PDD NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING

Saturday May 11, 2002 9:20 am –3:45 pm

Dr. Cairns Boardroom, Vegreville Administration Office

4843-49 Street, Vegreville, Alberta

APPROVED

Present:

Don Schultz, Chair; Donna Desjardins, Vice-Chair; Ralph Gorrie; Johanne Hassey; Christine Botsford, Doug Fleming

Administration: Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO; Lucille Froese, Recording Secretary.

Absent:

Laurel Morris-Duncan and Carmela Levesque were absent for personal reasons.

Guests:

The Honourable Ed Stelmach, MLA, Vegreville, Allen Dubyk, Chair, VALID Board, Nada Chelvam, Executive Director, VALID, Councilor Brian McCracken, Town of Vegreville, Cathy Beer, Vegreville Community Council, Valerie Ward, Daniel Desjardins

A. Don Schultz, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:20 am May 11^th, 2002.

B. Approval of Agenda

#02-05-486 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board approve the agenda.

Carried unanimously.

C. Approval of Minutes

#02-05-487 MOTION: Johanne Hassey moved the Board approve the

minutes. Carried unanimously.

D. Board Regional Feedback and Future Direction

Johanne Hassey, Vilna

• A few community members from Lac La Biche attended the AACL Family Conference. They appreciated the opportunity and extended their thanks to the Board.
• Next Lac La Biche Community Council meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2002.

Christine Botsford, Fort McMurray

• No report at this time.

Doug Fleming, Westlock

• Next Westlock Community Council meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2002.
• Joint Community Council meeting with Westlock, Whitecourt, Barrhead, Athabasca and Lac La Biche has been rescheduled for June 17, 2002.
• June 1, 2002 – Rotary Golf Club Tournament for Special Olympics. The goal is to raise $5,000 for Special Olympians in the community.

Donna Desjardins, St. Paul

• Peter Farnden advised that WJS Alberta has a new Vice President, Ann Nicol, formerly the CEO of Diamond Willow Child and Family Services Authority.
• Have been invited to the Premier’s dinner on June 7, 2002 in Lac La Biche.
• Attended the Joint Community Council meeting in Vegreville on April 30, 2002.
• Computer software for the NorthEast Community Online has now been installed at the St. Paul Library.

Don Schultz, Barrhead

• April 24-25, 2002 – attend one day of the AARC conference and the evening dinner. The Northeast Board was recognized for their work with AARC.
• Participated in two informal appeals
• Attended the Northwest Community Board awards night in Grande Prairie.

· The Northwest region invited the Grande Prairie City Council and presented them with an award to recognize them for the provision of free bus service in Grande Prairie for persons with developmental disabilities.

· May 8, 2002 – attended a Provincial PDD Board meeting – discussion on sustainability.

· May 9, 2002 – attended the Provincial PDD Board meeting

· May 9, 2002 - met with the The Honourable Ken Kowalski, Speaker of the House, and Robin Acton, President of AACL.

Ralph Gorrie, Vegreville

• April 19-20, 2002 - attended the AACL Conference in Edmonton, which to my estimation was an excellent conference, which looked at various aspects of the problems facing people with developmental disabilities in community living. To me, as a new member of the Board, I appreciated the educational involvement. It certainly broadened my knowledge base of the most important job of a Board Member serving people with developmental disabilities.
• April 29, 2002 – Met with our CEO in Vegreville to review the Board’s Policy with respect to the Board’s Evaluation of its CEO in preparation for today’s meeting.
• April 30, 2002 – attended our Joint Community Council here at VALID. Thirty-five attendees from Bonnyville, St. Paul and Vegreville. Four groups were established led by our staff in the review of our business plan. Our group looked at goals 3 and 4 and gained insight into what our people we serve liked or disliked. The success of this venture suggests that to better hear from our people we need to assemble in larger groups with attendance from a larger area.
• May 7, 2002 – VALID Board Meeting

· On behalf of our Board I expressed our thanks for the hospitality afforded our Community Council for the joint session on April 30.

· Briefly discussed the resource allocation of $19,244,000 which we authorized in support of our Business Plan.

· Briefly discussed the matter of sustainability of services and what this may in fact really mean. We discussed the matter that sustainability should be looked at as much more than dollar allocations and that there are many aspects to the PDD community that do not directly involve or imply dollar and cents. It was a meaningful discussion.

