Heartland Region welcomes Barbara Walton who recently transferred from the Metro Region. Metro’s loss is Heartland’s gain because Barbara has been volunteering in the office once a week for several months and takes an active role in our monthly meetings. She and her husband go south in the winter, so we won’t see her a lot until spring.
With Barbara’s departure, office hours are changing again to Wednesday and Friday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. The phone number there is 218/828-8457, and there is an answering machine.
Eileen Iverson and I attended the MnSF Board of Directors meeting in St. Cloud Sept. 25. Eileen presided (in the absence of President Lois Williams) since Eileen is vice president for programs. Convention plans were finalized.
Heartland did not meet in October because the date was so close to the convention. Our next meeting will be Nov. 12, 10 a.m., at the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center, Brainerd. All members are welcome. Iva Zankar, president
Now is the time to decide what you want from the Minnesota Senior Federation. This is also the time to decide what the Federation will look like and how this area will operate.
Why do we meet? When should we meet? How often? What should be the main goals of the MnSF?
These are questions that will be discussed during the next three to six months. Remember: The MnSF does not operate like a senior center and we have no say in how each club operates. The MnSF is an activist organization, not a social club. We will work with clubs to help people understand different issues and programs, but we do not suggest or offer ideas for club business.
Let’s make this organization a strong and forceful group that has a say in how laws and programs are designed and operate.
Suggestions for meetings and goals:
Meet every other month or every month
Meet as a combined group, Southwest, Midwest and Minnesota Valley
Smaller chapter meetings run by volunteers
Issues, work on strategy charts for top three priorities
Develop statements on issues to bring to our communities and politicians
Work on local, community issues with local officials; like transportation
These ideas have been discussed during the last year by members and staff and will be the start of our discussion on the future of your organization.
Take part in your local meetings to let your feelings and ideas be known. Sue Johnson, director
MnSF-Northwest Region met Sept. 28 for our regular delegate assembly. O.J. Peyton, president, led the meeting and Winton Forsberg, treasurer, gave the financial report.
Dennis Gerhardstein, MnSF state staff, met with us. The agenda included the dissolution of the old Minnesota Senior Federation making way for the new to be organized at the annual convention at Little Falls Oct. 10. Northwest’s delegate is Harriet Heinen, Warroad.
The minutes of the meeting were taken by Joye Olson, Warren.
All nine regions have signed to dissolve. The new Minnesota Senior Federation will keep the former programs.
State interim director, Reid Zimmerman, believes we would save $70,000 by combining offices, employees and insurance programs.
The Northwest Senior Federation as of Nov. 1 will have a new computer server and the e-mail address will be This will be from Garden Valley Telephone Company, Erskine. Myra Nesland, office manager
As I write this we are getting ready to leave for Little Falls and the state MnSF convention. Our October meeting will have been held with the Hibbing Tourist Seniors hosting. This is touted as our “Fun Meeting,” so not much business is transacted, but a lot of fun and enterainment is had by those attending.
We have completed pushing the state raffle tickets with about 35 percent participation. Our holiday supplement ad solicitation is complete with the usual good reception from our business friends.
Our membership has remained steady, thanks to our office manager. A very heartfelt thanks, Muriel, for all you do to keep us organized and moving forward.
North Star Region's Executive Board is considering a revised mission statement to become a regional forum oriented towards senior issues and information and becoming a referral point for MnSF programs. Revised bylaws are being drafted to reflect changes brought about by the Federation's restructuring. The revised mission statement and bylaws will be presented at the general assembly meeting on Nov. 9, 12:30 p.m., at Babbitt Community Center. It will be exciting times as our membership capability is expanded to include residents of any age interested in senior issues. All regional residents are encouraged to attend. Questions may be directed to the MnSF Virginia office at 800/662-5711 ext. 202. Tom Wagner, president
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