December 11, 2009, Friday

11:45 – 2:00 p.m.

93 Gooding Ave, Suite 3

Bristol, RI 02809

Members present: Kristen Connors, 1^st Vice Chair; Rick Costa, Secretary; Rui Goncalves; Elizabeth Graves, Chairperson; Karen Hanrahan; Anna Liebenow, Leadership Development and Advocacy, Co-Chair; Tony Pierre (not present for votes); Ron Racine; Heidi Showstead, 2^nd Vice Chair; Vanessa Volz; Mary Wambach, Leadership Development and Advocacy, Co-Chair.

Volunteers: Madeline Colon; Jason Pisano.

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

Guest: Ellen Mauro, Administrator, Office of Institutional and Community Based Services.

Interpretor: Dona Lombardi

Welcome and Introductions: Self introductions, person by person, were made.

2. Minutes of the September 30, 2009: previously sent.

A motion was made by Kristen Connors and seconded by Mary Wambach to accept minutes as written. The vote passed unanimously. For: Kristen Connors; Rick Costa; Rui Goncalves; Elizabeth Graves; Karen Hanrahan; Heidi Showstead; Vanessa Volz; Mary Wambach.

Against: none. Abstention: Anna Liebenow.

3. 704 Report/Vote/Approval: previously sent. A motion was made by Kristen Connors and seconded by Rick Costa to accept the 704 Report as written with authority given to Camille Pansa to update information from the Centers and other minor data changes as needed. The vote passed unanimously. For: Kristen Connors; Rick Costa; Rui Goncalves; Elizabeth Graves; Karen Hanrahan; Anna Liebenow; Heidi Showstead; Vanessa Volz; Mary Wambach. Against: none.

4. State Plan 2011-13: timeline previously sent. Liz Graves stated how important the State Plan is to the Council and how all Council members should be involved in the process of writing it. Mary Wambach stated that the Centers’ involvement in the State Plan and the 704 Report is crucial and hoped that the Center’s Directors, Lorna Ricci and Leo Canuel can make accommodations to their schedules to attend the meetings. The next meeting will be held on January 6, 2010. Time to be announced.

5. Council Initiatives for 2010: Mary Wambach presented a list of initiatives recommended by the LDA committee. She also stated the committee will remain vigilant about all options discussed and be responsive to new issues as they arise.

Ø ADA 20^th Celebration

Ø Mental Health Advocacy

Ø Disability History Week Bill & Curriculum

Ø RIVER

Ø Global Waiver

Ø Workshop ideas included Legislative Education, Disability Symposium, and Mental Health Education.

6. Committee Reports:

Finance/Resource Committee: Camille Pansa reported that the audit was completed and will be reviewed by the auditor at the January Finance/Resource Committee meeting. Preliminary result for FY 2009 is break even. There are two new committee members.

Leadership Development and Advocacy Committee:

Mary Wambach and other committee members agreed that this growing committee is very energetic with a great group of enthusiastic and dedicated people who enjoy working together.

7. Executive Director’s Report: previously sent. Camille Pansa

stated that recruitment has been surprisingly good despite the lack of response from the advertisements in the newspaper. Four new members have been recruited.

8. Chairperson’s Report: previously sent. Liz Graves commented on the importance of the 704 Report, State Plan, recruitment, and collaborating with other agencies.

9. New Business: none.

10. Educational Presentation: Ellen Mauro, Administrator, Office of Institutional and Community Based Services, presented a power point presentation on the RI Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver and its impact on services. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period. There was insufficient time remaining to review the Collector of Bedford Street documentary film on developmental disabilities.

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Costa

Secretary