PSSN MINUTES
May 27, 2010

ATTENDEES: Charles and Marlene Armstrong (Marlene’s Low Vision), Diane Barden (The Campus of Anna Maria), Lucy Bibbee (Comfort Keepers), Eric Bloniarz (Medical Services Co.), Denise Czech-Dydo (Crossroads Hospice), Mandy Glace (Area Agency on Aging), Jane Gwinn (FCS/Senior Track), Dorothy Jones (PC Society of the Blind), Michele Kairis (Coleman Adult Day Services), Katie Kloetzly (Streetsboro Senior Center), Jessica Koller (Anna Maria at Home), Lisa Little (Home Instead Senior Care), Tommie Marsilio (Attorney at Law), Adam Maurer (Angels Care Home Health), Pam Oslin-Hart (Caring Home Help), Evelyn Peck (Reed Memorial Library), Barb Pochedly (P. C. District Library), Andra Polasky (Coleman Adult Day), Bob Pontius (Angels Care Home Health), Crystal Shanley (FCS/Senior Track), Nicole Zager (Prospect House)

President-Elect Denise Czech-Dydo called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and called for introductions and announcements.
Tommie Jo Marsilio was welcomed as a new member. Tommie is an Attorney at Law working out of Garrettsville Ohio.
Pam Oslin-Hart shared the Caring Home Help office relocated to 143 Gougler Ave, Kent Ohio.
Michele Kairis announced the 2nd annual dessert and silent auction to be held on August 5th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, event costing $10.00 a person or $25.00 a family. If anyone would like to donate to the event by either a dessert or silent auction item, please contact Michele.
Andra Polasky was welcomed as a new employee at Coleman Adult Day and a new member to PSSN.
Jessica Koller announced the new arrival of baby Chase and welcomed back to PSSN after her short leave of absence.
Diane Barden announced the Laurie Stiener will present on June 23rd on the topic of “10 Medicaid Eligibility Myths. Diane also announced the Aurora Chamber Golf Outing is set for June 14th at the Aurora County Club. Contact Diane for detail for both events.
Bob Pontius was welcomed as a new member to PSSN.
Lucy Bibbee was welcomed as a visitor and hopeful new member to PSSN.
Adam Maurer was welcomed as a visitor and hopeful new member to PSSN.
Nicole Zager shared the Prospect House will provide monthly speakers on topics surrounding care for seniors, for information please contact Nicole.

PROGRAM: Speaker Gloria Prendergast with United Way’s First Call for Help presented on programs and resources available to Portage County’s residents in need. Gloria shared statistics of those individuals that call First Call for Help whose basic needs are not being met and how First Call for Help refers them to non-profit resources and programs available in our community. Gloria shared that *211 Portage is the main way individuals access their assistance. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm but the info line is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Gloria provided handouts on Emergency Assistance updates, Senior Services Checklist, Senior Directory, Yellow Pages book, and suggests anyone with questions contact Gloria at www.uwportage.org.

Secretary’s report:
Jane Gwinn made a motion to pass last month’s meeting minutes with no corrections, Pam Oslin-Hart second the motion, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s report :
Eric Bloniarz passed about copies of the budget and reports that the books have been balanced and everything is up to date. If you still need reimbursements or anything from our treasurer, please contact Eric.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Community Relations: Denise Czech-Dydo reported that the Committee is starting to plan out more of the 10 Year PSSN Celebration set for May 2011… more information to follow at later meetings. Committee will meet next on June 16th at 9am at Emeritus in Ravenna. (formerly Loyalton)

Education Committee: Crystal Shanley reported that the Education Committee is still looking for members to join and assist in the topics discussed at the monthly PSSN meetings. Crystal shared that the committee will meet next on June 8th at 9:30am in the same room as the monthly PSSN meeting, if anyone is interested in coming. Crystal shared that the topic for next month will be provided by the Red Cross.

Membership Committee: Charles Armstrong announced that membership will hopefully have more information to share at the next meeting since they have not met.

Old Business: Denise Czech-Dydo read a thank you letter from Sally Kelly for our involvement with the Senior Celebration. Members discussed the event. Pam Oslin-Hart stated she likes the new tri-fold donated to PSSN by Crossroads Hospice. Diane Barden shared that 106 regular door prizes were donated to the Senior Celebration, more than in previous years.

Crystal Shanley provided a copy of the PSSN Officer photo in the Record Courier newspaper for the members to see, picture then given to Dorothy Jones for our PSSN scrapbook.

New Business: Denise Czech-Dydo opened the floor for Nomination for PSSN officers for next year, July 2010 through June 2011. No nominations were received from the floor so Jane Gwinn made a motion to accept the nomination slate as is (Denise Czech-Dydo: President, Crystal Shanley: Vice-President, Genel Nichols: Immediate Past President, Annette Balis: Treasurer, Dorothy Jones: Secretary, and Lisa Little: Co-Secretary) and vote next month, Lisa Little second the motion, and the motion passed.

Denise Czech-Dydo discussed as way for PSSN to reinstate the “New Member Packets” which was a welcome packet provided to all new members with information and resources about other members. Denise stated that this may help with the current/new members that are having difficulty getting onto the PSSN website. Michele Kairis stated that the main reason that packet is not currently in place is because of staff changes and costs to keep the welcome packet current and up to date. Charles Armstrong suggested that some new members did not use them and was too costly for PSSN for the packets not to be used. Denise Czech-Dydo supported the statements and suggested maybe we update the website instead or use another provider as a cost saver. Evelyn Peck stated that the website is useless as is since many of our current and new members are having difficulty accessing the features needed.

Tommie Jo Marsilio suggested PSSN pull resources for a new resource book, sponsored by PSSN, to provide to those in our community listing all the PSSN members and a brief summary of what service each member provides. (similar to the Senior Services Directory provided by United Way First Call for Help). Michele Kairis suggested we go more in depth beyond just the PSSN brochure to provide our resources to the community, possibly consider an insert to the newspaper allowing for each member to place an “ad” describing their services.

Pam Oslin-Hart made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Jane Gwinn second the motion and the motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:08am.

The next meeting will be held June 24, 2010 at
705 Oakwood St. Ravenna at 8:30 a.m.
Woodlands of Robinson will provide refreshments

Respectively submitted by,
Crystal Shanley
Secretary