Partners for a Healthier Community


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Minutes for the Meeting of August 8, 2008

Present:

BJ Valente	Fran Fuller
David Weed	Joan Gancarski
Marcia Picard	Gladys Rosofsky
Pat Fanning	Karen Scott-Statser
Marie Chase
Roger Dextradeur
Robert Hitt
Robin Jones

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, August 8, 2008 in the newly renovated Jackson Room at Charlton Hospital in Fall River. BJ Valente called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM.

BJ Valente encouraged members to recruit replacements from their agencies if unable to attend a particular meeting. There seems to be a misconception that these monthly meetings are for members only. Members are the only parties that can vote on Partners business, but in fact the meetings are open to anyone.

Minutes

The minutes of the June 13, 2008 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the June 13, 2008 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

Financial Report was circulated at the meeting.

VOTED to approve Financial Report through August 7, 2008.

Discussion evolved around the entry of United Neighbors of FR deposit of $500.00 – a check from BMC Healthnet Plan. United Neighbors is taking charge of collecting funds for the “My Fall River” web page and needed a non-profit organization that could hold the funds collected until such time as we are ready to start this web page. Given that we are involved in this project it was a match for us to collect the funds.

An Americorps Individual will be promoting the “My Fall River” website. He will be soliciting participants as well as marketing to the public. This is a web site full of information regarding services in the Fall River area. All agencies in Fall River can participate and be on this website and as each individual web site is updated, the updates automatically appear on the My Fall River web site. For example Healthy Cities E-Newsletter will be there. More information coming in the fall.

At this time Marcia also pointed out that the account balance is high and the committee might want to think about what to do with it. BJ suggested we have this discussion after elections of Steering Committee and officers in October.

Report of Work Groups

Access to Health Care

No meeting in July. Pat Fanning spoke for the group, as Paula was not there. Follow up to the Disparities PBS show was discussed. Pat was wondering about the status of the set of 3 films. This film may become a part of the October Legislative Breakfast. Members from the “Homeless Connection” are expected to join efforts with the Access to Health Care.

Next meeting to be on August 12 from 3 – 4:30 at Health First.

Healthy Lifestyles – no meeting in July – no report today.

Healthy Youth - no meeting in July. Next meeting first week of September.

Group has been so involved with Free Lunch in the Park all summer and the Summer Olympics associated with it. August 13 at 2 PM at Durfee High School there will be a competition (Summer Olympics). Kids have been participating in the activities all summer and are really enjoying it.

Marcia Picard is now involved in “Children in Balance” and reported about activities she attended at the Doran School. There were 80+ kids attending the scheduled activities all summer long, which was funded by Travelers Insurance. Last week certificates of achievement were given out to all the kids and the kids were quite honored to receive them. Marcia was very impressed with how happy the kids seemed to be as well as the teachers and adults that were there. They all seemed to be very pleased with what was going on around them.

Healthy City Initiative

Very active this summer.

David Weed offered a handout on “Community Gardens Initial Brainstorming Results”. There was a meeting on July 14 to explore how to help organize community wide vegetable gardening. Goal is to create a framework to allow groups of people in Fall River to utilize land (vacant lots owned by the city, Housing Authority land, portions of parks, for example). Each garden would need a sponsoring group. Would like to have at least 6 plots of land established for this purpose.

There will be a newspaper article published as an invitation to the community to get involved. Micro grant money could be used to get started.

There was much discussion on how Lightolier Company has organized weekly deliveries of fresh produce for staff who order it ahead of time. This is a model other companies could offer their employees with some planning.

Follow up meeting on 9/17/08 at 4 PM.

Healthy Cities is at their 5-year mark. Will have a summit in March 2009– location to be announced – perhaps at one of the new schools rather than BCC. Purpose is to look at the next 5 years, and reviewing if and how the individual missions of each work group would need updating.

Micro Grants - All applications are due Friday August 15 deadline time is 4 PM. Application is on the web site. Committee will review and bring to September 12 Partners meeting, and present recommendations to vote. 15-20 applications are expected and will be date stamped when received and a receipt will be given at delivery time.

Nominating Committee

Voting of new officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary) - will have all information at the September meeting

Dr. Vallaincourt has taken over Mike Coughlin’s position at City Hall. It remains to be seen if he will continue on the Partners Steering Committee or if he will delegate that to someone else in his department.

Diabetes Association has had a rough year with turnover of staff. Currently an agreement is being made between the Diabetes Assn and People Inc to merge resources. PI will manage and administrate the Diabetes Assn and Melissa Riley will be the key person coordinating the Diabetes organization and her responsibilities at PI.

BJ and the nomination committee has decided to leave open certain spots on the Steering Committee so voting members will be able to join in at a later date.

Announcements:

Partners received a thank you letter from CD Rec for the $250.00 donation.

The Regional Office of DPH is due to open in New Bedford soon.

David Weed distributed brochures for “Fall River Walks” – a full color brochure featuring maps of all the walking routes in the area.

Bristol Elder Services will move to 1 Father DeValles Blvd., B-8, Suite 101 Fall River MA as of September 1, 2008. Nothing else has changed (phone numbers, etc.,)

It was announced that this is the last meeting for Kathy King to record the minutes for Partners. If anyone knows of someone who would like to take over this position, please call BJ Valente 508-678-7542.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:00 am

Next Meeting – September 12, 2008

Southcoast Hospitals – Charlton Site

MEETING IN THE JACKSON CONFERENCE ROOM

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings