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HomeMy WebLinkAbout200925 - Minutes, Area Agency on AgingWashington County Commission on Aging, Inc./AAA Advisory Council Teleconference Meeting September 25, 2020 The bi-monthly meeting of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council Meeting was held on Friday, September 25, 2020, via video conference due to the COVED -19 emergency situation. PRESENT: Thomas Ruhf, Aggie Llewellyn, Co -Chair, Paulie Ward, and Susan Taylor EXCUSED: Brenda Gordon, Co -Chair, Deborah Cohill, Vernell Doyle, Harry Wagaman, and Commissioner Terry Baker, ABSENT: Jessica Scott STAFF: Amy Olack, CEO, Steve Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer, Bradley Tritsch, Chief Operating Officer, Sherry Mauk, Recording Secretary, and Tim Fisher, Development Program Manager Sherry Mauk did a roll call for attendance of Advisory Council members. WELCOME Brenda Gordon opened the meeting and welcomed all in attendance. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. MINUTE APPROVAL (May): Paulie Ward indicated that he was here for the May meeting. Sherry has made revisions to the meeting to include Paulie Ward as present. The motion to approve the amended minutes of the May meeting was made by Paulie Ward, seconded by Thomas Ruhf and the motion carried unanimously. Development Update: Tim Fisher, Development Program Manager Tim Fisher stated Washington County Gives took in over $500,000 which was down around 20% from the previous year. Tim stated our donations were a total $2,700 which were up from last year. Paulie Ward asked how many donors contributed to our organization. Tim answered there were 36 donors. Tim Fisher stated we plan to host a telethon for our Annual Campaign which will be held live via Facebook. Tim stated he is currently working with Ryan Smetzer and WDVM to provide air time on television. Tim stated the goal is to have donors present large donations during this telethon. Paulie asked if will be an audience and if he would be able to take pictures at this event. Aggie Llewelyn asked if the Shades of Age expo is still being planned. Tim answered we will plan the last Thursday of August in 2021. Tim Fisher stated we continue to expand our Facebook live presence. Our education classes continue to be held via Facebook live. Advisory Council Minutes September 25, 2020 Page 2 FINANCIAL REPORT -- Steve Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer: Steve Reynolds reviewed the Financial Report for the Older American Act Programs. Steve Reynolds indicated this year has been a very unique year with the financials due to the pandemic. A motion to approve the financial report as presented was made by Aggie Llewelyn, seconded by Thomas Ruhf, and there was an abstention by Paulie Ward. The motion carries. CEO's REPORT — Amy Olack, Chief Executive Officer: Amy Olack presented the CEO's report as written. Amy Olack stated Antietam Wealth Management has been a huge partner in collecting food through food drives for our organization. Paulie Ward asked if we will be able to maintain serving 265 in the future. Amy Olack answered at this time we will maintain through the CARES Act funding and will look at that in the future through attrition and will create a waiting €ist. Amy Olack stated we continue to deliver one hot meal every two weeks and shelf stable meals for the remainder of the two weeks. Amy stated there is less of a financial burden by providing the shelf stable meals much less than a hot meal. Once we go back to serving a hot meal every day we will need to re -access the number of hot meals being delivered. n Amy Olack stated she believes it will be early spring at the earliest that the Senior Center will re -open. Amy stated members are continuing to register and the value is the members will get emails of the classes held on Zoom meetings to have access to those programs. Aggie Llewelyn what is the process to join the Senior Center. Amy Olack stated registration is occurring electronically through email. Amy stated a registration packet can be mailed to them and the forms are on our website and Jackie Mayne will be able to walk through that process with new members. Amy Olack stated we will have Plexi-glass on rolling platforms which we will be able to create those spaces for meeting clients one-on-one. Amy Olack discussed the Area Agency on Aging within the state are not all in agreement about the re -opening of the Senior Centers. The Governor has mandated all Senior Centers to be closed. Amy Olack stated she has submitted a contingency re -opening plan to the State of Maryland for the Senior Center. Amy stated one of the challenges the Senior Center will face is not having enough room because of needing a 6 food circumference in the room for social distancing. Aggie Llewellyn asked if there will be a plan to provide vaccines at the Senior Center. Amy Olack answered the Commission on Aging partners with the Washington County Health Department as a Closed POD and that would be for Staff and members of the Board who have completed an emergency POD form. This would not be open to the public. Discussion continued regarding the vaccine and concerns with the process of that vaccine. Amy Olack stated the risk is too high and our organization could not handle the capacity. Paulie Ward stated he is concerned about losing membership of the Senior Center and wondered how we can maintain and attract new membership for the Senior Center. Amy Olack responded that keeping people engaged and informed through email communications and those that do not have an email will be getting phone calls from r our Senior Center staff. Amy stated once we are able to open; we will need to be creative in getting people to come back and operate safely. Amy stated she does not feel we will see full capacity until 2022. Advisory Council Minutes September 25, 2020 Page 3 Paulie Ward asked if the Senior Center membership has an influence in grants which we receive. Amy Olack answered yes; to some degree they would because of the program such as a class and needing a certain number of class participants. Aggie Llewelyn stated she has concern as the colder weather hits that loneliness and isolation of the Seniors will increase. Thomas Ruhf stated he spoke with a member of the Boonsboro Congregate site at Weis and this member mentioned missing the in person connection. Tom stated the clients are appreciative of the food they are receiving. Aggie Llewellyn stated she is seeing neighbors walking and reaching out to each other and checking in. Aggie stated that in speaking with some of the neighbors, she stated their perception is that to become a Senior Center members that you are required to be at poverty level to join. OLD BUSINESS: Paulie Ward asked if we now have a full Advisory Council. Amy Olack answered yes, we have a full Advisory Council. Amy thanked Paulie and Brenda Gordon for reviewing the candidates. NEW BUSINESS: — Amy Olack introduced Susan Taylor, a new member to the Advisory Council. MEMBER UPDATES/INFORMATION: None. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be the held on November 20, 2020, at 11:00 am and will be a teleconference meeting. ADJOURNMENT: The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Paulie Ward. The motion to adjourn at 11:54 am. Respectfully submitted, Sherry Mauk, lj cording Secretary