PDD NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING
Saturday,
January 18, 2003 9:00 am –3:00 pm
Timber Room,
Westlock Inn, Westlock, Alberta
APPROVED MINUTES
Present:
Don Schultz, Chair, Donna Desjardins, Vice-Chair, Christine Botsford,
Dr. Doug Fleming, Ralph Gorrie, Johanne Hassey, Carmela Levesque,
Laurel Morris-Duncan
Administration: Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO; Lucille Froese, Recording Secretary.
Guests:
Cheryl Crocker, Consultant, Dorothy Baker, Board Chair, Westlock Independence Network, Greg Morris, Executive Director, Westlock Independence Network, Jean Duteau, Co-Chair, Westlock Community Council, Darcie Statham, Member, Westlock Community Council.
A.
Don Schultz, Chair,
called the meeting to order at 8:45 am, December 14, 2002.
#03-01-570 MOTION: Carmela
Levesque moved the Board approve the
agenda as changed. Carried unanimously.
C. Approval of Minutes
·
Correction to
minutes – Carmela Levesque attended the December 14, 2002 meeting, Christine
Botsford did not.
#03-01-571 MOTION: Ralph
Gorrie moved the Board approve the
minutes as corrected. Carried unanimously.
· Cold Lake Community Council Meetings
· November, 2002 – Community Online Pizza night, about 12 people attended.
· December meeting – Dessert meeting with brief reports from Community Services on items such as HR&E, Community Options, Acquired Brain Injury, Lakeland Centre for FAS, PDD Client Services Coordinator.
· January 16, 2003
· Presented the Norm McLeod Award Brochure to the Community Council.
· Discussed supported living initiative
· Acquired Brain Injury organization is up and running. They have been funded to provide up to 10 hours a week of supported living for individuals. They have the same boundaries as PDD and are under Community Development.
· Request from Cold Lake Community Council – Can we please take the Emerging Statement and put it into plain language.
· Developing a Survey for their community to get a sense on what things interest them, what they see as a focus for the Community Council.
· Discussed our meeting with Sakaigun Asky Children’s Authority Board.
· Presented Premier’s Council Report on the Alberta Disability Strategy.
· Natural Supports Initiative question: who is picked and how are they picked.
· November 12, 2002
· Numerous resolutions were put forward to the Group. Issues on AISH, smoking by-laws, building by-laws so that new construction incorporates accessibility, transportation subsidy provided by the Town of Bonnyville – it should be increased.
· Joanne Jackson (Special Ed) from Lakeland Catholic Schools made a presentation.
· The Norm McLeod Awards Brochure will be discussed January 21, 2003
· Presented the Employment Brochure
· Westlock Strategic Workshop – results summary handout with emerging statements.
· Next meeting – January 21, 2003 – will be mentioning same items as at Cold Lake meeting January 16, 2003.
· December 4, 2003 Attended Friends of People First meeting in Bonnyville
· Gave a brief on our Conference and our business plan. It was requested that we provide our business plan in Plain Language.
· Attended Dove Center and Catholic Social Services Client Christmas party.
· Presented Communicator Award to Dove Center staff, Board members and Catholic Social services staff. This party was a great example of Community Partnership. The Chair of the Dove Board has tentatively invited us to come to one of their board meetings to talk about our business plan.
· January 17, 2003
· Met with Bonnyville Nouvelle at Vincent Supplies to get a picture with the recipients of our Merit award (Tom Koluk and Service Award Guy Vincent).
· Housing Initiative update – Bonnyville is looking at establishing a foundation. Once this is done the Town of Bonnyville is considering donating land.
· Cold Lake is looking at an 8 plex. It is exciting to see the different dynamics of the community becoming involved.
· The Catholic Social Services team is looking at translating our business plan into plain language.
Donna Desjardins, St. Paul
· St. Paul Special Olympics
· Exciting, revitalized organization.
· Presently, bowling, floor hockey, equestrian, curling, swimming and baseball are those sports that are either active or anticipated by summer.
· St. Paul Community Council
· Meeting on January 15, 2003
· Presentation from the Alberta Brain Injury Network, who has an office in St. Paul.
· Discussion about what the community council would like as a conference for 2003. More thoughts to come.
