June 11, 2009

Meeting Location: Minneapolis Gateway Hotel

Members Present: Roberta Cich, Connie Lee Berg, Ann Zick, Hulet Sherry, Barbara Chromy, Judy Sanders, Larry Lura, Jeffrey Nurick, Pat Wright and Michael Fosnot.

Members Absent: Vicki Dalle Molle, and Jim Oneill.

Ex-Officio Members Present: David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Linda Lingen and Ann Roscoe.

Staff Present: Brad Westerlund and Gail Lundeen.

Guests: David Hancox, Lori Thorpe and Anne Paulson

Approval of May 2009 Minutes and June 2009 Agenda

Roberta Cich asked if there were any revisions to the May 14 and 15 minutes. Jeffrey Nurick noted an error on page 13 of the May 14 minutes. The correct stimulus idea should have read "Increased collaboration with other organizations like APSE.” It was also noted that on page 4 of the May 15th minutes, the date was incorrect. It should read "The May 15th, 2009 meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Judy moved to accept the May 14 and 15 meeting minutes as corrected, Larry seconded. The motion carried, with Connie Lee Berg abstaining.

Roberta asked if there were any changes or additions to the June agenda. The committee reports will be added under the issues and announcements section of the agenda. Judy moved and Ann Zick seconded, to approve the June agenda as revised. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Visitor's Comments

There were no visitor comments at the June 11 meeting.

ARRA Stimulus Discussion (Review and Process)

Roberta Cich reviewed the facilitated process from the May meeting, to develop potential uses of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars. She provided the SILC with the handout SILC Part B Stimulus Funding Ideas, listing the ideas generated at the May meeting and also provided members with the SILC Part B Stimulus Criteria. (Available upon request) She then provided the SILC with a matrix that listed four Rehabilitation Services Administration criteria:

Cich asked the SILC to also consider two additional questions regarding the possible funding ideas:

SILC Part B Stimulus Funding Ideas Evaluation Matrix

The Statewide Independent Living Council used the matrix to evaluate each idea against the established criteria. If the ideas were duplicative, funding ideas were combined into one topic.

The following is a list of ideas that met the identified criteria for funding:

The following is a list of ideas that did not meet the identified criteria for funding. (Please note: The ideas listed below, as well as other funding ideas that did make the list of considered ideas, will be kept for further discussion and SPIL planning.

Facilitated Discussion

The next step in the process was to prioritize the ideas. SILC members were given a list of the ideas that met the funding criteria. They were then asked to vote on their top three choices. (First choice received three points, second choice received 2 points and third choice received 1 point). Listed below is the ARRA Part B funding ideas and the number of votes each received:

Next Steps

The SILC and DEED will need to review each of the funding ideas listed above, and determine costs and process for funding of the ideas. DEED will prepare a draft cost analyses for each ARRA funding idea, which will be discussed at the July 9th meeting.

Issues, Announcements and Correspondence

Conference Committee updates. Zick announced that a conference planner has been selected. Thanks to Lingen, Cich and Westerlund for serving as RFP raters. Lundeen stated that the next steps are as follows:

The SILC raised concerns that if the maximum costs are provided to hotels, this will inflate costs. Lundeen will discuss with DEED specialist and report back to the SILC.

Cich provided a report on the National Independent Living Council Conference (NCIL) update.

Zick provided a State Rehabilitation Council update.

Sanders will be attending the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Conference. She encouraged SILC members to consider attending future NFB conferences.

There will be a phone conference with David Esquith on June 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. to discuss use of ARRA Part C dollars. Participating on the call with RSA, will be Roberta Cich, Linda Lingen, Steve Thovson, Vicki Dalle Molle, David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Kim Peck and Brad Westerlund.

Berg announced that the Red Lake 121 Project, now known as the Division of Rehabilitation Services, will change its name to the Red Lake Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program.

James O'Neill, appointed to the Council in 2009, has attended two of nine meetings this year. A letter has been sent requesting O'Neill to contact the Council, but there has not been a response. In accordance with the SILC by-laws, Berg moved that O'Neill be removed from the Council. Zick seconded the motion and the motion passed with all in favor. Roberta will send a letter to Mr. Oneill.

Hulet Sherry moved that the SILC hold a meeting on July 9th. Connie Lee Berg seconded. Lura abstained from voting. The motion passed with all others in favor. Westerlund will inform the group about the location of the meeting. Sherry requested that she attend the July meeting by phone.

Special Thanks

As many of you may know, this was Larry Lura's last meeting with the SILC. Larry has served on the SILC since December of 2004. We will miss you Larry and thank you for your dedicated service to the SILC. We hope to see you back on the council soon.

Also, a special thanks to Anne Paulson and Lori Thorpe for facilitating the afternoon session.

Adjournment

The June 11th, 2009 meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the SILC, will be held on July 9th, 2009 at the Roseville Radisson. (Please Note: This is a new location this month and will also be the new location of future meetings to come. The address of the Roseville Radisson is:

2540 N. Cleveland Avenue
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 636-4567