Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Area Agency on Aging - Legislative / Advocacy Committee  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, January 25, 2023  
9:00 AM  
This is a Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at 2865 N  
Sherman Ave, Conference Room 109; Attend virtually  
via Zoom.  
The Wednesday January 25, 2023 AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting will be a hybrid  
meeting. Members of the public can either attend in person or virtually via Zoom.  
The public can attend in person at the ADRC building, 2865 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53704.  
The public can access the meeting virtually with the Zoom application or by telephone.  
To join the meeting in Zoom, click the following link (after you fill out the form, the meeting link and out  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bXgD34tEQluld4tjxOcHMw  
This link will be active until the end of the meeting.  
To join the meeting by phone, dial-in using one of the following three phone numbers:  
1-833-548-0276  
1-833-548-0282  
1-888-788-0099  
When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 975 2566 1349  
PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT:  
IN PERSON: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item  
can register in person at the meeting using paper registration forms. IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO  
REGISTER VIA THE ZOOM LINK ABOVE EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING IN PERSON.  
In person registrations to provide public comment will be accepted throughout the meeting.  
VIRTUAL: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda items  
MUST REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE (even if you plan to attend using your phone).  
Virtual registration to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning of  
the meeting.  
In order to testify (provide public comment) virtually, you must be in attendance at the meeting via Zoom  
or phone, you will then either be unmuted or promoted to a panelist and provided time to speak to the  
body.  
If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for committee members,  
please send them to MATULLE.CINDY@COUNTYOFDANE.COM. In the subject line please state: Written  
Comment for this meeting or Handouts for this meeting. Please include the name of the meeting and  
date.  
Staff and Guests Present: Cindy Matulle, Sridevi Mohan, Claire Purkis, and Carrie  
Springer.  
In-Person: Jodie Castaneda, Anna Lezotte, Esther Olson.  
Virtually: Ted Bunck, Jill McHone, Jim Schmidlkofer  
A. Call To Order  
Chair OLSON called the meeting to order at 9:03 am.  
6 -  
Present  
TED BUNCK, JODIE CASTANEDA, ANNA LEZOTTE, JILL MCHONE, ESTHER  
OLSON, and JIM SCHMIDLKOFER  
1 - FAISAL KAUD  
Excused  
Absent  
2 - GAIL RUTKOWSKI, and RICK ROSE  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes from October 26, 2022  
2022  
MIN-394  
Attachments: 2022_1026 AAA Legislative-Advocacy Comm Mtg Minutes  
A motion was made by CASTANEDA, seconded by MCHONE, that the minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 - BUNCK, CASTANEDA, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON and SCHMIDLKOFER  
Ayes:  
Excused:  
Absent:  
1 - KAUD  
2 - RUTKOWSKI and ROSE  
C. Action Items  
Advocacy Supporting Federal & State Programs  
OLSON stated the state has a lot of money in the next budget but nothing is slated for  
older adults or Aging. Need to get on board with Governor Evers to get money allocated  
to the Aging programs.  
D. Presentations  
Committee members discussed ideas for presentations for the remainder of the year.  
Transportation - Nathanael  
Housing  
Dane County Housing Strategy – Olivia Parry  
Hotels to housing/Homelessness – Kristina Dux and/or Melissa M  
ADRC - types of calls they are receiving  
RSVP – Margie Zutter/Diana Jost  
DAS Administrator Angela Velasquez  
WAAN - Janet Zander  
WIHA – Kris Krasnowski  
Dementia-Ellen Taylor/Joy Schmidt  
Public Health Unwinding – Effects of unwinding on safety net programs and impact  
on older adults.  
Mark Pocan/Tammy Baldwin Office  
E. Reports to Committee  
1. Wisconsin Senior Advocates  
OLSON reported the group is deciding what topic to advocate for this year.  
2. ADRC Governing Board  
OLSON reported the Chair resigned from the Board. Not sure which direction the  
meetings are heading as most of the time is spent talking about disability and not a lot  
on aging topics. Heard from DAS Administrator Angela Velasquez about the  
communication plan.  
