HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/29/1999 - Regular Minutes - Senior Advisory Committee4f
! SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1999
10:00 AM
COLLEGE STATION LIBRARY
Present: Bill & Florace Kling, Bill & Mary Lancaster, Wendell Horne,
Bill Lay, Joanne Yeager, Annie Lee Finch, Phyllis Dozier,
Marvin & Maxine Durant, James & Lillian Boone, Helen Siegel,
Carol Parzen
Staff. Marci Rodgers, Senior Services Coordinator;
Emily Baker, Secretary
Guest: Sharon Merrill - George Bush Library Volunteer Coordinator
I. Introductions
Introductions were made.
II. Approval of the February Minutes
February minutes were approved by general consent.
III. Guest Speakers
Nina Noble from Elderhostel was not here to speak today, but
Marci picked up some information for the committee to look
over. Elderhostel is an educational travel program geared for
seniors. It gives seniors an opportunity to remain mentally
active. A &M does have a coordinator here. They have been
bird watching in this area and there is also an international
coordinator at A &M. Helen lives at the Villas of Rock Prairie
and puts together a newsletter for them. There was a "Livers
Program" that was funded through Community Education
that was held once a week from 9 -noon. It included exercises
and educational programs. They brought in professors to
speak from the University about their projects. We need more
of that going on. The problem now is finding out about things
at the university for the seniors to do. There is little
advertising from A &M. There is also a transportation
problem taking seniors to the art galleries, etc. at A &M. There
needs to be some contacts at the University for us to call and
get information. We could have a watchdog from our
committee making sure the Eagle gets information advertised.
Sharon Merrill from the Bush Library spoke with the
committee about volunteering their time in 3 hour shifts.
There are some volunteers from our committee already. She
really needs volunteers on the weekend. It's fun and
educational to work at the library and you meet many
interesting people. The volunteers told some stories about
their different encounters.
IV. Mission Statement
Marci decided the committee needed to wait on the mission
statement until it has evolved a bit.
V. Items to be Discussed
Mr. Boone stated that a meeting place is a big need for our
committee. Marci said that retirement centers have meeting
rooms that we could use. Also, churches, the Weight
Watchers building, the Medical Center building on Rock
Prairie (Sr. Friend's office) and the Teen Center can be used VO
during the day when it is built @ Fall `99.
We can get an A &M student who is looking to do some
community service to keep us informed of different activities
at A &M. Mr. Kling suggested we get someone from A &M to
come as a speaker to talk with our group. Mr. Horne stated
that the personal approach will be more effective than a
corporate approach in asking speakers to come. Marci said
that she could set up a calendar of events of upcoming
speakers, activity, etc. Helen said that her newsletter at the
Villas of Rock Prairie is made up from other town's events and
less from A &M. The Golden Eagle should be the one resource
that has all the information for seniors. Marci will talk with
Bill Wall or Jodi Bates at the Eagle and see if we can get a
calendar to them each month. The Golden Eagle goes out the
first of each month through the Eagle newspaper. Carol
suggested that we get a lecture series going and have the
committee being the organizing group. Mr. Lay stated that
we don't want to duplicate what's already going on around
town. There is a senior group that meets at the Lincoln Center
every morning. There is no set program, but they do get
served lunch each day. Marci took them on a wildflower tour
- --t
I_ to the Rose Emporium and they all enjoyed it. The Lulac
Center is open to anyone and we might think about doing
something with that group. Helen stated that alot of seniors
have some kind of disability and she is trying to get the Post
Oak Mall to come up with some mobilized wheelchairs or
carts. Right now they have some basic wheelchairs that have
to be pushed. Also, have the library bookmobile come out to
those seniors that are less active. Marci stated that the City
has 2 -15 passenger vans that can be used to transport them to
lecture series, etc.
The Lincoln Center has a computer lab that is not used during
the day. The idea is to have a retired individual to teach
computer classes. Marci is still working on finding an
instructor.
Marci sent the auto diagnostic proposal to the City Fleet
Services. They said they could not do it at this time because
there are just two mechanics. Mr. Horne stated that we could
have a phase -in program to get a listing of some reputable
automobile repair centers, surveying those to see if they have
an interest in giving special consideration to seniors, and
getting their shop charge per hour. This information will be
helpful to the seniors and they will know their options. Mr.
Kling stated that we find out about those garages that gives
diagnosis and make a list for the seniors. We could get a
"senior auto club" established and that might give us more
clout than if an individual just went in and asked for
information. We need a logo for our senior committee and
some kind of name idea.
Marci will take another wildflower tour to the Rose Emporium
April 8th. The parks department has two vans to transport the
group. She took a group from the Villas of Rock Prairie to tour
Christmas lights. The Lulac Center would like to go to the
George Bush Library soon. Once the teen center becomes
available, the senior groups can meet there.
VI. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at the library on Monday, April
26 at 10:00 am.
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