NYSILC Full Council Meeting

November 19, 2004

Present: Doug Hovey, Chair; Mel Tanzman, Vice Chair; Mike Godino, Treasurer; Alexander Wood, Secretary; Sharon Shapiro-Lacks, Member-at-Large; Judy Avner, Joe Bravo, Maria Dibble, Mark Hernandez, Ron Bassman, Sharon Bradbury, Sharon Flom, Bob Gumson, Greg Jones, Brad Williams, Stephanie Slater.

Absent: Iris Bannister, Randy Black-Schantz, Dennis Boyd, Michael Burgess, Marguerite Haring, Michael Kink, Amy LaShomb, Steve Lovi, Pratik Patel, Michael Zich.

Guests: Sylvia Bunce, Tracie Crandell, Christina Curry, Denise Figueroa, Chris Hilderbrandt, Laurel Kelley, Lenny Liguori, Aileen Martin, Kim Smith, Chris Zachmeyer, Jeff Zemala.

Open Forum: This session was given over to RRCEP II to provide "Board Training/Board Recruitment Strategies," an interactive presentation.

Minutes: Approval of minutes of September 10, 2004. Tabled until March 2005 meeting, lack of quorum.

Executive Director’s Report: Brad Williams reporting:

• Attended the annual IL-NET training for the national project in Houston.
• Attended and presented at the NYSILC VOTE! 2004 Training held for the SSAN in Albany.
• Participated in a NYAIL/NYSILC strategic planning session with Richard Male & Associates in Albany.
• Attended a Region II RRCEP bi-annual advisory board meeting in Buffalo.
• Met with Ted Galusha in Warrensburg to finalize their responsibilities under the DEC consent decree. Working with Ted - DEC has completed 25% of what they need to have done, but it is quality work. Year 1 was pure resistance, but once the attitudinal barrier was removed, definite progress has been made.
• Participated in the NYSILC/NYAIL Caucus in Albany by Brad co-presented a voting discrimination complaint form training session at the NYSILC/NYAIL Caucus in Albany.
• Participated in the NYSILC Best Practices Conference in Albany by Brad co-presented a voting discrimination complaint form training session at the NYSILC/NYAIL Caucus in Albany
• Zogby (as part of SPIL) - Need to obtain data on voting trends of people with disabilities, telephone survey mid-October, set-up an exit poll for November. Brad has Zogby poll summary, press release will be written, and raw data will not be shared.

Treasurer’s Report:

Tabled, no quorum.

Recognition Awards - Maria Dibble and Joe Bravo were presented with awards recognizing their years on NYSILC. Joan Gundersen received a NYSILC's Lifetime Achievement Award at lunch.

Committee Reports:

Executive Committee Mel Tanzman reporting.

Committee/Subcommittee Reports:

• Election Reform Committee - Sharon Shapiro-Lacks reporting. AutoMark machine - Mike Godino. Optical scanner/paper ballot. Lawsuit - NYSILC will capture data so that a DOJ complaint can be filed. DOJ has a HAVA Division that became active 6 months ago. Seeking individuals who have documented proof of barriers to voting over time.
• Housing Committee - Alexander Wood reporting. Members met with Kim Hill to work on legislation. A) Include 504 in State Law. B) Mandatory regs. C) Ban income discrimination in housing (if Sec. 8, then no to renting). D) Housing Trust Fund.
• Inclusive Education Committee - Chris Zachmeyer. This committee has been inactive. However, it is being resurrected and will be chaired by Pratek Patel and Laurene Reichardt, a Catskill staff member.
• Transportation Committee - Brad Williams reporting. Looked at survey. Worked through strategy-wise as to what people need. Informational packet being developed. Will issue paper at the end of this fall's summit.
• Travel - Brad Williams reporting. Working on a pamphlet and questionnaire to find problem areas. Committee is beginning to gather information to take action
• MISCC Committee - Mel Tanzman reporting. Nursing Facility Transition Bill/Medicaid Waiver - Governor signed it October 2004. Introduced in P-O-E System. Proposal to develop a Mega-Waiver (we are opposed to this), reaching out to alliance in senior coalitions. Is there an RFP? RFI has gone out. RFP must be on the way.
• CBVH SRC - Todd Eggert. No report available

VESID Report: (Robert Gumson)

Fred Ayers reporting for Bob Gumson. Training for new Executive Director's will be held in a couple of weeks. Promises to be good and not scare away ED's.

CVBH Report:Sharon Flom reporting. CBVH has just issued a 3-5 year Strategic Plan, available to NYSILC members. A.10932 (Senator Maziar's/Assemblyman Weizenburg) Move CBVH into Office for the Blind (under Executive Branch). Office of Children and Family Services can take a position, CBVH cannot.

New Business: Ron Bassman - New member orientation at March meeting. Ron and Randy have proposed having an informal dinner with new members and "buddying-up" new members with seasoned members.

Open Forum: Denise Figueroa/NYAIL. Legislative Day is February 7th. Reception at LOB. Next NYAIL meeting will be February 8. Also, Executive Director search is ongoing.

Meeting adjourned at 2:15 PM. No motion, no quorum.