P.D.D. NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING Saturday, May 27, 2000 9:00 am - 4:15 pm

 Present:

Don Schultz, Chair, Phil Fluet, Vice-Chair, Donna Desjardins, Carmela Levesque, Laurel Morris-Duncan, Cathy Beer, Johanne Hassey and Christine Botsford, Administration: Dr. Alex Hillyard, C.E.O., Lucille Froese, Recording Secretary.

 Regrets:

Dr. Doug Fleming

 Guests:

Sue Foley, Support Services Coordinator, ECHOS; Alan Ciesla, Board Director, ECHOS; Doris Sekulich, Board Director, ECHOS; Diane Cuts, Member of the Executive, AACL; Dr. James Dobbin, Advocate working for AACL; Henry Wirenga, Chairman, BACL; Dale Clark, Executive Director, BACL; Kathleen Nord, Board Member, BACL; Alie Vogelzang, Board Member, BACL.

1. Don Schultz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am
2. Approval of Agenda 

#00-05-190 MOTION: Carmela Levesque moved to accept the agenda. Carried unanimously.

3. Approval of Minutes

#00-03-191 MOTION: Christine Botsford moved to approve the minutes. Carried unanimously.

 D. Delegations/Presentations

 10:30 am

 Sue Foley, Support Services Coordinator, ECHOS; Alan Ciesla, Board Director, ECHOS; and Doris Sekulich, Board Director ECHOS, were introduced to the Board. Sue extended apologies on behalf of Vivianne Widdifield who was unable to attend and extended thanks and appreciation to Don Schultz, Chair; Phil Fluet, Vice-Chair; and Dr. Alex Hillyard, C.E.O. for attending the ECHOS Annual General Meeting. In addition, Sue distributed copies of the brochure Empowering Citizens For Health And Opportunit y Society which gives a summary of the ECHO Society and their services and support for persons with developmental disabilities.

 The ECHO Society assists individuals who have a disability (ie: developmental or physical, psychological or multiple disabilities, brain injury) by offering a number of individualized services: Community Living, Vocational-Outreach Services, Transitional/Vocational Program, Community Access Program and Early Intervention. Their Motto: "Working ourselves out of a job", their Mission: Fostering human dignity through individual achievement and integration.

 Servicing Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe and Fox Creek, the ECHO Society is continuously growing and last year acquired certification from AARC.

 11:00 am

 Diane Cuts, member of the Executive for AACL and Dr. James Dobbin, advocate working for AACL, were introduced to the Board.

 Diane explained that they attended the meeting to present some issues for future dialogue between PDD and AACL. She also commended the Board on their initiative in taking a leadership role in supporting the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome workshop in St. Paul, June 1^st and 2^nd, 2000 and the Social Role Valorization workshop earlier this year.

 The issues presented:

• Individualized Funding
• need to protect it and encourage families to use it and make it easier to administer.
• recommendations of P.D.D. Review - Building Better Bridges Report
• issue of training and wages for staff very much a concern
• suggestion that perhaps the FAS conference could be a jumping ground for how individuals with FAS can access resources.
• Institutionalization
• Would like to work cooperatively with the Boards to promote better alternatives to institutions
• Want to protect and add more to the community
• AACL advocates assist people to be included in the community
• Post Secondary Options Throughout the Province
• Five people for every spot at most colleges
• Need more opportunities within closer communities to creatively help people
• Parent Groups
• Parents are developing groups for advocacy - gives parents another way to express concerns
• Encourage parents to have own organization to interact with Boards
• Would like to establish a cooperative line of communication with PDD Boards in every region
• Leadership Theories
• AACL plans to sponsor another leadership series. Focus is on leadership and empowering parents. The Board was asked to help find parents from this region to attend;
• Barrhead Association For Community Living (BACL)
• AACL would like to extend their support for BACL and they are prepared to help them with advice or guidance on their proposal. 

Following a dialogue with the Board, Don Schultz, Chair, thanked the representatives for their presentation and commended AACL for their work in the Province on behalf of individuals and families.

 11:30 am

 Barrhead Association for Community Living (BACL)

 Henry Wirenga, Chairman; Dale Clark, Executive Director; Kathleen Nord, Board Member; and Alie Vogelzang, Board Member were introduced to the Board.

 Henry Wirenga gave a quick summary of their proposal which is based on one principle - that persons with developmental disabilities should be able to participate in communities at the level decided by themselves and their families.

• The proposal offers a way for people to have a chance for a greater life
• Two main parts CLF work and developing community capacity - working in the community
• Different from service coordination as it does not administer funds or contracts

 The proposal generated considerable discussion, questions and answers. The Chairman thanked the presenters and advised them that they would review it as a Board and request a recommendation from their administration. BACL was encouraged to share their proposal with other potential partners (Children's Authority, Learning, Mental Health and Service Providers in the Barrhead/Whitecourt community). The Board requested that any additional information BACL would like to submit be received before the Jun e 24^th Board meeting.

 #00-05-192 MOTION: Don Schultz moved to accept Report 1.1 as information. Carried unanimously.

• The Board directed the administration to look at options for an annual calendar.

1.3 Orientation for Newly Appointed Board Members

•  The Board agreed to strike a subcommittee of three Board Members to work with administration on a plan to facilitate the transition of new Board members. The subcommittee members will be Johanne Hassey, Carmela Levesque and Donna Desjardins.

