Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orinda Association highlights "Seniors Around Town" rides, seeks volunteers for summer months
Summary
At its June 3 meeting the Orinda City Council received the Orinda Association annual report. The association said its Seniors Around Town program relies on about 70 volunteer drivers and a new scheduling system; staff said summer volunteer shortages prompted a cut in service hours based on trip timing analysis.
The Orinda Association presented its annual report to the city council on June 3, describing local programs and volunteer services that support seniors and community events.
Alex Drexel, vice president of the Orinda Association, told the council that the association operates a community newspaper, the Seniors Around Town (SAT) ride program and several large events, including a long‑running car show and the Fourth of July parade. He said the SAT program depends on about 70 volunteer drivers and a new scheduling software that has improved efficiency. "We're becoming more efficient as well," Drexel said.
Key program details
- Seniors Around Town (SAT): Drexel said the service primarily provides single‑leg rides (so round trips should be counted as two legs) for seniors to appointments and errands. The program has roughly 70 volunteer drivers and a new program manager, Eloise Sotelo; staff and volunteers are also preparing a newspaper article on senior services and statistics.
- Volunteer shortfall and hours change: Staff reported that volunteer availability is an acute problem in summer months when volunteers take vacations. After an analysis of ride timing and staffing effort per ride, the association said it reduced SAT operating hours from the prior schedule of 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday to 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 9 a.m.–noon Friday. The change is based on usage patterns showing most rides occur earlier in the day.
- Events: The association said the annual car show (roughly 200 vehicle/motorcycle slots) is continuing and already has early signups; the car show date was listed as Sept. 6. The July 4 parade will be the community's 41st and the association plans a carnival under a new shade structure and family activities.
Why it matters: the SAT program provides transportation and social contact that residents and council members described as critical. Council members praised the program's reliability and personal attention to riders and encouraged additional volunteer recruitment, including outreach to high‑school students for seasonal help.
Ending: The council thanked Orinda Association leaders and staff for the report and for coordinating large community events and senior services.
