HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2011-05-04 - SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL ., i . , �
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CITY OF LYNWOOD
SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
GENERAL MEETING
LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER
77329 ERNESTINE AVENUE
LYNWOOD, CA 90262
AGENDA
Wednesda , Ma 4, 2011 12:00 .m. — 1:00 .m.
TH[S MEETING WILL BG CONDUCTED WI"CH KINDNESS AND RFSPECT.
12:00 p.m. Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance ���� .� 5���'
Invocation
RoIlCall RECEIVED
Lorene Reed, Chairperson
Pamela Taylor, Vice-Chairperson �,F? 2 7 2011
Barbara Battle
D. Joyce Edner CITY OF LYNWOOD
Paulette Bradley CITY CLERKS OFFICE
Certification of Agenda Posting
Approval of Minutes 04/06/11 �A�;°` ��"�"°`"z
L�.} C�tr� Sy �.o.
12:10 p.m. Public Comments (2 minutes)
12:20 p.m. Activities Report
1. Open House
2. Easter
3. Valleyview Casino
Staff Report
12:45 p.m. Board Orals (2 minutes)
1:00 p.m. Adjournment
Next General Meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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I The Recreation Department, Senior Services Division does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
Persons with disabilities may request accommodation services by calling (310) 886-0425 two-weeks
; in advance of the meeting. The facility providing this service is wheelchair accessible.
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Senior Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
Aprii 6, 2011
The meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m. by Chair, Lorene Reed. l�he agenda was d�ly posted as
prescribed by the Brown Act.
Pledge of Allegiaoce: Percy Brown
[nvocation: Member Barbara Battle
Roll Call: Cecilia Amezquita
Present: Absent:
� Barbara Battle Paulette Bradley
" Lorene Reed D.Joyce Edner
Pamela Taylor
. Approval oTMinutes 03/02/11:
Chair Lorene Reed — Page I Activities Report number 3 Moore House College Concert, should read
Morehouse.
� Chair Lorene Reed — 2" line we were given tickets by Margaret Lee Thomas should, read Mark Ridley
Thomas
Member Paulette [3radley — Statement made by Sylvia Ortiz should be. Sylvia Herron.
Member Paulette Bradley made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected. By unanimous consent the
motion is passed.
Public Comments:
Percy Brown — Margaret Lee Thomas was a big error for me. I'm sure if he saw that he would be highly
offended. '1'he minutes are put in the lobby. For all l know, he could have a copy. IYs one thing to make an
error during the minutes. Is there a checking place to check this kind of error?
Pearline� Calderon — t stated at the City Council meeting last night that the senior ccnter continues to be
dysfunetional and is getting worse. When will the city take responsibility for its staff making sure that the
seniors are respected and treated fairly? The SL Patrick's Day was a success only because i[ was not
handled by senior center staff as everyone was encouraged to come rogether to participate and plan the
event and nol a special group. 1 volunteered for the Easter committee starting March 22 and� up to April 4,
everyday I have been asking for the meeting date for the committee. All 1 hear [herc was none. Even
though, I see Ms. Cordova meeting and planning with selective seniors for the evenC. Then I hear that the
Senior Advisory Council states that they want volunteers. There is only one issue that plagues this Senior
Center. I have a copy for the clerk often I see I'm miss quoted.
1 Frank Calderon — Translated Mrs. Calderon's Statement
I Malaquias Moreno — I am a retired person. I practically come m everyday. I'm here looking and finding out
vanous things. In reference to what Mc and Mrs. Calderon said to me it's totally unfounded. Marisa has
� spoken to everyone on who would like to participate without pointing out the clubs. I don't think it's Cair
because she has asked and some of us have said no, l don't want to participate. 1 think it's a lie that she
hasn't asked everyone and in other words people are afraid to participate in events. I can vouch that Pve
heard� certain people that say they come as volunteers or to participate and in reality they come to instigate.
