Question:
What is the Bucksport Age and Ability-Friendly Committee (AAFC)?
Answer:
The committee used to be called the Senior Resource Committee (SRC) and joined AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in 2016. It is a committee made up of volunteer community members/leaders who are interested in offering their time, skills, and feedback for projects and issues that affect otherly-abled and/or older adults in Bucksport. It has a Chairperson and Secretary at the minimum and a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer at full capacity. The picture above of a "Buddy Bench" is an example of a project that the AAFC would work on. Currently, the AAFC is working on a Home Repair Resource Guide for Older Adults due to be completed in 2024. If you are a vendor that would like to be considered for this Resource Guide, please contact Emily Fitzgerald at the Village (thevillagebucksport@gmail.com)
Question:
What do the AAFC officers roles entail?
Answer:
Chairperson: The Chair is the senior elected volunteer leader who presides over meetings. The Chair is an ex officio member of all sub-committees. The Chair oversees implementation of policies and ensures that appropriate administrative practices are established and maintained.
Vice Chairperson: The Vice Chair is the secondary elected volunteer leader and as such, discharges the duties of the Chair as required in the Chair's absence. The Vice Chair supports the activities of the Chair including sharing responsibilities as appropriate.
Secretary: The Secretary is the elected volunteer who is responsible for maintaining records for the Committee. If the Secretary is not present or elected, then an individual shall be appointed at each meeting to record minutes.
Treasurer: The Treasurer is the elected volunteer who is responsible for the financial health of the Committee. Not all AF Committees have Treasurers.
Question:
How does one join the AAFC? Do I have to be an officer to be involved?
Answer:
To become involved, show up or be invited to an AAFC monthly meeting. These are currently held at the Senior Center on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1:00 pm. If you cannot attend in person, usually there is an option to join via Zoom. You can reach out to Vanessa at BBHCC at 207-469-6682 to get the invitation. You do not need to be an officer to be involved in the committee, but you are expected to be willing to chair or join sub-committees and be an active participant to the best of your abilities.
If you are interested in taking a Master Class series to learn more about Age-Friendly/Lifelong Communities, you are in luck! One is starting on January 10th, 2024. To learn about this opportunity and register, click here.
Question:
What are the goals of this AAFC and who oversees it?
Answer:
The goals are set by committee members and they are usually aligned with the Town of Bucksport's strategic plan. The AAFC falls under the umbrella of Bucksport Bay Healthy Community Coalition's which is a non-profit organization that collaborates with the Town of Bucksport. To learn more about Bucksport AAFC, click here. To review the AAFC's 5-Year Progress Report go here.
Question:
What are the needs of this committee in 2024?
Answer:
To recruit members, elect officers, and build community support and obtain funding for current and future projects. The AAFC has been re-established and active since January 2023. For example, one sub-committee of the AAFC is the Bucksport Community Garden Committee. This committee was formed in 2023 after two community meetings and has been reviewing sites for a community garden and conducting meetings on a monthly basis. If you are interested in being part of that committee, please reach out to Vanessa at consultant@bucksportbayhealth.org
If you are looking for a way to make an impact, build community, and make a real difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors in Bucksport, we hope you will join the committee and become involved in 2024!
