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The New York Citizens' Committee on Aging (NYCCoA), founded in 1960, is a not-for-profit, non-partisan entity whose membership represents a wide range of individuals and organizations who act in concert to advance its mission of advancing the best interests of older persons. Guided by that goal the Committee addresses, analyzes, and acts on all policy issues effecting aging persons.
The uniqueness of the NYCCoA is characterized by the diversity of its membership. The NYCCoA does not represent a single constituency nor a single issue, but rather a wide spectrum of leaders in the field of aging. Its membership includes older and younger persons, current and retired professionals and representatives from the voluntary, public and private sectors, civic, academic, labor and business communities who act in concert to advance the quality of life of older New Yorkers.
In the past the Committee has received major financial support from the New York Foundation, the Brownrigg Charitable Trust, and the New York Community Trust among others and has consistently demonstrated its ability to meet its commitments. To that end, we are extremely pleased to report that its sustained progress throughout 2006 resulted mainly from the significant input of our members and leadership, volunteering to take responsibility for operations and programming.
In order to meet its operating and fiscal challenges in 2006, the NYCCoA Board decided to contract with a fund-raising consultant and approached a potential candidate. Unfortunately the consultant’s situation changed before NYCCoA could avail itself of her services. The Board then decided to use its existing reserves to hire part-time staff.
In September 2006 Eleanor Ramos, former vice-president of the Committee and long time director of services to seniors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, was hired as part time executive director. In October 2006 Louise De Cesare was hired as part time executive assistant. This represented a major step in overcoming operational obstacles, refreshing outreach efforts for membership and program, seeking funding, and recruiting new Board members to replace retirees.
In January 2006, a new slate of officers was approved by the Board, with terms to expire on December 31, 2008. There were several resignations from the Board of Directors who could no longer be active; some Board members did not stand for re-election. Early in the year, Peter Gubernick and Jean Ovitt assumed their responsibilities as president and treasurer of the Board; in September Eleanor Ramos resigned as a vice-president of the Board to become the executive director. In September 2006, three new members were welcomed to the Board of Directors. They are James O’Neal, Associate Director of Marketing for the Visiting Nurse Service of NY, Michael Rabin, formerly Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging, and Jessica Walker, Senior Policy Analyst for United Neighborhood Houses. The new leadership, in combination with what was able to be accomplished with limited resources, energized the Board and Committee.
As 2006 drew to a close, we began to see signs of increased interest in our program meetings, which provided education and training on legislative and policy changes on issues critical to the aging community. We also identified the increasing rate of poverty among New York City’s older population as an area of concern, on which to focus our efforts.
In working to achieve its goals and objectives:
- NYCCoA provided a forum for the exchange of information among a wide range of relevant agencies and individuals. Presentations by experts in various fields related to issues affecting older persons were scheduled at bi-monthly meetings.
- NYCCoA’s Public Policy Committee analyzed legislation and regulations and their implications for older persons. It was decided to limit itself to only one or two priority issues, especially long term care. It also continued its work on a new position paper on affordable housing. In the Fall, this Committee also took responsibility for planning Program Meetings, which were related to the issue of long-term care.
- NYCCoA maintained its ongoing collaboration with local and wider coalitions to reinforce initiatives of essential issues affecting older persons. NYCCoA worked with a network of organizations with common goals such as the Long Term Care Community Coalition.
OVERVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Administrative / Organizational:
- A decision was made by the Board to use its existing reserves to hire part-time staff. A part-time executive director was hired in September and a part-time assistant in October.
- New officers of the Board took over their responsibilities early in the year. There were several resignations/retirements, three members were awarded emeritus status and three new members were elected to the Board in September, which improved attendance at Board meetings and which continued to take place bi-monthly. The Nominating Committee played a key role in accomplishing the above changes and improvements.
- New officers became signatories for the Committee’s accounts and the six previous signatories were removed.
- A new Development Committee was formed in order to improve fundraising efforts. The committee met regularly in the Fall and developed several proposals which were sent to potential funding sources.
- With the help of volunteers from its Board, the membership notices were sent out during the summer.
- With input from the Board and the work of staff, new mailing lists and e-mail distribution lists were developed in order to increase membership, contributions, and attendance at program meetings.
- In the Spring the office computer crashed, with the potential loss of the agency data base. Through the efforts of the new treasurer, the hard drive was replaced, most of the files recovered, and e-mail and internet access restored.
- A new fax machine/copier was purchased, resulting in more efficient office operations.
- Through its Board of Directors network, the Committee succeeded in obtaining exceptional speakers for its bi-monthly program meetings.
Program:
- With the help of volunteers from its Board, the results of the survey on Social Security funded by New York Community Trust, Changing Today’s Social Programs: The Impact on Tomorrow’s Retirees, was mailed to colleagues and legislators.
- Program meetings for members and the general public on timely issues effecting older persons continued. Efforts were made to reach out in new areas, including the use of e-mail distribution lists, in order to increase attendance at program meetings.
- In February a presentation was made by Jessica Walker, Senior Policy Analyst for United Neighborhood Houses of New York on their report “Aging in the Shadows: Social Isolation among Seniors in New York City.” The focus was on society’s role in producing senior isolation and how city government, the non- profit, and the private sector can combat it.
- In June, Trude Lieberman of Consumer Reports Magazine spoke on Long Term Care Insurance: What is it? Do you want it? Do you need it? Can you afford it?
- In October, David Silva, Staff Attorney, Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program, Selfhelp Community Services, Inc. spoke on “Recent Federal & NYS Changes in Medicaid” and how these affect Medicaid homecare and clients. This was part of the NYCCoA’s series on Long Term Care.
In an effort to improve attendance at the above Program Meetings, Board Members continued the practice of making phone calls to various organizations to remind them of the meetings.
