Meeting Minutes 5/14/2026

In person meeting at Maine Maritime Museum, Longreach, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Attendees: Kelly, Marla, Karin Deirdra, Robin, Karli, Sandy, Jess, Jim, Janet, Michele, Polly

VTP

●      Clients with wheelchairs. We do not offer transportation of wheelchairs. Huge commitment, physical weight, risk, etc. Safety concern, risk management, possible implications for our umbrella insurance. In any case the client would need to be able to transfer to and from the vehicle on their own.

●      VTP Subcommittee met 5/13: Ride coordinators act as resource navigators. We talked about recruiting addiitonal drivers, marketing materials, magnets for the fridge for clients that states the phone number and asks for 3 days prior notice. Currently ride coordinators are experiencing calls on the weekends for a ride, or at 6pm. It is a question of setting boundaries, always feeling like being on call. Need to appreciate drivers and ride coordinators.

●      Drivers' driving abilities may change over time, how can this be managed? Options include a self-assessment, and additional training. Every 2 years a background check is recommended, also riders might describe an unsafe experience. Tom Meusert offered to help with difficult conversations. Might we have to discharge a driver because he or she is no longer safe?

●      Woolwich has driven 3500 miles between early January and end of April. 81 round trips. Demand continues to increase. To reduce ride frequency it would be nice to combine the medical appointments with the grocery store as often as possible. We should start thinking about a 2nd person to share the ride coordination job. This is a big commitment that Jennifer is fulfilling.

●      Are we concerned about losing drivers to gas prices? Not yet, however other programs in Maine described this as a challenge.

New Business

●      June lifelong conference June 1 in Orono. Fully booked. Waiting list

●      Municipal town collaborations - Marla & Jen

○      Marla’s experience getting the program up and running in Woolwich. Marla is the "marketing director/vice president" for Woolwich VTP

●      Questions about a VTProgram in Bath. Bath is a big community. Such a program needs the city's support and buy-in. Financial resources. Not something a volunteer program can take on. We can share our experiences, provide guidance and advocate.

○      We want to collaborate and advocate.

○      City may be thinking about it, recognizing the need.

○      Try to find funding to jump start it, but city needs to ultimately own it to be functional.

○      Bath City council is meeting again Jun 3, 2026. We will talk about emergency bags, our work and the VTP in other communities

○      Good news - Nordex Medical Lab (after moving out of Bath) is now looking for a new location, currently at the hospital, but schedule is challenging, bus only runs 2 times a day.

○      Jess Irish, Bath Housing asked the city whether the trolley could stop at Bath Housing buildings on Saturdays to bring people downtown? Farmers market, etc.

○      We ask people looking for rides to contact the town office to let them know the need.

○      Deirdra met with recommended Phippsburg people to advocate for VTP. Community TV, Rec newsletter, school newsletter - networking.

○      Before and at upcoming June election is a good time for all communities to get the word out, promotion.

○      Action item: Rack Card update & print

Visioning Session

●      RSVP for Jun 11, 2026 steering committee meeting and dinner to follow. Noel from AARP coming to facilitate the meeting at Bath Housing.

●      Need more attendees to commit.

●      The 2nd Thursday of every month 3:30-4:30 we have our meeting with a break in July and August.

●      Action Plan 2021 hardcopy handed out to attendees, it is also accessible on the website, as is the Progress report 2023 - bring to visioning session. Accomplishments attached. How do we move forward?

●      Please do the doodle poll

●      Open to anyone interested.

Adjourned at 4:25