Meetings & Minutes

Older Workers Committee meeting minutes 4/19/05

April 19, 2005:

Minutes:

OLDER WORKER COMMITTEE for the MAINE JOBS COUNCIL

Promoting the Value of Maine’s Older Workers

Meeting Notes: April 19, 2005

Attending: Guest: Mary Foley Dan Muth (Co-Chair) Jim McGrath Cynthia Dowd Suzanne Blais Andrew Matlins Bob Kelley John Christie Chris Harvey Greg Melton Hugh Costello Bryant Hoffman Mary Fran Gamage

  1. Brochure update: Cynthia / Bob A draft of the tri-fold brochure on employing older workers will be presented at the Older Worker Committee meeting on June 21. It is intended to address both business and older workers’ needs. It will be distributed at CareerCenters, ABLE, SCSEP, and LMIS will include the final product in mailings to employers. LMIS will use One Stop dollars to pay printing costs. The brochure will have to be approved by the LMIS Advisory Group and the MJC Policy Committee prior to distribution.

  2. PSA: Jim Janie is working on getting media airtime. Jim showed the PSA and drafts of the credit screens. Changes have been made to the PSA credit/information screens in response to comments. ACTION: Cynthia will present the MJC Policy Committee with our plan for airing and staff training, for their approval at the April 22 meeting. The PSA is in English and Spanish. It will go to public access and commercial channels. It is needed to be in 2 formats; Randy Tunks at the State Bureau of General Services can convert it for a fee. ACTION: John, Dan, Chris and Mary Fran will develop a “script”/training for BES staff that answer the hotline and TTY, and for CareerCenter staff to whom the calls will be referred.

  3. Survey Results: Jim Jim will have a report of the results at the next meeting.

  4. Benefits presentation: Mary Foley Mary explained her position at Maine Medical Center, which puts a “safety net” under her clients. She explains SSDI, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, housing, food stamps and other entitlements to clients and advises them on how programs work together and the impact of employment on a client’s specific situation. There are six Benefits Specialists statewide who provide services through some CareerCenters and other locations. For more information: 662-6122 foleyma@mmc.org

  5. Census data and LMI statistics: Bob LMIS is working to get an Older Worker report from Bureau of Census. They will work on specific questions we have. ACTION: Send Bob any specific requests for information on Older Workers.

  6. Older Worker Toolkit: Bryant The Workforce Investment Group has $4,000 for the Committee to form a coherent, electronic version of an Older Worker's toolkit. Cynthia has compiled all the information for the toolkit in a large notebook. Drew suggested that a University student, at a minimal cost, could possibly do this.
    ACTION: Drew took the notebook from Cynthia to bring to the Center on Aging to check into this further.
    There was a very brief discussion on Soft Skill Certification/Work Ready Certification. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

I. Next Meeting – Details Tuesday June 21, Augusta CareerCenter, 1 – 3 p.m. AGENDA: • Brochure Update • PSA Update • Older Worker Toolkit • Work readiness certification • Data, statistics • How SCSEP can partner with employers to provide “soft skills” training • How to match older workers with employer openings • School to Work/ Older Worker committees Coordination • Partnering Older Worker Mentoring Program for employers

Future meetings: August 16, October 18 and December 20, 2005, all at the Augusta CareerCenter 1 – 3 p.m.