What I've heard they say, don't come here this doesdt work. 1 can say who is saying these things. I don't
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understand what they are doing coming here. They say theyre good people, then why are they coming here.
1 think they should just remove themsel,ves and leave the people that want to participate alone. Whoever
wants to come and whoever doesn't then they don't
Elda Castillo — Every time we have an event Marisa asks who wants to volunteer. I dodt know why people
are talking stuff all the time. I personally know what is going on because 1 am here every single day from
9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. She's always asking people. If they don't want to participate then don't because no
one is going to force them to participate but she is always asking and whoever said she doesn't that's not
true. 1'm here every single day. There are people tha[ only come for limch and then they leave. They are not
here in the morning.
Conrad Smith — I've never been asked to participate and Marisa or anyone else can verify that. No one has
ever asked me. When you say everybody has been asked that is not true because I consider �myself as
somebody too and I'm here almost everyday.
Robbie Rivers — I've been here for a month and our responsibility is to make sure that the people that come
are treated fairly. I don't want to sit here and one person geu crucified because we are responsible when
you say the staff is not treating anyone correctly. I'm not trying to make any e�cuses for anyone in the staff
but as the day follows through I'm on the complaint departmenY. If you have airy issues please come to me
because thars our job at the front desk to make sure that everyone that walks through that door feels
comfortable, is treated fairly and respected. It really does something to me when I hear our members here at
the $enior Center are not being treated fairly. Please give us the opportunity to fix it. We are on die front
line and it's our responsibility to make sure these things are being taken care of. Please feel free to ask us to
help you. I hope at the next meeting we have a better report.
Susie Cortez — As for us asking everyone personally if they want to volunteer for certain committees. What
we do, a little bit before or during lunch time we make general announcements to everyone. We are looking
for volunteers and updating everyone as to what time the volunteers meetings for certain events and
committees. If you don't hear die announcement then we also have Fliers we post at the front desk asking
for anyone that is interested in certain events or committees. We also st�ate the dates and times.
� Activifies Report:
1. Mardi Gras:
Lois Leake — I attended the Mardi Gras activity it was very nice. Well attended, just about all the
tables where filled. 1 did enjoy it. I got up and danced when they did the News Orleans shuffle. It
was very nice and 1 wanted to say thank you to those who planned it.
Pearline Calderon — I attended the Mardi Gras and thanks to the Red Hatters. They did a fantastic
job it was beautiful [o see all the princesses and queens marching and dancing with there umbrellas.
Percy Brown — I was at the Mardi Gras to the Red Hatters you all know how to party.
2. St. Patrick's llay:
Paulette Bradley — It was a nice event It was about� two steps up from last year. It was well
organized. It was a huge committee that pulled it off. The Cloggers where escellent. I had a good
time. Kudos to the committee it was a nice event.
Committee for Senior Center Events:
� Chair Lorene Reed — Everyone is welcome to participate at these events. There will be no personal, come
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help me. We post it on the bulletin board, it's announced in the room, and in the newsletter. We have to take
� some responsibility for ourselves. We are not going to personally go and call you and say please come
i_ vohmteec You have to take some initiative as adults. Do some of this on your own. 'I'he committees are
there for everyone. We don't want to see the same people. Right now we are looking for volunteers for
Cinco de Mayo and the Easter program, it's not limited to certain people.
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Maria Ayala — There is a club that is organizing the Cinco de Mayo celebration or committee. If eyeryone
would unite as a family, race or color does not matter and if we all unite everything would be better, I
believe. Lets forget about grudges, fights, about the he said, she said. AIl of us united can make things
better. If we don't do things this way we will always have problems. We should all unite as a family and as
people that we are. �
Chair Lorene Reed — Marisa, on these committees maybe you need to elaborate a little bit on the purpose of
the committee. What is expected from the committee members?
