Fran Shea – President

Mary Pitcher – Vice President

Gail Morgan – Treasurer

Annette Calfee – Secretary

Charles Albert, Pamela Brown, David Buchanan, Barbara Gingher, Deborah Gold, Ed Kane, Joe Murphy and Tom Moss-Executive Director.

 The Council on Aging is proud to announce our 2012 Charity Golf Event to be held on Memorial Day Monday, May 28, 2012 at the Omni Hotel and Resort on Amelia Island Plantation, on the Ocean Links course. 

The Council on Aging “Score One For COA” Charity Golf Tournament kicks-off a very exciting year for us. This event will raise funds for our five outreach programs:  Adult Day Healthcare, Transportation Services, In-Home Services, Meals on Wheels and running our two senior centers (East Nassau Fernandina Beach and West Nassau Hilliard). We hope you will consider being a Hole Sponsor with a custom sign placed on the Tees and Greens in our upcoming tournament for a $100 tax deductible donation. The continuing support of Nassau County residents and surrounding communities is greatly appreciated. To sponsor a hole, please contact Jeff McDowell, 904.261.0701 x 117 or jmcdowell@coanassau.com.

 We would love to have you play with us as well—it will be a great day!  Plan to attend and challenge your team to a beautiful golf adventure as you play some of the most breathtaking par 4 and 3’s fronting on the Atlantic Ocean.  The event is planned around all of our contestants enjoying themselves and taking home a memorable experience.  We look forward to seeing you on Monday, May 28, 2012.

ENTRY FEES:   Four Person Team Entry   $500 /Individual Entry $125                                                                                                                                                ADDITIONAL:   Mulligan Tickets 3 for $10         Putting Contest Tickets $5      Door Prize Raffle Tickets– $ 20 each/3 for $50

GOLF TOURNAMENT FORMAT:

▪  8:00 – 9:30 AM Registration, sign in (Includes:  green fees, carts, range balls, cart baggie, lunch & awards)

▪  10:00 AM  Play begins with a “shotgun start” scramble @ 10:00 am on Monday, May 28, 2012

▪  12:00 Noon   Box Lunch delivered on course; beverage cart (Cash only) on course

▪  3:00 – 4:00 PM Awards Ceremony- Prizes for Top 10 Men’s Teams, Top  3  Women’s Teams; (Cash bar) Prizes include rounds of golf and restaurant gift certificates,  Raffle Ticket Drawings for new drivers, woods, putters, golf bags, and other exciting items like fly away lunches, fishing charters, and more. (Must be present to win)

To securely register online go to: http://coanassau.com/Golf  and click on the Golf Tournament Registration Form, print, and return with your credit card information to COA fax 904.261.0704 or by mail (1367 S. 18th St, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034). 

The Council on Aging has partnered with Blacktie America to ensure our upcoming events like our Charity Golf  Tournament and Annual Fall Gala are a resounding success! One of the most important tools they offer is an easy way to make a secure donation.  By using the following link, individuals or groups can visit our new site and get any updates to our events and make a donation for any amount.

https://www.blacktie-america.com/online_sales/nonprofit_donation.cfm?id=73

Arlyse McDowell holds her 2012 SHINE award

Congratulations to Council on Aging’s Arlyse McDowell. She was recently named winner of the 2012 Serving Health Insurance Needs of Seniors (SHINE) Award for highest percentage of eligible beneficiaries served in a large fringe metro county.  Arlyse has been a case manager at the Council on Aging (COA) of Nassau since 2008 but just recently took on the duties as our county’s SHINE representative in 2011. The COA could not be prouder of Arlyse, not only for volunteering for this difficult additional duty, but also for winning this statewide award in her first year in the program!

 Last year, ElderSource sent out a call for volunteers to help them manage the state-wide SHINE program.  Arlyse immediately volunteered and after completing an extensive 6 day training class from The Department of Elder Affairs received her SHINE certification.  With the knowledge she obtained from the training, Arlyse has been able to figure out a solution to almost any health insurance problem. Arlyse has met with several seniors who were losing sleep over problems they were experiencing with their Medicare insurance coverage.  Often the problem was as simple as understanding a correspondence or a bill.  Sometimes it is quite difficult–finding a solution to fix a claim, billing problem, or prescription coverage.  Arlyse says that she has had a number of seniors come to her with cleverly worded letters that looked official but were really just advertisements.  With her training Arlyse cuts through the “mumbo-jumbo” and “too-good-to-be-true” sales gimmicks that entrap so many seniors in today’s complex world, and advises them on their options–if action is really needed or if they can just toss the solicitation away and toss their worries away with it.

 Arlyse will continue to work with COA clients with their SHINE needs in fall of 2012.  Arlyse’s best tip to seniors as they head into the 2012 Medicare insurance open season is to never sign anything that they don’t understand.  And if you need help understanding anything, please make an appointment at one of the COA centers and become a client of The Council on Aging of Nassau and Arlyse will be glad to assist you.

 Although there are over 500 SHINE volunteers statewide, there are not enough volunteers here in Nassau County to meet the need of the local population.  As the number of Medicare beneficiaries needing assistance increases, the need for volunteers increases too.  If you are interested in helping meet the need of this workload by becoming trained and being ready for the busy fall re-enrollment time, please contact Marilyn Parker, SHINE Liaison, ElderSource, 4160 Woodcock Drive, 2nd Floor, Jacksonville, FL  32207 Telephone:  904-391-6645 or 1-888-242-4464. 

