Kathleen SimkoPresident's Message

I have been too busy to write a report...check in next year please!

I honestly thought about using this as the sum total of my annual report. In reflection on the past year at Sage, it has felt a bit like being in a state of perpetual motion, often with no clear direction or too many directions. A crazy year filled with change - change created by choice as well as that which was thrust upon us. So, as is typical, I started searching for a quote on change, which is frequently how I begin my annual report. This one fit perfectly!

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine

- Robert C. Gallagher

I love that quote and generally, I love change. As the daughter of a career Marine, we moved a lot. Five kids, all  of us born in different states. In the third grade, I went to three different schools in two states. Change, from my perspective, was an opportunity; a new house, a new school, new friends, new places to explore.

Sage is all about partnerships and providing support and opportunities for our member communities. So, the Board and team at Sage embraced change and took advantage of the opportunities it presented. I want to provide brief highlights on a few changes...

The entire aging network and service delivery model is changing - Sage plans to change in response to the new direction. The Board took the much needed and bold step of a total reorganization of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. This has presented the occasion for increased and new involvement within this program area.

Within the Business & Community Development Division, Community Plus, a new tiered level of services was developed and launched in response our member needs. This program is designed to provide various levels of fixed cost services, totally customizable to the unique needs of each community. The more members take advantage of the service, the deeper the cost discounts realized.

Finally, the Sage Associate member opportunity was introduced. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for organizations that benefit from and/or support the core mission of Sage services. To date, eight organizations have signed on as charter Associate members.

So, while change may be inevitable, it's also an occasion for new partnerships, new programs, new opportunities, and new friends. As we move into what is forecast to be yet another challenging year for our members, we stand ready to make it a successful one. Join us...embrace the change!

-Kathleen Simko, President