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Originally Processed With FOIA(s): FOIA Number: S S FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential Library Staff. Record Group/Collection: Donated Historical Materials Collection/Office of Origin: Frieden, Lex, Collection Series: Disability Rights Organizations Subseries: OA/ID Number: 52057 Folder ID Number: 52057-005 Folder Title: Endependence Center of VA (Minutes) [January - April 1986] Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: DRAFT Minutes of the ECNV Executive Committee Meeting April 16, 1986 The meeting commenced at 6:20 pm. Board members present: John Collins, Joyce Frieden, Ruth Phillips, Larry Allison, Gretchen Menn, Robert Gorski; Tom Deniston arrived during discussion of item #4. Staff members present: Sharon Mistler, Barbara Gilley, Monica Hall. 1. The Committee approved the agenda proposed by John Collins after switching items #E and #F. (see attachment #1) 2. The Committee approved the minutes of the March 19 Board meeting. 3. The Committee agreed to take up "review of Board files" under agenda item "executive committee procedures and operation." 4. Committee Reports * MEMBERSHIP Joyce Frieden distributed copies of Membership Committee organizing documents (see attachment #2) and reported that Membership would meet in April. Frieden wants to include a deaf person on the committee and to avoid a preponderance of Board members sitting on the Membership Committee. One goal Frieden proposes for the committee is to encourage ECNV members to eventually to be on the Board and to assume other positions of responsibility. Frieden would also like to structure membership fee schedule SO that a reduced rate is available for youth members * FINANCE Ruth Phillips reported that Tom Deniston agreed to be on the Committee and they both agreed that the Finance Committee should be a small committee that adds people when specific skills are needed. Besides those activities for Finance suggested by John Collins, Phillips felt that long- range fund raising should also be part of the Committee's responsibility. Sharon Mistler suggested Jerry Whiting (currently a member of the advisory council) for the Finance Committee. John Collins observed that Finance should be careful not to intrude on day-to-day fund raising. * PERSONNEL Gretchen Menn reported that Personnel would meet on April 20 and would focus initially on reviewing personnel policies and procedures. Staff input would be sought. After completing the review, Menn felt that the Committee need only become active as necessary to work with emergent matters. Robert Gorski suggested that Personnel could also identify appro- priate resources that would strengthen morale, motivation, and cooperation of Board and staff members. John Collins suggested that Personnel consider including interagency issues in its area of responsibility. John Collins and Sharon Mistler are ex officio members of Personnel; Ruth Phillips is a temporary member of the committee because of her previous work on the personnel policy. Larry Allison is also a member of the committee. DRAFT Executive Committee Minutes page 2 April 19, 1986 item #4 continued: * DEVELOPMENT Robert Gorski reported that two Board members - Doris Ray and Gwyneth Rochlin - were interested in being members of the committee. Gorski had contacted Robert Ruffner (an advisory council member) about membership, Ruffner expressed willingness to assist the committee, but declined to be a formal member of the committee. Sharon Mistler emphasized that Committees make use of the staff members assigned to each Committee. Mistler also raised the issue of having a separate committee for fund raising because she and the staff need help in this area. Ruth Phillips suggested that Finance and Development arrange some type of joint meeting to explore fund raising and how best to determine each committee's area of responsibility. Gretchen Menn suggested that at the next meeting of the Advisory Council, the agenda should include a chance for the Council to discuss what it could do to support or create a fund raising committee. * LEGISLATION John Collins reported that no organizing activity had occurred and that he has no expectation for any in the immediate future. When the Committee does become active, he will encourage it to take a narrow focus on legislative matters, limiting its area of activity to those legisla- tive matters that directly impact the operation of independent living programs. The Executive Committee approved all Committee reports. 