Minutes of ESCOTA General Meetings

Minutes from the February 12, 2009 General Membership Meeting

Date of Meeting: Thursday, February 12, 2009
Presentation: Bed Bugs/The New Vampires
Speaker: Gil Bloom, Vice President, Standard Pest Management

Reeva Mager, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM and welcomed those present. About sixty people were in attendance. She called on Membership Chair, Greg Lechtenberg, who encouraged new participants to join ESCOTA’s growing base of members to broaden relationships among providers and to benefit from our speakers’ expertise. The deadline for joining for the 2008-9 membership year ending in June – and to be listed in the upcoming directory and web site – is March 15th. The fee is $55.00 for individuals and $75.00 for group members.

Reeva, who is the Director of DOROT East, introduced DOROT’s Executive Director, Vivian Fenster Ehrlich, who related some of the agency’s long history. Started by Columbia and Barnard students 33 years ago, DOROT has developed more than 30 programs that address senior isolation. Among them are the teleconferencing programs University without Walls, To Your Health, and Caregivers’ Connections.  In addition, the agency offers weekly Friendly Visiting by screened volunteers and a Kosher Meals program for frail homebound elderly. DOROT’s telephone number is 212-769-2850; the web site is http://www.dorotusa.org.

Announcements:

• Elizabeth Figueroa of SPOP announced that there is part-time Spanish- speaking LCSW position available. Applicants can email Elizabeth Figueroa at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• Connie Gemson of HealthOutreach at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital announced her series of free workshops for caregivers. For more information, you can call her at 212-746-4365 or email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• Joanna Leefer represented FRIA ,which began 32 years ago and provides information on long term care options. Their telephone number is 212-732-5667. The hot line number is 212-732-4455.
• Mary Beaudet of the Visiting Nursing Association of New York described the U. S Treasury’s campaign called Go- Direct/Direct Express, encouraging senior citizen s to sign up for electronic payments. If individuals have a checking or savings account, they can sign up for direct deposit by calling the toll free help line at (800) 333-1795, or use http://www.GoDirect.org.  Organizations can publicize this campaign by supplying card flyers to patients.  You can order materials by calling 952-346-6055 or emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• Reeva Mager shared information via email regarding the membership to a free breakfast discussion by Dr. Julia Mirsky of Ben Guirion University of the Negev- School of Social Work co sponsored by the Partnership for After school Education (PASE) and the National Network of Social Work Managers- New York City Chapter on Thursday, March 31, 2009 at 9:30 to 11:00 am at the Pase Office at 120 Broadway Suite 230. The topic is Preparing Social Workers for Agency Work in Turbulent Time: A Cross Cultural Discussion. The office is located in the financial district near Wall Street (2, 3 and 5 trains) Rector Street, (1, R and W trains) and Board Street (J, M and Z trains). Visitors must pre-register at the Visitors Desk and enter the building on the Nassau Street side. Registration is required and space is limited. RSVP to Rose Ortiz at 212-571- 2664.

Presentation:

Gil Bloom, Vice President of Standard Pest Management, gave a slide presentation on bed bugs. He described their habits and explained how to identify their presence. He discussed the increase of the infestation in New York, in part due to globalization and reduced use, over the last decade, of the most effective residential insecticides. Bed bugs are not relegated to beds but are attracted to people in their apartments as well as in public places. Bed bugs can be found in furniture, futons, and mattresses.  Furniture found in the street can be a site for bed bugs to hide and then spread when taken in.  In New York City, mandated inspections for bed bugs are not required. Good tools for eliminating bed bugs are dryers and dry steamers. Gil gave those present – particularly those who go into the homes of seniors – ways of reducing their own vulnerability, as well as ways of helping those they encounter with bed bug problems.

The meeting ended at 4:55pm.

Next Meeting:

Date: March 12, 2009 (3-3:30pm Networking)
Location: The Carter Burden Luncheon Club & Senior Center (351 East 74th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues next to Huys Church)
Presentation:
Speaker: Elaine Quigley, LCSW, Metro Elder Care Agency, LLC

Respectfully submitted by Constance H. Gemson

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