December 11th, 2008

Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton Midway

Members Present: Ann Zick, Connie Lee Berg, Roberta Cich, Judy Sanders, Jeffrey Nurick, Larry Lura, and Ann Roscoe.

Members Absent: Vicki Dalle Molle, Hulet Sherry, Barbara Chromy, Julia Washenberger, and Jim Oneill.

Staff Present: Brad Westerlund, Gail Lundeen, and Linda Lingen.

Guests: David Hancox.

Approval of November 2008 Minutes and December 2008 Agenda

Roberta Cich asked if there were any revisions to the December 11, 2008 minutes. Judy Sanders moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Larry Lura seconded. The motion carried. Roberta asked if there were any changes or additions to the December agenda. Ann Zick requested that the SILC add a discussion regarding the IL conference planner topic. Brad recommended that we add this to the morning agenda, as the majority of the afternoon is needed to discuss the 704 report. There was no further discussion. Connie Lee Berg moved to accept the December 11 agenda as revised. Judy seconded, and the motion carried.

Visitor's Comments

There were no visitor comments at the December 11 meeting.

Issues, Announcements, and Correspondence

The IL conference planning committee met on December 4th, via phone conference, to discuss the options for meeting planners for the SILC Independent Living Conference. Members present were Ann Roscoe, Barb Chromy, Hulet Sherry, Ann Zick, Brad Westerlund, and Gail Lundeen. After a thorough review of the meeting planners presented to the committee, the committee decided to recommend to the full SILC that the Government Training Services be utilized for planning the IL conference. The committee requested that Gail Lundeen contact Helene Johnson of GTS, to tell her we are waiting for full Council approval- but to begin discussion of the next steps of conference planning. The next meeting of the committee will be on January 8th, 2009.

Discussion followed. Jeffrey Nurick asked why the SILC couldn't plan for and facilitate the conference? Members discussed how much work goes into planning a conference of this size, and that it is simply too much work for this group to handle. Ann Roscoe asked who the audience would be? Other organizations have been mentioned as possible people to include. Connie Lee Berg responded that it would include VR staff, state agency staff, etc. Judy Sanders responded that possible attendees would be professionals working in the IL sector. David Hancox added, that he thought the original intent of the conference was to bring CILs, VR and the SILC together to network.. The council read the approved SPIL goal language. The goal reads as follows:

Goal C: Expand the knowledge and availability of Independent Living services in Minnesota.

Objective C1: SILC will collaborate with other IL services providers, organizations, and stakeholders.

Strategies

C1.1: The SILC shall sponsor a statewide training conference. Based on information from statewide monitoring and a survey of Centers, the statewide conference will address ongoing training needs of Center staff and boards, new and emerging needs in independent living, and strengthening networks and alliances among the Centers and their partners.

The IL conference committee will look further into working with Government Training Services, and will update the full council as progress continues.

Roberta reminded folks that the SILC Congress will be taking place on January 2nd through the 6th. In past years, the states were asked to bring a State-themed gift basket that will be raffled off to conference attendees. Roberta asked the council if they would like to bring a basket this year. Discussion followed regarding the average cost of baskets, and what kinds are available. Judy moved and Connie seconded, that the SILC spend up to $75.00 to purchase a basket that will represent Minnesota at the 2009 SILC Congress. All were in favor, and the motion carried.

704 Workgroups

The SILC executive committee met prior to this meeting to discuss options for working on the 704 report. As discussed at the last SILC meeting, the December meeting is almost entirely devoted to the 704 report. To make things a little easier, it was decided that the SILC will form work groups that will each draft a portion of the report. The following is a list of the groups and which sections that group will be working on.

Group 1 - Judy
-Section V
-Linda, Jim, Julia, Larry and Connie

Group 2 - Roberta
- Section IV and Section VI
- Ann, Gail, Jeffery, Barbara and Hulet

Roberta reminded members that both workgroups need to turn in their sections to Brad Westerlund before they leave the December meeting. He will then add the draft language to the 704 report instrument. Prior to the January meeting, Brad will send out sections of the report to Council members, asking for additional comments, or changes to the draft plan. During the January 22nd and 23rd meeting, the SILC will review the draft 704 Part 1 report, and will discuss any changes and/or revisions that need to be made.

Adjournment

The December 11, 2008 meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the SILC, will be held on January 22nd and 23rd, 2009.