Hello GRAPE Members,
I am hoping this letter finds you healthy and staying safe during this unprecedented time. I want to thank you for your commitment and dedication to the seniors in our community. I know that your jobs have become immensely challenging during our national pandemic.
Please know that we are working hard behind the scenes at GRAPE. Our GRAPE staff are working remotely and have agreed to reduced hours to help with budget constraints. The GRAPE Board and various committees continue to meet virtually to plan and adapt as needed. We are working towards providing virtual programs to our members. Be on the lookout for virtual May programs for members to attend.
We are all finding your way through the pandemic with an eye towards what our “new normal” will be. We look forward to your continued support and membership with GRAPE as we learn, adapt, adjust and grow.
All my best,
Kim Vogt
President
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Although our in-person events are on hold, the program committee has some virtual prgramming planned for May. We will have presentations from the Alzheimer's Association and Richard Marchese, Jr. from Woods Oviatt Gilman on Medicaid changes.
Watch for details!
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UPDATE ON THE ANNUAL GRAPE GALA
DUE TO GATHERING RESTRICTIONS WE UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD AN IN PERSON ANNUAL GALA THIS YEAR.
This is GRAPE'S largest fundraiser of the year therefore the Gala Committee wanted to provide a way for you to continue your generous support of GRAPE. Sponsorship information can be found
here
, and as you can see most of the levels include the GRAPE membership(s) that many of you count on as well as advertising opportunities.
The raffles and silent auction items are a key part of the Gala each year. The committee has worked to create an online platform and more information will be available soon. We already have some great gift baskets, gift cards, passes and a 20 person tour and tasting at Black Button Distilling!
We certainly understand these are unprecedented times for everyone and we want to give members multiple options for ways we can support GRAPE and each other. Whether you are able to sponsor, donate a raffle item, participate in the raffle and/or renew your membership(s) we appreciate your support so GRAPE can continue its efforts to assist our elders and each other.
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A huge thank you to the following organizations who have committed to GRAPE through sponsorships!
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Committee Chair Updates:
ADVOCACY
- Committee will start meeting again late summer/early fall to begin planning for the 2021 Legislative Town Hall tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 5, 2021.
ANNUAL GALA
- Due to gathering restrictions, the Annual Gala had to be cancelled for this year. The committee is working on an online raffle tentatively planned for beginning of June. Please contact GRAPE or one of the gala committee chairs if you are interested in donating an item. There are also still similar sponsorship levels available to reflect memberships and advertising opportunities -
more information
.
We have several organizations that are staying committed to their original gala sponsorship commitments. The committee will be reaching out to discuss opportunites for sponsorships and raffle donations. They will coordinate a safe pick up/drop off locations for items to be collected and will photograph and promote baskets/items on social media.
THE ELDERPAGES DIRECTORY
- The committee held a zoom meeting in April, during which we discussed our pending grant applications, methodology for updates to the ElderPages provider listings, and a potential pilot program for enhancing the provider list for an identified zip code (this project has been identified in our grant applications).
MARKETING -
Created a facebook promo ad offer, looking at networking opportunites/when we can gather.
MEMBERSHIP
- Membership renewal for the 2020-2021 GRAPPE year to begin. All memberships expire June 30.
PROGRAM-
As in person events do not appear to be possible through the end of the fiscal year for GRAPE, the program committee is at work on putting together two virtual educational events to be held in the month of May. One of these will be hosted by the Alzheimer's Association, who will update us on changes in their organization, volunteer opportunities, and programming changes due to the COVID 19 crisis. A second event will be hosted by Rick Marchese of Wood Oviatt, who will outline changes in Medicaid that our members need to be aware of. Please watch your emails for details on these upcoming events.
SENIOR HOUSING ALLIANCE (SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP)
- Virtual Zoom meeting to connect on May 8, please register and submit question prior. Details on view events in your GRAPE member login. This will be the last meeting of the year and will resume in September.
ALL COMMITTEES ARE ACTIVE AND CURRENTLY MEETING VIA ZOOM.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING A COMMITTEE PLEASE CONTACT THE GRAPE OFFICE OR A COMMITTEE CHAIR -
GET INVOLVED
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KEEPING CONNECTED AND SHARING IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Networking and sharing information with each other has always been a key part of GRAPE membership. During this time, in addition to posting any of your virtual events and webinars, we would like to temporarily (until May 15) offer GRAPE members a chance to share what you are doing for the community on our event-posting page through your member login. If you have any questions on how to post the information, please email Carol Bartlett at
cbartlett@grapelder.org
. Please note that this space should not be used for advertising, explaining what your business is or does, or anything you need, but sharing of things you are doing for the community to benefit seniors, i.e. free or discounted meals for seniors, or other services that would be helpful for your fellow members to know about and share.
We hope this will be another way to help with member-to-member connection and sharing of important information on serving our senior population during this time.
GRAPE reserves the right to remove any events deemed not applicable or inappropriate.
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The GRAPE year ends on June 30. You will be receiving membership renewal information soon, but you can renew now... or anytime by using the pay buttons when you login into your GRAPE account. This surely has been a strange and difficult time for our group and we thank all of our members for supporting GRAPE as this is ynd each other so we can move forward!
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Thank you to St. John's for hosting GRAPE's Monthly Membership Breakfast Meetings!
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Thank you to Legacy at Clover Blossom for hosting the monthly GRAPE
Board Meetings, Committee Meetings and the GRAPE !
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GRAPE New Members and Updates in April
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NEW MEMBERS
Stefaniee Oneil, Marketing and Sales Director
The Manor House Senior Living
427 E. Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
585-344-2345
soneil@themanorhouseasl.com
Jessie Dhaliwal, MS, FNP-BC
PopHealthCare
Powder Mill Office Park
1163 Pittsford Victor Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
585-441-4318
jessie.dhaliwal@pophealthcare.com
Misty Forshay
Sales Director
Legacy at Grande' Vie
2140 Five Mile Line Road
Penfield, NY 14526
585-441-6209
mforshay@watermarkcommunities.com
Colleen Varney
Community Life Director
Legacy at Erie Station
1545 Erie Station Road
Henrietta, NY 14467
585-358-3063
cmvarney@watermarkcommunities.com
UPDATES FROM CURRENT MEMBERS
NEW ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER
Phillip Provenzo
The Financial Guys Insurance Agency
3445 Winton Place, Suite 119
Rochester, NY 14623
585-355-8196 or 585-351-6258
pprovenzo@thefinancialguys.com
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Don't forget about one of our most valuable resources:
The Elder Pages!
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Are you looking for more information or a referral for a client, be sure to visit
theelderpages.com
for all of your senior needs. Bookmark the page for easy reference and keep your own information up to date, too!
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A special thank you to our
newsletter editors:
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Jana Milligan
Thrive at Home
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Hillary Paine Hopkins
The Highlands at Pittsford
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Sandy Swanson
Licensed Massage Therapist
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GRAPE Staff Carol Bartlett
Executive Director
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For more information on
GRAPE, e
vents, who to contact, joning a committee and more, please visit the GRAPE website!
info@grapelder.org
(585) 256-4351
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