Here we are, the Kushna Council on Aging um board of directors meeting. Uh we are located at 15 and a half South Main Street in the Kushna. I love that. 15 and A2. >> They wouldn't give us an entire address, so we got the half thing. This meeting
is being video and audio recorded for later broadcast on local channel 18 and on the town of Aushnit's YouTube channel, which I have not gone to yet. But I have to tell you, I'm a little disappointed because only 12 people looked at our meeting last month, and
I'm I'm feeling a little neglected. So, spread the word that we want to get this meeting out there. We want more people to watch it. Okay. I'd like to call the meeting to order. >> Make a motion. >> Okay. Second. >> Second. >> This meeting is in order.
>> How's that? >> All right. >> All right. Let me introduce the board of directors to you. First of all, on my left, we have Lauren Golder, who is the director. >> Smile. Wave. >> Myself, Daniel Smith, the chairperson.
Deborah Raposa on my right, who's the vice chair, although she's never going to talk to you. Linda Gilbo, secretary. >> Hi everyone. Yeah. >> Jerry Holland, whose real name is Joan. Uh Pette Hudson. Hi Pette. Patricia
Merski, who's not here. Is that correct? >> She's excused. And Pauline Texera. Hi Pauline. Hi. >> We have minutes from October 8th that need to be approved. Do we have a motion to approve those minutes? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. Okay, that's good. >> I'm just showing this. Okay.
>> Old first of all >> a second holiday. >> Okay. We have no mail again. This this goes along with only 12 people that watch us. So send some Christmas cards, anything something old business. We have
the Christian Council on Aging monthly newsletters delivered throughout businesses in a Kushnet and they are wonderful businesses. Um gently used medical equipment and incontinent supplies available here free of charge. The incontinent supplies are
new. They're not used. Uh the medical equipment may be gently used. Uh inclement weather. Now, let's talk about this for a minute. It may be a very difficult and snowy winter this year, and it's been a while since we've had
one like that. So, please be careful if you go out to remove snow or rem remove ice or anything like that. uh especially um you know if you're not as young as you used to be like I'm not anymore and I bought myself one of those electric
things and uh but what I really do is I call my son uh but in case of inclement weather if the schools are closed we here at the council on aging are closed if the town hall is closed we are closed
and uh like to give you a reminder of our two outreach specialists Patricia Murski and Samantha Ortiz. Telephone number is here 5089980280. And you need to make an appointment to see them. But I understand that they're
very good at what they do. So if you need any kind of assistance, give them a call. Medicare open enrollment October 15th, December 7th. Now, if I can personally talk to you about this for a second, I'm not going to say that all of
them are not good, but you have to be very careful because some some of these uh Medicare supplements or or uh replacements for Medicare are not what they seem to be. Um sometimes it's it's
not a good idea to uh you know, set a take set a contract with them. Just be careful. Research. Make sure you know what you're getting into if you decide to get a Medicare supplement or >> Advantage Medicare is what it's called. >> Advantage. Okay. Advantage. Advantage
Medicare. Okay. Comparing benefits. Shine counsels are available here. Schedule an appointment. That's just what I was talking about. Um, Representative Mark Sylvia is here the first Monday of every month from 10 to 11. and Representative Steve Wlette is here the first Monday of
every month from 11 to 12. So if you come from 10 to 12 on the first Monday of every month, talk to both of them. We have a veterans copy social here at the ACOA the first Tuesday of every month uh with veteran service officer Brad Fish.
It's from 8:30 to 9:30. This guy's great and he did a veteran um u cookout for us and and it it was wonderful. Uh to contact Brad, you can reach him at 508-9980207 at extension4207. And as I said, he's great. So if you're
a veteran and you're in need of services, give him a call. We were lucky to get them. Okay. We have counseling and psychotherapy clinic with Alexa Manise, who's a licensed social worker the second and fourth Tuesday each month by appointment. You can reach her here
direct. I'm sorry. You can reach her directly at uh her cell her phone which is 508-717439. Do we have a motion to approve old business? >> Yes. Motion >> seconded. Approved. >> Okay. >> Okay. New business. This is like the
Adams family movie. Yep. Yep. Did you see that? New business. And then you can click slowly. Anyways, I'm just doing whatever I can to get some more people to watch. >> Bring your guitar and we can sing. Have a little song. Yeah.