· Discussion about how the community council could introduce the business plan artwork to the community, with presentations to various parts of the community, etc. More thoughts to come.
· Discussion about how the community council could introduce the business plan artwork to the community, with presentations to various parts of the community, etc. More thoughts to come.
· The Alberta Disability Strategy was distributed to members. Community Council members are going to respond, as well as bring copies to other community members for awareness and response.
· Denis Duchesneau, St. Paul Community Council Chair attended a provincial meeting of the AACL Family Network. He explained some of the AACL’s concerns, and the need for families to communicate across ministries. Also, it is the Network’s intent to acquire special video equipment in order that special events could be recorded and distributed to members throughout the province.
· An Online Communication Facilitation Workshop is going to be held in St. Paul on January 31, 2003 to assist individuals to learn how to teach/assist persons with developmental disabilities to use computer and online communication technology.
· A committee for the Norm McLeod Awards was set up.
· St. Paul Abilities Network
· Has received a donation of 10 computers. It is their desire to have them available for individuals to learn computing skills, and to participate in forums such as NorthEast Community Online.
· Northeast Community Online Pizza Party
· Has been deferred because the St. Paul Library is having trouble with their network server. It is hoped that the party can be held later in the spring. The librarian is enthusiastic and is taking the facilitation course in anticipation of the time that the library can offer the services.
· Ray Danyluk, MLA
· Recognized the Board and the Town of St. Paul at the legislature for the successful conference held in St. Paul in November, 2002. He has presented the Board with a framed copy of the Hansard proceedings.
· Affordable Housing Action Workshop
· Is being held in St. Paul on January 21, 2003. Anna Bubel, facilitator for the Alberta Real Estate Foundation will be working with local builders, bankers, realtors, and PDD to develop a housing plan that encompasses all individuals of the community. Our staff have been instrumental in bringing this about.
· Provincial
Don Schultz, Barrhead
· February 4th, 2003 there will be a Barrhead Community Input Session to get the Community Council going.
· Attended the Whitecourt Community Council meeting – they will be discussing the plain language forum.
· Provincially – heard one appeal.
Johanne Hassey, Vilna
· Attended the Lac La Biche Community Council meeting on December 17th, 2003.
· Joan Pattison gave a report on Special Olympics in Lac La Biche.
· The name of their new organization is the Lac La Biche Special Athletic Society.
· The Society received $800.00 from the Kinsmen and $500.00 from Kikino.
· Training for coaches is needed before they can start arranging sports events.
· CLALD will be completing their CET review in March. Their goal is to have an agency where others come and ask questions. They will also be having a Board planning day in January.
· There was general discussion regarding the business plan and awards. They would like to see the business plan again.
· Barb Chaffee handed out information about AREA. There is no real estate agency in Lac La Biche that has an MLS listing in order to benefit from this program. Average rent in Lac La Biche is $650.00.
· Next Community Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2003.
Laurel Morris-Duncan, Fort McMurray
· There were no community council meetings.
· Delivered gift baskets to the agency staff in Fort McMurray.
Ralph Gorrie, Vegreville
· Community Council Activities
· Met with Chair, Cathy Beer, Kim Muir of VALID, and Helen Litwin on several occasions to discuss two important matters.
· Looking at programs for community council meetings and giving consideration to ways and means to get greater interest and involvement. In particular we decided to change our notices format by posing simple language questions directly of interest to our people with topics that directly affect them.
· Finalizing our research project with our project worker Pat Bucher who will be commencing the research project next week with a plan to have the project completed within about 10 weeks. The project requires the involvement of persons with developmental disabilities of at least 100 hours in the development of the interview model and of the actual interviews, all in plain language. We are looking forward to a conclusion to this project, which we hope will shed some significant light on the concept of community governance through the medium of community councils.
· Council Meeting of November 26, 2002
· Regional Conference was very much appreciated.
· Our persons with developmental disabilities found the conference too hard to understand as plain language was not always used, especially by presenters.
· The group felt that we were moving in the right direction.
· It was suggested that the person that won the award this year, present it to the next recipient.
· It was felt that our council had very good nominations.
· Lori Skinner to present “family networking” at the January meeting.