Marisa Cordova — What happens for certain events, I will have certain clubs or groups who come to me and
request that they would like to sponsor a certain event. If thaYS the case there is a form that they will
complete, which has to go through the approval process. That goes through mc to Mark �lores and to Perry
Brents. So then the club decides to sponsor tl�at evenL An example would be the Mardi Gras event the Red
Hatters sponsored and held that event. We also have other holiday events where we open it up to whoever
wants to help out in whatever capaciry they can. The recent addition has bcen with the cultural events and
thaYs been by fonning a committee. That committee is not a standing committee. IYs comprised of whom
ever wants to volunteer. We will go through the same process of putting out a flier and doing
announcements in the morning or at the exercise and yoga or in the afternoon and on lhe bulletin board.
That's the way things are supposed to work out. It's open to everyone unless a group comes forward and
they volunteer and want to sponsor that event and Ihey go through the facility usage form and if the Director
approves it, then thaYs the sponsoring group for the event. Example the Red Hatters sponsored the Mardi
Gras, La Familia wanted to sponsor Gaster. These are some of the diPferences in the committees or groups
but it really includes everyone here at the Senior Center who wants to participate it's not for one particular
group.
Complaint Protocol:
Chair Lorene Reed — One of the Council Members came to me and told me that so many seniors are going
to Council with complaints. That is Ihe purpose of this Council they appoin[ed us to hear the complaints.
They wanted to know what we can do or what recommendations we can make to curve the number of
complaints going to Council. In my opinion, one of the reasons we have a lot of complaints is because some
of the seniors worry about what's aoing on in this building when they are not here. You can't worry about
what's happening at the senior center when you're not here. You worry about it when you're here and
participating. If you're worried about what is going on when you're here and you're happy here then
nothing is wron�*. What is there to complain about in my opinion? We have people here in this building that
can handle complaints. We have staff, other members of the senior population that you can talk to just to
determine whether or not yodre on the right path. Am I right by thinking there is something wrong with the
door or let me go talk to the council members. When I go to the Council Member and tell them that the door
is broken. What do you think the Council member does? They come right back here and refer it to the
people in this building to make sure the door is fixed. We need to determine what we can do to curve Che
number of complaints being directed to the Council Members. The Council members are there to hear every
one of you. It is your right to be heard by the council but is this, what we pay tax dollars for. For the
Council Members to hear the pettiness that comes out of this building.
Paulette Bradley — From what 1've heard Ihis afternoon it appears to be reorganization of staff, as I see it.
Some comments 1've had in the past. Some felt too young a person working here was not someone thcy can
go to. 1 believe Robbie made it clear to us that she is going to be in charge of the complaints. In the past
I've been told there hasn't been much follow up on that. When these sceds are spread it discourages people
from going to that souroe again. ff you're going through the process of filling out a legitimate concern and
there's no follow up, why would you continue to do it? A reasonable person would go to the next step or let
it go. Since we have heard that staff has expressed an interest and a personal passion in our well being.
I There is a reasonable expectation that areas of the past should improve. I still encourage going through the
� chain of command, its there for a reason. If I'm not getting any response or satisfaction I would go fo the
nert person in command. That is my opinion hopefully we are in a spoC turning things around, getting
people on board in a larger number, sharing our same passion because one or two people carrying the
i passion will get exhausted and turn away. That'sjust human.
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Chair Lorene Reed — What is so important about this protocol? Show some respect we I�ave someone here
working whether you dislike that or not. That person has a job to do. Give that person the opportunity to do
the job. You start there, but if you just skip, skip and you go direcdy to Council, then Council does no[ feel
that there is a problem in this center because of what is happening or the way it's being done. I don'tknow
how to impress upon you how important it is to try to handle the things here. Pm going to ask staff to come
up with a recommendation or some type of complaint procedure. When I met with Council, 1 asked them to
refer it $ack to this board because iYs not going to help us if you ask me to help you. The main�thing 1
started off to say is, don't worry about what happens here when you're not here. I come three day a week to
play bingo 1 have fun and go home. What happens when I'm not here is not my concern. All we're
supposed to be concerned with is when �i�e are here because the building belongs to us. Worry about this
building when you are in it participating. Other than that let's just have fun. We are too old for this, act like
grown people. If you see a problem, fix it or make a recommendation. Don't wme in here demanding
things. How is that making you happy?