5. Center Report Sharon Mistler reported that presently the number one issue with the Center is burnout. The staff are being overworked because they are dedi- cated people and facing exponentially growing demands from participants, the community, other agencies, and fellow staff members. Moreover, staff con- tinues to struggle with many participants who are extrememly difficult and deprived situations, for example, homelessness. The press of demands is causing staff to work after hours at the Center and even to work after hours at home Barbara Gilley is resigning to take a position at the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Board and burnout was a major motivation for her job change. All other staff are experiencing burnout, including Mistler herself. Barbara Gilley reported on the demands of her position at ECNV. She emphsized mushrooming participant demands - for example, five new housing demands in one week. Because people can often only be contacted at night and on weekends, she has been doing Center work after hours at her home. The National Rehabilitation Hospital generates SO much business that Gilley has on occasion created an "ad hoc" office for herself in the hospital lounge. Gilley reported that her patience and her ability to cope with job stress have worn thin. DRAFT page 3 Executive Committee Minutes April 19, 1986 (item #5, continued): Mistler and the other staff present made additional comments about work-related stress: In the last 1 1/2 years, there have been three suicides among participants. The independence model is suffering at the Center because it is easier for staff to make decisions for participants. Often, ECNV is serving disabled persons given up on by other service agencies. Case loads are too high for ECNV services - which are still in the develop- ment stage. Some staff are overworking to the detriment of their health. It is expected that Virginia's DRS will try to pass Gramm-Rudman cuts along to ILPs, despite the impropriety of such action. Staff uncertainty con- tinues over the appropriate response to make when Board members suggest specific actions be done and when they request assistance from staff members. Since the Center has received only one request for basic independent living training, this project will be de-emphasized. Demand for community education programs is high. Barbara Gilley's position will be taken over by Marie Lynch. Gretchen Menn asked if burnout could have been prevented. Robert Gorski moved that the Board (1) permit the staff to experiment with measures to reduce stress, and (2) direct the Executive Director to report at the May Board meeting on the measures taken up to that time, as well as the staff's recommendations for long-term policies to prevent burnout. Motion passed. Ruth Phillips moved that when a Board member requests some action be taken by a staff member, the request should be first submitted to Sharon Mistler in writing. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. Attachment ENDEPENDENCE CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Sharon Mistler Executive Director April 11, 1986 To: All Board Members and Sharon Mistler From: John Collins Subject: Executive Committee Meeting On April 16 at 6:00 pm, the Executive Committee of the ECNV Board will meet at the Endependence Center. All Board members who are not members of the Executive Committee are invited to attend and participate in discussion. In preparation for the Executive Committee meeting, I have drafte the following as a proposed agenda: A. approve the agenda B. approve minutes of March 19 Board meeting C. review of Board files maintained at the Center D. committee reports 1. Membership 2. Finance 3. Personnel 4. Development 5. Legislative E. discuss executive committee procedures and operation F. Center report G. other business 4214 9th St. N., Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 525-3268 Voice/TDD Attach ment#2 PROPOSED MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS CHAIRPERSON - Joyce Frieden 370-1111 504 W. Taylor Run Pkwy Alexandria, Va 22314 Sharon Wilken 634-7833 10006 Murname St. Vienna, Va 22180 Gwyneth Rochlin 525-5692 4622 Fourth Rd. Arlinton, Va 22203 Etsuko Mashino 488-7684 907 6th St, S.W., Apt.516 Washington, D. C. 20024 Missy Cassel 370-1111 504 W. Taylor Run Pkwy Alexandria, Va 22314 Doris Ray 893-8814 1269 beverly Rd. McLean, Va. 22101 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE GUIDELINES I. Composition: A. The Chairperson of the committee is appointed by the President and approved by the Board. B. Three Vice-chairpersons are appointed by the Chairperson and approved by the Board. Each Vice-chair is responsible for one special area. 1. New recruitment 2. Renewals 3. Technical operations C. Members at-large are appointed by the Chair and approved by the board. II. Terms: A. All terms of service shall be for one year. B. The position of Chairperson shall not be held more than two consecutive terms. C. The positions of Vice-chairperson shall not be held more than four consecutive terms. D. The maximum length of time any individual may serve on the membership committee is six consecutive years. E. Terms of the membership committee shall begin in December and end in November of the following year. III Meetings: A. Committee meetings are held on even numbered months, or as called by the Chairperson. B. A majority of the current committee membership constitutes a quorum. C. Three consecutive absences may be considered grounds for termination as a committee member at the discretion of the Chairperson. IV Responsibilities: A. Subcommittee responsibilities - 1. New recruitment subcommittee shall be reponsible for creating a packet of information to educate and involve prospective new members, and planning campaigns to encourage membership. 