· A committee consisting of Cathy Beer, Kim Muir, Helen Litwin, Ralph Gorrie, and Robert Baker will meet over the break to be the committee to work with the Project Worker in the Community Council’s Research Project.
· VALID Board Meeting, January 6, 2003
· Meeting with Sakaigun Asky Child and Family Services Authority as to the successful discussions and the great interest in looking at a governance agreement with them and other agencies associated with the people with developmental disabilities continuum. The Board showed great interest in this model, recognizing the need for filling in the voids that presently exist.
· Role of the Regional Service Centre out of Lac La Biche as to the various aspects of their mandate recognizing the internal audit aspect of the governance operation. This made the Board aware of the processes that are in place to provide checks and balances in the community governance, in particularly in the area of finances.
· Related the Alberta Government’s Aboriginal Framework, which requires working with entities at all levels to address community inclusion for PDD’s. I outlined the cultural awareness that the Board and Service Provider executives had completed at Blue Quills First Nations College. They recognized the need to be sensitive to this cultural group and the relationship to providing service and probably the effect it would have on Person Centered Planning. They appreciated the move to include their staff in such a program.
· At the previous meeting I had the opportunity to visit their East Residence, which houses six persons with developmental disabilities. I was impressed with the home setting atmosphere and the apparent contentment of the residents. We will be visiting their second residence at their February meeting. For me, as a Board member, the visit was most valuable with respect to greater insight to the Board’s purpose and that of a Board member.
· Northeast Regional Conference 2002 Debriefing was an interesting and valuable exercise. Our discussions brought out the following concerns:
· It is essential that in all our dealings with our people we MUST use plain language at all times. Most of the session’s presenters did not appear to recognize the level of language to be used. In particular, the Self-Advocacy session were singled out to reflect this inefficiency. Personally in my chairmanship of the Board Governance Workshop, I clearly recognized this problem. The first session did have a number of service provider board members and was well attended and useful. However, the second session brought only community council members. Heather and I immediately recognized the need to change the approach. Using plain language, we generated a number of ideas concerning how to make community councils better. We agreed that the summary of ideas would be shared with the regional councils. Thus need to be followed through.
· The VALID Board suggested:
· That we need to have more families and guardians attend the Conference to keep them informed and in the loop so to speak.
· There may be a place for Children’s Services to be a part of this conference.
· Maybe our workshop should be accommodating in separate sessions, matters of interest to our people and another for the service providers, parents and guardians, etc.
· Need to more clearly define the purpose of the group sessions in plain language.
· The wonderful work of the student abstract business plan was exceptional, but the presentation may not have been internalized by our persons with developmental disabilities once again using plain language to explain the abstractness. It must be understood that the Business Plan Project was an exceptional piece of work and would be greatly appreciated by those who would understand the work. It would serve us as well as the provincial board without question. I am personally proud of the project nevertheless.
· It was suggested that possible our business plan might be redrafted in a simpler format in plan language for our persons with developmental disabilities and made available through the community council.
Christine Botsford, Fort McMurray
Doug Fleming, Westlock
Presentation by Jean Duteau, Co-Chair, and Darcie Statham, Member, Westlock Community Council.
Darcie Statham
· Attended the PDD conference two years ago; one issue that came up was transportation.
· Jason Huish and I started working on a project to get a flat rate for individuals with disabilities, from taxi companies.
· Jason and I were then asked to work on a transportation survey
· This involved talking to people and approaching heads of businesses around Westlock.
· Made a presentation to the Mayor of Westlock and the Town Council
· The survey found that seniors as well as individuals with developmental disabilities need transportation.
· It is our hope that this survey will initiate some changes.
Jean Duteau
· The Westlock Community Council is made up of twenty-four members.
· Community Council Meetings include community updates from WIN, WJS, and PDD, reports on things like the transportation study, and community member updates: at each meeting a member talks about where they come from, what they do, etc.
· Transportation is a major issue that was talked about at the last meeting.
· Barrhead has a Handi Van and the council is looking at something similar. Will be contacting Blue Heron for information on the cost of a van, drivers, etc.
· Special Olympics is a big part of Westlock. The Charity Golf Tournament raised $3,500.00 the first year and $6,000.00 last year for Special Olympics. The next Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 31st, 2003.
Presentation by Dorothy Baker, Board Chair, WIN and Greg Morris, Executive Director, WIN.
