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Older Workers Committee Meeting
March 13, 2014: 10:00 AMBrunswick Region 10 Technical High School
68 Church Road, Brunswick ME 04011
STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD 120 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333
OLDER WORKERS COMMITTEE (OWC) State Workforce Investment Board March 18, 2014 MINUTES
Present: Jade Arn, Phil Dionne (Chair), Gail Dyer, Jim McGrath, John McMahon, Bob Trail Absent with notice: Dan Muth Staff: Tim Sardano
WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS and MINUTES
Phil Dionne called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. The members and staff present introduced themselves. Phil asked for revisions to the January 9, 2014 minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a motion, which came from Gail Dyer and was seconded by Bob Trail. The minutes were approved unanimously.
UPDATES
Phil spoke about the recent SWIB Committee Chairs meeting where Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette addressed the group. In the past, states would receive 15 percent of total Workforce Investment Act funding, which was reduced to five percent in 2011. In the upcoming fiscal year, the Federal Government is returning 3.75 percent of these discretionary funds to states, which will now have 8.75 percent total. Conversation turned to Speaker of the House Eves? Round Tables on Aging and their recently released ?Blueprint for Action on Aging.? http://www.pressherald.com/news/Read-Maines-Blueprint-for-Action-on-Aging.html Phil expressed disappointment that the blueprint suggested Workforce and Employment solutions for the older worker is in the form of ?sharing their knowledge and expertise?, even after they leave employment. While recommendations included suggestions for the employed older worker, there was no action recommended to help the 55+ age group find work. Bob Trail asked if at any of these work groups where Phil attended was employment a focus, to which Phil responded, ?No.? Tim Sardano asked if there have been job fairs targeted at the older worker held around the state. Gail Dyer and Bob Trail responded that in the past there were issues with the CareerCenters hosting such events due to possibly being seen as discriminating against other WIA audiences. There have been veterans? job fairs held by other entities, such as Chambers, and Tim will look into the possibility. The Older Worker pamphlets for the CareerCenters were reviewed and suggestions were provided from the members. Bob Traill showed the documents to his staff, who were excited about them and offered some suggestions. Tim will bring the changes to the communications staff at the DOL. The OWC reviewed the Silver Collar Award Handbook for 2014, drafted by Gail Dyer. Due to the lack of staff support and the upcoming deadlines, it was discussed and decided that this year?s awards would be moved to Employ Older Workers Week in September and all deadlines will be extended appropriately.
OTHER BUSINESS
Jade Arn spoke about her being invited by the USDOL ETA to Washington DC at the end of the month to speak on the Aging Worker Initiative. The initiative provides training opportunities and job search assistance to 55+ workers. The program was collaboration between the LWIBs, the Muskie School, community colleges, Adult Ed, and the Older Workers Committee.
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) provided the AWI assistance with the grant. Workshops were developed and held in Maine. There are materials available from this program that could still be distributed.
Hearing no other business, the meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for May 15, 10am?Noon, at Region Ten Technical High School in Brunswick (68 Church Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011)
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