Minutes for February 14, 2002

Meeting Location:  Four Points Midway Sheraton, St. Paul

Present:  Connie Lee Berg, Cory Heit, Lois Johnson, Bryan Jensen, Karen Larson, Janiece Duffy, Roseann Faber, Mary Pennington, Cara Ruff, Ann Zick, Bill Bauer, Brad Westerlund.

Absent: Joe Ascheman (excused), Rick Cardenas (excused), Rand Stenhjem (excused), Phyllis Coppess (excused), Sharon Johnson (excused), Terry Graff (excused), Hulet Sherry (excused), Linda Lingen (excused). 

Guests:  David Hancox, Steve Thovson, and Ted Siebert.

Call to Order:  The February 14, 2002 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Connie Lee Berg, Chairperson.  Introductions of members and guests followed.

Approval of December Minutes and February Agenda:  Approval of the December 13, 2001 minutes was tabled until the March meeting.  There was one addition to the February agenda, which involved the “quorum” section of the by-laws.  The February agenda was approved by consensus as revised. 

Opening Remarks from the Chair:  Connie stated that the collaborations with the state and the Red Lake Band has brought some outstanding results.  Connie commented that the work she has done over the years on the SILC has permitted her to return to RedLake with a great deal of disability-related information and data.  As an example, RedLake has the largest senior companion group in the state, and the project was begun as a result of information received from the SILC.

Connie again discussed the collaborations between RedLake, the Work Incentives Project, and the Social Security Administration.  The DisabilityLawCenter has also been collaborating with the RedLake special education program.  Connie reported that she traveled to Seattle recently to sit on a panel regarding state collaborations.  The Consortia of Administrators of Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) has taken note of RedLake’s, SSB’s and RSB’s unique and highly-positive working relationship.  Connie reminded SILC members that Minnesota had 121 Project representation on councils prior to such representation being mandatory.  Connie added that there are four states that still do not have 121 Project representatives serving on these SILCs. 

Connie briefly discussed the White Earth Project, and stated that LeachLake plans to soon initiate a 121 Project.

Connie announced that the ACT training, in progress in the room next door, has a “disability history” wall.  She reported that Rick invited SILC members to stop by during lunch to view this display.

Connie reported that she has a recently diagnosed condition that prevented her from attending the 2002 SILC Congress.  Three hospitals and multiple tests later, the problem was identified and treated.  It seems that the condition had been misdiagnosed years ago, and that she had been receiving medications and treatments for a condition that she did not have.  Connie stated that she feels better now than she’s felt in over ten years. 

Quorum By-law:  It was noted that the present language pertaining to SILC quorums does not reflect the original intent.  A revision will be drafted and included in the next mailing for discussion during the March meeting.  This revision would then be approved during the June 2002 meeting. 

FFY 2001 704 Part I and II Reports:  Bill explained the importance of the annual 704 reports, and why Minnesota submits an aggregated Part I.  Bill commented that the number of IL consumers served has been rising each year since 1996.  For 2001, 5906 (unduplicated) people with disabilities received IL services statewide, of whom 2566 received IL case services from either SSB or RSB.  Bill then walked SILC members through selected portions of the report.  He thanked the Centers staff members and State IL Counselors for their extraordinary efforts. 

Finance Committee 2002 Grant Recommendations:  Cory summarized the eight grant proposals received for FFY 2002.  He announced that the Finance Committee recommends that grant contracts be awarded to SEMCIL ($15,000) to initiate the Minnesota Ramp Project, to Options ($25,000) to provide housing and PAS advocacy, and to Metro CIL ($25,000) to provide food staples, essential household items and other assistance to people with disabilities who are moving out of institutions and into community settings.  Cory moved, Karen seconded, that the SILC approve these three grant requests.  There was no further discussion of the proposals, and the motion carried. 

