At an annual business meeting, held on May 31 in Boston, Massachusetts, the membership of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) elected Springfield Mayor and LCOG Board Chair Bill Morrisette to a two year term on the national body's Board of Directors. Morrisette will represent the regional councils in the states of Washington and Oregon on the 29-member policy body.

In his candidate's statement, Morrisette emphasized the importance of "partnerships" and the need for strategic solutions to multi-jurisdictional problems. He noted that, "Cities, counties, special districts and even states are finding it in their best interests to form united fronts that work to gether to solve problems that transcend jurisdictional lines." He vowed to promote a recognition of "regional economies" as a part of the Association's action agenda.

For over a quarter of a century, the National Association of Regional Councils has served the interests ofmulti-functional, multi-jurisdictional regional organizations throughout the country. "NARC," as the Association is known, has provided a forum for the development of policies and a legislative agenda to address the needs of local governments and their regional councils.

Elected President of the Association for 1994-95 was Mayor Patricia S. Ticer of Alexandria, Virginia. Ticer has served as a NARC officer and as a member of the Board of Directors. In addition, she is presently the Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington DC, and a member of the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission, Annandale, Virginia.

January 1, 1994 not only signaled the beginning of the new year, but also marked the beginning of South Lane Eldercare, the third Eldercare project initiated by LCOG's Senior and Disabled Services in the past five years. This project was made possible by a two-year, $20,000 grant awarded to the Cottage Grove Community Chest. A 13-member volunteer coalition representing local business, education, the mayor's office and service organizations has prioritized local senior needs and made recommendations as to needed Eldercare services .

The first recommended service component involves setting up a local information and resource clearinghouse at the Cottage Grove Senior Center. Project Director, Karen Blaska-Wiggley, has already submitted a United Way mini-grant to purchase a computer, in order to automate a database of information. The second recommended service component will be to establish a new volunteer activity which provides assistance in the home to low income seniors.

Contracts have been negotiated for the 1994-95 Fiscal Year by LCOG's Senior and Disabled Service Division (SDSD) staff. For the coming year, there are no new service providers, primarily due to the excellent work the past contractors have done in providing services for SDSD clients. Below is a brief summary of the services to be provided.

Senior Law Services: Lane County Legal Aid's Senior Law Program places an emphasis on community education and provides a full range of services to persons 60 years of age or older. Services are provided to individuals free of charge, or at a reduced cost. The goal is to provide 4,500 units of service to approximately 1,000 unduplicated persons during next fiscal year. The staff provides education, advice, consultation and other services to seniors. Those needing representation in court can also receive services from staff or volunteer attorneys. In addition to this contract, a Bill Payer project, which is utilized by many SDSD clients, is also offered.

Neila Campbell, Consultant: Ms. Campbell recruits, trains, and matches volunteers of the Eugene/ Springfield Elderhelp with SDSD clients who are 60 years of age or older. The program offers a vari ety of assistance to Seniors including light housekeeping, shopping, yardwork and assistance with transportation. Plans are to provide 4,300 units (hours) of volunteer services to 60 unduplicated persons during in the coming fiscal year. The clients usually receive around five hours of service per month from their volunteer provider. These clients are also usually ineligible for Medicaid, Oregon Project Independence (OPI) or other services which provide assistance.

Long Term Care Ombudsman Committee: This seven-member committee assists in recruiting, screening and providing support to ombudsman designees in Lane County. The committee currently assists 18 ombudsmen, who have been placed by the State of Oregon's Ombudsman Program at various facilities throughout the county. They assist with orientations, mileage reimbursement and in providing ongoing information to the ombudsman. The committee proposes to complete 200 units of service and serve 30 unduplicated clients.

Personal and In Home Care: Personal Care Services will continue with Olsten Kimberley Qualty Care. These services are provided by a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), under the supervision of a registered nurse. Tasks include full assistance with bathing, dressing and/or mobility. Home Care Services provide minimal assistance with the daily living activities, as well as housekeeping, meal preparation and shopping. The goal for both services is to help clients achieve the greatest degree of independent function, while living in their own homes.

