Minutes for January 13, 2005

Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton Midway

Present:  Lois Johnson, Karen Larson, Mark Eggen, Bryan Jensen, Mary Pennington, Roseann Faber, William Bauer, Linda Lingen, Bradley Westerlund, Don Westergard, David Hancox, Ann Zick, Larry Lura, Phyllis Coppess, Roberta Cich.

Absent:  Gloria Lafriniere (excused), Barbara Chromy (excused), Sharon Johnson (excused), Mary O'Hara-Anderson.

Call to Order, Introductions: The January 13, 2005 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Lois Johnson, chairperson. Introductions followed, which included a welcome to Larry Lura who was appointed to the council during the latter half of December 2004. Mr. Lura replaces Rosemary Laberge.

Review and Approval of December Minutes and January Agenda: Lois Johnson called for revisions to the December 15, 2004 minutes. David Hancox reported that the Center directors decided to keep him as the SILC representative; thus, the December minutes' announcement that Steve Thovson would be replacing David Hancox is no longer accurate. There were no additional requests for revisions. Ann Zick moved, Mark Eggen seconded, that the December minutes be approved as revised. There was no discussion and the motion carried. Lois Johnson then called for additions to the January agenda. The election of SILC officers was scheduled for 9:20 a.m.; a letter from the SILC to the NGA in support of MiCASSA was also scheduled. Mark Eggen moved, Roseann Faber seconded, that the January agenda be approved as revised. There was no discussion, and the motion carried.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind Update:  Roseann Faber reported that the last meeting of the SRCB was on December 11, 2004. The council's Federal report is finalized. Most of the SRCB committees are in place for fiscal year 05. The next SRCB meeting will be held on February 5, 2005. A brief discussion followed on the SRCB's practice of holding meetings on Saturdays.

Election of SILC Officers for FFY 2005: Phyllis Coppess questioned whether these elections should be held with the absence of three voting members. Lois Johnson announced that she would entertain a motion to conduct the elections at this time. Ann Zick so moved, and Mark Eggen seconded. Discussion followed. The motion carried.

Lois Johnson called for nominees for SILC chair. Phyllis Coppess nominated Lois Johnson. The chair called three times for additional nominees, but no additional names were offered. Roseann Faber moved, Karen Larson seconded, that Lois Johnson be appointed chairperson by consensus. There was no discussion and the motion carried.

Lois Johnson next opened the floor for vice chair nominations. Lois Johnson nominated Bryan Jensen. Roberta Cich nominated Ann Zick. Both Jensen and Zick accepted the nominations. Bryan Jensen nominated David Hancox. Hancox declined the nomination. No additional names were offered after three calls, and the nominations were closed. Prior to voting, Karen Larson moved, Mary Pennington seconded, that the ballots be destroyed after counting. There was no discussion and the motion carried. Bryan Jensen was elected vice chair.

The chair opened the floor for nominees for secretary-treasurer. Lois Johnson nominated Karen Larson, and she accepted the nomination. The chair called three additional times for nominees, but none were offered. Nominations for secretary-treasurer were closed. It was moved, seconded and approved that Karen Larson be elected secretary-treasurer by consensus. There was no discussion and the motion carried.

The chair opened the floor for member at large nominations. Ann Zick nominated Mark Eggen, who accepted the nomination. Lois Johnson nominated Phyllis Coppess, and she accepted the nomination. Bryan Jensen nominated Mary Pennington, and she accepted. There were no additional nominations after three calls from the chair; nominating was closed. Mark Eggen was elected member at large.

Lois Johnson recapped the FFY 2005 election results: Mark Eggen, member at large; Karen Larson, secretary-treasurer; Bryan Jensen, vice chair; and Lois Johnson, chairperson.

Developmental Disabilities Council Update: There was no DD Council report.

Centers for Independent Living Update: David Hancox announced that preliminary reviews of the Olmstead Conference's evaluations indicate that it was a successful event. There were 267 people in attendance, which suggests that the Olmstead decision and housing issues are of critical importance to those participating in the conference. Regional events are being considered to keep the Olmstead momentum moving. David Hancox thanked council members for attending the conference, and discussion followed.

David Hancox reported that the 2005 legislative session started Monday, January tenth. The Center directors are awaiting the release of the Governor's budget to determine whether any percentage of the funds lost in 03-04 were reinstated. The legislative intent is to restore IL state funding to $1.690 million annually. The Centers will be participating in other disability-related issues; e.g., health care and transportation -- the Met Council is looking at a thirteen-million dollar reduction.

The Center directors as a group will be focusing on the reinstatement of IL dollars. Representative Gunther is supporting the return of these funds. Gunther is pleased with the MOU, but has assured Center directors that the MOU funds will have no impact on the reinstatement of State IL dollars. Mr. Hancox briefly explained the differences between a "budget deficit" and a "budget shortfall."

David reported that the State Rehabilitation Council will be conducting its March meeting at Metro CIL.