2. Renewals subcommittee shall be responsible for alerting present members of up coming renewal dates, and establish and maintain internal and external awards ceremonies. 3. Technical operations subcommittee shall be responsible for up dating computerized membership lists, creating lists of members interested in committee work, producing mailing labels , and copying and distributing membership materials as requested by other subcomittees and the full committee. B. Full committee responsibilities- 1. The full committee shall recommend membership fee structure for approval by the full board. 2. The full committee shall establish and maintain lists of interested board and committee members. 3. All materials and plans by the sub committees shall be approved by the full committee before being sent to the Board for approval. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON JOB DESCRIPTION I. BUILD AMD MAINTAIN A REASONABLE NUMBER OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS (5 MINIMUM) A. RECRUIT VICE-CHAIRPERSON(S B. RECRUIT APPROPRIATE EXPERTS AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR ADVISORS C. RECRUIT MEMBERS FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED POPULATIONS II. HOLD ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS REGULARLY (MINIMUM 4 PER YEAR) A. RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING PRINTED MATERIAL READ AT MEETINGS FOR SIGHT IMPAIRED MEMBERS B. RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING INTERPRETER PRESENT AT MEETINGS FOR HEARING IMPAIRED MEMBERS C. RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING MEETINGS HELD IN PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE BUILDINGS FOR MOBILITY IMPAIRED MEMBERS III. REPORT ACTIVITIES A. KEEP MINUTES OF ALL MEETINGS B. GIVE VERBAL REPORTS OF BOARD ACTIVITY TO COMMITTEE C. GIVE WRITTEN REPORTS OF COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES TO BOARD IV. ADHERE TO GUIDELINES OF COMMITTEE A. DISTRIBUTE BOARD APPROVED GUIDELINES TO EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER B. RESPOND TO SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO GUIDELINES C. SUBMIT ANY CHANGES TO GUIDELINES TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL JF-3/86 ENDEPENDENCE CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Sharon Mistler May 12, 1986 Executive Director To: Members of the Board From: John Collins Subject: Materials for next meeting of the Board On Wednesday, May 21, a meeting of the Board of ECNV will be held at the Center and starting at 6:00 pm. Enclosed with this memo are minutes of the April meeting of the Executive Committee and a report that the Development Committee will make at the Board meeting next week. The major topic of the Center Reprot given at the April meeting of the Executive Committee was the high degree of stress that working at the Center was causing staff to experience. Sharon Mistler has reported to me recently that feelings of stress have lessened appreciably in the last few weeks. Among the developments at the Center which have contributed to this improved situation are: Mistler is making staff take reasonable time off; she is counseling them to embark on new tasks and duties cautiously; the grant proposal to the state is finished a week early; Brenda Plum has decided to take a month of administrative leave and then explore opportunities to work part-time at ECNV. I have no breakthroughs to report about a new facility. One positive develop- ment involves the Arlington County relocation office, which has started to provide the Center with leads to office spaces on the market. Virginia's new governor - Bailies - plans to spend several days in Northern Virginia in July. The Journal newspaper has asked the community to submit suggestions of places where the governor should spend time while in this part of the state, and I have submitted ECNV's name and a description of what we do in hopes of getting the governor to visit the Center. My proposed agenda for the May Board meeting is as follows: A. approve the agenda MARCH Board B. approve minutes of April Executive Committee meeting C. Committee reports 11. Membership 2. Finance help 