South Metro meeting to include affordable drug info

The February meeting of the South Metro chapter of the Minnesota Senior Federation promises to be full of information for members and guest. Special guest speaker will be Barbara Kaufman, newly elected chair of the MnSF Board Directors. Kaufman will update the chapter on reorganization of the Federation and explain the advisory council that is being formed and scheduled to hold its first meeting in February. She will encourage South Metro Chapter to ask for interim regional status and elect two representatives to attend advisory council meetings. 

If prescription drugs are eating up too much of your income, come and receive individual help from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy staff on how you might be able to save money with safe, effective FDA-approved drug alternatives to the drugs that you are currently taking. This coaching session is part of the Consumer Reports Best Buy Drug program in which the U of M and the MnSF are partnering to evaluate how to best get this information to you, the consumer. Representatives will be available prior to the meeting at 9 a.m. and immediately following from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The South Metro chapter meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 8 at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 76th and Chicago Avenue, Richfield. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. No reservations are required. For more information, 651/645-0261. 
Lynn Moseng, volunteer coordinator

Southwestern offices gearing up for new MnSF structure

It’s hard to believe we are already into 2008! Growing up, the year 2000 seemed like an eternity away, now we are living it. I, and the out-state members, are looking forward to designing and making changes to our organization that will benefit all of us.

We start with saying goodbye to Reid Zimmerman. His assistance in pulling us all together has been invaluable. We next can welcome our new executive director, Lee Johnson. We wish him success with this monumental task of making sure we truly come together as an organization. This will not be easy, but it will be done.

The out-state areas of Minnesota Valley, Midwest and Southwest will continue to work on plans to move forward. Community meetings, not just member meetings, will be scheduled bi-monthly for Minnesota Valley and Midwest as well as bi-monthly meetings for all three areas. During these meetings, we will not only work on our future structure, but our priority issues as well. This area is fortunate to have two members that have been working with the property tax issue for quite some time and we look to them for leadership on how best to proceed with this issue.

Along with our issues person, Lee Graczyk, we hope to receive a written statement to present to our legislators that will show a unified voice throughout the state on the issue of property taxes. I admit to not knowing as much as I should about the system, but thanks to our leaders, I am learning and what I learn makes me realize I have a lot to learn. We will continue to work towards equity in Medicare and prescription drug prices and, locally, the transportation issue continues to come to the forefront. More of our plans will be discussed at our monthly meetings.

I am also very excited about the formation of the MnSF Advisory Council. This is a huge step forward in communicating and cooperating as one unit throughout the state. Advisory Council members and alternates have been chosen in my three regions and they are eager to “get going.”

I am also encouraged to see that this group will be meeting the same day as the Board of Directors. This will bring much needed communication to groups, staff, leaders and members. Thank you to the local Advisory Council members for being so eager to participate.

Remember, we are all working toward the same goal, unifying the Federation and bringing in new leaders and members. Our learning year has just begun. Let’s make sure to voice our opinions and not sit back and wait for the meetings to be over. Let’s not resort to negative discussions that only serve to tear us apart. This is our organization. We make it work together!
Sue Johnson, regional director

Virginia seeking speakers for Federation meetings

By the time of this printing our first forum meeting will have taken place. We have received several calls asking about the meeting and speaker so I’m hoping that we have generated renewed interest with our changed format. We have also received several calls asking for membership information. Speakers are secure for the first few meetings, but we need more input as to what you would like to hear and learn about. If you have some ideas, call me at the Virginia office, 218/749-2912, ext. 202 and let me know what you need more knowledge on.

Club renewals have been sent out to our ÔPartners in Mission.’ Again, we are hoping to see some renewed interest and more activity from our member clubs. If your club is not a member of the North Star Regional Forum, get in contact with your area representative and schedule them to come and give a presentation to your club. We are your voice and can’t act upon an issue if we don’t hear from you.

Take care, and drive safely in this crazy weather we are having.
Muriel Pehle, regional office manager