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<br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Chair Carey asked Jerry Passmore to comment on upcoming events at the Seymour <br />Center. The first is the ribbon cutting on May 24t" at 10:00 a.m. May 30t" will be the Health and <br />Creativity Expo, and there will be an international speaker on creativity in aging. Jerry <br />Passmore thanked the County Commissioners for all of their efforts in the Seymour Center. It is <br />a 21St century senior center. <br />Commissioner Jacobs acknowledged Mary Kruter, another senior volunteer. <br />d. Presentation of the Orange County Master Aging Plan: 2007-2011 <br />The Board received the completed Orange County Master Aging Plan {MAP) update <br />covering the period 2007-2011 for future adoption at a subsequent BOCC meeting. <br />Pat Sprigg, Co-Chair of the MAP Task Force made the presentation. She said that this <br />MAP is the culmination of work of 110 volunteers over 1 '/ years for a revised road map of the <br />delivery of better, comprehensive, and coordinated services to the older adults of Orange <br />County. She said that this planning process grew out of the success and understanding of the <br />five-year plan that preceded it. She thanked Co-Chair Florence Soltys, Jack Chestnut, Jerry <br />Passmore, Gwen Harvey, Alice Gordon, Barry Jacobs, the steering committee, and others. She <br />said that they have compiled the issues facing older adults in Orange County. She said that the <br />plan has a foundation built on current resources and has attained support of lead organizations <br />with the hope of providing a roadmap for the future. <br />To insure that the task force was on target, public input was sought. There were 30 <br />public presentations and sessions. During the sessions, it became clear that if they addressed <br />the needs as outlined, they will be building communities that are aging friendly for people of all <br />ages. A survey was distributed to participants and the result confirmed that the major category <br />was information access, followed by transportation and housing. She said that they believe that <br />they have developed afive-year strategic plan that will provide an important roadmap in the <br />coordination of current services and the development of future ones. They engaged the County <br />government and towns as well as the broader community. She said that Orange County has <br />the ability to put forth a coordinated approach. Most cities and counties do not have <br />coordinated plans to address the need of increasing aging communities. They believe that the <br />format will serve as a template for other entities. <br />The first MAP was adopted in 2001 by Board of County Commissioners and went to <br />2006. A few of the past accomplishments include the bond to construct two new senior centers; <br />establishment of Orange County's first adult day health care center; establishment of Praise in <br />Age, weekly TV show; expanding the senior wellness program and the family caregiver <br />program; expanding the Vial of Life medical information access; and others. <br />In the current plan, there is pledged support from lead organizations, an evaluation <br />system, and a tracking mechanism with the hope of getting periodic reports of progress. <br />She asked the County Commissioners to carefully consider this plan and adopt it in an <br />upcoming meeting. <br />Commissioner Gordon commended the Co-Chairs and all involved. She said that the <br />process was very thorough and excellent. Commissioner Jacobs agreed. <br />Laura Blackmon thanked all of the volunteers that worked on this and said that this will <br />be on a future agenda for the Board of County Commissioners' approval. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that yesterday USA Today had about three full pages <br />dedicated to the problems of older Americans intending to drive, and that it was dangerous to <br />allow them to get behind the wheel. There are programs taught by seniors to other seniors <br />about knowing when you should not be behind the wheel anymore. He said that he did not <br />