 Robison’s customers are encouraged to “Double The Love” of their Valentine’s Day gifts on these two days knowing they are supporting the COA’s many services which serve the needs of Nassau County’s senior citizens.

 “We believe that a lot of good work is going on at the COA, so we wanted to do something significant to support them. It will be an opportunity to let more people know about their building fund campaign,” said Brett Whitaker, co-owner of Robison’s Jewelry.

The Robison’s Jewelry promotion is just the latest in community-based outreach.  Besides gracious donations from individuals and businesses the COA continues to actively seek grants from government organization and foundations that support senior projects.  With everyone’s help, The Life Center will become a reality.  Any and all donations allow the COA to significantly increase and improve services provided to today’s seniors and generations of seniors to come

 In 1952 K.W. Robison established Robison Jewelry Co. in downtown Fernandina Beach then sold it to Bob Whitaker in 1966. Robison’s has thrived at 217 Centre Street for years, currently under the management of Bob’s sons Jeff and Brett Whitaker, who balance family responsibilities with the daily challenges and rewards of operating a full-service fine jewelry store, with the support of their dedicated staff of jewelry professionals.  Their mother, Melba, is a valued member of The Advisory Council to the Board of Directors of COA. 

Did you know the COA accepts donations of gently used medical equipment?

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can be made at the Atlantic Rec Center and the Peck Center by calling the Fernandina Beach Library at 277-7365. Walk-ins will be assisted after those with appointments. Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:

• Photo ID
• Your 2010 Tax Return
• All 2011 Tax Documents such as W-2s, 1099s and SSA-1099s.

VITA volunteers cannot work from year-end documents.

Appointments at the main auditorium of the Atlantic Rec Center, located at 2500 Atlantic Blvd, are Tues and Thurs. from 1 to 5 pm beginning on Jan. 24th to April 12th.

Appointments at the Peck Center, located at 516 South 10th St. are Weds from 4 to 7 pm begining  Jan. 25th to April 11th in the reception room. 

Tax assistance will also be available at the WorkSource office located at 96042 Lofton Square Court, Yulee until April 12th. on Tues. and Thurs from 9 am to 3 pm. Please call 432-0009 ext 2660 to make a reservation.

L to R: Susan Steger, COA Advisory Council member; Greg Frick, COA Transportation Manager; Steve Kelley, Chairman of the TD LCB and County Commissioner; Danny Leeper, County Commissioner ; Walter Boatright, County Commission Chairman; Philip Worth & James Bennett FDOT District 2 Management; Fran Shea, COA Board of Directors President; Tom Moss, COA Executive Director; Tom Henderson, Campaign Committee; Allen Lennon, Capital Campaign Chairman of COA Board of Directors; Arlene Filkoff, City of Fernandina Beach Mayor; Tom Silverio, COA Board Member Emeritus; Bill Hardy, ElderSource ready to break ground.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 6, to celebrate the start of the construction phase of the Council on Aging of Nassau County’s relocation project.

Auld & White Construction Company recently completed all the site prep work and Bush Construction Company is in place to begin building The Transportation Center. A Dispatch Center, Driver Room (an area for training, and utilization between trips for safety breaks), and
staff offices will be housed at The Transportation Center. The site will include functional exterior areas for cleaning and maintaining the fleet, with a locked vehicle storage area plus camera surveillance for improved security. The Transportation Center will also allow the COA to improve working conditions of their employees and provide better service to their clients. Construction is expected to be completed in April.

Artist's rendering of COA's new Transportation Center

L to R: COA Transportation Manager Greg Frick, James Bennett, Philip Worth and Tom Moss COA Executive Director.

Doran Donovan, A COA supporter, signs a special matte to mark the occasion.

In attendance were Philip Worth and James Bennett, representing FDOT who funded a major portion of the project along with representatives from both the County and City governments, who also provided funding. These individuals joined with members of the COA Board of Directors, and other friends and donors to COA, to turn the first shovelfuls of dirt to signify the official start of construction. Light refreshments were served following the ceremony at the existing Senior Center for all those who attended the ceremony, including government officials, donors, volunteers and COA staff.

While The Transportation Center is fully funded, the COA’s greatest challenge lies ahead as they continue their efforts to raise funds to complete the new senior center building, deemed The Life Center, to replace the existing building across the street from Baptist Hospital Nassau. COA’s goal is to begin construction of The Life Center as soon as possible after the completion of the Transportation Center. Through donations and pledges, we are well on our way towards having the funding we need. The COA will continue reach out to the local community seeking individuals and businesses looking for their support, while also actively seeking grants from government organization and foundations that support senior projects. With everyone’s help, this dream can become a reality. Any and all donations will allow the COA to significantly increase and improve services provided to today’s seniors and generations of seniors to come. If you would like to be part of the of this worthwhile project please contact Susan Lee, Community Relations Director at slee@coanassau.com or 904.261.0701 x 120.

The Council on Aging is a 501-c-3 non-profit agency. We cheerfully deliver critical services to Nassau County seniors in five categories including Meals on Wheels, COA Transportation, In-Home Care, and Adult Day Health Care, while operating two senior recreation centers. We are partially funded by government grants and donations from private individuals.