April 2001 Meeting
Holiday Inn, Muskegon, Michigan
Monday, April 16, 2001
9:00:00 AM - 3:00:00 PM

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mr. Donald Bowman
Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Mr. Earl Steenstra, Chairperson
Dr. Velma Allen
Ms. Peeti Greene

MCB STAFF PRESENT
Mr. Patrick Cannon
Ms. Connie Kreiner
Mr. James Buscetta
Ms. Melody Lindsey
Mr. Bernie Kramer
Ms. Melissa Moore
Ms. Karyn Hill
Mr. Fred Wurtzel
Mr. Bob Utrup
Ms. Michelle Visscher
Ms. Nancy Ladley
Mr. Mary Ippel

GUESTS
Mr. Ronald Hopkins
Ms. Beth Harvey
Mr. Bob Essenberg
Ms. Ada Linderman
Ms. Janice Alexander
Ms. Lindsey Hawes
Mr. Derek Moore

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Mr. Donald Bowman called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
Mr. Bowman informed those present that the Chairperson, Mr. Earl Steenstra, had been involved in a car accident on the previous day and would not be in attendance at the meeting. He also noted that Ms. Peeti Greene would not be at the meeting and that Dr. Allen was expected to arrive at the meeting later in the morning.
He and Ms. Pilarski began the Committee of the Whole with a discussion on the proposed Commission retreat. Mr. Bowman said that he had suggestions for items to be discussed at the retreat. One item for possible discussion is the agency’s name, which has been raised as an issue on the listserve. He also suggested that this might be an item to be referred to the agency’s Marketing and Public Relations Committee. Mr. Cannon advised that it would be wise to have the involvement of many people regarding a name change and that it would also involve a change in the law because law establishes the Commission’s name.
Another item that was discussed during the Committee of the Whole was the policy on sending clients out-of-state for training and the procedure for selecting clients to attend the Training Center was also discussed. Ms. Lindsey said that she would be covering this issue in her report later in the day. Ms. Pilarski said that the Commissioners had been sent a copy of a letter from Mr. Fred Wurtzel, President, National Federal of the Blind of Michigan, to Michigan State University regarding the teacher preparation program for the blind and visually impaired. Mr. Wurtzel said that there is concern that the program may be in jeopardy. Ms. Pilarski inquired as to whether or not the Board would be interested in writing a letter in support of the program. Mr. Wurtzel will keep the Board informed on new developments and the Board will consider action when a quorum is present.

REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Mr. Bowman called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was not present.

PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment at this time.

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Bowman said that Mr. Douglas Howard, Director, Family Independence Agency (FIA), had sent a reply to correspondence that Chairperson Steenstra had sent to him as a follow-up to the previous Commission meeting where Mr. Howard had been in attendance. Mr. Bowman indicated that the Commission needed to be vigilant to continue to present Mr. Howard with opportunities in which MCB can be involved in budget and other matters.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Cannon highlighted several items from the written report. He reported that forty entries had been received in response to the call for a slogan for the Commission. The winning slogan is “Michigan Commission for the Blind - Changing Lives, Changing Attitudes” which was submitted by Ms. Melody Lindsey. Mr. Cannon also reported that the he and Jim Buscetta had attended a meeting of the Region V Rehabilitation Services Administration. The major subject of discussion was the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. Mr. Cannon said that the Expanded Managers Group had met to discuss developing a strategic plan which he said was in an effort to mesh the Vision 2020 principles and the Capitol Quality Initiative principles. Another meeting was planned which will further the efforts to open communications and provide services in the best way possible.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT
Director Cannon provided the Administrative Services report because Mr. Best was not able to attend the meeting. Director Cannon said that System Six (the client data tracking system) was still encountering difficulties, which is causing the delay of submission of the annual 911 Report to the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Director Cannon said that some very productive meetings had been occurring with the Department of Management and Budget (DMB) regarding the Business Enterprise Program space within state facilities. Mr. Burger, Director of Management, DMB, has also agreed to assist with the rent charge issue for BEP facilities in state buildings. Finally, Mr. Cannon said that the Commission has spent 46.9% of the allocated budget for the fiscal year as of March 31, the halfway mark of the year.

MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT Ms. Lindsey reported that the FOCUS (Focus on Creating Ultimate Success) program is a new initiative at the Training Center. The purpose of FOCUS is to identify people who are on the waiting list who are in need of a couple of weeks of intensive training, particularly older blind over the age of 65. A training of this type is being planned for later in the spring or early summer.
Ms. Lindsey said that the Technology Committee met at the Training Center at the beginning of March. The main agenda item was to talk about technology services at the Center. Subcommittees were formed to deal with grant opportunities and to explore partnering with organizations in Michigan to provide technology services. She said that the minutes from the meetings are available to anyone who is interested.
Ms. Lindsey said that Mr. Dick Linihan was returning from medical leave on April 16 and also that Mr. Larry King would be on medical leave until the latter part of June.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT
Mr. Buscetta reported that staff had recently attended Ethics Training and it had been very well received. Mr. Buscetta also reported that the “Helpful Hints for College Students” brochure has been printed and will be distributed to staff soon.
Mr. Buscetta said that the Conflict Resolution Task Force is working on a document, which is a handout to provide to clients so that they are aware of how to resolve a conflict with staff or an agency policy. The draft of the handout will be shared with the Consumer Involvement Council and the Commission Board for input.
Mr. Buscetta said that he had recently completed the State Plan Update. One section addressed in the update is the Comprehensive System for Personnel Development and Mr. Buscetta reported that MCB had participated with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to obtain a $250,000 grant to pay for this initiative.
Another section addressed in the update relates to the 107 Monitoring Review having to do with the agency agreements with Workforce Investment Programs. Twenty-three out of twenty-five have been signed. Also, another item in the 107 Review was a request that MCB receive more participation by the Client Assistance Program. MCB does not have the authority to do that, but Mr. Buscetta forwarded this information to the Client Assistance Program.
Another issue mentioned was that the Family Independence Agency should provide MCB more autonomy in purchasing closed-circuit televisions for clients. Mr. Buscetta said that he plans to propose that this equipment also be purchased in the same way computers are now being purchased. He said that staff had been doing a very good job of reporting this information and, therefore, had set a good precedent for expanding this effort.

NORTHWEST REGION REPORT
Mr. Bernie Kramer, Supervisor of the Northwest Region, said that the region has four offices and covers 53 counties. Mr. Kramer introduced Ms. Karyn Hill, Ms. Nancy Ladley and Ms. Michelle Visscher, Teachers/Counselors for the region.
Ms. Hill said that she covers 13 counties in the region, which are mostly rural counties. She said that she especially enjoys working with the older blind and with students in the school system and transition services. She spends quite a bit of time developing relationships with the Intermediate School Districts. She also has been working with several community rehabilitation agencies. She said that she had recently conducted an in-service with an ophthalmology practice in Traverse City. Ms. Hill said that she has received 90% of the clients she works with from this practice. Many of the consumers have told her that they wish they had been referred to the Commission much sooner. Therefore, she held the in-service and has been bombarded with referrals since then. She said that the majority of the referrals are independent living program clients and this raises a real concern for her. She indicated that the IL program is doing the best job possible with the resources that are available, but with the aging population expanding, this problem is growing with some caseloads growing to 200 cases per teacher and waiting lists of fifty to sixty people. Director Cannon commended staff for their advocacy and also said this is one of the reasons for having the Commission meetings around the state so that Commissioners could see first-hand the dedication of staff and also for the opportunity to hear from people in the community. Ms. Pilarski spoke about the possibility of using volunteers to assist with the caseloads.
Mr. Kramer introduced Ms. Michelle Visscher. She said she is also working with transitional students from the ages of 14 and up. She said that a Career Day was being planned for Grand Rapids on May 10 and 11, 2001 and invited Commissioners to attend.
Ms. Visscher also noted that she has six to seven colleges within Muskegon, Kent and Ottawa Counties where she has clients attending. She said that she has around one hundred clients and that most of them are anticipating competitive employment. Also, she has an employment assistance group that meets regularly and has between 22 to 28 individuals involved. So far, four people from the group have attained jobs.
Mr. Kramer introduced Ms. Nancy Ladley. Ms. Ladley said that for the past seventeen years, she has had the homemaker program in Muskegon. She said that she usually carries a caseload in the Muskegon area of four to twenty-eight. One of the reasons for a smaller caseload in the area is because the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has a satellite low vision clinic in Muskegon and they handle the majority of the clients. She said that it had been a long time since a Mini-Adjustment Program had been held in the Muskegon area and she would be interested in collaborating with the Association to bring a Mini to Muskegon. She introduced two of her clients. Ms. Lindsey Hawes recently moved to Michigan from Texas where she received services from the Texas Commission for the Blind. Ms. Hawes said that she is living independently and has recently lost her sight. She is studying to be an assistive technology instructor to help teach blind people. Mr. Ron Hopkins, a second client, recently graduated from Lions World Services for the Blind as a switchboard operator.

