Message from the NISC Chair

“Advocacy Made Easy”

Have you visited the new NCOA website? The new website makes finding information easy and simple with a few clicks of the mouse. Now information for Senior Centers can be found under the “Strengthening Community Organizations” tab. On this page you will find the information you need to log into “Crossroads” the “Online Community for Aging Professionals”. See what people in the field are saying, post a question to the group, read how senior centers in other states are dealing with funding issues.

https://www.ncoa.org

Antonia Asher Kerney
NISC Representative for WSASC

Updates from “the Other” Washington

On Monday, September 14th, I attended the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) Delegate Council meeting. NISC is in the process of reorganizing their direction to address the changing needs of senior centers. To achieve this purpose, NISC will streamline their committee work from nine committees down to six. The new breakdown is: Best Practices (research, training, programs and services, conference), Marketing and Product Development, Public Policy, Leadership Recruitment, Standards and Guidelines and Accreditation, State Association and Membership.

The focus will be on strengthening state associations, developing new leadership, public policy and accreditation. National Council on Aging (NCOA) is also focusing on our partnership, and the importance of senior centers to bring information and services to the community, by assigning a staff member to work with each of the NISC committees. NCOA has developed new membership costs and guidelines. Now senior centers, not individuals, can join for $195, which includes your NISC membership as well as membership for all your staff.

Another welcome change is that the manual for NISC accreditation will now be free. The final version will be published soon, and you may obtain a copy through the website. There will still be a fee for accreditation, and there will no longer be re-accreditation. You must apply and complete the process at your renewal.

Key legislation address for Advocacy Day on September 15th was the Elder Abuse Act (S 795, H.R. 2006), Health Care Reform and Medicare Part D, and the refunding of the Older Americans Act. Marietta Bobba and I visited the offices of Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray and Dave Reichert. Marietta asked that each representative sign on to the Elder Abuse Act and to look at key wording in Project 2020, which aims to “build on the promise of home and community-based services.” Marietta pointed out that, as written, our American Aging Association agencies have first right of refusal for money from this bill coming into our state through Aging Services, and that there is not an opportunity for senior centers to bid for the money directly. We want to makes these funds available for open bidding.

I encourage everyone to begin to invite our senators and congressmen to your buildings to see firsthand what our senior centers are doing in the community. In many states, staff is on a first name basis with their representatives, who then are aware of issues concerning seniors. As funding tightens and the senior population grows, it is imperative that we “toot our own horn”!

Antonia Kerney
NISC Delegate