10-18-24 COA Agenda1.10:00 A.M. - CALL TO ORDER
2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.A Approval of Minutes dated September 20, 2024
4.GENERAL BUSINESS
5.VISITOR PRESENTATION
5.A Guest Presentation: Shirley, WeCAB Transportation Services
5.B Senior Community Services
5.C Carver County Health and Human Services
5.D Chanhassen Library
6.DISCUSSION
6.A Individual COA Committee Updates Bridging Book Club Communications Team
7.ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA
CHANHASSEN COMMISSION ON AGING
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024
CHANHASSEN RECREATION CENTER, 2310 COULTER BOULEVARD
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject Approval of Minutes dated September 20, 2024
Section APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
Minutes dated September 20, 2024
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Chanhassen Commission on Aging, September 20, 2024
The meeting was called to order at 10:03 am by Commissioner Cassidy.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gwen Block, Jim Camarata, Kara Cassidy, Ruth Lunde, Beth Mason, Phyllis
Mobley, Ruth Slivken, Bhakti Modi
MEMBERS ABSENT:
GUESTS PRESENT: Amanda Bigus, Volunteer and Outreach Manager at Trellis/ Senior
Linkage Line; LeeAnn Eiden, Senior Community Services; Emmanuel Ngabire, Carver County
HHS; Linnea Fonnest, Chanhassen Librarian; Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was reviewed as submitted. Commissioner Camarata
made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Lunde seconded the motion.
All members voted in favor; the motion was carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 16, 2024, Minutes were reviewed. No changes noted.
Commissioner Mason made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 16, 2024, meeting.
Commissioner Mobley seconded the motion. All members voted in favor; the motion was
carried.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Summary Discussion: 09/06/2024 Carver County All Commission Meeting
Many of the Chanhassen Commission on Aging Commissioners were able to attend the meeting
held at Carver County on 09/06/2024. Reflecting on this meeting held by Emmanuel, the
attending Commissioners had a great experience and were able to learn about how other cities
operate their Commissions on Aging. They recognized that Chanhassen is unique in its services
to senior patrons compared to other Carver County cities due to the fact that it has an operating
Senior Center with a full-time coordinator.
Chanhassen Commission on Aging – Mission and Goals Progress Report
Mary commented on the notes from Carver County’s meeting and noted that many of the
Chanhassen Commission on Aging goals align with Emmanuel’s goals at the county level.
Reflecting on what has been accomplished so far this year the Chanhassen Commission on
Aging has completed a majority of their 2024 goals already and is working strongly to complete
the remaining goals as the year comes to an end.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
Amanda Bigus, Volunteer and Outreach Manager, Trellis/ Senior Linkage Line. Program
overview and outreach. Trellis/ Senior Linkage is part of an Area Agency on Aging for the
Metro area and a free resource for community seniors; this program offers many educational and
informational resources for the 60+ population in Minnesota. They partner with many senior
programs throughout the area and across the state. Their goal is to optimize the well-being of all
seniors as they age. This tool helps connect people with services; whether a senior is looking for
help with transportation, housing, or finances, Trellis/ Senior Linkage Line has the resources to
assist. They bring networks together for collaboration and could be referred to as a hub of aging
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organizations. Trellis/ Senior Linkage Line works for the whole person as they age, not just for
their health but also for their social needs. They are unbiased in their assistance and are reachable
in person, online, and over the phone.
LeeAnn Eiden, Senior Community Services LeeAnn was able to share with Commissioners
some upcoming events that she is working on. Events include:
• Screening & Panel Discussion of SPARK (Robin Williams and his battle with Lewy
Body Dementia) held on 10/22 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm located at the Ridgedale
Library.
• A Zoom series for caregivers during the winter months (November, December, January,
and February) this will be hosted on the second Tuesday of each month from 10:00 am to
11:30 am.
• The Dementia Friends session will be held on 11/19 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm at The
Lodge in Chaska.
Emmanuel Ngabire, Carver County Office of Aging, Emmanuel expressed his appreciation of
the Chanhassen Commission on Aging’s involvement and engagement during the meeting he
hosted on 09/06/2024 and looks forward to seeing what is to come for our commission.
Linnea Fonnest, Chanhassen Library, Senior programming will be ramping up for this fall,
kicking off with a fall Book Sale next week which is a huge fundraiser for the Chanhassen
Library. Also highlighting the first-ever Craft Swap on 10/26, donations will be taken for the two
weeks leading up to this event.
Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Update, The City of Chanhassen has a new Communications
Manager, Patrick Gavin, who will be asked to meet with the COA communications committee to
discuss future projects with publicity and articles. The city has also asked the Commission on
Aging to begin the conversation on rebranding the Senior Center now, so they are prepared when
entering their new space next year. The goal is to rewrite the way they talk and think about aging
services, removing the word senior completely but continuing to uphold the same goals and
objectives. Note that Mary will not be in attendance for the October meeting; Kara Cassidy will
moderate the meeting. Upcoming volunteer needs for the Senior Center include October 24th -
Octoberfest (10:30am, setup – 11:30am serving, and clean up help needed); Veterans and
Friends Pancake Breakfast November 8th – 9:00am (mealtime)– 10-11:00am Speaker;
(Sponsored by American Legion, no volunteer help necessarily needed, but Commissioners are
encouraged to attend to support our local veterans, friends and families); December 13th –
Holiday Party (10:00am set up, 11:30am -serving, and clean up help needed).
DISCUSSION
Individual COA Committee Updates: Bridging, Communications, Other (as needed)
The Bridging Committee is looking to add additional students, they have posters made up that
Mary will be adding to a bulletin board at the Rec Center in hopes of spreading the word. The
high school seniors who graduated from the program have all three reached out to the Bridging
Committee wanting to keep in touch.
The Communications Committee and Commissioner Lunde were excited as the Carver County
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Local News prepares to launch digitally; the anticipated date is October 1st. It will hopefully
grow over time but, according to Commissioner Lunde, they will start with digital candidate
information for the voters this year. Mary’s articles have also been published in the Chanhassen
Magazine recently. Commissioner Bhakti is ready to get back to work with the new City
Communications Director to get the Senior Center web page launched as was planned before Ari
left. Commissioner Mason is interested in helping create a senior resources booklet which would
provide helpful contact information for Chanhassen older residents, similar to one being given
out by another area town.
ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Camarata made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Mobley
seconded the motion. All members voted in favor; the motion was carried and the meeting
adjourned.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:36 am
Minutes prepared by Kate Vogt, Administrative Support Specialist.
Minutes submitted by Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator.
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject Guest Presentation: Shirley, WeCAB Transportation Services
Section VISITOR PRESENTATION
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject Senior Community Services
Section VISITOR PRESENTATION
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject Carver County Health and Human Services
Section VISITOR PRESENTATION
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject Chanhassen Library
Section VISITOR PRESENTATION
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
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Commission on Aging Item
October 18, 2024
Subject
Individual COA Committee Updates
Bridging Book Club
Communications Team
Section DISCUSSION
Prepared By Kate Vogt, Admin Support Specialist
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