Greg Morris
· WIN has been involved in a number of things – life skills students: some people moved from 24 hour to less support depending on their needs; some people have had good opportunities for employment;
· Westlock is a very accepting community, one that reaches out and helps people. As an example, money was raised to help individuals out with special things.
· WIN also demonstrates staff appreciation with social events, gift certificates, staff training, peer nomination.
· Transportation and accessible housing are issues in the community.
· Retirement is an issue for some individuals. WIN assists them to build support networks as families get less connected.
Dorothy Baker
· The WIN Board has grown in the last three years, adding three new members.
· The Board reviewed their mission, vision and philosophy, doing a lot of work on them to make them reflect what the Board wanted them to show. Also underwent an organizational review.
· The Board revised and updated some of their bylaws. Regularly go through planning days, plan with the families, Board, staff and clients. Look at what we want to do and where we want to go and get ideas on how to get there.
· March 9, 2003 will be a WIN fundraiser – dinner and dance. This was enjoyed last time by everyone who was there.
1.0 Board
Communications & Operations
1.1 Alberta Disability Strategy
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and Discussion
At the December 14th, 2002 Board meeting the Board had a brief discussion regarding the Alberta Disability Strategy. Copies of the Alberta Disability Strategy Reports and Questionnaire Form were distributed to all Board members.
The Board reviewed the Alberta Disability Strategy report and discussed the recommendations and bringing the report to the community councils in their areas with a request that the community councils respond to the Minister.
#03-01-572 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved that the Board
members
bring the Alberta Disability Strategy report to the community councils in their areas for discussion and response to the Minister. Carried unanimously.
1.2 Northeast Alberta Community Board Monthly
Financial Report
and Year End Forecast
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion
The Board reviewed the monthly financial report that was submitted to the Provincial Board for the period ending November 30, 2002 and the administration provided a presentation to the Board, which gave an analysis of service costs for individuals new to service and an overview of the movement of new individuals into and out of service.
The Board discussed the factors that affect the number of people coming into or out of service and the impact it has on the budget process.
#03-01-573 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board accept the
report for
information. Carried unanimously.
1.3 Budget
Forecasts for 2003/04 and 2-004/05: Assumptions and Implications
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion
In preparation for the budget planning process the Board reviewed two possible scenarios for the next three fiscal years and discussed the implications of various planning assumptions.
#03-01-574 MOTION: Christine
Botsford moved the Board accept the report
for information.
Carried unanimously.
1.4 Board
Member Profile
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and identify action plan.
Effective February 1, 2003, the Northeast Board will have two vacancies on the Board. In January 2004, four current members will end their second term as members of the Board.
The Board discussed forming a committee to develop a Board profile package for potential new Board members and to look at a procedure and process of recommendation to the Minister for new Board members. The committee would present a report at the next Board meeting.
#03-01-575 MOTION: Ralph Gorrie moved that the Board form a committee
to develop a Board profile package and look at a procedure and process of recommendation to the Minister, for new Board members. Carried unanimously.
#03-01-576 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved that the Board appoint
Ralph Gorrie, Doug Fleming, and Carmela Levesque to the committee, with Ralph Gorrie as Chair. Carried unanimously.
1.5 Provincial PDD Board Priorities Report
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion.
The Board reviewed the Provincial PDD Board Priorities Report and discussed business plan initiatives undertaken by the Provincial Board administration.
Feedback on this report will be taken back to the Provincial Board from the Northeast Board.
#03-01-577 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved the Board accept
the report
for
information. Carried unanimously.
2.0 Administration
2.1 Natural Community Supports: Presentation and
Group Discussion
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Board Development Opportunity.
The Northeast Board has endorsed the concept of “Natural Community Supports” as one approach to build community capacity for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This concept is grounded in the philosophy of community inclusion.
The Board heard a presentation by Cheryl Crocker on developing natural community supports. Cheryl Crocker has done a considerable account of work around discussing natural supports, including giving a presentation to PDD staff in St. Paul.
Cheryl gave the Board an overview of the workshops she has presented and a sense of how she would take people through the discussion about natural supports.
The Board discussed maintenance of natural supports to further develop community capacity.
