Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor David J. Canepa
Supervisor Warren Slocum
Subject: Appointments to the Commission on Aging
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for appointments to the Commission on Aging:
A) Maritha Leth, for a term ending June 30, 2020; and
B) Jean Hastie, for a term ending June 30, 2020; and
C) Maria Elena Barr, for a term ending June 30, 2019; and
D) Karen Coppock, for a term ending June 30, 2018.
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BACKGROUND:
The mission of the San Mateo County Commission on Aging (CoA) is to improve the quality of life for older adults in San Mateo County through the promotion of independence, self-sufficiency, mental and physical health, as well as community involvement.
DISCUSSION:
Maritha Leth resides in Half Moon Bay. She has been a special education teacher, administrator and counselor. She is an immigrant and is bilingual in Swedish. She has lead crafts groups for 20 years and has organized fund raisers. She has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Youth at Risk (CASA). She has been a caregiver for family members with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and continues to be an active member of a Parkinson’s Support group and Senior Coastsiders.
Jean Hastie has been a primary caregiver, navigating information and services for her family member. This experience taught her many lessons about the changing needs through the aging stages. As campus administrator of the assisted living facility of the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, Jean is versed in strategic planning and faith-based services. Jean resides in Hillsborough and has learned there needs to be more communication to the general public about resources for seniors, caregivers, and “someday” seniors.
Maria Elena Barr is a retired facility administrator at AT&T and IRS and lives in San Bruno. She is a caregiver for her husband, is a member of the Hispanic Leadership Council, and President of the Telesareans Toastmasters for AT&T. She believes older adults deserve to have a strong voice in our Democracy. Ms. Barr is being recommended for appointment for a partial term that was vacated upon the resignation of Pamela Brandman.
Karen Coppock, a Belmont resident, is fluent in Spanish, lived in Latin America for 10 years, including 3 years for the Peace Corps in Guatemala. She has a PhD in technology and economic development and is a native of San Mateo. Karen has been her family members’ caregiver. These experiences instilled in her a passion to advocate for aging populations and she is interested in resource access. Her current employer TechSoup is partnering to use technology to combat social isolation of aging populations, placing robots in senior citizens homes in Japan to provide company and to improve drug adherence in France. Ms. Coppock is being recommended for appointment for a partial term that was vacated upon the resignation of Armetta Parker.
These appointments contribute to the 2025 Shared Vision statement of a Collaborative Community. Our diverse population works well together to build strong communities, effective government and a prosperous economy, civic engagement - including voting, public service, charitable giving, volunteerism, and participation in public discussions of important issues - is uniformly high among the diverse population of San Mateo County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.