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The Florida Department of Transportation has developed a web app intended to assist Florida residents in finding transportation options in the state. The website is a collaboration with the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged and can be found at the link below. Make sure to check it out, as it might be useful to you or your seniors!
Website: http://www.safeandmobileseniors.org/index.htm Find a Ride App: https://www.findarideflorida.org/  At the February Trainings on February 24, the Florida Association of Senior Centers presented the 2018 Jay K. Morgan Award to Pat O'Connell, Program Director at the St. John's County Council on Aging. This award celebrates excellence among Senior Center professionals, and Pat exemplifies excellence with her work and advocacy with seniors. We wish to express our strongest congratulations and a heart felt thank you to Pat for all of her efforts to improve the quality of life for Florida seniors!
 The Florence R. Goldmann Award is conferred annually upon a FASC member organization for distinguished service by a Senior Center.
To quote Jack “Jay” K. Morgan, “When you’ve seen one senior center, you’ve seen one senior center.” This is certainly true of this year’s applicants. Center budgets ranged from $163 thousand to $5 million and member participation ranging from 52 to 300 people per day. Services provided ranged from a simple information and referral office to a full-on medical clinic. There were eight wonderful applicants for the award this year making it a tough decision for the judges. Ultimately, one center stood out because it demonstrated that it has heart, compassion and an understanding of the needs of the seniors in its community – and let no limitations stand in its way of seeking to meet those needs! It was “the little center that could”. Those of us who work in senior centers know that the bells and whistles are excellent to have. Ultimately, however, it’s the heart and compassion of the team at each center that makes it so special to its participants. This center demonstrated this so well. This year’s Flo Goldmann Award winner is the Lakeland Activity Center for Seniors in Lakeland, Florida. This center, supported by Catholic Charities of Central Florida, states a majority of its participants are “75 years young” and have an income lower than $14,000 per year. The center has grown in the past five years from a basic congregate dining site to a well-rounded calendar of activities focusing on health and wellness. From a nearly empty center in the afternoons to ones filled with line dancing, Scrabble, Art, Tai Chi, exercise and more, the staff has shown they know what people want and are committed to providing those activities. Because of this increase in programming, staff has noticed younger and more active seniors in a higher income demographic are now attending. Recognizing that isolation is a breeding ground for depression and the overall poor health that follows, the center initiated a Volunteer Visiting program where the volunteer visits shut-ins. This not only allows for companionship for lonely seniors, but provides a meaning and purpose to the life of the volunteer as well. We noticed their technology classes were unusual as well as they provided training in using web cameras, SKYPE, and other social media. Another feature at this center is a visiting nutritionist who helps provide tips on good nutrition and cooking for singles. This is paired with a food bank to supply that delicious produce. Our judges are confident that this “little center that can” is a spirit-filled, compassionate and responsive center that exemplifies good practices in senior center management and so is quite deserving of the Florence R. Goldmann Award in 2017. Do you have any new, innovative and successful programs happening at your centers? How about “tag” lines for your Center? Drop Sally Marvin, FASC President, a quick e-mail ([email protected]) and your information may be included in the upcoming ElderUpdate! Keep an eye out for the article, as we will also be announcing the winner of the Flo Goldmann Award!
Come on, go ahead and get your name out there!  The 2017 Florida Conference on Aging is coming to Orlando August 28-30 at the Caribe Royale Hotel. There are many exciting presentations, and FASC will be presenting a Senior Center Professionals track. Topics in this track include:
1) Best Practices of Senior Center Volunteer Management 2) Florida Resources to Help Older Adults Stay Safe & Mobile 3) Yikes! You Want Me To Evaluate My Senior Center? 4) Trends That Drive Programs In Senior Centers 5) Best Programming Practices If you are interested in attending, click the logo at the top of this post to be directed to the Florida Conference on Aging Website for more details and registration materials. We hope to see you there!  Sheila Salyer receives the 2017 Jay K. Morgan Award from FASC President Jeff Backfisch. The Jay K. Morgan Award is presented to recognize outstanding professional leadership in the Florida senior center field and to enhance the senior center profession, and FASC. This year’s recipient is Sheila Salyer of the Tallahassee Senior Center. In her 20+ years of service to the seniors of Florida and Leon County, Sheila has exemplified the qualities that led the Tallahassee Democrat to call her a “uniquely solid, visionary, and competent individual [that] has held Tallahassee in her hands for 20 years”.
