Printing generously donated by WASC News An Official Publication of the Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers WASC Calendar Board Meeting ~ Friday, February 20 (conf. call) Spring Training ~ Friday, April 17 Wisconsin Rapids Fall Training 2015 ~ September 16-18, Metropolis Hotel, Eau Claire “Serving Senior Centers Since 1983” Volume 9, Issue 4 www.wiseniorcenters.org December 2014 Friday, April 17, 2015 The Hotel Mead & Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids; $25 per person It’s All About Developing, Enhancing and Supporting Senior Center Boards If you’ve ever wanted to bring a Board Member (or two) to a WASC Training; this is the one! Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers Spring Training
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WASC Calendar
Board Meeting ~ Friday, February 20 (conf. call)
Spring Training ~ Friday, April 17
Wisconsin Rapids
Fall Training 2015 ~ September 16-18,
Metropolis Hotel, Eau Claire
“Serving Senior Centers
Since 1983”
Volume 9, Issue 4
www.wiseniorcenters.org
December 2014
Friday, April 17, 2015 The Hotel Mead & Conference Center in
Wisconsin Rapids; $25 per person
It’s All About Developing, Enhancing and Supporting Senior Center Boards
If you’ve ever wanted to bring a Board Member (or two) to a WASC Training;
this is the one!
Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers
Spring Training
Printing generously donated by
VOLUME 9, I SSUE 4 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICAT ION OF T HE WISCONSIN ASS OCIATION OF S ENI OR CENTERS
There are handouts, videos and Holiday Food Safety Kit http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/ The Center for Disease Control has a great aging section with articles and interactive tools. Click here
The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (WIHA) has research, workshops, training, and information on Evi-
dence-Based Prevention Programs. The National Institutes of Health has information for all ages from diabetes to exercise to sleep to nutrition.
Omro Area Community Center Hosts Volunteer Wisconsin AmeriCorps The end of October was the beginning of the year of service for the volunteer of Volunteer
Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps, serving at the Omro Area Community Center. Katrina Martz, of
Oshkosh, WI chose to give a year of service to AmeriCorps. She is serving at the commu-
nity center in Omro in the capacity of Volunteer Coordinator and Recruiter. Her primary
job over the next year will be to recruit at least 10 long term volunteers for the center.
A‘long term volunteer’ is a person who is willing to give 15 hours of volunteer time over
the course of a year. Volunteers in today’s busy society are unwilling to commit to a regu-
lar weekly schedule, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to participate. Thus the flexi-
bility to work on a project or an event and still be considered a volunteer of the center is
the key to recruiting.
Katrina will also be developing a volunteer handbook, an orientation procedure and a database with informa-
tion on the volunteers so that the center can give recognition for their service at some, upcoming event. She
will also work on limited fundraising and direct service to the patrons of the center, and she will serve as an
extra set of ‘hands’ to get things done. This works out well since the AmeriCorps slogan is: Getting Things
Done for America.
The Omro Community Center is able to have Katrina for the year through a grant from Marshfield Clinic’s
Volunteer Wisconsin and grant monies made available to them through the federal government.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, which is considered an American version of the Peace
Corps. President Obama set up a program so businesses have access to information on members who serve, if
the business is willing to give preference to the service member when it comes to interviews and hiring. This
will provide a conduit for companies who value community service to find employees with similar values.
The hope is that this new database will offer an avenue for service members to find good jobs after their year
of service.
For now the community center is the beneficiary of Katrina’s passion for service to the community. We thank
her and every AmeriCorps member for giving back in such a huge way. Their willingness to ‘Get Things
Done’ will make a difference in the lives of the patrons here in Omro and throughout the State of Wisconsin.
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Meet WASC District 2 Delegate Catherine Kiener
Hello WASC Members! I am the Director of the Port Washington Adult Community
Senior Center. I have been in my position since December 7, 1998. I am looking forward to professionally serving on the WASC Board of Directors to advance the
profile of Senior Centers in Wisconsin and our communities. The challenge to get
busy professionals together to network with one another to share ideas and develop skills is one I look forward to in District 2.