· Briefly introduced the Edmonton Region Project Future Focus, which outlined a number of recommendations. Interestingly enough the VALID Board recognized the very little difference in the challenges faced by both regions. As well, I referenced our two studies on Housing and Employment.

E. Delegations and Presentations

• Allen Dubyk, Chair, Vegreville Association for Living in Dignity Board, welcomed the Northeast Board to Vegreville and invited the Board to attend the VALID Annual General Meeting on June 17, 2002 and VALID’s 10^th anniversary celebration on September 20^th, 2002.

• Presentation to Valerie Ward

· Don Schultz, Chair, welcomed Valerie Ward and presented her with a gift from the Board in recognition of her retirement.

· Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO, thanked Valerie for all of her work for PDD. She made significant contributions.

• Presentation by Cathy Beer, Chair, Vegreville Community Council

· The Community Council has been working to increase membership.

· Would like to have participation from the Chamber of Commerce and the Town Council.

· This year, the highlight for the Community Council was the approval of the Community Council’s proposal to the Research Development Fund, a research project on what makes a successful community council.

· The Community Council has scheduled a meeting with the Vegreville Transportation Society on May 28^th to discuss transportation issues.

· Dr. Susan Moisey will be coming to Vegreville to show people how to access the NorthEast Community Online website.

· Presentation by the Honourable Ed Stelmach, Minister of Transportation and MLA for Vegreville.

· The Honourable Ed Stelmach gave a presentation and update on the activities of the government during the current session.

· Presentation by Jim Menzies, Director, Financial Services, with the Provincial Board Administration

· Within this economic environment comes a strong message to enhance public accountability and to ensure that resources are expended on the type and nature of services we want to sustain.

· Mr. Menzies introduced an Accountability Diagram that shows some of the things that have to be grappled with.

· At the center - quality of life. Any discussion around sustainability and accountability needs to start with the concept of quality of life.

· Values and beliefs - need to be accountable towards values and beliefs.

· Effectiveness measures - are where the Boards have the most accountability.

· Governance

· Efficient actions – that is where the Boards have the most accountability.

· Accountability – definition is the requirement to explain and accept responsibility to carry out an assigned mandate in an agreed manner. Accountability starts with quality of life for the individual.

• Presentation by Helen Stacey, Executive Director, Strategic Planning, with the Provincial Board Administration

· Definition of sustainability goes back to 1972 – Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future to meet their needs.

· Ms Stacey introduced a diagram centered by:

· Imposed Scarcity: PDD Resources, Agency Resources, Agency Capacity, Policies & Practices, Beliefs, Knowledge & Skills, Time; and surrounded by:

· Real Scarcity: Improved Technology, Families, Dreams, Co-workers, Creativity, Economic Power, Knowledge & Experience, Cultivation of Advocacy, Societal Resources, Hopes, Mutual Help, Neighbors, Aspirations, Community Capacity, Friends.

· When talking about resources there is Real Scarcity and Imposed Scarcity.

· Need to get back to helping people connect.

· Sustainability is about quality of life.

F. Reports

1. Board Communications and Operations

1.1 Northeast Alberta Community Board 2001-2002

CEO Performance Review: Criteria and Process

Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information

Purpose of Report: Board discussion and approval

In accordance with the Board Governance Policy “Annual Performance Review of CEO” a Board review committee completed a review of the CEO’s performance for the year 2001-2002 and presented a report to the Board in the form of a draft memo.

The Board reviewed and approved the performance evaluation report presented by the committee and this will constitute the CEO’s performance for the year 2001-2002.

#02-05-488 MOTION: Ralph Gorrie moved the Board accept the report as

presented. Carried unanimously.

1.2 Northeast Alberta Community Board

Communication Framework 2002-2005: Update

Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information

Purpose of Report: Information and direction to the communications

Framework

The Northeast Board has adopted an overall communication framework which has the following key components:

• Communication Goals
• Development of our Community
• Community Relations/Public Education
• Internal Relations (Regional)
• Media Relations
• Service Provider Empowerment
• Strategic Alliances

#02-05-489 MOTION: Johanne Hassey moved the Board accept the report for

information. Carried unanimously.