Public Policy/Program:
NYCCoA’s Public Policy/Program Committee analyzed legislation and regulations and their implications for older persons. It was decided to limit itself to only one or two priority issues, especially long term care.
The Committee continued its work on the development of a position paper on Affordable Housing in 2006. It also explored publishing its Position Papers.
In the Fall of 2006, the Public Policy/Program Committee assumed responsibility for Program as well. Program meetings were related to the priority issue of long-term care, especially the impact of federal and state changes in Medicaid and how this has affected long term care.
Other Initiatives:
Late in 2006, NYCCoA became concerned that the Mayor’s Commission on Economic Opportunity failed to include the elder population as a targeted group, even though the latest data indicates that over 20% of New York City seniors live in poverty. The Board gave its approval to explore a campaign to:
- to increase public awareness of the rise in poverty levels among the City’s elder population;
- to take the lead in elevating the concerns of the aging population within the Mayor’s Office.
The effort was seen as a signature campaign, which would not only address the issue of elder poverty but also tie the issue to the organization in the minds of our colleagues and heighten our visibility. In order to accomplish this, the Board authorized planning for a Spring Conference on Elder Poverty in New York City, in which the issue of poverty among older New Yorkers is explored and solutions are sought. A planning committee, co-chaired by Board Members Mary Mayer and Jessica Walker, was set up, with the participation of Committee members and selected representatives from other organizations that have similar concerns about poverty among older persons in New York City. Work also began on analyzing the US Census Data from the 2005 American Community Survey, which indicated that over 20% of New York City’s seniors aged 65 and older live in poverty, compared with 9.9% of seniors below poverty nationwide. There was also a relationship between aging, disability and poverty. The goal was to release a Fact Sheet on Poverty Among Older Adults in New York City – this would be used to generate media attention, educate policymakers about the need to focus on this issue, and generate a buzz about our work in this area among foundations and advocacy groups.
Development/ Fund-Raising:
With the help of volunteers, NYCCoA began work on updating its membership lists and conducted its annual membership drive and a direct mailing for contributions at the end-of year.
The NYCCoA also submitted proposals to various foundations to support its programmatic activities. The Brownrigg Charitable Trust provided a grant of $2,000.00 and United Jewish Appeal (UJA) a grant of $250.00. Lehman Bros. gave a stock contribution of $1,000.00.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Membership dues and contributions in response to the end-of-year appeal were the primary sources of income in 2006. This income stream from members needs to be increased; therefore a considerable effort toward enlarging membership rolls was begun in late 2006. There also needs to be greater effort in submitting proposals to potential funders.
RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT:
In 2007 the Committee will continue to intensify its efforts to build organizational capabilities and ensure the future of its mission. It will continue to place special emphasis on expanding its membership to better reflect the needs and communities it serves. It will expand programmatic activities to make greater impact on members and leaders involved in furthering our goals.
NYCCoA is focused and committed to the task at hand and convinced that with the support of its leadership and members and the part time Executive Director and Executive Assistant, the coming year will be a banner one.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS / Officers / Committee Chairs:
In 2006, the Board of Directors met monthly. The following persons served as officers of the organization:
Peter Gubernick, LMSW, ACSW, President Administrative Director, NYC Human Resources Administration, Office of Health & Mental Health Services (1986-2001); Consultant to NYS Dept. of Health (2001-2003); Adj. Professor, Fordham Univ. School of Social Service (2004-2004).
Nancy Miller, MSW, ACSW, Vice-President Director, VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Eleanor Ramos, Vice-President: Director, Parish Support Services, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. Ms. Ramos resigned in September 2006 to become part time Executive Director of the Committee.
Jean Ovitt, Treasurer
Jerry Shroder, Secretary NYCCoA part-time Executive Director from 1993 to 2001; Community Council of Greater NY.
As specified by its by-laws, the NYCCoA held nominations and elections that resulted in the election of 16 individuals (Classes of 2007 and 2008) to its Board of Directors, one of whom is new. Three members of the class of 2006 plus one additional member retired from the Board in September.
2006 Committee Chairs:
- Eleanor Ramos and James Collins served as Co-Chairs of the Public Policy Committee (formerly known as the Legislative Committee).
- Nancy Miller served as Chair of the Nominating Committee and helped chair the Development Committee.
- Mary Mayer served as Chair of the Membership Committee and headed the Advisory Committee for the Social Security survey project.
- Mary Mayer and Jessica Walker served as Co-Chairs of the Forum Planning Committee.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2006:
President
Peter Gubernick (3/2006)
Vice Presidents
Eleanor M. Ramos**
Nancy D. Miller, MSW, ACSW
Treasurer
Jean Ovitt (3/2006)
Secretary
Jerry A. Shrode
Past Presidents / Chairpersons
Robert L. Popper*, Jean L. Janover, Gertrude Landau, Helen R. Hamlin, ACSW, Anne Perzeszty, Doris L. Rosenberg*
* deceased
Board of Directors
Maryann Anzalone**, Ann Berson, Kallia Bokser, Diane Borko, ACSW, Margaret A. Cash **, Sister Bernadette Devlin **, Suleika Cabrera Drinane**, James Collins, Shirley Genn, Herbert K. Goldstein**, Helen R. Hamlin, ACSW, Jean Janover **, Mildred Krasnow, M.A. **, Louis Krieger **, Gertrude Landau **, Marvin Lieberman, Ph.D., Mary Mayer, M. Joanna Mellor, DSW, James O’Neal***, Anne Perzeszty**, Michael Rabin ***, Clara Reiss, Daniel Sambol, MSW, Mignon Sauber, ACSW, Jessica Walker ***, Bernard Warach**
** Resigned during 2006
*** New