>> In January, I'll bring my guitar and uh we'll see if we can get some of the ladies here to dance. >> On the table. >> Oh, wow. >> On the table. >> Updates from director Lauren Gold. You're on. >> All right.
So last month I had discussed that I was waiting um for a town meeting. Uh we needed a last article approved at town meeting uh for the remainder of the funds for the HVAC system which it was approved. Um so we can move forward with the project. I am waiting on one last
quote just because so much time has gone by since we first started receiving quotes. Um some of the companies that we initially reached out to have um sent us new new quotes. >> Imagine that. >> Well, you know, the cost of things change and that's kind of how we got
into the first partic. >> Yes. Um so we're working on that. So hopefully um within the near future we start that project. Um and then I also just wanted to um let everybody know that I did reapply for the mass DOT transit grant. Um I applied last year.
Um that is the the Mass DOT um transit grant that allows for funding to purchase a new van. Um we have our minivan that Heather when she was here um she had applied for and um that's our new van that we have out out front. Um I am applying for a 12 passenger just
because our 2011 van is is I believe a 10 passenger. Um but it's kind of nearing its you know useful life. So I'm hoping to replace that sooner than later um just in case anything happens with the 2011. um I'd rather be proactive than reactive. >> Um so I've been working with Victoria,
the town planner, um for the the uh grant application. So um I did go to the selectman meeting, I think it was last week, um just for approval of basically part of the application process was um that the town needed to agree to um a match. It was 19,000 and some change. Um
so I went to town meeting or went to the suckins meeting and they did approve of that. So, I did let them know it was more so like a promise versus asking for the funds up front. Um, but so they had approved of that, which I'm very thankful for, and we can move forward with the application process. So, good. >> We're hoping for a better outcome than
last year. I last year, I think it was because we did just receive the the minivan. So, and they only have so many vans to give out and so many organizations that, you know, could obviously use use the the vans, too. So, um, we're hoping for a better outcome this time around, but if not, we'll try again. But, it's it's always worth at
least just putting our name out there. and and hoping for for a better outcome. So >> that's my bit. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Lauren. >> You're welcome. >> Okay, we would like to uh thank you for the fall tours with our neighbors PJ
Keing and again I can't say enough about him. He's he's been very good to us here at the Krishna Council on Aging and we really appreciate everything he does. He's also very good to his workers from what I hear and just all around wonderful wonderful company.
Beginner's water uh watercolor class $10 per person this Wednesday, November 10th. >> I think it's 19 >> which was yesterday. >> So better hurry. >> We're going to change that to the 19th. 19th >> 19th. Okay. November 19th at 10:30.
>> Okay. >> And I was going to say what what was that? What was that? But the next thing is improve your hearing today. Complimentary hearing screening, hearing aid cleaning, video ear exam Friday,
November 14th and December 12th. So, and and I must tell you that I ordered a couple of electronic adapters from Amazon and I got I got earbud cleaners instead. So, I don't know what they what they what they're thinking about. Uh anyway, >> there is
>> November. >> We'll talk later. November 14th and December 12th from 1 to 3:00 p.m. And you can reach them here at the ACOA50899802 80 to schedule. The Christian Council on Asia has sponsored a self-pay lunch
trip. I don't know how we sponsor that if it's self-pay, but we're sponsoring a self-pay lunch trip. >> It's our van and our driver. >> That's how we do it. >> Free transportation >> free. >> See that? >> Mhm. >> This is going to be at Patty's
>> perogis. Polish, right? >> Patty's perogis. >> Really good there. >> They were on drive and dives. That's how I know. Yeah. Yeah. Really good. >> This is a historic trail.
>> Thank you. We'll go >> um Thursday Thursday Thursday, November 20th at 10:45. There is a waiting list for this. >> So, you better call now >> or when when you hear this? >> Can I can I just interrupt if this is okay? Um there are other little trips
that we do also and sometimes people don't get on the trip. So, if someone's on a waiting list, they might get on the next trip somewhere. You know, we try to be fair like, "So, so put your name on the waiting list and if you don't get on this trip, you get on the next one."
>> Linda says that, but she's she's really just kidding. >> I am such a liar. >> No, we're not kidding. Seriously, put yourself on the waiting list. That way, if you don't make this trip, you can make possibly the next trip. It's really the truth.