1.3 Northeast Region Community Inclusion Project:

Partnership with Alberta Association for Community Living and

Northeast Alberta Community Board

Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information

Purpose of Report: Information and input on project outcomes

The Board discussed their partnership with AACL, the possibility of other potential partners and various aspects of the project. Board members will request meetings with their MLAs to introduce them to this project.

During the community consultation process throughout the Region, Board members heard individuals and families identify the following needs:

· Strengthen family networks and contacts throughout the region.

· Develop resources and opportunities for transition planning for both individuals and families.

· Put families in charge of the planning process for life transitions.

To address these service needs the Board has entered into a joint project with the Alberta Association for Community Living. This project is scheduled to begin July 1 and run for approximately 21 months.

#02-05-490 MOTION: Christine Botsford moved the Board accept the report

for information. Carried unanimously.

1.4 April 21, 2002 Joint meeting of Edmonton and Northeast Alberta

Community Boards: Debrief and Review

Recommendation: That the Board receive this report as information

Purpose of Report: Debrief April 21, 2002 joint meeting and review for

future meetings.

On April 21, 2002 the Edmonton and Northeast Community Boards met for a joint public board meeting. Also in attendance at this meeting were the Acting Chair Betty Thompson from the Provincial PDD Board and CEO Garry Donald. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Jerry Archibald, Chair, Edmonton Board and Don Schultz, Chair, Northeast Board.

The Board discussed the format of the meeting and the structure of future joint meetings with the Edmonton and other Community Boards.

#02-05-491 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board accept the report for

information. Carried unanimously.

1.5 Northeast Alberta Community Board Annual Report Submission:

Requirements and Timelines

Recommendation: That the Board approve the nature of the Northeast

recognition profile for the 2001-2002 Annual Report submission

Purpose of Report: Direction to the administration

In preparation for the Provincial Board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities 2001-2002 Annual Report, the Northeast Board was requested to identify key elements, messages and other relevant information from the past year that should be considered for this year’s submission.

The Board reviewed the timelines and the Northeast Board submission in the 2000-2001 Annual Report and discussed a Board profile for the 2001-2002 Annual Report. Consideration was given to a Recognition Profile of the Community Recognition and Communicator of the Year Award profiles for use in the 2001-2002 Annual report submission.

#02-05-492 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board approve the

Community Recognition and Communicator of the Year Award profiles to be used in the 2001-2002 annual report submission.

1.6 Sustaining Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities:

Developing a Provincial and Regional Framework

Recommendation: That the Board receive this report for information

Purpose of Report: Information and discussion on a developing

Framework

At the April 21, 2002 Board meeting the Board members began a discussion on the topic of sustaining services for persons with developmental disabilities.

As part of the ongoing discussion on Sustainability, Helen Stacey, Director of Strategic Planning and Jim Menzies, Director of Finance, were invited to the May 11, 2002 Board meeting to give a presentation to the Northeast Board.

The presentations generated extensive discussion about sustainability in the Northeast Region and ideas for community development. The Northeast Board members are going out into their communities to talk to the Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations.

1.7 Northeast Alberta Community Board:

Approved 2002-2005 Business Plan Goals 4 and 5

· Deferred to the June 15^th, 2002 Board meeting.

2. Administration

2.1 Northeast Alberta Consortium of Service Providers: Recruitment Initiative

· Deferred to the June 15^th, 2002 Board meeting

2.2 Minister’s Employability Council: Final Report April 2002

· Deferred to the June 15^th, 2002 Board meeting

G. Communications from Board Chair

H. Communications from CEO

I. In-Camera Session (Review organizational issues)

02-05-493 MOTION: Ralph Gorrie moved the Board go In Camera at

9:20 am. Carried unanimously.

02-05-494 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board come out of Camera at

9:40 am. Carried unanimously.

J. Notice of Motion/Request for Information

K. Next Meeting Dates

· July 20^th, 2002 At the call of the Chair

· August 17^th, 2002 Whitecourt

· September 21^st, 2002 Cold Lake

#02-04-495 MOTION: Doug Fleming moved the Board adjourn at

3:45 pm. Carried unanimously.

_________________________________ _________________________________

Don Schultz, Chairman Dr. Alex Hillyard, CEO