My degree is in Recreation Management with an emphasis on therapeutic recreation
from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. My career started as a recreation
therapist in Long Term Care where I advanced to an Assistant Director and then took a job change to be a Director of Activities. I maintain national certifications as a park
and recreation professional (CPRP) and as a therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS).
The continuing education units I obtain from conferences are the primary base for
recertification standards for these professional designations.
The coordination of various program instructors, volunteer leaders, office volunteers,
and planning of events and trips are job tasks that I enjoy. Marketing the senior center
is an area I am improving in, along with other skills necessary to effectively manage
the Center. I am fortunate to work in an area with 2 other centers close by to organize a county wide Senior Games. The Center has very part-time assistant and maintenance staff members who are also city employees and contribute to
the Center mission of “providing cost effective programs, classes, activities and services to citizens 55 years and older”.
I am a mother of two college students and am blessed to have support from my husband for the hectic schedule that can
happen as a Senior Center Director. I enjoy photography, reading, skiing, camping, travel and walking.
Meet WASC Administrative Coordinator Deb Weberpal I am beginning my third year as WASC’s Administrative Coordinator. It is an interesting
and varied job. I learn so much from all of you!! I come to this position with 22 years of
experience in Senior Centers, 12 in a non-profit center, The Gathering Place of Milton, and
10 years as the Senior Coordinator for the City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation De-
partment. I have held every position on the WASC board, except vice president, which
hopefully gives me insight into past practice, helping new board members understand their
job, and assisting the board with annual activities and deadlines.
I have a degree in Health and human performance with a minor in Gerontology from UW-Whitewater (Go
Warhawks!). I am a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional in addition to being a pole walking instructor,
group fitness instructor and am working toward my supervisory certificate from CVMIC (Cities and Villages
Mutual Insurance Company.) If your city is a member it is great training. They also have online training.
As a not quite full time employee, like many others I enjoy the challenge of presenting a myriad of programs,
trips and wellness opportunities to enhance the lives of older adults in the community. I am fortunate to be in
a university community. The students are a great resource as volunteers.
I have three adult children, two grandchildren and a grand-puppy. In my free time I enjoy yoga, tai chi, read-
ing, walking in the woods, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
I look forward to getting to know more of you. Please feel free to call or email me or your district delegate
with any questions or assistance. We are a wealth of knowledge.
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Nutrition Program Revitalization
The Elder Nutrition Program will conduct some listening sessions/focus groups in 2015 to get ideas to change
the name for the Elderly Nutrition Program. If you would like to help recruit older adults to participate (50-55
y/o +) or help host a listening session/focus group in your area, please contact me. Still working on finalizing
a plan to do this.
Nutrition program revitalization pilot projects are in full swing! Here are some pilot project highlights:
o Barron County – Rice Lake Senior Center initiated a breakfast bar/Bistro and a seasonal weekly Salad
Bar.
§ Have served 725 breakfast meals since June 16th, which is an average of 181-200 per month
§ Had 52 new diners in the first month and average donation rose 91 cents ($2.50-$3.41)
§ Rice Lake Senior Center has made some updates as a result of increased participation – updated cof-
fee service, paint, and decorations, rearranged set up – this was unexpected but great!
§ Other site managers are bringing participants to try breakfast at the senior center (10 sites in Barron
County)
§ No reservations required – people like this
§ Transportation available
§ Groups from the community intend to have their meetings there
§ Support of site manager and the senior center co-directors is crucial to this effort.
o Florence County: The Hillcrest Dining Center will be relocated from a large gymnasium to a remodeled
classroom for a more intimate, inviting atmosphere. It will incorporate a coffeehouse approach seating area and
will offer Internet access. Intergenerational activities will be provided through partnership with the youth program
“Food, Fun, and Fitness” offered by the School District of Florence County and UW Extension. A component of
these activities will be creating garden boxes to grow produce for use by the nutrition program. Breakfast and eve-
ning meals and a salad/soup/sandwich bar will be offered on a rotating schedule.
