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Greetings!
Here is the second edition of the MASWA e-newsletter! We hope that you enjoy receiving it this way, and we hope to save a few trees in the process. |
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MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING |
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Minneapolis Senior Worker's Association
Thursday, March 26, 2009
2:30 pm Registration/Networking
2:45 pm Business Meeting
3:00 pm Presentation/Questions
4:00 pm Adjourn
TOPIC: Unbefriended Elders: Matching Values with Decisions
Presenter: Mary Bornong, LISW
Mary Bornong, LISW, Care Manager with Senior Social Services at Volunteers of America MN has over 20 years social service experience serving diverse populations, people with developmental disabilities, older adults and at risk youth. Prior to working at Volunteers of America MN, Mary was the Care Consultant/Outreach Manager at the Alzheimer's Association. Program Overview and Objectives:
- Increase understanding about unbefriended elder/adult orphan issues and the national scope
- Learn about a survey completed in Minnesota regarding unbefriended elders/adult orphans
- Increase knowledge about current practice and surrogacy models beyond guardianship throughout the United States
- Learn about Unbefriended Elders: Matching Values with Decisions, a pilot project with replication implications
Call the MASWA Program Co-Chairs: Kay Johnson, North Memorial Home Health and Hospice 763-520-4280 or Virginia Kafer, LivHOME 612-719-7835 with questions related to this program.
LOCATION:
Freedom Pointe Assisted Living
500 Carlson Parkway
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Contact: Becky Nelson - 952-473-3330
Certificates of Attendance (CEU) will be available. Annual Membership fee $25.00 Guest fee $5.00 http://www.seniorworkers.org |
| PRESIDENT'S MONTHLY NOTE |
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Hello Fellow MASWA Members!
It's March, the month Spring arrives, although there are times it makes a grander entrance than other times! I think this year will be an early spring as the birds are already singing, the ice is off the driveway, and seasonal affective disorder is the "illness of the day."
As most of you know, the Spring Conference is planned, including the speaker and the menu for the day. I know the planning committee has talked about sponsors for the conference, door prizes, table sponsors, etc. They will be pleased to hear from all of you who would like to sponsor this annual event. The planning committee consists of Marti Briest, Susan Green, and Diane Maurer ~ please feel free to contact them.
The Fall Aging Conference is also in the planning stages. The program committee is working hard to commit to a subject and start lining up their speakers. We always feel so fortunate to be able to bring in national speakers because of the support you give MASWA. We continue to thank you for that support.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the membership meeting on the 4th Thursday of the month. See the article above or check the website for program information.
The MASWA Board will have a couple of positions open and would love to have you volunteer to serve on the board. We are looking for a Historian, Education Chair, and possibly a Program chair. Please contact Joann Sanford, Nomination Committee Chair, if you would like to volunteer for one of these positions. It is a great group to work with and we have a lot of fun!
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| FEATURED BOARD MEMBER OF THE MONTH |
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Virgina Kafer - MASWA Program Chair
Virginia was thrilled to join the LivHOME team in January 2007 as an Eldercare Consultant after owning a home care franchise. LivHOME has a strong commitment to providing professionally led home care services to seniors in our community.
A long-time member of the Twin Cities business community, Virginia has built a strong reputation for linking people and resources. During her twenty-plus-year marketing and relationship management executive-level career, she consistently developed innovative solutions and strong teams. As a professional partner in the senior care community, she is well respected for her quick response time and dedication to "client goals first." She has her master's degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.
Virginia has been an active community volunteer with Struthers Parkinson's Center, the Multiple Sclerosis Association, and the Minneapolis Senior Workers Association. In addition, she volunteers with St. Joseph's Home for Children and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
When Virginia is not co-chairing the MASWA program committee, she and her husband Chris can be found on the ski slopes or a hockey arena with their two sons. (In the summer it is the baseball diamonds and yes, still hockey arenas!)
Virginia can be reached by cell phone at (612) 719-7835 or by email at vkafer@livhome.com |
| ANNUAL EVENTS |
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Mark your calendars for these fabulous annual events:
Spring Luncheon
Thursday, May 28th
The Reserve in Plymouth
12:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Fall Aging Conference
Thursday, October 29
Earle Brown Heritage Center
Brooklyn Center
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| MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2009 |
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REMINDER- all MASWA memberships are up for renewal as of January 1. If you haven't yet renewed, please download the application, fill it out and mail it in, or bring it to the March meeting.
Click on link below to download the renewal application:
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| PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE |
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| Public Policy Committee announcements from cancelled MASWA meeting 2/26/09:
We want to welcome new MASWA members & let them know that the joint Public Policy Committees of MASWA & SPSWA joined forces several years ago to have a stronger voice in the public arena.
The purpose of the Public Policy Committee is to bring information, insight and empowerment into the Minneapolis and St. Paul Senior Workers' Associations through organization, education, and research to ensure an informed public policy debate and decision-making process on behalf of our members and the senior population we serve.
You will find the public policy page of our joint website by going to www.seniorworkers.org. Between the MASWA & SPSWA logos is Public Policy. We post new items there frequently. At this time there is an item about the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project & a link to the MN Council of NonProfits with directions on how to become engaged in the political process.
The Public Policy Committee has composed a public service announcement that will be going out to radio stations this week about Patient Assistance Programs. We had flyers to give out on these programs at the February MASWA meeting that was cancelled. We will bring them to our April meeting. (Pray for no blizzard.)
Here is the text of the psa:
"The Minneapolis and St. Paul Senior Worker's Associations are acutely aware the current economy is presenting great difficulties for peopletrying to pay for their prescription drugs. Patient Assistance Programs provide free or low-cost medicine to low-income people who are uninsured or under insured. There are three websites that list information about these patient assistance programs. They are: www.rxassist.org, www.needymeds.com, & www.helpingpatients.org."
We are also exploring the idea of starting a Book Club focusing on books of political and/or historic importance. Please contact Marilyn Christenson at crseniors@usfamily.net or call her at Seniors Choice at Home. Current thinking is that the book club will meet every other month at a place convenient to interested members.
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