Minutes for August 11, 2005

Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton Midway, St. Paul

Present: Lois Johnson, Karen Larson, Mark Eggen, Bryan Jensen, Larry Lura, RoseAnn Faber, Roberta Cich, Linda Lingen, William Bauer, Bradley Westerlund, Sharon Johnson, Ann Zick, Barbara Chromy.

Absent: David Hancox (excused), Phyllis Coppess (excused), Gloria Lafriniere (excused), Mary Pennington.

Approval of June Minutes and August Agenda: Lois Johnson asked if there were any revisions to the June 2005 minutes. Ann Zick moved, RoseAnn Faber seconded, that the minutes stand as written. There was no discussion and the motion carried. The chair next asked for additions to the August 2005 agenda. William Bauer requested time to update the council on the 2005 SILC appointments. There were no further requests for revisions, and the August 11, 2005 agenda was approved as amended by consensus.

SILC 2005 Appointments: William Bauer reported that the Governors appointment secretary recently contacted him advising that five people would be either reappointed to second terms or newly appointed. It is anticipated that the appointment secretary's recommendations will be approved by Governor Pawlenty in early September. The five appointments/reappointments will leave two seats vacant on the SILC. Council members were asked to encourage qualified individuals with or without disability to apply.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind Update: Roseann Faber reported that the last meeting of the SRCB was on August fourth. The council is anticipating that the 2005 appointments will soon be made. The council finalized the revisions to the by-laws; a committee was appointed to work on the agency's annual report; and all committee appointments are completed -- these appointments will be in effect from September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2006.

The "Newsline" appropriation was passed by the legislature, and has also been approved by the utilities commission. The council's fiscal year 06 budget was approved. Additional efforts will be placed on outreach to potential consumers of the Senior Services Unit. Opthalmologists have been recruited to refer senior patients to the SSU.

In October, the SRCB will begin meeting on the first Saturday of the month from ten a.m. to one p.m. SRCB meetings are held every other month.

State Rehabilitation Council Update: Lois Johnson reported on the June 23 meeting. The SRC's vision and mission statements, and the council's goals are in final draft. An important change is that consumers, and not employers, are the focus.

Northern Plains Conference on Aging 2005: Lois Johnson reported that this conference will be held in Fargo-Moorhead on September thirteenth through the fifteenth at the Fargo Holiday Inn. She stated that she would like to attend this conference. The registration fee is sixty-five dollars per person, and hotel accommodations are approximately eighty-two dollars per night -- excluding taxes and other charges. The conference starts at eleven a.m. on the first day; thus, Johnson stated that she would require lodging for Tuesday night.

Sharon Johnson moved, Roberta Cich seconded, that the SILC send three council members to this conference. There was no discussion, and the motion carried with Mark Eggen, Larry Lura, and Barbara Chromy abstaining. Through a lottery, the three SILC members who will attend this conference are Lois Johnson, Mark Eggen, and Barbara Chromy. Larry Lura is the alternate should Lois, Mark, or Barbara need to cancel.

While on the matter of conferences, Bryan Jensen announced that there is an annual conference in Duluth on aging and disability. The conference is generally held in August. The SILC will consider sending representatives to the Duluth conference next year.

SILC Meeting Location: The Four Points Sheraton Midway has been sold, and will be demolished in October to make way for a Target store. Bradley Westerlund reviewed the three meeting space and hotel accommodations submitted in the August packet to all council members. Questions and answers followed. Mark Eggen moved, Barbara Chromy seconded, that the SILC's new meeting location, as of October, become the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis. There was no further discussion, and the motion carried.

FFY 2006 SILC Meeting Schedule: October 13, 2005 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; November 10, 2005 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; December 8, 2005 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; January 12, 2006 at the four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; No February or March 2006 meetings; April 13, 2006 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; May 11-12, 2006 out-state training meeting at White Earth Reservation, Mahnomen, MN, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on May 11, and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on May 12; June 8, 2006 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; No July or August 2006 meetings; September 14, 2006 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

William Bauer announced that the SILC's FFY 2006 meeting schedule will be submitted to the State Register for publication. The schedule will also be mailed to the eight Centers for IL and other organizations.

SILC-DSU Collaboration: Lois Johnson began the discussion by stating that the SILC and DSU have maintained, over the past ten years, a highly-positive working relationship. Johnson asked council members how much information, and how often, they would like Kim Peck to provide a RSB report to the SILC. She stated that she would also like recommendations on topics for which Kim Peck could report. Discussion followed.

It was suggested that, during the October meeting, Kim Peck report on the restructuring of the Rehabilitation Services Branch and the impact of these changes vis a vis the SILC's working relationship, future collaborations, and partnership with the DSU. Mark Eggen so moved, Larry Lura seconded, and the motion carried. Up to ninety minutes may be scheduled for Kim Peck's October 2005 dialogue with the SILC.

Committee Reports: Karen Larson, chair of the finance committee, reported that as of June 30, the council had spent $31,140. As of the close of FFY 05, it is estimated that less than $1000 may remain in the council's operating budget. These funds may be applied to the SILS program. Larson reminded council members to submit their expense forms within five business days of any SILC meeting. This will assist in receiving timely reimbursements.

Linda Lingen reported for the advocacy and education committee. A Part D Medicare presentation is planned for the September SILC meeting. Lois Johnson will contact Kim Peck regarding the October meeting. The advocacy and education committee will meet on the evening of September seven, and the agenda will include the marketing plan as outlined under goal 2 (A) of the SPIL.

Lois Johnson, chair of the SPIL committee, reported that the out-state consumer forums will be as follows: SMILES, September 22, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Martin County Library in Fairmont -- Lois Johnson will facilitate; Duluth, at the CILNM satellite office, starting at 10:00 a.m. -- Bryan Jensen will facilitate; Freedom CIL's consumer forum will be on September 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Workforce Center conference room, and from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Ottertail Community room -- Ann Zick will facilitate; SEMCIL's consumer forum will be held on September 20 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Footroom of the Red Wing Public Library -- Mark Eggen will facilitate.

Visitor Comments: There were no visitor comments.

Issues, Announcement, Correspondence: Karen Larson announced that Region Ten Quality Assurance received state dollars from the legislature for the next two years. A "Quality Assurance" licensing task force will be formed with funding flowing through the Department of Human Services.

Ann Zick reported that she attended the " University of Excellence for DD" in Chicago. Zick discussed accessible information technology assistance through the Great Lakes ADA technical assistance Center in Chicago. The toll-free number is (800) 949-4232 (voice or tty) or e-mail www.adagreatlakes.org. She also discussed sixteen unit housing in Wadena, Alexandria and Fergus Falls. Finally, Zick reported that during her first night in Chicago, there were representatives from the "Voice of the Retarded" advocating for keeping institutions open.

William Bauer asked those council members who had not yet done so to review the latest data on LTC dollars in Minnesota. He noted that there is decidedly a need for a Minnesota Olmstead Plan because more than half of the LTC dollars for people with physical disabilities are going to institutions. Discussion followed.

Next Meeting, Adjournment: The next meeting of the SILC will be September 8, 2005 from nine a.m. to three p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Midway. The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.