SILC Congress 2002 Report:  Cory reported that he felt this year’s SILC Congress, held January 6-10 in San Diego, was “marginal” at best.  Apparently, other SILC members nationwide agreed, for continuation of the SILC Congress is uncertain.  NCIL will not be providing funding or staff to support next year’s congress.  Cory stated that there was a great deal of dissention between SILC members and NCIL at the 2002 Congress.  It was reported that some good resolutions came out of this year’s Congress, but it was apparent that many SILC’s did not even look at last year’s resolutions.  Cory discussed the high cost of the 2002 SILC Congress.  Lois reported that numerous SILC members were dissatisfied with NCIL’s drafting of the agenda, which apparently was prepared without significant input from SILC members nationwide.  There were also several access issues during this year’s Congress.  Discussion followed.  Bill will e-mail the SILC Congress 2002 materials to all eight Centers. 

Connie stated that she had an issue with one part of NCIL’s position paper for reauthorization of the Rehab Act.  Specifically, the draft position paper stated that American Indian people are not receiving culturally relevant rehabilitation services through 121 Projects. 

Visitors’ Comments:  David Hancox commented on the legislative session. Governor Ventura’s budget left funding flat for IL, EE and VR.  The State Senate’s version calls for a five percent cut, or $408,000, for these programs; however, state funds utilized for “match” cannot be reduced.  Dave asked SILC members to be in touch with their state legislators.  Dave stated that things are moving very rapidly through the legislature this year, and his fear is that the average citizen may not be aware of these reductions until it’s too late.  Steve Thovson arrived to announce that the house budget bill had just been released, and nothing was cut from IL and EE.

2002 Outstate Meeting:  Ann announced that this year’s two day outstate training meeting has been moved to June 27-28, and will be held in Rochester.  The meeting will adjourn by noon on June 28. 

Diabetes Training:  Bill, a more than forty year veteran of Type I diabetes, explained the three types of diabetes, their differences and similarities, and the fact that there are an estimated two million Americans who have undiagnosed Type II diabetes.  He reported that increasing numbers of children are developing Type II diabetes as a result of obesity.  The disease, whose causes are largely uncertain; genetics, viruses, obesity are primary suspects; was always fatal prior to the discovery of insulin in 1921 and it’s worldwide distribution in 1922.  He discussed the critical importance of maintaining normal blood glucose levels, and the serious or life-threatening complications (blindness, stroke, heart disease, renal failure, neuropathy, amputation) resulting for those who fail to do so.  He discussed new diabetes treatments that may soon be available such as inhalable insulin, oral insulin, and insulin delivered to the body through quantum mechanics.  Bill displayed and discussed adaptive aids for blood glucose monitoring and insulin syringe preparation by blind diabetics.  Bill stressed the importance of annual fasting blood glucose monitorings and glucose tolerance tests for those groups of individuals who are at risk of developing Type I or II diabetes; specifically, American Indian People, Latinos, Asians, African Americans, those people having a family member who has or had diabetes, and those who are overweight.    Questions and answers followed. 

Out of-state Travel:  Bill advised SILC members that out-of-state travel for state employees is now prohibited, except when such travel is “essential.”  Bill discussed how observance of this rule is, during a year of record-breaking deficits, a matter of politics and perception.

Discussion followed regarding Bryan’s May 2-4 trip to Oakland to attend the “Parents with Disabilities” Conference.  Since this trip was discussed and approved last year by the SILC, and irrespective of the travel ban, the consensus was to continue with this planned trip. 

Committee Reports:  Cory asked if there were any questions regarding the finance committee’s findings on this years grant proposals.  There were no questions.

With Rand’s departure from the SILC, Connie appointed Lois to chair the SPIL committee. 

Ann reported that Mary is the only education and advocacy committee member who does not have e-mail access.  Ann will keep Mary current on the June training plans via telephone. 

Announcements, Issues, Correspondence:  Ann announced that February 26 is Consumer Consortia on Disability “Day on the Hill,” and mental health services will be part of the CCD’s educational efforts. 

Next Meeting, Adjournment:  The next SILC meeting will be March 14, 2002 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Four Points (Midway) Sheraton, St. Paul.  The February 14 meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.