Meetings and Minutes

Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
October 12, 2005

Junction Center for Independent Living (JCIL)
Wise Virginia

Membership Present:
Susan Prokop, Philip Sieck, Tim Edwards, Jenny McKenzie, Jeff Pittman, Marcia DuBois, Lewis Atkins, Alan Schlank, Sheila Cox-Combs

Ex-Officio Membership Present:
Jane Ward Solomon - Department of Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)

Conference Call Participants:
George Hubbs, Celestine Walker, Bill Ward, Stephen Joseph, Doug Small

Membership Absent:
Theresa Preda - Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Stan Feuerberg, Marisa Laios

Staff Present:
Lisa Grubb

Scheduled Guests:
Eleanor Williams - DRS Program Director, Dennis Horton - JCIL Executive Director and staff

Chairpersons Comments
Chair Susan Prokop opened the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

Welcome to everyone
Thank you to JCIL for hosting the SILC meeting by providing meeting space, refreshments, and assisting with meeting preparation.
Thank you to SILC Member Jenny McKenzie for arranging the tour with the Virginia Relay Center. Appreciation also expressed to the Relay Center for a wonderful and educational tour.

Thank you to the University of Virginia's College at Wise for a wonderful dinner and presentation.

A special thank you to Angie and Loretta from the Relay Center who offered to provide interpreter services for our meeting.
New members were welcomed to the Council. Training and orientation will be provided for all new members at the January Council meeting.

New members are:
Stan Seuerberg, parent of a child with a disability
Doug Small, person with a disability
Marisa Laios, youth with a disability
All attendees introduced themselves.
Eleanor Williams' was recognized for her upcoming retirement. Gratitude was expressed for her support of the Council.
Public Comment
Chair Susan Prokop opened the floor for public comment.

Jeff Pittman, Council Treasurer, took the floor for public comment. Pittman shared concern about an Olmstead compliance issue occurring for elderly people with mental illnesses in his area. Chair Prokop advised Pittman to draft a letter stating his concerns to Julie Stanley and send it to Staff Lisa Grubb to submit on behalf of the Council. On a positive note, Pittman shared that public transportation is now available for individuals with disabilities in the South Boston area.

Stephen Joseph, Youth Council Member, shared that Daniel Davis with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) had shared with him a contact who had served on the youth panel at the NCIL conference. He will report her contact information and the outcome of his follow-up at the January meeting.

Betty Bevins, Clinch Independent Living Center, welcomed the Council to Southwest Virginia and gave the Council an open invitation to return and meet in Grundy Virginia.

There being no additional public comment, Prokop closed the floor. Hosting CIL Address Dennis Horton, JCIL Executive Director, welcomed the Council to Southwest Virginia. JCIL staff and board present were introduced. A presentation of programs and history was given by JCIL staff. Vice-Chair Tim Edwards commended Horton for leading the way in providing Leadership Development training.

SILC Business Meeting
Chair Prokop opened the floor for the business meeting.

Executive Report
Council Chair Prokop shared the Executive Report.

All Committees were reminded to complete the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) grid. This is an ongoing task and must be completed at each meeting and reported to staff.

Community Action Specialist (CAS) Review Meetings were discussed. The Executive Committee recommended that all future meetings of this team be held prior to the quarterly Council meeting. Volunteers are needed from Council membership to serve on this team.
A SILC representative is needed to serve on the State Rehab Council for DBVI. Meetings will be quarterly in Richmond. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office suggested that we enlist new members for this position. Doug Small agreed to consider the appointment and to discuss it further with Jane Ward Solomon, staff for DBVI.

The NCIL annual membership is due and has been budgeted.

Council was advised to review the SILC Snapshot form in the meeting packet. Volunteers for collecting the information were solicited and the Executive Committee identified as lead for the initial stages of this process. Members were directed to contact Lisa or Susan if they wished to assist with the Snapshot organization. The process will go as follows:
December '05 ~ we will begin the snapshot process; this step will be completed by SILC staff and Executive Committee.
January '06 ~ the draft will be presented to the Council for discussion. An ad hoc committee will be created to identify potential goals for the Council's development.

April '06 ~ Participate in a Snapshot Retreat.
Membership Legislative Appointments were discussed. More meetings are scheduled to occur. All members who had not yet made appointments were encouraged to meet with their legislators between now and the General Assembly session in order to introduce their representatives to the SILC, its mission and its goals.

Chair Prokop shared that she has been seeking clarification of the SILC's authority as defined by Virginia's Attorney General's office versus the authority stated in the Rehab Act. She has had discussions with Tom Kelly, Chair of the Independent Living Unit of the Federal Rehab Services Administration, about this divergence of interpretation and planned follow up communications with Mr. Kelly as well as members of the General Assembly.

Secretary's Report
Secretary Lewis Atkins opened the floor to discuss draft minutes from July 2005 Council meeting.

The following changes were noted:

Add Council Member Sheila Cox Combs as being absent.

Council Member Jenny McKenzie identified several grammatical errors. Those corrections will be shared with Lisa and corrected accordingly.

Marcia DuBois moved to accept the minutes with corrections. Lewis Atkins moved to second the motion. There being no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer's Report
Treasurer Jeff Pittman opened the floor to discuss the SILC budget. Pittman deferred to Williams to share DRS' financial summary.

2005 Part B Carry Forward is $20,650.22. This amount is budgeted under SILC Administration
2006 Part B Currently operating on a Continuation Grant, award notification not received.
2006 Innovation and Expansion (I&E) (006) Current Balance: $26,686.57
Williams shared that she is currently working on the renewal modifications for the CAS contracts. The floor was opened for questions.
DuBois requested the Council to consider asking DRS Commissioner to restore I&E monies. Many SILC's nationally receive I&E dollars for operating funds. Chair Prokop agreed and offered to seek a meeting with the Commissioner on this topic in January
Committee Reports

Chair Susan Prokop opened the floor for Committee Reports.

Consumer Education Committee
Committee Chair Marcia DuBois shared the following:

The SILC website has transitioned to DRS' sponsorship. Development is still occurring.
The SILC annual report is in process. The goal is to be completed prior to General Assembly.
The SILC brochure is in process. Council members will be receiving a sample to review before the next mee