2011-01-03 Meeting

Meeting at Anita's place.

Present: Anita, Lynn, Dan (notes), Nick.

Approval of last meetings' minutes: deferred.

Program Review

November Event

"Being Single" -- lots of new people there; of the 14, six were new.

Discussion: it kind of got off the topic; a little disappointing to some people because the discussion tended to stay in the negative.

About half of the people there were single.

December Events

Seasonal party: 19 people, which was a little disappointing.

Room rental costs for the were $50, we collected $40.50. Nick made up the difference -- thank you, Nick! It's possible that NSRAP will make up the difference.

What would we do different?

• having someone sitting at the door is not so much fun.
• we could have done RSVP
• we could possibly have a game, e.g. Trivia, or
• a white elephant gift exchange or
• a Santa Claus

Some of the new people who came to the December Event found out via the mailout.

LGBT Elders Housing Public Meeting on the 10th: attendance disappointing. 14 people, 4 representing organizations.

NSRAP will be getting some grants and a student, to work with e.g. Northwood and a sensitivity training program, for something like "longterm care staff sensitivity" training, developing a module which can be used at Northwood and elsewhere.

Dan worked with NSAHO, the CCA program, which is adding an LGBT sensitivity module to their program.

We'll arrange a meeting with NSRAP possibly to hear a progress report or the final report from the student.

Upcoming Programs

It is possible that we could get someone to talk about Spirit House

January 16th:

• DAN will ask Hugo to do a dramatic presentation and find another couple of people who can drop in
• LYNN will ask Bruce can bring Miss Vickie to play piano
• DAN will check out his flute and see if it's "in tune"
• Bill McKinnon is bringing his karaoke machine and singing two songs.
• Nick to check with Andrea Currie if she is coming to the event.

Policy Statements

NSRAP is looking for policy statements for all of its subcommittees.

• goals and objectives:
  • to provide a variety of regular social events for LGBT elders
  • to collect information from the members for the use of NSRAP or other LGBT groups.
• to provide support and advice to NSRAP regarding seniors care and seniors rights
• something on confidentiality, something like: we collect people's email and other contact information solely for the purpose of informing them of events and other business directly relating to the business of the social group.
  • We don't give out phone numbers
  • We don't give out addresses

Name Change

Name change was brought up at the last meeting and a couple of other names were suggested.

Dan moved that we change the name of the society to "Elderberries" . Anita seconded; motion passed.

Independence

Should we remain a subcommittee of NSRAP??

NSRAP's idea of our group is as an outreach tool to the institutions. There's no ongoing money for interpreters, for example.

NSRAP would like us to develop a funding plan for ourselves, projecting our expenses for the next year.

We need to recruit someone who has a strong financial background.

Budget items:

• Sign language interpretation
• Bus rental to prides and other events
• Logo
• Banner
• Brochures
• Rental / cleanup of event facilities
• Web page
• Contingencies $100

Next Meeting

Monday, January 31st. at Nick's place