Dear ASCA Members,

Budget time is right around the  corner and for many of us it is a time of concern.  Phoenix is shutting down several senior centers.  Many of us are having to reduce staff and change the way we do business such as delivering frozen meals vs. hot meals to our homebound seniors.  Now is the time to invite your city council members and board of supervisors to your senior centers so they can see first hand what good we do for our communities.  That way when someone wants to cut funding they may think  twice and see if there are other areas monies can be cut.  I will be building a link on our website with fundraising ideas, grant opportunities and other cost saving measures, so please send your best ideas to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Other things we need to think about are what programs at the state and/or federal level are not being maximized and could those monies be shifted to other areas that are at 100% capacity and vital to the health of our seniors.  I encourage you to get the word out on what we do.  Invite the media to your senior center or on a home delivered meal route.  Have seniors provide quotes on how much they count on us.  Now more than ever we need to communicate with other professionals in our field and do everything we can to support one another. 

ASCA Annual Conference July 19-21, 2009, (Radisson Woodlands Hotel/Flagstaff).

Individuals should contact the hotel directly at (928) 773-8888, or the Radisson Reservations office at 1-800-333-3333. The Hotel will honor reservations received by Friday, June 26, 2009. Reservations received after this date will be subject to space availability and at prevailing room rates.  Please ask for the Arizona Senior Center Association group rate of $84 per night.