Chairman Favorite called to order the Nutrition Sub-Committee meeting of the Commission on Aging at 9:00 a.m., on March 27, 2008, at the Vilas County Courthouse, Conference Room #2 in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Present: The following persons were present: Stephen Favorite, Betty Hansen, Carolyn Kneip, Fred Radtke, Donna Rollmann, Dennis Nielsen, Sandy Mutter, Verdelle Mauthe and Sue Geffers. Staff present were Interim Director Greg Schiek and Susan Richmond. Members excused were Mary Peterson, Betty Gussick and Penny LaFata. Guests present were Eric Johnson, Reporter from the Lakeland Times, Ken Anderson, Reporter from the Vilas News Review, Barbara Just, representative from Boulder Junction.

Approve Agenda: Nielsen moved and Rollmann seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as mailed, which order may be changed at the discretion of the Chair. Carried.

Agenda Item #6 Policies for prayer at sites:

Schiek stated that the Commission on Aging had received a written complaint regarding prayer at the nutrition sites. Richmond confirmed that we had also received a verbal complaint from another site. Schiek received a written opinion from the County’s Corporation Counsel on prayer and this was distributed to the Committee. Schiek also read-out loud the Petition that was signed by participants from the Boulder Junction site petitioning the Commission on Aging to leave prayer at the sites. Radtke stated this subject has been fought in Courts over and over regarding imposing religious beliefs unto people who are not religious. Kneip stated that wherever the meal site is held, our programs are funded by the federal, state and county governments. Mutter stated that her Phelps group likes to pray together, but it is a more general prayer so as not to offend anyone. Williams stated that her Land O’Lakes group sing a general prayer. She has polled her group and they want to keep prayer at the site also. Mauthe stated that she does not do a prayer in St. Germain. It was not done by the previous site manager and she does not do it.

Our guest, Barbara Just representing Boulder Junction stood up to say a few words on behalf of prayer. She had gotten a legal opinion from Gibbs Law Firm and she read the letter from this Law Firm which states it is not legal for the County to say the senior citizens cannot pray at the meal site.

Schiek apologized to the guests from Boulder Junction on how this got out to the sites. We had hoped to discuss it first with the Committee before it ever got to the sites.

Radtke made a motion based on the written opinion of the Corporation Counsel that we prohibit our site managers (who are paid by the county) from leading their site in prayer, but we are not prohibiting any individual participant to say a voluntary individual prayer, Rollmann seconded this motion.

Discussion was held on the Motion and Kneip added that she felt it was appropriate for this Committee to make a recommendation to the full Commission at their next meeting.

Ayes were Radtke, Rollmann, Williams, Geffers, Favorite, Mauthe and Mutter.

Nays were Nielsen, Hansen and Kneip.

Agenda Item #4 Update on Boulder Junction Site:

Schiek, Richmond and Nielsen made a visit to the site in Boulder Junction and met with the owner of the Boulder Beer Bar in February. The owner was given a letter that addressed our concerns and the policies that we felt needed to be addressed. Schiek stated that he felt that the issues that we had addressed were going smoothly. One of the concerns that the owner had was the coffee issue and that has been resolved. Geffers stated that things have been better and Jimmy Dean has requested that starting on May 1 if we could have the lunch start at 11:30 a.m. due to busy summer season. Richmond stated that this is done at the Land O’Lakes site and it would not be a problem.

Favorite asked about the suggested donation and if one site alone could be different. Richmond stated that the State suggested that we keep all the sites at the same amount but we could put a sign up that states what the meal actually costs and then the suggested donation. Each site charges differently for the meals. The site managers agreed that this has been done and does work.

Agenda Item #5 Policies on Temperatures and Menus:

Richmond distributed paperwork to each site manager along with two thermometers. She stated that the State is requiring our office to keep the menus for three years and the temperature sheets for one year. Richmond stated that she hadn’t known about this but that she would like to get into compliance now.

Richmond also distributed a letter that Geffers had typed to distribute to new participants at her site. Geffers was commended on her efforts, Richmond stated this was well done. If any of the other site managers would like to come up with something like this for their sites, Richmond offered to type it for them if they did not have access to a computer.

Richmond also distributed a few announcements that each site manager should make to their site and also a sheet on Telephone Fraud that should be sent out to each home delivered meal participant since they do not have access to our other announcements.

Discussion was held on Food Sanitation Training and that each of the site managers will be sent to this training. We are waiting for the training to be held closer to our area in order to send them.

Richmond thanked the site managers for all the hard work that they do at their sites. She stated that they are all doing a great job. Richmond stated that once the new Director has started, she is hoping to meet more with the site managers so that we are kept aware of changing procedures and policies.

Nielsen made a motion to adjourn, Hansen seconded the motion. Carried.

Minutes reflect the recorders notations and are subject to approval by the appropriate board or committee.

Submitted by: Approved by:

Susan Richmond Greg Schiek

Administrative Secretary Interim Director