Meeting Minutes 3/13/2025

Virtual Meeting, Attendees:

Jess Irish, Joel Merry, Tommy Davis, Jim Peavey, Polly Shaw, Michele Melanson, Susan Ellis, Deirdra Murphy Karin Sadtler, Marla Davis, Elizabeth Libby, Janet Persen, Chris Wolff

Subcommittee Reports

Volunteer Transportation Program (VTP)

The programs are expanding to other communities.

VTP Arrowsic

5 drivers, 0 riders, published program on FB page (incl. VTP Georgetown announcement), was included in weekly town email, the newsletter The Arrowsic Arrow is going out next week, additional two drivers showed interest, one is applying.

VTP Georgetown

7 drivers, 2 riders, advertising email.

VTP Phippsburg

A couple of drivers and riders interested, no coordinator yet.

VTP Woolwich

Advertising will be on town website, email.  Marla has heard from two potential riders and two drivers and is also in conversation with a potential coordinator. These contacts are the results of the insert in the biannual tax bill and her connections.

Suggestions for future marketing for VTP: a universal flyer to be used by all communities, posting information at the library, and distribute at town meetings.

Photo Contest

The purpose of the photo content is to engage members of the community in creating images that echo our mission of making our communities on the Lower Kennebec a place where people of all ages can thrive and age gracefully. Photos will be used with permission by creators as part of a library of photos AFCLK can use for promoting the organization and its work.

up to date information is accessible on google drive here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DZI3KwrIomNbfNJdxEjMmFZ4V4DBcfC8 ask Deirdra for access if you need it.

This project will include the collaboration of many different groups who also feel they can benefit from this project. Susan will meet with judges.

Karin to contact Chris Wolff (Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers), how this project might be of interest to habitat and its Volunteers.

New Business

Phippsburg residents are interested in starting a group that might be something like Age-Friendly Phippsburg.

Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Presentation by Chris Wolff

Chris has worked in Elder Abuse for many years, aware of the challenges of aging at home, etc, transportation in rural communities, many new volunteers joined after Jimmy Carter’s passing and elections, incl. an increase in donations, critical home repair program

Revenue:

donations, send it to your local community connection

serving Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Brunswick and Harpswell

ReStore

Volunteers, work to keep residents safe, warm

Habitat uses liability waivers, also when working with volunteers from ie. Harpswell Aging at Home.

Mission: help lower income, weatherization, home repairs, mobile homes, affordable house construction (49th) at 151 High St, Bath this year. It is cost and time effective to install prefab homes, currently accepting applications, not easy to find the family that can qualify and afford such a house, eligibility requirements (credit score >650, mortgage), break ground in May, 1100 sqft ranch type, $7000.- in taxes, value of building about $200.000, average income limit (AMI) is currently $77850 for a family of four, family has to partner, market the experience or something else that supports Habitat, take the home building class, down payment? No federal grants for funding currently at Habitat but difficult if a USDA loan was needed.

Comfortably Home (may be more flexible, paid labor, no ramps) and Habitat Home improvement (Critical Home Repair through volunteers, ramps and other things, $2000 budget) Both programs often work together. Many residents need help on regular basis, snow shoveling, changing a light bulb.

The organization has been thinking about additional education classes but that may not be possible in the space. Currently they need volunteers for afternoons at ReStore and for Lincoln County in general. History of recruiting is rooted in faith communities, “Spring Walk to Build”, Virtual Auction from donations dropped off during the year.

Chris offers to send us the flyer for critical home repair and also to give presentations to other interested groups.

Next meeting date and location:

April 10th 3:30-4:30 Morse High School