§ Hasn’t spent any money yet, but is seeing increases in participation just by offering different pro-
gramming and being in the vicinity of the technical college
§ Technical college is buying them a sign.
o Green County: The Monroe Dining Center located at Behring Senior Center in Monroe will be remodeled
into a modern and chic café that will serve meals five days per week for lunch, include a coffee bar open through-
out the day, and will include a breakfast bar serving hot and cold breakfast items three days per week. The break-
fast program will be coordinated closely with the senior center’s wellness and exercise programs and the ADRC’s
health promotion programs.
§ Hope to open in January, soft opening in December
o Green Lake County: Berlin Senior Center - “Start Your Day – Stay & Play” pilot project will include facil-
ity modifications to include a make-your-own-espresso bar and an outdoor table under a sun umbrella. A breakfast
bar will be created and serve breakfast five days a week. Locally grown fruits and vegetables will be provided, and
vegetables will be grown in the senior center’s garden. Reservations are not required and breakfast will be offered
to the general public on a fee basis.
§ Average per day numbers run about 10 visitors per day
§ About 1/3 never or very seldom came to dining center
§ More positive reputation of the senior center
§ Increased awareness of good food
§ Healthy food & enjoyable atmosphere (Continued on page 10)
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Nutrition Program Revitalization (cont.)
§ Café Connect— The Oregon Area Senior Center will be remodeled to create a fresh, inviting WiFi café style
dining center. A variety of music programs will be offered weekly to entice new diners.
· All damaged drywall repaired, new paint and flooring·
· Indoor awning for kitchen serving window installed.
· Grand re-opening of Café Connect took place on September 18th with 41 congregate diners in
attendance.
· A photo and explanation of the grant will be featured in our December newsletter that reaches
approximately 750 seniors.
· The Café Connect sign for a wall in the dining room has not yet been created but staff are work-
ing on a design.
· There have been 13 new unduplicated diners.
· Average daily attendance pre-revitalization was 7.7 per day. Post revitalization launch has been
12 per day. This demonstrates that of the 13 new diners in 2 months, on average 5 of these attend each
day.
· Donations 43 cents per meal with an average of $2.18 per meal.
§ Café 301 (Sun Prairie):
· Facility/Infrastructure Modifications: We have purchased the dining supplies and a grill. Every-
one enjoyed the freshly cooked brats and hamburgers right off the grill! Challenges: The salad bar was
difficult to organize. The man power to lay everything out was an increased challenge for the staff.
We recruited a volunteer to completely set that up, which was a great help.
· Programmatic enhancements: These were the most exciting part to our proposal. Offering an
increased amount of socialization opportunities, cooking demos, different themed lunches and enter-
tainment are what enticed people to come. The later start time was appreciated by more than we real-
ized. The guests enjoyed the give-a-ways and the silly games we played occasionally. Most impor-
tantly, they enjoyed the increased contact with staff. They also enjoyed the fresh produce generated by
the garden. Challenges: Although this was an exciting piece, it took more time then expected to pull all
of the ideas together and to decorate. To pull that amount of time from the coordinator’s schedule was
not working most days. So, other staff would help and we were able to find a volunteer to help a cou-
ple days a week.
· Outreach/Marketing: We spread the word about Café 301 through a flyer that went out to several
homes within our community. We included information in our monthly newsletter regarding the
“specials” we offered throughout the week.
· Measurable Outcomes: Served 85 people through these 60 days, we were hoping for 125. How-
ever, we continue to have new people attend the meal site. 43 of those 85 were new faces to the meal
program.
§ “My Meal, My Way” East Madison/Monona—service at a restaurant for breakfast with no reservations.
· Average attendance 51 per day and $3.32 average donation per meal
· 228 new older adults between August 1 and November 7
· Comments on the great food quality and location in nice restaurant
· Transportation is a potential issue – lots of down time, need activities
· Need to continue to market to make sure people are aware it is continuing
If you have any questions about the statewide nutrition program revitalization effort or the pilot projects,