COMMUNITY PARTNER UPDATES
Ms. Ladley introduced Ms. Janice Alexander, Special Needs Coordinator, Muskegon Community College. Ms. Alexander stated that her job was to provide support services for students with special needs at Muskegon Community College, e.g., books on tape and assistance with exams. They have a Special Populations Advisory Committee and both Nancy Ladley and Michelle Visscher sit on this committee. They currently have four visually impaired or blind students. Ms. Visscher introduced Mr. Derek Moore, a blind student who will be graduating from Muskegon Community College. Mr. Moore attested as to how the Special Needs Office and the Commission has assisted him in his education.
Ms. Visscher introduced Ms. Ada Linderman, Employment Specialist, Goodwill Industries of Muskegon. Ms. Linderman addressed issues that are barriers to employment in the Muskegon area. The first issue is a lack of a local MCB branch office or advocate to coordinate with the Commission. The second issue is public and academic education about blindness and the tools used to assist persons with visual impairments in their jobs. Finally, the third issue is the problem with transportation in the Muskegon area.

INDEPENDENT LIVING UPDATE
Mr. Bob Utrup introduced Ms. Melissa Moore, IL Specialist. Ms. Moore said that she has eight counties on the west side of the state and has a current caseload of 92 people and about fifteen people on her waiting list. Ms. Moore said that Mr. Utrup had requested that she limit her caseload to about seventy people because she is a thirty-hour- per-week employee, but she found that people were having to wait too long. She is working with two support groups in the Grand Rapids area and is currently exploring starting one in the Manistee area.
Mr. Fred Wurtzel commented that the Newsline for the Blind will be going statewide on May 1 and will have an 800 number. Notices will be sent out soon.

The meeting was adjourned for lunch at 12:20 p.m.
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The meeting was called back to order at 1:25 p.m.

STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL UPDATE
Ms. Harvey said that Mr. Utrup would be joining her at the table and that he had some comments to make prior to her report.
Mr. Utrup said that he wanted the Commissioners to know that Ms. Charlene Gordon, IL Specialist in Detroit, had left employment with the Commission as of March 1, 2001 to stay home with her children. Mr. Utrup said that she had done very good work for many years. Her services were very much appreciated and she would be missed. Her departure leaves the IL specialist slot vacant in the Detroit area. Mr. Utrup also mentioned that he had been asked by Mr. Otha Washington of the District of Columbia to mentor the older blind IL program in the DC area.
Mr. Utrup also stated that he and Mr. Shig Toda, IL Specialist, recently conducted a volunteer training program for the VIVA (Visually Impaired Volunteer Assistants) program. He said that they have a very good VIVA volunteer for the area by the name of Mr. Ray Llorens, Sr.
Ms. Beth Harvey explained that the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is a Governor-appointed council for cross-disabilities. It is unique because it is not housed under any given department. Ms. Harvey said that the Council had decided to become its own non-profit 501C3 beginning in October. There are three partners mandated by the Rehabilitation Act. They are the Statewide Independent Living Council, the Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and the Michigan Commission for the Blind. She said that they are now involved in the Statewide Independent Living Plan which is due in July. One change that is required is a significant piece for Chapter 2, which is the older blind component. As part of the statewide planning, they have been conducting focus groups around the state and three were specific to blindness. Some of the most significant issues which have been brought forward are transportation, community awareness of available services, participation by doctors, IL skillbuilding, assistive technology, prescription drugs, timeliness of services, the placement of MCB within FIA, voting privacy and many other issues. She will be providing the focus groups summary to the Commission Board. Ms. Harvey distributed the SILC Guiding Principles and IL Overview.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM UPDATE
Mr. Fred Wurtzel said that he has been very involved of late with the McNamara Food Court in Detroit. It is expected to be open on June 1. He said that it is going to be very nice and hopes that the Commission Board will be able to visit the facility when it next meets in the Detroit area.
Mr. Wurtzel thanked Mr. Cannon for facilitating the keynote speaker for the workshop, which was held on April 6-8, 2001. Mr. Paul Saginaw from Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor presented on customer service and was very well received.
He also thanked Mr. Casey Dutmer for the part he has played in the positive changes that are taking place within the Business Enterprise Program.
Mr. Bob Essenberg was present to give the Elected Operators Committee report. He said that he was not on the EOC this year but said that he will be chairing the Finance and Budget Committee of the EOC again. He reported that the BEP Workshop was very worthwhile. A new committee was formed to study the feasibility of a new association for the vendors with such projects a s acquiring better health insurance and better purchasing practices. Discussion ensued on Mr. Essenberg ’s philosophy that the BEP is a seed program to get people started in business but that the program is not a life-long venture.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Bob Essenberg said that he had graduated from Muskegon Community College and went on to graduate from Central Michigan University and said that he had worked with Ms. Janice Alexander at MCC. He said that the services and teaching staff were first-rate.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, May 21, 2001 at the Victor Office Center in Lansing, Michigan. The Committee of the Whole will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the regular meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.