State Rehabilitation Council Update: In that the SRC has not met since the first part of December, there was no SRC report.

State Council on Disability Update: Don Westergard reported that the Consortia of Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has an ambitious legislative agenda, which will cover many areas concerning people with disabilities. Efforts to educate legislators about the disability community's issues will continue. The State Council on Disability (SCD) will carry the issues surrounding nursing home relocation to the legislature. The hope is to convince Governor Pawlenty to appoint an Olmstead task force. William Bauer commented that there is an absolute need for the SCD and the CCD to form a coalition of people with disabilities and all disability-related organizations/groups/councils/agencies. Don agreed.

121 Project Update: Due to Gloria Lafriniere's absence, there was no report.

Separation of Education and Advocacy: Lois Johnson requested a discussion concerning whether to retrench the Advocacy and Education Committee into two separate committees. Discussion followed, and Karen Larson walked the council through all of the goals and objectives assigned to advocacy and education. David Hancox volunteered to serve as the SILC's liaison to other organizations/councils pursuing Olmstead; i.e., objectives contained under Goal I of the FFY 05-07 SPIL. Lois Johnson accepted David Hancox's offer, with the proviso that all such activities be reported to the full council.

William Bauer provided an overview of all of the various committees' responsibilities. The consensus was that Advocacy and Education should remain one committee.

Lois Johnson announced that she would entertain a motion to permit any one council member to serve on more than one committee. David Hancox so moved and Phyllis Coppess seconded. There was no discussion and the motion carried with two abstentions.

Approval of the FFY 2004 704 Part I Report: William Bauer announced that all council members received copies of the annual report's final draft and asked if there were any questions, comments, concerns, or requests for "eleventh hour" revisions. Ann Zick moved, Mark Eggen seconded, that the SILC authorize Lois Johnson to sign the FFY 2004 Part I report. Discussion followed and the motion carried with Larry Lura abstaining.

FFY 2005 Committee Appointments: Lois Johnson made the following committee appointments: the finance committee shall be comprised of Bryan Jensen, David Hancox, William Bauer, with Karen Larson serving as chair; advocacy and education is Mark Eggen, Linda Lingen, Roseann Faber, Mary Pennington, Roberta Cich, Karen Larson, Linda Lingen, David Hancox, and Ann Zick with Sharon Johnson tentatively serving as chair; the SPIL committee is Mary Pennington, Bryan Jensen, Phyllis Coppess, William Bauer, and Ann Zick with Lois Johnson serving as chair. The executive committee shall consist of the SILC's officers with Lois Johnson serving as chair.

SILC Letter to the National Governors' Association: Bryan Jensen requested the SILC to submit a letter to the NGA requesting the association's support of MiCASSA. Karen Larson so moved, and David Hancox seconded. Discussion followed and the motion carried. David Hancox and Bryan Jensen shall compose the letter and submit it to William Bauer who will key the letter onto SILC letterhead, submit it to Lois Johnson for her signature, and mail it.

Visitor Comments: There were no visitors during this meeting.

Committee Reports: Karen Larson reported that work is progressing on the issuance of the two nursing home relocation grants for FFY 2005. ILICIL and MCIL were approved for these grants during the December meeting, and once both Centers submit twelve month work plans, budgets and budget narratives, the contracts will be drafted. At this time, the DSU is awaiting the 2005 Part B award notice, which is expected to arrive next week. All other grant contracts are progressing as planned.

David Hancox reported that the Advocacy and Education Committee's Training topics for 2005 include work incentives; SSB's IL program for seniors; minority outreach; successful outreach activities to minority communities for CILs; Metro Mobility and transportation status in the legislature; unserved and underserved populations -- cultural impacts on ability to receive services; updates on important Federal initiatives; interactions with other state councils; parent perspectives -- successes and challenges; DHS: What It is and What They Do; resources for farmers with disabilities.

The focus for the 2005 two-day out-state meeting will be reasonable accommodations, which will include workplace accommodations, and strategies to achieve successful workplace accommodations. A second focus area is outreach to diverse cultures. Next month's training topic is transportation.

Lois reported for the SPIL committee. To date, there is not a great deal to report. Johnson will ask those members absent during the January meeting on which committees they want to serve.

Announcements, Issues, Correspondence: Ann Zick announced that there will be a mental health meeting at the Capitol on February 22. Zick also reported that "Making Your case" is now available on line.

William Bauer and Linda Lingen reported that several vendors producing accessible voting machines will be displaying their products on January 14 at the State Office Building from ten a.m. to seven p.m.

A discussion followed regarding those SILC members who do not have internet service. It was noted that the DD Council pays for an ISP for those members requiring such assistance. One SILC member will check into costs for ISPs in her area, and report back to the full council.

Next Meeting, Adjournment: The next regular meeting of the SILC will be February 10, 2005 from nine a.m. to three p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Midway. The January meeting adjourned at two-thirty p.m.