Members: Barbara "Bobbi" Linn, Chair; Charles McGrady, Treasurer; Anne Pavlak, Secretary; Frances Pizzola, Member-at-Large; James Billy; Joe Bravo; Marianna Brown; Maria Dibble; Gisela Distel; Mary Ewing; A. Georg Fleischer; Michele Greene; Terra House; Sally Johnston; Cheryl Pivorunas; Robert Shepherd.

Ex Officio:: Patricia Bruno, OMRDD; Sharon Flom, CBVH; Bob Gumson, VESID; Greg Jones, Advocate's Office.

Staff: Brad Williams, Executive Director; Alyssa Pfleging, Communications Outreach Coordinator; Stephanie Lawton, Office Manager.

Guests: Isa Dubi; Denise Figueroa, ILCHV; Laura Hagen, CDCI; Rose Marie Roberts, RCIL; Michael Rosetti, Advocate's Office; Teena Willard, SCOIL; Richard and Chris Zachmeyers, CCI.

Absent:

Chris Rosa, Vice Chair; Michael Kennedy; Jack White

Bobbi Linn called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM by welcoming everyone in attendance, acknowledging Ann Marie Tulley and taking roll call. The meeting began with a quorum present.

The Chair requested a motion on the minutes of November 20,1998, and if there were any corrections, additions or changes. Moved by Charles McGrady, second Sally Johnston, to accept the minutes as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Executive Director's Report/B. Williams:

• Monthly activity reports for January and February. Highlights include: All lot of NETWORKING; looking at revenue sources; how moneys were developed and the need that exists and as NYSILC how we could assist that need. Legislative visits. Program activities: Grant Guides Plus workshop; working with Council of Community Services (CCS) to put out a survey on insurance needs. CCS will be a presenter at the COIL conference and possible at the AILCNY summit. Taped next installment of "Points of View." Assessed equipment and staff training needs, have obtained funding from VESID for these needs. Chris Rosa brought up a leadership development training opportunity for youth with disabilities and this was through the President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities and the Governor's designate in each state, Advocate's Office (Rosemary Lamb) is looking at this for next year.
• Grant Writing Workshop - Informal follow-up indicates everyone was very impressed. Planning to take in to a higher level next time. Grants Guide is available for review. NYSILC given a free full page ad in back of back.
• Strategic Grant Plan - Tracking sheet for grants/proposals. RRCEP has verbally agreed to grant, allowing for grant search service. Results will be tracked.
• Annual Report - Draft, please review and provide feedback/corrections.
• SILC Congress '99 - NY and 2-3 other states lead the way for the rest. National position paper should be available for next Council meeting. CA. WI, KS SILC's directly contract Part B money. Illinois did paper outlining their outreach efforts within the state. Indiana did consumer response method survey to evaluate awareness.

Treasurer’s Report:Charles McGrady reported November, December and January financials. Asked that the reports be accepted as presented in packets. Sally Johnston questioned increase in Salaries for November. Explanation of increase was the $3,500+ bonuses for A. Pfleging and S. Lawton.

Charles McGrady moved, seconded by Georg Fleischer, that the reports be accepted. Motion carried unanimously.

Auditor's Report: Self-explanatory. Bob Shepherd questioned "suggestions for improvement." Y2K compliance of vendors was identified as their only suggestion for improvement.

Fran Pizzola moved, second by Bob Shepherd, to accept the auditor's report. Motion carried unanimously.

Executive Committee Report: Anne Pavlak reporting.
The January 8, 1999 Executive Committee meeting minutes are in the packet. At that meeting we reviewed the auditor's report, member attendance, and planned the visioning session and this meeting today. At the February 12, 1999, conference call, Brad spoke of the planning items for this meeting and yesterday's visioning, the Grant Writing workshop and the fact that we had elected not to hold a Service Animal workshop due to insufficient of interest. However, information packets were sent to all CILs regarding Service Animal "Dos and Don'ts" for employers. Agreed to sponsor the COIL conference for $1,000. Set up a sub-committee on Member Recruitment for the Council to look for a slate for the Executive Committee as well as members in general for the Council. Committee assignments were discussed. Public Policy report was given. Printer issue to be handled by Brad.

VESID will be having open recruitment from April through June. Request was made for a list of areas where candidates will be needed. Bob Gumson briefly identified process for recruitment.

