MSAC and Community Services Updates

There's still time to sign up for Spring classes, including some that haven't started yet!

  • All of our 29 classes still have room, so sign up today! Ranging in a whole host of topics from yoga, to drawing, to poetry, to opera, to much, much more!
  • Qigong has a delayed start date - now April 21
  • Estate Planning begins April 27
  • Food as Medicine still needs a few more people in order to run (scheduled to begin Friday, April 23). 

Get full details and register at: https://www.montpelier-vt.org/751/Classes.  (Hard copy forms available at 58 Barre St., MSAC side door vestibule; several payment options accepted -  financial aid available to all).

MSAC Re-opening planning and State of VT updates to COVID guidance  

We don't yet know exactly how new state COVID guidance will affect everything at MSAC and will be publishing more updates by later this month. Thank you for your patience. If you'd like to read the State of Vermont's latest guidance for re-opening senior centers -- a document we are carefully studying -- click here.  There is a related "FAQ" document available here. 

Montpelier City Council Resolution Condemning Recent Attacks and Discrimination 

Our City Council (elected officials) passed a resolution on March 24 condemning attacks and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Click here to read the full text.  On a related note, the local school board and principals released Letters of Support for the AAPI communities, which can be read by clicking here. 


Older Announcements

Volunteer with the MSAC Village – MSAC at Home!
Throughout the many different Villages across the country and beyond, one consistent factor remains the same: the need for volunteers. Volunteers are the heart and soul of each and every Village. We need to grow our pool of volunteers as we continue to roll out Village-related offerings (technology assistance, wellness calls, and outdoor chore assistance to start). Since the volunteer onboarding process includes a background check to ensure the safety for those receiving the services, there is no better time to sign up as a Village volunteer to ensure you are ready to go when the next volunteer opportunity arises. To sign up as a volunteer or to learn more about needs and expectations, contact MSAC’s Aging in Place Coordinator Andrew Gribbin at msac-americorps@montpelier-vt.org or 262-6287.

Summer Class and Program Proposals Invited
If you'd like to propose a summer class or program, please submit your proposal by Thursday, April 8 by email to msac@montpelier-vt.org. Contact Harry in the office at 223-2518 or hdivack@montpelier-vt.org if you need a proposal form!

Older Vermonters Caucus weekly meetings, Wednesdays at 12 pm
The OV Caucus is organized by Representatives Noyes and Wood of the House Human Services Committee. Each meeting hosts a guest presenter on a topic pertaining to older Vermonters and is an opportunity for caucus members to voice their opinions, ideas, and issues. MSAC Director, Janna Clar, was a guest 3/31, speaking as one of two co-chairs of Vermont Association of Senior Centers and Meal Providers to discuss emerging developments and challenges of the state’s vital centers and services. This is a platform that cares greatly about Vermonters and all are welcome. Public participation is very much encouraged! If you would like to engage with the caucus, you can watch our previous meetings on Youtube as well as catch them live each week at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfA1g7IQ0QfRSYGh6PPqkFg. Comment your questions and we will do our best to raise them during the meeting! For more information please feel free to email brian.s.anderson@uvm.edu.  

Free Exercise guides for healthy aging, available at MSAC for pick-up (and online)!
We know that online exercise programs don't work for everyone, even during a pandemic. So, we reached out to the National Institue of Health and requested copies of their "Get Fit for Life" booklets that include exercises and physical activity strategies for healthy aging. Arrange to pick up a copy by calling 223-2518. Or, read it online or forward to a friend with this link: https://order.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/exercise-physical-activity-get-fit4-life.pdf.

Check out our Helpful Resources webpage and new additions!
We've posted some new resources on our "Helpful Resources" page recently and wanted to encourage you to check them out. In addition to a lot of other links, you'll now find COVE's 2020 Aging in Vermont Resource Guide & Directory, Finding Help: VT's Abuse, Exploitation & Neglect in Later Life Help Guide, and MSAC 2020 Wellness Call Volunteers Training Resources Guide.