COUNCIL ON AGING

BOARD MEETING MINUTES June 5, 2003

Present: Brunetta Wolfman, Anita Berman, Greg Howe, Gerry Brennan, Florence Alexander, Alternate, Dir. Valerie Carrano, Friends: Vern Wilson, Treasurer

Minutes from the May 1, 2003 Board Meeting were approved as corrected – to be e-mailed by secretary to Town Clerk.

Correspondence:

· In response to B. Wolfman’s letter to Berkeley regarding their program taxi chits for Seniors, she was notified that her letter was directed to the Dir. Of Housing. They are thinking of putting an income limit on their chits.

· B. Wolfman e-mailed the Town Clerk, Selectmen, Selectman Secretary to get F. Alexander put on as a Board Alternate. Hopefully next week.

· The BANNER printed the Friends “thank you” to all the participants of our Bake Sale.

Director’s Report:

· There will be a COA Open House on Thursday, 6/19 from 2 – 4pm. Welcoming packets will be provided which will include our “welcoming” letter to new Seniors.

· The labels are finished for the “welcome” letters – about 800.

· The COA Staff was certified in CPR and there are 4 new first aid kits located around the Center.

· Cape Cod Hospital and the lower Cape COA’s in cooperation with the Cape and Islands EMS’ and Elder Services are introducing a pilot program called REACH – which will provide community help for people falling through the cracks. Ex. Through the COA’s, provide transportation from the hospital, have someone to welcome home a Senior from the hospital if no one is there, etc. V. Carrano is attempting to get a list of volunteers.

Friends:

· V. Wilson announced that $750 was raised at the Bake Sale.

· We received $440 from the PBG and bought 1 VCR/DVD, a love seat and a lamp. Steve Roderick of the PBG was the intermediary with the COA and advocated for the COA. He was very pleased with the “thank-you” note he received from the COA Director.

· Expenses were $840 and paid for the Board to go to Elder Services Annual Meeting and for paint and knives for the dining room.

Old Business:

· Since it is now time for the annual Town-wide Policy Goal Setting, B. Wolfman asked for our comments – basically the same as last year. Suggestions were to use the words “continue to” especially for a Manor site and reaching new residents.

-page 2-

· COA welcome-letter status: Corrections were made to the labels, B. Wolfman will provide another copy of the letter to be copied which the COA Staff will run off. V. Wilson has purchased 100 stamped envelopes and will purchase more with the return

address printed. When these items are complete, the Board will be e-mailed to come in a sign some letters or take them home to sign until we are finished with the project.

· In trying to locate Seniors who just moved to Town, perhaps we can utilize NSTAR. V. Carrano will contact them.

· G. Howe reported on the TRIAD Conference he attended:

· Mary Alice Moore, Assistant Attorney General spoke on scams – the Canadian lottery and counterfeit – in particular.

· To use the do-not-call list, you need to have a caller ID.

· Major workshops – REACH, 911 calls – if you’re using a cell phone, you must give the location of where you are verbally.

· DECIDE – is a Senior defense education program to help Seniors protect themselves – basically teaching them “street smarts.” If the Provincetown Police Chief agrees, he can send two of his officers to a 2-day training class and then they can teach our Seniors what they learned in an 8-week course – once a week. The Chair was asked to write the Chief telling him of our support.

· Other topics covered were: house numbering, Internet fraud, medical reserve corp., etc.

· FEMA has put out a booklet called ARE YOU READY, which reports on how to weather hurricanes, terror attacks, etc. Please call 1-800-480-2520 for a copy.

New Business:

· It was suggested that we should ask for donations in each of our Newsletters to keep our Senior Activities going.

· Gail Brown is teaching a watercolor class for June and Carol Wescott said she would teach an oil class in the winter.

· There is an article in the CAPE COD MAGAZINE on the Boston Cane, which puts Provincetown in a good light. F. Alexander is getting help from Shankpainter Printing to decorate the cane better.

· G. Brennan suggested that we also might want to review the Town calendar to see where the COA might fit in.

· Wednesday, June 16 there will be a “Visioning” get together from 4-6 to review projects and from 6 - 9 to discuss Community Development facilitated by John Goodrich. We suggested that B. Wolfman attend the “working group” meeting on 6/17.

There being no further business, it was motioned and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The next meeting will be July 3, 2003 at 3:00p.m. in room #6 of the Grace Gouveia Bldg.

Respectfully submitted,

Gerry Brennan, Secretary