-02) and Marion Ball (Senior Center) (2-12- 02)." Lisa Oliver mentioned that Michael Ramsey was attending the LCSS Meeting as a guest and his name will go before council on January 13, 2009 for appointment consideration. Guy Williams asked if Alan Bligh and Marion Ball were to resign before their 6 year term expired would they be eligible for reappointment. Lisa Oliver said that she would follow up with the City Secretary to make that determination. Donna Rodriguez, Dotson Lewis and Theresa Swirenko all agreed to be reappointed. Miltan Martiz made a motion to have them reappointed. Vicki Garza seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Lisa Oliver noted that the February agenda will include a proposed slate of officers which will need to be voted on during the March Meeting. *ANNOUNCEMENTS: None *PUBLIC COMMENT: None ►ADJOURMENT: Meeting Adjourned at 4:45 pm 4