8. Personnel 4. Development 5. Legislative D. Center report E. Executive Committee procedures and operations F. Other business Sports exer 4214 9th St. N., Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 525-3268 Voice/TDD laws to tee 81 Proposed Agenda for ECNV, Inc. Directors Meeting Endependence Center of Northern Virginia And L 4214 Ninth Street, North Galling March 19, 1986 A. Approve Agenda B. Approve Minutes of February 19, 1986 meeting C. Report on Training 1. Spring Training Calendar MArie HIPPS development etc HP 2. Transition to Independence Training Debie IILP's Fed D. Review Committees Statement & Goals of ECNV E. Report on Status of the Facility and the Spring Move F. Center Report 6. Other Business H. Adjourn free Dates on the ECNV calendar: April 3, noon, Thursday, ECNV Advisory Council Quarterly Meeting April 12, 10:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday, EQUIP-DEMO DAY 86 Kemi's for food -legislation State coal insurance benifit ENDEPENDENCE CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Robert Gorski Sharon Mistler President Executive Director Board of Directors April 11, 1986 To: All Board Members and Sharon Mistler From: John Collins Subject: Executive Committee Meeting On April 16 at 6:00 pm, the Executive Committee of the ECNV Board will meet at the Endependence Center. All Board members who are not members of the Executive Committee are invited to attend and participate in discussion. In preparation for the Executive Committee meeting, I have drafte the following as a proposed agenda: A. approve the agenda B. approve minutes of March 19 Board meeting C. review of Board files maintained at the Center D. committee reports 1. Membership 2. Finance 3. Personnel 4. Development 5. Legislative E. discuss executive committee procedures and operation F. Center report G. other business 4214 9th St. N., Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 525-3268 Voice/TDD DRAFT ECNV Board Meetings March 19, 1986 The meeting commenced at 6:15 pm. Present were Board members: John Collins, Dale Brown, Joyce Frieden, Gwyneth Rochlin, Robert Gorski, and Gretchen Menn. Doris Ray arrived during discussion of agenda item #4; Larry Allison arrived during discussion of item #5. Staff members present were Brenda Plum, Michael Frisenger, and Sharon Mistler. A visitor, Myla Riggs, arrived during discussion of item #4. 1. The agenda submitted by John Collins was approved. 2. The minutes of the previous Board meeting were approved. 3. Sharon Mistler briefly described the contents of the report packet, a copy of which had been provided to each Board member. In greater detail, she described progress with developing a calendar of training activities for participants. A tentative calendar - the content of which comes from in-house discussions and from participant feedback - will be formulated and mailed out in order to solicit sign-ups. The number of positive responses will determine the final calendar. Marie Lynch is coordinating this program - which is separate and different from the training program coordinated by Debbie Eshelmanm, which is a more formal training program with highly structured activities and for which participants will all have IILP's drafted. Mistler asked Board members for suggested resource people for spring training programs. Mistler also reported that the Center is receiving calls from disabled professionals who report experiencing stress related to possible discrimina- tion at their places of work. The callers are typically unaware of Virginia's new state law and the possibilities for redress. One objective for the Center next year, according to Mistler, will be to establish a fee for service schedule. The Alexandria Housing brochure will likely be completely drafted by mid-May. The Center has had an outstanding record of assisting disabled persons locate personal care attendants. One month ago, 30 disabled persons were on a waiting list; now the Center has 3 personal care attendant applicants who are looking for placement. Coordination with Woodrow Wilson is improving, as evidenced by that institution referreing patients to the Center prior to discharge. Mistler asked the Board for its opinion about ECNV participating in a possible state council of independent living programs. Some interest for such a council has been long standing in the state, and it has been intensified by the confused input to the legislature earlier this year. The National Council on Independent Living has declinded to reconsider its new dues schedule and so the Center has paid the Council $400 for the present year. Mistler reported that only 2 of the 6 ILPs in Virginia have renewed membership in the national organization. Future fund raising possibilities include researching contacts at Democratic National Committee for funding sources interested in Asian causes, and