3. County/State/Federal Legislative Update  
OLSON requested members to start thinking about Dane County budget items for next  
year.  
5 -  
Present  
JODIE CASTANEDA, ANNA LEZOTTE, JILL MCHONE, ESTHER OLSON, and  
JIM SCHMIDLKOFER  
1 - FAISAL KAUD  
Excused  
Absent  
3 - TED BUNCK, GAIL RUTKOWSKI, and RICK ROSE  
4. State's Aging Advisory Council  
OLSON reported they will be meeting in February.  
5. Wisconsin Aging Advisory Council  
OLSON asked if the committee could do a retreat day similar to the WAAN retreat from  
last year. WAAN meeting next week.  
6. Chair & Staff Reports  
AAA Manager Sridevi Mohan introduced AAA Aging Program Specialist Claire Purkis to  
members. PURKIS stated she would be working overseeing Nutrition and Case  
Management programs. OLSON asked about an update on the Nutrition Meals program.  
MOHAN advised that Faisal was resigning from the committee.  
1. Diversity Work Group  
MOHAN advised after attending the Committee Academy and having conversation with  
Chair Olson and co-chair McHone, the Diversity Work Group will not be meeting as a  
group going forward. MOHAN explained AAA’s participation in the USAging Building  
Accountability for Health Equity Learning Collaborative would pave way to build authentic  
relationships with underserved communities in Dane county and eventually help in  
diversifying our members in our Committees/Board/Programs.  
2. Hybrid Meetings  
MOHAN advised committee members this will be the format of meetings moving forward.  
OLSON would like to see the chairs of sub-committees being paid as Board members  
are since they are being required to attend in person.  
4 - JODIE CASTANEDA, ANNA LEZOTTE, JILL MCHONE, and ESTHER OLSON  
Present  
Excused  
Absent  
1 - FAISAL KAUD  
4 - TED BUNCK, JIM SCHMIDLKOFER, GAIL RUTKOWSKI, and RICK ROSE  
3. Leg/Advocacy Committee Meetings-2023 and beyond  
Committee members discussed having regular monthly meetings for the remainder of the  
year.  
4. SAGE Training  
PURKIS shared that AAA staff will start training on this program to better serve the  
LGBTQ+ population. Educate people on how to engage seniors to provide them better  
services and what they need. CASTANEDA stated she sits on the Adult Protective  
Services (APS) committee and they are going to be working with Sage later in the year.  
5. AAA Selected to Participate at BAHELC (USAging)  
AAA Selected for Building Accountability for Health Equity Learning  
Collaborative  
2022  
PRES-191  
Attachments: 2023-Building-Accountability-for-Health-Equity_Charter-1  
MOHAN shared that AAA of Dane County was one of 12 AAA’s to be selected for this  
great opportunity to building accountability for Health Equity and make connections with  
underserved communities and with HealthCare systems.  
6. Celebrate Aging  
Celebrate Aging Materials  
2022  
PRES-199  
Attachments: DCDHS_CelebrateAging_CallForParticipation  
DCDHSCommunications2023Theme  
MOHAN discussed the attachments and the focus this year will be Aging. Each month  
has planned area of Aging and activities.  
7. Aging Advocacy Day  
OLSON reported that this is usually held in August/September when Legislators are back  
in their offices/state. Could have the training at a different time given Zoom capabilities.  
Need to get people lined up to present. OLSON would like to encourage/invite at least  
one person from each Focal Point Board to attend the training so they are advocating for  
the same issues. Need to put together a recruitment notice so we can get the  
information out in the Focal Point Newsletters explaining what advocacy is about.  
8. Dane County Housing Survey (Regional Housing Strategy Team)  
MOHAN asked members to get the survey out to rural areas and seniors so they have  
input into the housing issues in Dane County.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Next meeting: Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 9 am via Hybrid  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
I. Adjournment  
Chair OLSON adjourned the meeting at 10:53 am.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Cindy Matulle, AAA Clerk III.