APPROVED

MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND
OCTOBER 16, 2006
RAMADA INN
LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN

MINUTES

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT

Ms. Jo Ann Pilarski, Chair                    Ms. Sheila Ashcraft, Vice Chair

Ms. Velma Allen                                   Mr. Richard Grant

Ms. Geri Taeckens

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT

None

MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND (MCB) STAFF PRESENT

Mr. Patrick Cannon                                Ms. Tish Kingaby

Mr. Leamon Jones                                Ms. Sherri Heibeck

Ms. Sherry Gordon                                Mr. David Greenwald

Ms. Dee Robertson                               Ms. Michelle Visscher

Ms. Nancy Lapekas                               Ms. Karyn Silky

Ms. Christine Boone                              Ms. Corda Moss

GUESTS/ATTENDEES

Ms. Susan Cloutier-Myers                     Ms. Karen Wynn

Mr. Frank Miner                                      Ms. Sandra Kotecki

Ms. Amy Schreiner                                Ms. Charis Austin

Ms. Ann Bratsburg                                 Mrs. Bratsburg

Ms. Brunhilde Merk-Adam                    Mr. George Wurtzel

Mr. Wally Brown                                     Mr. Andy Brown

Ms. Dianne Brown                                 Ms. Sonya Collier

Mr. Russell Grams                                Ms. Carol Butka

Ms. Linda Stacey                                   Mr. Casey Dutmer

Ms. Pat Angerman                                 Ms. Jean Kettler

Mr. Bernie Curtis                                    Ms. Emma Curtis

Ms. Tammy Shifflet                               Ms. Valarie Barnum-Yarger

Mr. John Victory                                     Mr. Mike Ellis

Mr.  Larry Scott

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

The Committee of the Whole was opened by Chair Jo Ann Pilarski at 9:10 a.m.  The meeting was audio-streamed over the Internet, with the opportunity for the listening audience to send in brief comments via email in advance of the Public Comment segment of the agenda.

COMMISSIONER ACTIVITIES

          Referring to written reports Commissioners had previously shared with each other, Ms. Geri Taeckens reported attendance at the mini adjustment program held in Lansing, and at the Ad Hoc Committee on Training Center Services meeting, September 29 in Lansing.

          Mr. Dick Grant reported attendance at the Consumer Involvement Council Meeting, September 23 in Grand Rapids.

          Ms. Sheila Ashcraft reported attendance at the Service Delivery Focus Design Team meeting, September 12 in Lansing, and at the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI) convention, October 6-8 in Grand Rapids.

CONSUMER DIALOGUE

          Mr. John Victory opened the consumer dialogue session which allows interaction between attending members of the public and the board and assists in building trust and relationships.  The topic was "How Does a Blind Person Like to be Treated" and comments were also invited to be sent in by listeners via email to mcbpubliccomments@comcast.net.

Comments will be included in a compilation to be kept over the next several meetings.

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM

          The regular meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m.  Roll call was taken and a quorum was present. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MS. ASHCRAFT MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. ALLEN, TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 21, 2006 MEETING, AS PRESENTED.  THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

BOARD CORRESPONDENCE

          There was no Board correspondence.

WEST REGION/GRAND RAPIDS OFFICE REPORTS

          Ms. Sherry Gordon, Acting West Region Manager, introduced the Grand Rapids Office staff, Michelle Visscher, Nancy Lapekas and Karyn Silky and Ms. Dee Robertson, a vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor from the DeafBlind Unit whose territory covers the entire state. 

Ms. Robertson, who is also a sign language interpreter, said she serves people with legal blindness who also have severe to total hearing loss, and introduced Mr. Andy Brown, a client.  Ms. Robertson described the annual DeafBlind Workshop, a weekend event held in Brooklyn with sign language interpreters to help the DeafBlind learn how to communicate and advocate their needs in order to participate fully in activities.  MCB's two DeafBlind VR counselors have between 50-100 people on their joint caseload.

