DRAFT MINUTES

STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL

Leadership Development & Advocacy Committee

Monday, December 14, 2009      

 12 Noon – 2 PM

93 Gooding Avenue, Suite 3,  Bristol, RI 02809

 

Members Present:  Christina Battista; Wheeler Clemons; Kristen Connors; Margarita Grome; Jean Lawlor (speaker phone); Anna Liebenow, Co-Chair; Christianne Montoya; Jason Pisano; Vanessa Volz; Mary E. Wambach, Co-Chair.

Staff:  Camille Pansa, Executive Director; Lisel Rockwood, Program Assistant.

Interpretor: Elizabeth Nadolski.

 

1.       Welcome new members and Introductions:  Camille Pansa welcomed all. Self-introductions were made.  

  1. Review and approval of November minutes:  previously sent. A motion was made by Kristen Connors and seconded by Christianne Montoya                       to accept the minutes as written. Vote passed unanimously. 
  2. Meeting date changes (Jan., Feb.): The January and February meetings will be held on the second week of the month, January 11th and February 8th, due to holidays on the third Mondays.
  3. Maximizing Potential: restructuring for 2010:  Beginning in January, the committee will break into smaller sub-committees with common goals, such as Mental Health Advocacy. Sub-committees will meet outside of the LDA group, converse through the phone/email, and report back to the LDA committee at the monthly meetings. The ADA event was discussed and many ideas were shared. Preliminary plans and sub-committees will be finalized at the January LDA meeting.
  4. Committee reports (if any): Anna Liebenow reported that she was invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Kennedy Plaza and introduction of new RIPTA buses. The new busses have better designed front lifts. She also had the opportunity to meet RIPTA’s board members and members of the New England Transit Authority. Anna is a member of the RIPTA’s ATAC (Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee).
  5. Position Paper:  Mary Wambach spoke about the difference between sheltered workshops (enclaves) and supported employment. She is concerned as there is talk about integrated employment beginning with enclaves. Wheeler Clemons stated he would like to work on this initiative.
  6. Announcement, New Business: Jean Lawlor announced that the RIDVP will be reviewing their bylaws at an open Steering Committee meeting in January. All interested LDA members were invited to attend.  
  7. “Good, Bad and Ugly of 2009” and “Wishes for 2010”: Thoughts and hopes were shared by all.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary E. Wambach

Anna Liebenow