1998 09 11CHANHASSEN SENIOR COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
September 11, 1998
Chairwomen Sherol called the meeting to order at 9:35am.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Kubitz, Selda Heinlein, Sherol Howard, Dale Geving and
Barbara Headla.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bernice Billison.
STAFF PRESENT: Kara Wickenhauser, Senior Center Coordinator.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Commissioner Dale Geving moved to approve the
agenda. Commissioner Sherol Howard seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the
motion was carried.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Bobbie Headla moved to approve the minutes. Dale
Geving seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was carried.
VISITOR PRESENTATION: There was none.
CONGREGATE DINING & MEALS ON WHEELS: Meals on Wheels operation
began on August 31, 1998. The program is currently serving 4 people. Three of which
are regular customers. Meals are being delivered by some senior volunteers until CAP
Agency completes recruiting regular drivers. Joyce, the Congregate Dining Site
Coordinator, has been collecting names in hopes to complete a regular schedule of drivers
very soon. Congregate Dining averaged 11 people a day for the month of August. An
announcement was made that our current food vendor that provides meals for our
Congregate Dining and Meals on Wheels program will change hands at the beginning of
the year 1999. Food has promised to be just as good or better than the current vendor.
UPDATE ON SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES: An activity schedule was handed out
to the Senior Commission by Kara Wickenhauser. The schedule covered September -
December 1998. One revision was made with the Flu Shot Clinic. The original scheduled
date of Friday, October 16th, has been rescheduled to Friday, November 20th. Ridgeview
Medical Center is having complications with the vaccine vendor and therefore, won't have
access to flu vaccinations until November. An addition to the schedule was also
discussed. The Senior Center will have tickets available for the "Christmas Carol," at the
Guthrie Theater, on December 22"d.
SENIOR COMMISSION STRATEGIC PLAN: The commission discussed options to
allow them to become more visible in the community as well as the Senior Center. Each
member on the Senior Commission will be a role model in participation in activities at the
Senior Center. This will make the commission more visible among seniors, and give them
the much needed opportunity in learning what existing senior needs are. It was agreed
that a calendar of Senior Center events would be completed with a Senior Commissioner
assigned to visit each of the following activities once every three months. Activities that
the commission felt they should visit include the Men's Club, Women's Club, Bridge Club,
CHAN-o-laires, Book Club, Woodcarving, Bingo, Card Club, Free Movie Day, Saturday
Night Specials, Holiday Party, Art Club, Congregate Dining, Defensive Driving Classes,
SAB Meetings and Lake Susan Picnic. An outline will be prepared by Kara Wickenhauser
to help assist the commissioners as they present their information to Senior Center groups.
This outline will include the history of the commission, purpose of the commission,
members serving on the commission, projects accomplished by the commission, and
projects currently being pursued by the commission. Every commissioner is expected to
participate equally.
SENIOR COMMISSION COMMENTS: Senior commission discussed scheduling a
specific date in February every year to meet with the City Council. This would avoid
budgeting season and would allow the senior commission to present their yearly goals. An
appreciation hor'dourves party for the City Council was discussed for the end of October
1998. Kara was going to check with Karen Engelhardt to see if this would be possible to
schedule and will report back before the next senior commission meeting. The senior
commission would like to have the "Senior Awareness," presentation completed by
December 12th, to present at the Senior Center Holiday Party. Centennial Hills was
presented an award for property of excellence for market rate housing. An issue regarding
older adult needs (80 years +) and transportation was brought up and discussed. There is
some feeling among commissioners that this age group is neglected and not serviced
properly. Requests for suggestions on how to improve our service went unanswered.
This issue will be touched on again at a later date.
ADJOURNMENT: Dale Geving moved to adjourn the meeting. Albin Olson seconded
the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Prepared and Submitted by Kara Wickenhauser, Chanhassen Senior Center Coordinator.