>> All right. Loneliness and Isolation Support Group. Alexa every other Thursday from 10 to 11:30. That'll be November 18th and December 9th. And if you're living alone and you're feeling the burden of it, I suggest that you
come down and talk with her and maybe she can make you feel a little bit more at ease. U diabetes series with Barbara Canule. Am I pronouncing that correctly? >> Can I think I think so. >> Canuel. Yes, I can.
Uh, RD. What does RD mean? >> Registered dietician. >> Okay, >> I need that because I need a diet. Anyway, Barbara Kenuel, registered dietician at 1:00 on Wednesday, November 12th and December 10th.
And uh, also I want to mention the the Acca Council on Aging travel program. Again, our telephone number is 508-9980280. And it says here, the Newport Playhouse, Sunday, December 7th. What's the Newport Playhouse?
>> Oh, it's really good. There's a big big buffet. So, first you get to eat and then you get to see a play. And the plays are pretty good. They're cute. They're shot. Then you have a dessert and you come back out and you sit and you have your dessert and coffee while you watch your little minstrel show. And
they're funny. Not as funny as you, but funny. >> You're better off watching this broadcast. >> No. And it's really good and it's worth the money. And if you have a dout book, they used to be in the dine out book. >> That's true. >> One person can go and >> Yeah, they're not there now.
>> Oh, they're not in the dout book, but they are worth the money. >> Oh, yeah. What is it about $25? >> No. No. >> Like 40. >> 40 now. >> Things are going But the food the choice of food, it's like a room bigger than this. And the tables go all around the
wall with food. I am very nice. I know. I know. Food. >> Speaking of food, I'd like to mention to you that if you have no place to go on Thanksgiving, our friend uh I call her Miss Vicki, but her name is Victoria.
She's having a Thanksgiving dinner at the Dartmouth VFW free of charge. So, if you have no place to go on Thanksgiving, and this is open to everybody. You don't have to be a veteran. If you have no place to go on Thanksgiving,
go there. So, it it's all volunteers and it's no fee, but she does ask if you'd like to leave a donation, you can. You don't have to. And it's a wonderful meal and that that's available to you. >> Do they sign up ahead of time or >> No, just go. Just go. And uh
>> the time >> the doors open at noon and the meal is served at 1:00. And uh Debbie and I are going. We're going to volunteer there a little bit and perhaps I will play for an hour my guitar. >> That alone will keep people away.
>> Yes, it will. Don't go. Go, but leave before I start playing. That that'll work. Okay. We want to make you aware of the events that take place regularly here at the Accrushna Council on Aging. Flyers are always available well in advance at the front desk on the
bulletin board facing the front desk. Do I have a motion to approve new business? Make a motion. >> Seconded. >> Second. >> Okay. Approved. >> Does that scare you? I'm sorry. Please visit the following websites.
Excuse my throat. The Council on Aging, the Aushnet Library, the Aushnet Cultural Council. I tried to join that, but they wouldn't let me. >> No culture. >> Cultural council. There might be an opening.
>> Oh my god. There'll be an opening. Yeah, there'll be an opening in June. >> By the way, if you go to the Kushnet website, they they have a list of volunteer positions that have openings. >> Yeah. >> So, if you're interested in in volunteering for the town and and I recommend that uh you know, go to our
website. Uh let's see. There will be no board meeting in December. We're taking the month off. I think it's because Linda's going on vacation. I don't really know why. Our next meeting will be January 14th,
2026. >> I can't believe it. 20 I'm I've just gotten used to writing 2025 on my dates and now it's going to be 2026. And of course, the meeting will be held here at the Arishna Council on Aging. Um, does anyone have anything they'd
like to add or say or critique? I did want to just add I forgot during my updates. Um I just wanted to mention that we do have a food pantry here. Um we have our shelving unit by the front door. Um no questions asked. Anybody can come in and you know help themselves to the canned goods that we have. Um that's
where you'll also find the incontinent supplies. Um but just given the the circumstances of everything going on right now. We do get a um a decent amount of donations from the community. Um a lot of our members actually bring stuff in too. Um, so please don't feel shy or if you're in need or somebody
that you know is in need, please stop in and um and help yourself to our canned goods. >> That's great. On on that same note, if anybody's curious, and I realize that this this won't go out till later, but it sounds as though the government's going to reopen. >> Uh so that's a good thing for people on
food stamps or or government aid. Um, so with that I sus I I respectfully ask, are we ready to adjourn? Do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> May. Yes. >> Seconded. We are adjourned.
>> Thank you.