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Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources
Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Service Area
Berks County partners’ network March 17, 2015 meeting
Today’s date: April 00, 2015
I. Call to order and welcome
Brian Long convened the monthly Berks County partners’ network cross-training
meeting at 9:02 am. The meeting was held at Vision Resource Center of Berks County,
2020 Hampden Boulevard, Reading, PA.
He welcomed the meeting participants and thanked Lori Schermerhorn and Vision
Resource Center staffers for hosting the partners’ meeting and providing breakfast
refreshments.
March 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Brian Long
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He asked Lori to provide the “safety briefing1.”
He asked for and received partner acceptance of the January, 2015 minutes. The final
minutes will be posted at the Website.
II. Self-Introductions conducted
The partners introduced themselves; present at the meeting were:
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Anabel Adame, The Hispanic Center
Amanda Black, Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources
Barbara Bonilla, The Hispanic Center
Nancy Campling, Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
Kate Coffey, Berks County Area Agency on Aging
Carmen Colon, Berks County Area Agency on Aging
Tania Evans, Better Tomorrows Housing
Yvelisse Gonzalez, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation – Berks County
Carolyn Krick, Vision Resource Center of Berks County
Dave Lerch, Webb Medical Systems
Benita Mejia, Community Justice Project
Carol Miller, Berks County Area Agency on Aging
Carmen Morales, Berks County Area Agency on Aging
Joyce O’Brien, Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources
Jamie Pressman, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Laurie Reichert, Humana | MarketPoint
Danny Santiago, Humana | MarketPoint
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Lori did an enthusiastic review of locating the restrooms and the building emergency exit plan that may be needed in case of an
unforeseen emergency.
March 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Brian L. Long
Page 2 of 5
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Lori Schermerhorn, Vision Resource Center of Berks County
Melissa Smeltzer, Griswold Home Care
Angela Smoyer, Self-Determination Housing Project
Alicia Spencer, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Heather Uczynski, Vision Resource Center of Berks County
III. Old business and LINK activities
a) Brian reminded the participants about the “just-around-the-corner” workshops /
seminars” and encouraged them to consider attending one or more of them. He
also encouraged the partners to “like” the facebook page and send along their
organizations’ activities and events for posting at the website and facebook pages.
He acknowledged Melissa Smeltzer for being a “regular idea sharer.” Email your
organization’s events to blllink@mail.com.
b) Brian also reminded everyone to sign the sign-in roster and to be on the lookout
for a post-meeting MailChimp survey to provide comments, suggestions and
reviews of the meeting. He implored everyone to complete the completely
anonymous digital survey.
c) Brian asked the participants to share their ideas for any projects that Link partners
may want to support and endorse; ideas that will improve life for the target
populations in Berks County identified by the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and
Disability Resources. Brian said that the narrative for the populations we
previously identified2 has been broadened. “The mission of the PA Link to Aging
and Disability Resources is to assemble and strengthen an organized alliance of
private and public community agencies to better support consumer wishes and
empower them to understand, determine and effectively navigate their long term
care service options, regardless of age, ability or income.”
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Persons age 60 and over; persons with a disability; veterans; family members and caregivers.
March 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Brian L. Long
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d) Joyce O’Brien added that the importance of adding a broad variety of community
resource partners dramatically strengthens not only the County but the entire
statewide Link program. She strengthens the spoke to the importance of
IV. Cross-training program
Brian introduced Jamie Pressmann as the first cross-training presenter. Jamie shared a
PowerPoint presentation which provided information about the PA Bureau of
Blindness and Visual Services’ programs and resources.
The second cross-trainer was Lori Schermerhorn, executive director, Vision
Resource Center of Berks County. Lori’s comprehensive presentation included the
identification of numerous programs that her organization offers Berks Countians
who may be blind or visually impaired … a majority of the programs are developed as
a result of Customer requests or suggestions.
Each presenter responded to meeting participants during “question and answer”
sessions following their presentation.
III. New Business
a. Next month’s cross training is Tuesday, April 19, 2015. The meeting begins at 9:00
am and will be held at Berks Heim Nursing and Rehabilitation, 1011 Berks Road,
Leesport, PA. The cross-training program topic is the Berks County Area Agency
on Aging’s programs and resources.
b. He asked the partners to think about being a cross-training presenter in 2016, since
the 2015 meeting dates are completely spoken for. He asked the meeting
participants to suggest meeting venues for open dates in 2015 and 2016 and to send
along ideas to Ann Barlet, the Berks County coordinator. Click to see the 2015 and
2016 meeting dates.
March 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Brian L. Long
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IV. Partner “announcements”
a. Several partners shared announcements about impending events and activities at
their agencies, entities or organizations. Lori offered a tour of the Vision Resource
Center’s building. Following the meeting adjournment, several of those in attendance
stayed around to network and chat with one another.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 10:09 am.
PARTNERS’ NETWORK: new partners
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Abilities In Motion
Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania
AHEDD – Greater Berks County Area
APPRISE – BerksEncore
Berks County Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Berks County Assistance Office
Berks County Veterans Affairs
Berks Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc.
PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
Comfort Keepers – Berks County
Country Meadows of Wyomissing
Epilepsy Foundation | Eastern Pennsylvania
Griswold Home Care – Berks County
HGSK Law Firm
Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern
Pennsylvania
Hospice & Community Care
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) MidAtlantic
Humana® | Marketpoint
IM Able Foundation
Interim Health Care
Lehigh Valley Respiratory Care
Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks
Inc,
On-Line Publishers, Inc.
Patient Care - Wyomissing
Reading Housing Authority
SafetyCare Technologies – EMT Watch
27. Self-Determination Housing Project of
Pennsylvania, Inc.
28. Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
29. Transition Connections
30. United Disabilities Services
31. Vision Resource Center of Berks County
32. Webb Medical Systems
March 17, 2015 Meeting Minutes – Submitted by Brian L. Long
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