Robbie Rivers — I'm here to help everybody give us an opporCunity to fix it. I'm going to submit some
guidelines on how we should do this and a timeline to Marisa because if you report something and it doesn't
get done that's unacceptable. We want to see everyone happy notjust one person. I know we can't please
everybody but we need to demonstrate that we've heard you and this is what we've done. If it's not to your
expectations then 1 have no problem with you going to Marisa Cordova or Perry Brents but give us the
opportunity. I think we can stop some ofthis.
Staff Report-Marisa Cordova:
Activities/Participants March Pebruarv
Bingo 275 194
Computer/Library 22 22
Exercise Room 160 I51
Health & Fitness 337 235
j Meals Pro�'am 1,033 870
( Line Dancing 57 49
Card Club 159 109
Marisa Cordova — We do have an instructor for the line dancing class. She will start nest Tuesday her name
is Vanessa Bailey. She will be at the same time as Mr. Robert Nelson class was held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m. come and join us next week Tuesday. They have remained strong even though they have no instructor.
That shows you the participation and the amount of passion people have for certain things. You'll notice
that we have certain staff back Susie Cortez is now with us and hopeful she will remain and be consistent
- here at the Senior Center. We also have Annette Carrillo, Lillian Bratton and from the Ser Job program we
have Beverly Mitchelle and Robbie Rivers. Salvador Castro and Ericka Mendez hours are up and hopefully
we will see them back in July. Today at 2:00 p.m. we will be having a go away party for them.
Activities:
I. Arthritis — Thursday, April 7, 2011 at I 1:00 a.m. we will be having an arthritis talk revolving
around bandages and braces that will assist in reducing pain for those suffering from arthritis.
2. Karaoke —Thursday, April 7, 2011 from I:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.
3. Adult Education Meeting — Wednesday, April 13, 201 1 from 12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. at the adult
education building.
4. Valley View Casino — Wednesday, April 19, 201 I from 7:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Fee: $25.00
5. EasCer Celebration — Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 1 1:00 a.m. — 2:30 p.m. we have a volunteer
� meeting today at 130 p.m. for those of you who want to join us.
6. 4'" Annual Open House—Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. — I:00 p.m.
Board Orals:
Paulette Bradley — Mr. Brown stepped up to the plate at the Mardi Gras and helped the Red Hatters put out
� the trash which was much appreciated. When thc clubs use the facility we are responsible for putting the
' room back. In case you all didn't know. We were busy putting the room back and getting the trash out,
' putting tables down and that's what spirit is. 1 also had a volunteer in the kitchen who's not a Red Hatter
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Mrs. Margaret Araujo. So Ihere is a light at the end of [he tunnel, which is not a train hopefully. Thanks for
coming out and helping. You feel good when you volunteer and you do something. �
Chair Lorene Reed — What we have going is a lot more than others. We have people coming from Harbor
City to this Senior Center. How many Senior Centers are they passing to get to Lynwood, because they love
this facility. When they come they see happy people tl�ey don't see complaints or hear them. This Senior
Center is offering a lot to people and they complement us all the time. We have people coming in to copy
us. At the Mardi Gras there was another Red Hatters Chapter. So people are hearing about Lynwood.
Thinbs can't be ihat bad. It's important to voice your opinion don't let other people speak for you. You have
a mind, you know what you do or don't like. If you hear someone saying things that are not true doii't be
afraid to get up and say that's not true. We had a very good meeting today.
Adjournment: Member Barbara Battle made a motion to adjourn, 2"� by Paulette Bradley. By unanimous
consent the meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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