Sheila became Executive Director of Senior Services in 1996. She has grown the Tallahassee Senior Services program into a flagship program for the State of Florida and put the program on the national map. The program has grown from just under 80 programs to more than 180 programs and classes and boasts a membership of almost 15,000 seniors each year. Sheila has served on numerous boards in the field of aging, including Choose Tallahassee, FSU Institute for Successful Longevity, Florida Safe Mobility for Life, and the Florida and National Councils on Aging. She is a former President of the Florida Association of Senior Centers and has represented the organization as a member of the Florida Association of Service Providers and National Institute of Senior Centers. She has championed Florida senior centers with NISC and was instrumental in FASC being named the 2006 NISC State Association of the Year. She has been a driving force for Florida senior center professionals in connecting with other senior center professionals throughout the nation. Many centers in Florida owe their growth and diverse programming to her ability to share the knowledge gained from these contacts and her unselfish advocacy of Florida’s senior centers and FASC. The Florida Association of Senior Centers is proud to recognize Sheila as the 2017 Jay K. Morgan Award Recipient and thank her for all that she has done for senior centers around the state and for the seniors of Leon County and the State of Florida. The Florence R. Goldmann Award is presented each year to an outstanding senior center that has shown distinguished service excellence in the development and promotion of senior centers. |
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Each year, the Florida Association of Senior Centers presents the Jay K. Morgan Award to recognize an outstanding professional in Florida’s Senior Centers and their efforts to enhance the senior center profession as well as the Florida Association of Senior Centers. Named after Jay Morgan, a long-time proponent for seniors both state and nation-wide, this award honors their efforts to improve Senior Centers and the quality of life for all seniors across the state. This year’s recipient is Donna DeFronzo of the N.E. Focal Point Senior Services Center in Deerfield Beach.
In her 27 years working in the field of Senior Centers, Ms. DeFronzo has been responsible for the overall management, supervision, and coordination of all project activities and staff in order to provide a comprehensive program of services to individuals from age 2 -102. She coordinates the Senior Center, Adult Day Services Center, Alzheimer’s Day Care Center, Intergenerational Child Care Center, and Thrift Shop services and programs. She has received a Master of Science Degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Health Services Administration. She has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the State of Florida since 1987 and a licensed Assisted Living Facilities Administrator since 2000.
Highlights of her accomplishments:
Her philosophy is to labor hard, learn always, laugh often, love much, and live in faith, hope, and charity. Jay Morgan, for whom the award is named states, “I found Donna to be one of the most positive people I know. She attended every conference full of enthusiasm, always volunteering on the front end of the conference to stuff bags for FCOA, manning the FASC booth, being a speaker for FASC presentations, introducing other speakers for FCOA, and basically stepping up to help when there was a need. I still remember the wonderful picture of her and her sister in the hospital together after her surgery when Donna needed a kidney transplant and both had the biggest smiles and both were wearing big red clown noses. What an inspiration she is.”
For these and many more reasons, Ms. DeFronzo has been a tremendous advocate for seniors and has championed the role of Senior Centers in the lives seniors. It is the pleasure of the Florida Association of Senior Centers to present her this prestigious award, and to thank her for all of her work to improve the lives of seniors across the state!
In her 27 years working in the field of Senior Centers, Ms. DeFronzo has been responsible for the overall management, supervision, and coordination of all project activities and staff in order to provide a comprehensive program of services to individuals from age 2 -102. She coordinates the Senior Center, Adult Day Services Center, Alzheimer’s Day Care Center, Intergenerational Child Care Center, and Thrift Shop services and programs. She has received a Master of Science Degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Health Services Administration. She has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the State of Florida since 1987 and a licensed Assisted Living Facilities Administrator since 2000.
Highlights of her accomplishments:
- In 2002 she was awarded the “Project Advocate of the Year” Award by the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County for her outstanding leadership and advocacy for seniors.
- Under her leadership as the President of the Florida Association of Senior Center, FASC received an award for excellence and innovation as a state association.
- Past Board of Trustee for the Florida Council on Aging and Past Membership Chair for the Florida Council on Aging.
- Member of the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers.
- Received the 1996 Florence R. Goldmann Distinguished Senior Center Award for excellence in the development and promotion of Senior Centers by the Florida Association of Senior Centers.
- First Center to receive the Flo Goldmann Senior Center Award for a second time – 2012
- She has successfully developed an all-volunteer Board of Directors and Auxiliary to actively raise funds and provide positive public relations for the Center.
- Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Health Services Administration Program of Florida Atlantic University since 1995
- Preceptor for the FAU’s Health Practicum Program since 1989 - She initiated and developed FAU’s first Long-Term Health Care Administration Course in 1999.
- She is a Professional Clown, Sunshine, and has participated in various charity events - She has been a Humor Therapist/Clown, “Sunshine,” for Hospice
- Member of the World Clown Association, Clowns of America International, Southeast Clown Association, and the Kracker Jaclown Club.
- Has also been a member of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Partners in Caring, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), and the Transplant Foundation, Inc.
Her philosophy is to labor hard, learn always, laugh often, love much, and live in faith, hope, and charity. Jay Morgan, for whom the award is named states, “I found Donna to be one of the most positive people I know. She attended every conference full of enthusiasm, always volunteering on the front end of the conference to stuff bags for FCOA, manning the FASC booth, being a speaker for FASC presentations, introducing other speakers for FCOA, and basically stepping up to help when there was a need. I still remember the wonderful picture of her and her sister in the hospital together after her surgery when Donna needed a kidney transplant and both had the biggest smiles and both were wearing big red clown noses. What an inspiration she is.”
For these and many more reasons, Ms. DeFronzo has been a tremendous advocate for seniors and has championed the role of Senior Centers in the lives seniors. It is the pleasure of the Florida Association of Senior Centers to present her this prestigious award, and to thank her for all of her work to improve the lives of seniors across the state!
Author
Posts written by FASC Leadership Team and compiled from other websites.
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