another attempt to apply to the National Institute on Handicapped Research for funds to develop the simulation game Jericho. June's information packet will include one-page write-ups on each service area. DRAFT Minutes ECNV Board March 19, 1986 4. John Collins reported on how the Center contributed to an effort to improve the regulations governing the Housing Assistance program in Alexandria. The Regional Housing Authority has been using a definition of disability based on the receipt of disability benefits. Consequently, many disabled persons have been denied housing assistance. Center staff had discussions with Housing Authority staff at the same time that the Authority was receiving word that the federal HUD was contemplating a law suit. As a result, the Authority now uses the HUD definition of disability and will change the wording on the application form. Other housing authorities in the state may replicate the reforms at the Alexandria Regional Housing Authority. 5. On the matter on Board committees, John Collins reported that four Board members had, since the February meeting, expressed interest in serving on a committee: Joyce Frieden on Membership; Ruth Phillips on Finance; Robert Gorski on Development; Gretchen Menn on Personnel. Collins hopes that the Legislation Committee will be limited in scope to independent living issues and developing ECNV positions, as distinct from monitoring the legislative process. Gretchen Menn moved that the four individuals who expressed interest in serving on Board committees be designated the chairs of the committees for which they expressed interest; that the chairs appoint additional members to their committees by the April executive committee meeting; and that the committees present their objectives at the May Board meeting. During discussion the Board agreed that the committees should plan to have long standing goals and objectives that will change over time; will have the ability to establish subcomittees; can include non-Board members as committee members, except for the Personnel Committee; and that the Board approves committee membership. Collins suggested that his memo on Board Committees (see Attachment #1) be considered a first step toward defining committee goals and objectives. He also recommended that only initially should the Finance Committee be chaired by the Board Treasurer. The Board approved the motion designat the chairs of the four committees. Robert Gorski moved that committee members must also be members of the Endependence Center of Northern Virginia. The motion passed with one vote opposed. 6. No positive developments have occurred in the search for a new facility for the Center. Locating at Randolph Towers is no longer a serious possibility. 7. Sharon Mistler confirmed that the Center has been and will continue mailing monthly Board packets to Board members absent from Board and executive committee meetings. Also, she agreed to analyze the possibility of pro- ducing Board mailings in large print, in order to qualify for free mailing. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 pm. Attachment #1 TO: ECNV, Inc. BOARD of DIRECTORS FROM: John Collins JIII, President DATE: March 2, 1986 SUBJECT: Sketches of Board Committee Missions Outlined The Board voted on February 19th to establish four committees on membership, finance, program, and personnel. These committees of the Board will be formalized in March with membership set and staff support arranged. Please review the following rough thoughts, add to them, and make your comments for inclusion and your participation interest known to me, before the Wednesday, March 19th Board meeting. Draft notes about the new committees include: MEMBERSHIP -- Responsible for planning membership structure & campaigns including setting pace and designing materials for March-December 1986 Bring aboard volunteers to support ECNV in 1986 and beyond Recommend action on membership policies and actions to Board Develop approaches to serving less-urban NoVa constituencies o FINANCE Build a sound fiscal team of financial advisors around ECNV Uphold financial practices Assist in lease and other ECNV move negotiations DEVELOPMENT Develop short and long-term goals for Board planning cycles Monitor ECNV development services for Board Coordinate with Advisory Council and DD grant advisors PERSONNEL (for the short-run the Executive Committee serves as) Coordinate personnel policies as set by Board & Policy Manual Work towards cooperation with other IL Organizations Bring all participants, volunteers, and employees towards acceptance of ECNV goals and policies Official conduit for any grievances brought to ECNV Director's Report Enclosed in your packet you will find copies of the monthly fiscal report and the monthly statistical reports submitted to DRS. Program area reports include reports