Meals on Wheels (Metro Area): The American Red Cross (ARC) will package and deliver 61,000 meals to frail, homebound or isolated persons age 60 and older in the greater Eugene area and the Gateway area of Springfield. It anticipates operating 14 delivery routes staffed by a minimum of 100 volunteers who will serve at least 525 unduplicated clients during the contract period. ARC routes are closely coordinated with the LCOG Meals on Wheels program to maximize the number of seniors who can be served. LCOG delivers Meals on Wheels in designated Eugene neigborhoods, Springfield, Creswell, Cottage Grove, Oakridge, Veneta, Florence, and Junction City.

Eugene Clinic Elderhealth Mental Health Program: LCOG has awarded a new contract to the Eugene Clinic for Senior Mental Health Services within Lane County. This contract expands existing mental health programs for seniors in Lane County and increases the number of persons served for individual and group counseling. It also supports the Growing Younger Growing Wiser instructor teams and provides six to eight educational workshops to seniors and their caregivers. In addition it assists in the develop ment of a peer support program in Lane County, with emphasis on the rural areas.

Introducing Judy t'Hooft
by Carol Hughes

Judy t'Hooft was a Senior and Disabled Services Case Manager for nearly 20 years, and has recently been named as a Program Supervisor for Disability Services. She supervises six Case Managers, six clerical support staff members and one volunteer.

Judy grew up in California, Guam, Hawaii and Chicago. Her father was in the US Navy. She graduated from high school in Glendora, California and attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she earned a BA in Art History. Her first job out of school was with the art library of Stanford University. She met her husband, Otto, at college. She was a Resident Assistant, and he was an in-house sociologist conducting a study in which residents were analyzed and information documented. Judy was so impressed by Otto's work that she was deter mined to meet him, and the rest is "history." They were married on July 4, 1969 and remained at Stanford until moving to Oregon with a three-month-old baby girl, Maria. Otto enrolled in the U of 0's Law School, and Judy worked as a receptionist.

Originally, Judy planned to be come an art historian or a museum curator. However, in 1974 she went to work for the State of Oregon as a Financial Services Worker in what was then called the Public Welfare Division. She had always lived near grandparents and was interested in the needs of the elderly, so the change of direction was a "good fit." She moved to the Public Service Build ing in the early 80's when LCOG assumed responsibility for the Senior and Disabled Services.

Judy's husband, Otto, was a Lane County Commissioner from 1978 to 1982. He now operates a timber consulting business. When Otto retired as a Commissioner, the family took a four-month world tour and visited 17 countries. In reflecting on this trip, Judy noted that it was a life-changing experience. She most enjoyed visiting India and Bangladesh. They did a lot of walking and backpacking and took along school books, which 12-year old Maria studied along the way.

For Judy, a 24-hour day is just not enough! She loves photography and specializes in abstracts, land scapes and portraits. She has many photos to sort and categorize, and her husband has suggested that she cease taking pictures until this task is done. The family enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and river rafting. Each year they try to raft the Rogue, Deschutes and Owyhee Rivers. The latter is considered by many to be the "Grand Canyon of Oregon." Judy is also an avid reader and collector of antiques.

Until last year, the t'Hoofts lived in a turn-of-the-century farmhouse which they had refurbished. They moved last year to a new house on a hilltop in Delight Valley. From 1979 to 1982, they operated a wine vineyard on a mountain top in Creswell. It has been plowed up, and fir trees have been planted to replace the grapes. Judy gained logging experience by cutting and stripping trees to construct a 14 foot fence around 12 acres. She became quite an expert at driving the tractor.

Judy is learning a great deal on her new job, and she appreciates the patience and understanding of her co-workers as she assumes these additional responsibilities.