Motion made Maria Dibble, second by Joe Bravo, to have Brad Williams look into the process of getting candidates for NYSILC's board to be submitted to VESID and the Regents. Motion carries unanimously.

Motion made by Georg Fleischer, second by Mary Ewing, to accept and approve the Executive Committee Reports of January 8th and February 12th, 1999. Motion carries unanimously.

Recommendation to include Council members in all mailings (i.e., service animal mailing).

Public Policy Committee: Fran Pizzola reported that regularly scheduled meetings are now the second Friday of each month at 10 A.M. Prioritized issues and actions. State Medicaid Director's Plan for "Most Integrated Setting" - letter has been drafted and sent to the State's Attorney General. Awaiting response for the AG's office. Recruited new members for the committee. WIIIA 1998 - S.331 - "Thank You" letter sent to Senator Moynihan. Brad drafted policy and procedures for Committee use in conjunction with NYSILC Bylaws. Tracking forms are being developed to use to track suggestions/issues.

AILCNY policy paper relative on NY-CARES is available. Maria Dibble to send same to NYSILC. Gisela Distel advised on name change from "NY CARES" to "NYS-CARES."

Monitoring & Evaluation Committee: James Billy deferred to Bob Shepherd. Bob reported on the VESID State Consumer Satisfaction Survey results. Results have been sent to the 35 CILs. Workgroup to be started with CIL representatives and Marianna Brown as NYSILC's representative. Much was learned from this first survey, but there is room for improvement. Workgroup will fine tune the survey for future use. SILC needs to see an overview of the results. Information available from survey has its limitations. Next survey is projected for January 2000. For the Federal report, Bob Gumson reported that VESID, not RSA, will again do three site reviews this year - Arise/Oswego, NAILS, and Westchester Minority satellite. First review for last week of April.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Terra House, to accept the Public Policy and the Monitoring & Evaluation Committee reports. Motion passed.

VESID Report: Bob Gumson reported on the re-design of Part B spending. RFP was done for 35 CILS to obtain up to $10,000 training, outreach, development or technology projects. 27 proposals came in. Second phase is geared toward achieving base level technology, will be ongoing for next 2 years, should another $10,000 per CIL. Use will be for VESID specified criteria for hardware, software, assistive technology, training in the use of technology by key users, Internet hookup, dedicated phone lines, etc. VESID is going to re-RFP the Amsterdam Center. VESID had set aside funds for training and technical assistance, model in development for "best practice exchange" between CILs.

NYSILC representatives for site reviews: Westchester Minority - Terra House; ARISE/Oswego - Sally Johnston; NAILS - Bob Shepherd.

CBVH Report: : Sharon Flom reported CBVH has new Director of Field Operations and Program Unit, Allen Harris. CBVH is in the process of holding its "Town Meetings" for the VR State Plan. Syracuse-March 16; New York City-March 23; and White Plains-March 24.

Committee Assignments: Bobbi Linn reviewed the list of committees and asked for council members not currently on committees to sign up. Each council member should be involved with 3 committees. New committee list is attached. Bob Shepherd and Marianna Brown volunteered for a Transition Committee, if approved and established by the Executive Committee. Marketing Committee is the Executive Committee. Public Relations committee has yet to be established.

Open Forum: Maria Dibble provided update on the "IL Celebration" to be held in The Well at the LOB. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Commissioner Richard Mills, Brian McLane, Senator Libous, Assemblyman Sanders, Assemblyman Stringer are scheduled to speak at the celebration.

Bob Shepherd introduced a new project VESID is initiating with schools, Career Linking Project. Transition is a big focus and this project recognizes the different levels of youth served in the VESID District offices.

Laura Hagen spoke about VESID Consumer Satisfaction survey. Spousal Refusal option with Medicaid, status change being proposed. We need to oppose the change. Grant Writing workshop was excellent, focused on positioning, not writing the grant.

Sally Johnston reported that the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State is doing well. Beginning the 501c(3) incorporation process. CILs are well represented, more are welcome.

Sally also reported about a coalition in development in Onondaga County regarding home care services. The coalition's purpose is in support of the Medicaid plan for "integrated setting." Statement of Common Principles have been drawn up. Sally read the full statement, requesting the Council consider adopting it.

Motion by Maria Dibble, second by Joe Bravo, to adopt the Statement of Principles.
Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned until June 13, 1999.