 2. Administration

 2.2 Northeast Alberta P.D.D. Community Board:

• The forecasted budget was based on last year with some additional uptake, plus potential accommodation of two individuals from Michener Centre, plus salary adjustments;
• Reviewed Provincial allocation to the NE Region and forecasted expenditures for 2000-2001 (balanced budget);
• The Board put in for an allocation, the provincial budget came in $3M light, each region was asked to give up a percentage of their budget; NE Region share was five percent;
• NE Region allocation from the Province is 14% higher than last year. This is a budget based on growth.

 2.3 Northeast Alberta P.D.D. Community Board Annual Report 1999-2000

 2.4 Northeast Alberta P.D.D. Community Board: Business/Service Plan for 2000-2001

• The Annual report is part of tying off first year plan and adding the next;
• The provincial Board went through a process of reviewing their mission and values;
• The NE Board will spend a day or a portion of the day reviewing their business plan (mission, vision, values and service initiatives);
• The Board will indicate barriers to what they want to do, and consider the challenges and opportunities in accomplishing what the Board wants to see in 2000-2001;
• Administration will prepare a draft Process Plan to review the Business Plan, for the Board meeting in June;
• June 23^rd, 7:00 pm - Dinner and Board meeting;
• June 24^th - Board meeting - review and revision of draft plan. Administration will arrange for a facilitator;
• An invitation will be sent to AACL to attend the dinner and Board meeting.

 F.  Communication from Board Chairman

• May 10^th, 2000- attended the VALID Board meeting in Vegreville.
• May 11^th, 2000 - attended Provincial Board meeting
• May 23^rd, 2000 - attended SPAN Annual General meeting
• June 02^nd, 2000 - will attend the Blue Heron Charity Golf Tournament with Doug Fleming, Board Member and Alex Hillyard, C.E.O.
• June 19^th, 2000 - will attend the VALID Annual General Meeting in Vegreville
• Seventeen people have applied for positions on the NE Alberta Community Board
• It is anticipated that recommendations will be given to the Minister prior to the end of June
• Letters
• from Gene Zwozdesky - unable to attend FAS Conference, June 1^st and 2^nd;
• Invitation from Bryan Sandilands to attend the Premier's Council on the status of Persons with Disabilities;
• unable to attend, ask that other Board members consider attending on behalf of the Board;
• from Blue Heron Support Services (Barrhead) regarding cash flow problems;
• administration to prepare reply and action plan to address concerns;

#00-05-195 MOTION: Phil Fluet moved to reply to Blue Heron acknowledging their concerns, with a copy of the letter to the Provincial administration staff. Carried unanimously.

 #00-05-196 MOTION: Don Schultz moved to accept his verbal report. Carried unanimously.

 G. Communication from C.E.O.

• Report on the Aspen Region 11 Governance Agreement
• This is the only one in the province where school districts, health authorities and children's services have an agreement to work together.
• They were looking to ensure representation from PDD on the Governance Agreement
• Doug Fleming was unable to attend this meeting but he attends as a representative of the Pembina Hills School Division and the NE Alberta Community Board. It is anticipated that he will continue to do so.
• Update on FAS/FAE Conference June 1^st and 2^nd, 2000
• Over 200 people registered for both days
• This initiative is consistent with the Board's mandate and initiative of partnering with others.
• June 7, 2000 - There a conference on aging in Bonnyville with Dove Centre as co-sponsor. Carmela Levesque will speak at the conference on behalf of the Board.

 #00-05-197 MOTION: Donna Desjardins moved the adoption of the CEO's verbal report. Carried unanimously.

 H. Board Regional Feedback and Future Direction

 Carmela Levesque, Bonnyville/Cold Lake

• May 6, 2000 - attended Board meeting
• May 10, 2000 - attended Community Council meeting
• Members said we should make sure that we are recognizing past and present members
• Asked that we send copies of the minutes to the Community Council
• Bonnyville/Cold Lake would like to be recognized separately
• June 1^st, 2000 - will be attending the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Conference in St. Paul
• June 8, 2000 - will be attending the Seniors Conference in Bonnyville
• June 13, 2000 - next Community Council meeting in Cold Lake

• June 21, 2000 - Dove Centre AGM

Phil Fluet, Cherhill

• No activities to report

Christine Botsford, Fort McMurray

• June 1^st and 2^nd, 2000 - will be attending the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Conference in St. Paul.

Johanne Hassey, Vilna

• No activities to report

Cathy Beer, Vegreville

• May 10^th, 2000 - attended VALID Board meeting in Vegreville
• Good meeting. There is one new Board member: George Sebeste
• June 19^th, 2000 - will be attending the VALID Annual General meeting

Laurel Morris-Duncan, Fort McMurray

• June 1^st and 2^nd, 2000 - will be attending the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome conference in St. Paul
• FAS funding review - cut grants to NLRWC on FAS - government is promoting Seattle Birth to Three program - rejected by Fort McMurray

Donna Desjardins, St. Paul

• May 18^th, 2000 - attended St. Paul Community Council Meeting
• Election of new Chair, Denis Duchesneau and Vice-Chair, Lucie Jean
• Discussed future and values of the Community Council - lots of suggestions
• Reach out to community - churches, schools
• Facilitating
• More transition in education
• Newsletter
• Networking with AACL
• Task Force on employability
• There will be a special honor at the next meeting for the past Chairman
• May 23^rd, 2000 - attended SPAN Annual General Meeting
• June 1^st, 2000 - FAS conference: will be opening the conference on behalf of the Board
• October - with son Daniel, will make a presentation at the National Family Conference in Edmonton

Don Schultz, Chair Dr. Alex Hillyard, C.E.O..