August Meeting Minutes - Senior Action Team

Monument Community Partnership
Senior Action Team
www.senioractionteam.blogspot.com
August 18, 2008 Police Substation

Present: Bill Oliver, Sally Smith, Mary Lou Laubscher, Ruth Stephenson, Susan Lawson, Lucy Keller, Hilda Giminez-Paglia, Jean Witucki, Marion Bruce, Marge Perez.

Special – Susan Lawson shared a book, whose cover her son designed, as a graphic artist.

Welcome – Bill Oliver, Contra Costa Literacy Council

Retired former college textbook editor and sales representative. He has always been interested in language. Now that he is retired teaching English as a Second Language has come naturally. He has been with this program now for four years. The volunteers are trained and usually do their teaching one-to-one.

The Literacy Council has been in the community for 30 years. Most of their clients are Spanish speakers.

There are more that 70,000 in our county who are not fluent in English. 49% of the residents of Concord use a language other than English.

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has good adult education classes, but many cannot go to the classes because of their work schedule. The Literacy Council sends their volunteer tutors to their home, library, or church.

The mission of the Diablo Valley Literacy Council is to teach English to non-English speaking adults so that instructors can improve the quality of life for this underserved group.

Training – The new volunteer completes a total of 12 hours of training in a series of 3 workshops provided by certified instructors.

Curriculum – they have an assessment that helps place the people at the right level, and have workbooks that meet these different needs.

Tutor Characteristics:

* enjoy working with people
* Have some spare time to volunteer
* Many are retired, some are still working full time jobs
* Have traveled and/or learned about other cultures. …

Training – the next training starts October 4th …To register and for more information please call Shirley Mattes, 925-685-3881. New clients should contact Rebecca Byrd, 837-5418.

MDSD has 6,500 English Language learners. Primary languages are Spanish, Farsi, Russian, and Korean.

Anthony Burik is the MDUSD English Language and Civics Head Teacher- 685-7340 x2766


Community Reports –

Mayores in Accion – Third Monday at Lakeside, 12-2 pm - If you know people who might be interested in this group, phone Zanida 925- 367-3957.

Children’s literacy – Next Children’s Story Time training Aug 27 from 10-12 at the Concord Library

Next book giveaway at Meadow Homes Park on October 4

Re-established the Story time at Palm Terrace, Mondays at 1 pm, with Robin as the reader.

Community Gardens – August 18th at Lakeside to talk about their garden. A lady contacted Lucy with lots of seeds to donate. She will be delivering seed to Mary Lou net week.

Lakeside Planning –

Bingo will be starting on the first and third Fridays at 10 am.ESL on Thursdays from 12:30-2 pm. Computer class for seniors at Lakeside –Tuesday afternoon 12 noon – 2 pm starting August 20th. If you give Bill your name he
willnight before to remind you

Lakeside Community Garden Group Starting . Next meeting September 3rd 6 p.m.

Announcements:

o August 20 Fall Prevention Program of Contra Costa County 9-11 am Pleasant Hill

o August 22 – MCP Leadership Training 6:30 Keller House

o Community Center, 320 Civic

* August 24 – Senior Action Team presentation at First Presbyterian Church – 11 am
* August 25 – Mobility Management at County Connection
* August 29th - Catholic Charities Multi Cultural Center 12 year anniversary celebration 10-1:30 Oakland Center 1-3:30 pm at the Oakland Center. Check with Marge Perez 510-867-0481.
* September 27 – Community day sponsored by First Presbyterian Church. Several activities are being promoted; Quilt Day with a group making quilts for Bay Area Rescue Center, and a variety of other projects. If you know someone who needs help at their home, or business, or any other need that could be met on this day, please contact Susan Lawson, 372-8919. Barbeque at Lakeside Apartments and Garden Park Apts.
o Collect small toiletries for “goodie bags”
o Collect “white elephants” for Bingo prizes
o Volunteers from MCP are needed at the Lakeside Apartments
Barbeque 9-27.
o Monday September 29th The 2008 Literacy Conference at the Concord Hilton. Special Guest speaker is David Boulton, Creator of Children of the Code.

Community Reports

MCP Leadership Training starts August 22 6:30 at Keller House

Salvation Army Basketball Camp 26 Monument youth receiving scholarships

Future Meetings

9-1 Labor Day, no meeting

9-15 AARP Programs– Virginia Brunk

10-6 – Monument Futures – Molly Clark and staff

Next Steps –

Prepare a calendar for SAT related meetings and activities.

Dental need for tooth brushes to give away at health fair…

This meeting –

Positive – speaker gave good information. All at the meeting were very involved. New sunshine committee established. (Jean and Marion)

What could be improved-
more people attending

Next meeting – September 15, 2008 9:30 am Police Sub Station


Mission Statement - The Monument Community Senior Action Team represents seniors ages 55+. We actively promote activities to meet senior needs resulting in an improved quality of life for all seniors creating healthy life styles for those in the corridor. Our slogan: Young in Heart. Rich in Experience