from the Transition to Independence training program, the regular training program, and information and referral, you will also find a copy of the latest newsletter. Spring has brought a high activity level to the ECNV staff. A draft of the Alexandria Housing brochure is being completed. We have a roster of PCA's needing work. All of our participants requesting PCA's have located and hired them. Our housing survey is in for reprinting and we plan on wider disemination through newsletters of other groups. A potential offering of training classes and workshops have been listed in the newsletter. Thirty days is being allocated for response and then the training classes will be formally announced. Individual training is ongoing. We are involved in several advocacy issues in addition to our usual. A group home has been opened that is not accessible to all of its occupants and ECNV is providing T/A to the home on modifications. Several participants have requested that an advocate be present at their IDT meetings. The Deaf Oriental Support Group is starting this week. The Information packet is being drafted and discussions are ongoing with the printer. An advisory committee meeting is called for noon on April 3. the center In the state, the HUVA executive committee hired Ted Ferrer to be Executive Director. Letters have been submitted from various chapters asking for a special board meeting to vote on the hire. We have been contacted by John Chappel and Tony Young requesting support for the hire. I have responded that ECNV is not a member and we therefore have no right to take a stand. I have referred calls to Robert Gorski as a contact for HUNVA. There is growing interest throughout the state to form a state counil of independent living centers. There is a meeting Friday of all CIL directors and part of the agenda includes discussion time on the issue of a council. I would appreciate it if any board members with specific concerns regarding this council could contact me before Friday. know resources Report from Marie Lynch, Training Specialist will : The following is a list of potential I.L.S. classes that may be given on a one-to-one basis or a small group situation: Cooking; basic and advanced Transportation Money Management Time Management Personal Care Social Skills We would like to offer a host of community education workshops. The following is a list of those ideas, which are subject to change or expand based on interest. Any thoughts or suggestions on these workshops are welcome: Current Legislation/Present Issues Stress Management Nutrition Physical Fitness Sexuality Self-advocacy Self-assertiveness Knowing your rights Disabled professionals: satisfaction/dissatisfaction of jobs, etc. ( Transition to Independence Program The Transition to Independence Program is now in full swing. The first training class was held on Monday, March 17 at the Center. Fourteen of the fifteen participants who were invited into the program were in attendance. The group is comprised of 9 male and 5 females and the age range is 18 to 37 years old. The two trainers, Marie Lynch and Donald Sellers led the class with the assistance of 2 volunteers. On the same evening the parents of the participants met in the Development Team conference room and were given the class schedule and encouraged to reinforce in the home what we are teaching in the classes. The parents decided they would like to have a support group so they will meet two more times during the session in order to be updated on the program and share information and resources related to the participants living more independently. An advisory committee for the program has also been established. The first meeting of the adivisory committee was held March 12. The committee gave valuable input on the proposed curriculum as well as the instructional resources that relate to teaching independent living skills to the LD and MMR population. The committee will meethagain after the completion of Session I. Recent Additions to I&R March 18, 1986 * Acquistion of the latest Social Security pamphlets, Medicaid/Medicare. * Pamphlets (revised editions) on the three special transit systems (DOT, Fastran, & Farewheels) * 504/Disablity Rights Pamphlets Recent entries to the Resource Center: Handbook on the Latest Effects of Poliomyletis Proceedings of Rehabilitation Gazette's International Post-Polio Conference Handbook for the Disabled: Ideas/Inventions The Job Search Companion Within Reach: Providing Family Planning to Physically Disabled Women Toward Intimacy: Family Planning & Sexuality Concerns of the Physically Disabled Woman A Transportation Special Report Fitness is Free: A Physical Fitness Program for Spinal Cord Injured Persons Interpersonal Skills Training (Set of 6) Almanac of Virginia Politics Complete Guide to Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs