Montpelier Senior Activity Center Advisory Council

Montpelier Senior Activity Center 58 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 A Place for Healthy Aging and Lifelong Learning 802-223-2518 • msac@montpelier-vt.org • montpelier-vt.org/msac Advisory Council Meeting: Draft Minutes Monday, June 19, 2017 12 - 1:00 PM MSAC Resource Room, Montpelier, Vermont Last Advisory Council of FY17 Meeting convened at 12:03 PM Attending: Chair Bob Barrett, Mary Carlson, Director Janna Clar, Vice Chair Liz Dodd, Bill Doelger, Fran Krushenick, Barbara Ladabouche, Ron Merkin, Janet Ressler, dianne richardson, Secretary Jessica Sanderson, Sue Stukey Not attending: Wendy Freundlich (resigned due to time constraints) Guest: Ginny Burley, Central VT New Directions Coalition representative February 2017 corrected minutes were approved. Votes  Standing policy to offer financial aid scholarships for requested membership dues and class fees, no matter what town the member lives in. Discussion notes:  Ginny Burley gave a brief overview of her organization and its request to have MSAC sponsor a smoke free downtown in Montpelier before the City Council. Janna explained that city staff cannot endorse a political position, but encouraged Advisory Council members, as citizen members, to pursue the issue since it does affect senior health. Janna asked Ginny to call her to schedule a future discussion at MSAC, open to the public, in July or August.  The Annual Meeting survey was amended to include: “How can we make the Annual meeting more attractive to members.”  Financial Aid Scholarships (NOT from the operating surplus this year) are to be applied to those requesting help with membership dues and class fees during June. This aid policy will be advertised. The council agreed this financial aid should be town blind.  In order to serve our community better, Janna will be doing more outreach this fall to MHA complexes around the city to increase membership and asked that interested council members contact her to help.  Janna shared a Montpelier city leadership discussion (related to city goals about Public Safety) to expand and announce emergency protocols to prevent health emergencies due to severe heat and cold. Could MSAC become a cooling and heating center sanctuary outside of its operating hours? How would it work for overnight or on weekends? The  city leadership wants to learn how other communities with heat/cooling centers operate and revisit creating neighborhood watches for checking on vulnerable people. Janna thought the Programming and Membership committees could look at this issue and coordinate with interested community members, local churches and partners like CVCOA. Liz Dodd volunteered to lead research on this effort. Actions  Janna requested Advisory Council members sit at different tables during the Annual meeting to encourage discussion and suggestions for the survey  Janna will update the Membership application/renewal form with a line that encourages those that can afford it, to ‘pay it forward’ for others  Janna will write a Press Release that MSAC is a cool/warm sanctuary during normal work hours  Liz Dodd requested interested council members contact her quickly to coordinate the city response to heat emergencies  Recruit a volunteer to water the indoor plants at MSAC  Add ‘fragrance free’ discussion to July Advisory Council agenda  Approve April and May minutes at the next AC meeting, Tuesday, June 20, 2:15 PM Director's Notes Copies of these notes are available in the MSAC office upon request. Save the Date:  Monday, July 3, 2017 Summer Classes start  Friday, July 21 – Sunday, July 23: “HOWL Arts Fest” Hubbard Park Meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm Next meetings:  Annual Meeting Tuesday, June 20, 12:45 – 2:00 PM, Community Room  Advisory Council Meeting, June 20th, 2:15 – 3:00 PM MSAC Resource Room  Monday, July 17, Advisory Council Meeting, 12:00 – 2:30 PM, MSAC Resource Room Respectfully submitted, Jessica Sanderson