#03-01-578 MOTION: Laurel Morris-Duncan moved the Board
accept the
report for information. Carried unanimously.
2.2 NorthEast
Community Online: Evaluation Framework
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion.
The last report on the project was presented at the November meeting of the Northeast Board. Since then the implementation phase of the project has been officially completed and the final evaluation phase has begun.
The Evaluation phase will take place between January 1st and March 31st, 2003 followed by a one-month period during which the final reporting will occur.
The Board discussed the continuation of the project and the possibility of developing it into a provincial model. The Board and Athabasca University will provide resources to continue the project for the coming year.
#03-01-579 MOTION: Johanne Hassey moved the Board accept the
report for
information. Carried unanimously.
2.3 Board and CEO Leadership Development
Opportunities: Update
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information and discussion.
Leadership Development for Service Provider CEOs
· On January 29, 2003 Liz O/Neill, Executive Director of the Big Sister and Big Brother Society of Edmonton and Area, will be the guest speaker following dinner for the Northeast Consortium of Service Providers.
· On March 31, 2003 Dr. Tom Maddix, V.P. of Organizational Advancement of the Caritas Health Group, will give a presentation to the Northeast Consortium of Service Providers in Vegreville.
Board Development for Service Providers
· As a result, Heather Halpenny presented two Board development sessions at the Regional Conference and two Board Governance Workshops have been scheduled for February 22, 2003 in St. Paul and March 22, 2003 in Barrhead.
· Members of the Northeast Board will attend each session
#03-01-580 MOTION: Laurel Morris-Duncan moved the Board
accept the
report for
information.
2.4
Provincial PDD Satisfaction Survey for
Families/Guardians and Individuals Distribution Plan
Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information.
Purpose of Report: Information
To help PDD Boards measure their effectiveness, every two years service recipients and their families/guardians are asked to complete a Satisfaction Survey. In past years, the Satisfaction Survey forms have been distributed to individuals, families and guardians by Service Providers.
This year, Service Providers will mail copies of the Family/Guardian Surveys directly to families/guardians.
Service Providers, Self-Advocacy Groups, and families/guardians will be asked to identify individuals who would be interested in completing the Survey for individuals receiving service, and Survey forms will be given to them.
All survey forms are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to assist with responses.
The Board discussed the survey and what the information would be used for.
#03-01-581 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board accept the report for
information. Carried unanimously.
· Letter from Ron Boisvert, Board Chair, SPAN
· Congratulating the Board on the successful conference and outlining the ways in which SPAN is able to assist.
· Letter from Albert Cloutier
· Congratulating the Board on the great conference and evening program.
· Provincial Board – will be discussing the future of direct services in Alberta, to make a recommendation to the Minister.
· There are four areas of direct services in Edmonton, Calgary and Central Region.
· The university is willing to look at expansion of the project.
· Letter to Debra McRury, Chair, Lakeland FAS Committee
· This is a letter of a support to assist them to obtain additional funding.
· AACL Video
· The Board viewed an AACL video entitled “Inclusion: Connecting to the Community”.
· AACL Annual Family Conference
· The AACL Annual Family Conference is scheduled for March 21st and 22nd, 2003, at Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton.
· The Board will sponsor two people or two families from each community council to attend. The community councils will nominate the participants.
· Housing Workshop, January 21st, 2003 in St. Paul, hosted by the Northeast Alberta Community Board and Royal Lepage. This meeting will be facilitated by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation representative for northern Alberta. John Trefanenko, Mayor, Town of St. Paul and Ray Danyluk, MLA, Lac La Biche-St. Paul have been invited to attend.
· Northeast Alberta Community Board Quarterly Report
· This is due into the Provincial Board on January 24th, 2003. It will be approved by the Audit Committee of the Board and brought to the Board meeting on February 8, 2003.
#03-01-582 MOTION: Don Schultz moved the Board accept the resignation
of Johanne Hassey from the Board, effective January 30, 2003. Carried unanimously.
The Minister has reappointed Dr. Doug Fleming and Carmela Levesque to the Northeast Board, for another three-year term.
#03-01-583 MOTION: Christine Botsford moved the Board adjourn at
3:00 pm.
Carried unanimously.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Don Schultz, Chair Dr.
Alex Hillyard, CEO