General News

Member Data Verification Forms Deadline Friday, September 27 –  The revenue information you report will be used to determine a millage calculation for your membership dues for 2014.

Your organization’s revenue is the figure reported on your latest IRS 990 Form, Line 9. If you do not provide your most recent full year revenue, 5% will be added to your previous year’s dues. (All of these dues change policies have been approved by the LeadingAge Florida Board of Trustees.) Please return the forms via email to Jean Krier or fax to her attention at (850) 671-3790 by September 27th. Forms may also be mailed to LeadingAge Florida, 1812 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. We value your membership and look forward to continuing to serve you and your communities. 

LeadingAge Florida 50th Anniversary Honored –  On Monday, Sept. 16, LeadingAge Florida President/CEO Janegale Boyd accepted a Florida Senate proclamation celebrating the association’s 50th anniversary from Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee). The senator was instrumental in securing the proclamation.

Pictured are Sen. Montford, Janegale Boyd, and Tom Randle, LeadingAge Florida’s Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs.

Influenza Season is Almost Here – As the 2013-2014 influenza season quickly approaches, now is an opportune time to send reminders and schedule appointments for patients’ flu vaccinations. Seniors and people with chronic health conditions—like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease—are at a higher risk for serious complications from the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last season overall deaths attributed to flu and pneumonia were the highest in nearly a decade, and people 65 years and older accounted for half of all flu-related hospitalizations. Recommending and offering flu vaccine to Medicare beneficiaries ahead of the flu season is very crucial, as patients are more likely to get vaccinated when flu vaccination is recommended and offered by a health care professional.

Generally, Medicare Part B covers one influenza vaccination and its administration per influenza season for Medicare beneficiaries without co-pay or deductible.

Note: The influenza vaccine and its administration are covered under Medicare Part B. Influenza vaccine is not a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the influenza virus vaccine and its administration, please visit CMS Medicare Learning Network® Preventive Services Educational Products. Check back for CMS 2013-2014 influenza season updates — coming soon. And, while some providers may offer the flu vaccine, others can help their patients locate a vaccine provider within their local community. HealthMap Vaccine Finder is a free, online service where users can search for locations offering flu and other adult vaccines.

LeadingAge Florida 2014 Membership Directory Advertisement – LeadingAge Florida is pleased to announce that we have chosen to work with Naylor, LLC, as our official publisher of our 2014 Membership Directory. Naylor provides advertising services that build your company’s image and link your brand with buyers in the Florida aging services industry. By affiliating your organization with LeadingAge Florida, you are making an excellent investment in your business and brand.

LeadingAge Florida is proud to serve as the leader in the Florida aging services industry and as the voice of our profession. Our annual Membership Directory delivers your message to key members who have specific products and service needs that approve purchases on behalf of their companies. This is your opportunity to advertise and promote your products and services to a major purchasing audience.

Since 1969, Naylor has crafted custom communication solutions for businesses like yours. When you advertise with LeadingAge Florida through Naylor, you can expect:

• Top-quality exposure to key decision-makers with purchasing power
• Professional advertising design services
• Ongoing customer service support

Tell the aging services industry about your business’s quality product or service and that you stand with your peers in support of our association. Place your message in our annual Membership Directory! For information on advertising, contact Rob Shafer at (770) 810-6986 or or rshafer@naylor.com. This is one way to promote your business to our membership. Click HERE to view the media kit. For information on exhibit, sponsorship and other advertising opportunities, please contact Julie Copeland at LeadingAge Florida, (850) 702-0317 jcopeland@LeadingAgeFlorida.org.

LeadingAge: Expanding the Possibilities Origami Project –  The theme of the 2013 LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo, is Expanding the Possibilities. Because older adults are at the heart of our work, LeadingAge is inviting residents/participants from LeadingAge member organizations across the country to make origami fortune tellers for a public art piece being created for the 2013 LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Dallas. Inside each fortune teller, we are asking the elders to write a word or short phrase that describes their purpose in life or something they are deeply passionate about. Members can use the following questions to elicit the written responses:

• What is your purpose in life?
• What are you most passionate about?

Origami Details
Written and video instructions on how to make a fortune teller origami is available here.

Any color and type of paper can be used, the more colorful the better. Paper should be square and no bigger than 10 inches square. Each origami piece should have a small hole placed on one side, with a string or ribbon tied to make a loop so it will hang on the art piece in Dallas. LeadingAge is requesting as many origami pieces as you can make for them. Each piece should have a passion written inside, but residents can make more than one if they wish. Also feel free to invite, family members, staff and others to join in the project.

Once all your origami is complete, please box up the completed origami pieces and ship to LeadingAge.

Shipping Origami
Each participating LeadingAge member should box up all the origami and ship it to LeadingAge by Oct. 4.
Ship to: Essie Charles/Origami Project, c/o LeadingAge, 2519 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington DC 20008

Please put a note inside the box with the following information:

• Name of organization
• Main contact
• Phone and email of main contact
• Approximate number of fortune tellers in the box

What Happens to the Origami in Dallas?
Upon arrival at Annual Meeting each attendee will receive one of these beautiful handmade fortune tellers. These will be distributed by greeters in the Registration Area. The greeter will share what the project is and instruct each attendee to read the word or phrase inside their fortune teller and then place their fortune teller on one of our commitment trees. By placing their origami on the tree, the attendee is symbolizing their commitment to nurturing the passions of the elders within their communities—and beyond.

By Monday, Oct. 28, after all the attendees have placed their origami, a spectacular piece of Public Art will be the centerpiece of the annual meeting and a reminder of what the conference is all about.

Please participate whether you are attending to the Annual Meeting or not. LeadingAge plans to celebrate all the participating member organizations at the General Session and on signage by the exhibit. A photo of the completed trees will be taken and the image will be used as a thank you card we send to each member organization who participated so residents can see the finished trees.

Origami Reminders

• You may use any kind of paper. The more colorful the better. Paper should be no larger than 10 inches square.
• Make the origami first then have the residents write their message in the center once the piece is complete.
• Tie a small string or ribbon around each like shown in the picture and video so they can hang from the tree.
• Do you need to be attending the Annual Meeting to participate? No, this is for all members whether you are attending or not.
• Deadline for LeadingAge to receive your origami is Oct. 4.

Any questions, please contact Sharon Sullivan or Essie Charles at LeadingAge.