          Ms. Michelle Visscher, a VR counselor and teacher, said she covers Muskegon, Kent and Ionia counties and introduced Ms. Pat Ingraman, a Western Michigan University intern. 

Ms. Nancy Lapekas introduced two consumers and said she had worked in the area almost 30 years and is nearing retirement. Her first love is teaching at the mini adjustment programs which she feels are very beneficial in helping her homemakers and she hopes to continue to volunteer on these programs.  Ms. Lapekas serves as VR counselor for an area of the state stretching down most of the west coast of Michigan, and also assists in VR teaching and Braille teaching.

Ms. Karyn Silky, a VR counselor and teacher for eleven counties in the northwest portion of lower Michigan, introduced two consumers from Ludington, which she said is a retirement community that has little demand for VR counseling.  She has recently starting working with a student in Mason County, which is a rural area with only a part time Visual Impairment consultant. 

Community Partner Reports

Disability Connection, a Center for Independent Living -- Ms. Susan Cloutier-Myers, executive director, introduced Karen Wynn and Frank Miner and said their territory covers Muskegon, Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties, with offices in Muskegon and Newaygo counties.  Their goal is to add another staff person for Mason or Oceana County. Four core services provided are information referral, individual systems advocacy,   peer support, and independent living skills, and include mentoring, job placement and support, financial literacy, empowerment.  Their board and staff must comprise 51 per cent people with disabilities.  Ms. Cloutier-Myers said they really appreciated collaboration with Commission for the Blind and praised the Grand Rapids staff.  Mr. Miner said he was a former MCB client who now works and volunteers for the Disability Connection, and is grateful to both agencies in helping him achieve confidence and overcome barriers.  Ms. Cloutier-Myers also mentioned collaboration with another former MCB client, Ms. Bratsburg who is also a presenter at the meeting who provided production services for a video on disability awareness and culture, copies of which are available on request.

Goodwill Industries of West Michigan -- Ms. Sandra Kotecki read their mission: to provide work opportunities and skill development for people with barriers to employment, and that through work people are able to gain independence in society.  Goodwill works very hard through its programs, including job placement, long term follow-up, skill building, computer training.  Education of employers and community is a specific goal and sensitivity training has been carried out at the schools.  A former MCB client is now a valuable employee who helps with this training.  Ms. Visscher said transportation is still a large issue for prospective employment.

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) -- Ms. Amy Schreiner, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Ms. Charis Austin, Client Advocate, described the activities of their private, not for profit agency located in Grand Rapids.   Ms. Schreiner said they serve 13 counties, and contract with MCB to provide services in orientation and mobility training, rehabilitation, and low vision services; they have low vision clinics in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, and have opened up a part time clinic in Ludington;  they also have a cash match agreements with MCB for youth programs, Successful Teens Exploring Positive Skills, to help them transition from high school to college, and a two week summer in the city program, an intensive 8-day program working on several skills.

Ms. Austin thanked Mr. Pat Cannon for his assistance in providing contact information to her in her advocacy efforts on behalf of a consumer in Ludington who wanted an accessible pedestrian signal. Working together with Susan Cloutier-Myers and local government and transportation officials, Ms. Austin said this project was successfully concluded.  Ms.Carol Butka, a Ludington resident, thanked everyone for their combined efforts in successfully installing this signal.  Mr. Cannon said this was a great example of success when consumers and community partners work together and persevere.

Ms. Visscher said ABVI was instrumental in the success of MCB's Summer in the City program last summer in Grand Rapids, arranging transportation for the 18 students who participated.  Ms. Schreiner said they could not accomplish their work without the help of the really excellent staff at the Grand Rapids office.

Digital Spectrum Enterprise (DSE TV-77) -- Ms. Ann Bratsburg, President, said she was invited by Ms. Visscher to explain the creation of her media broadcast studio company, which is the managing entity for the City of Muskegon's government communication access channel, recently changed to Channel 97.  Starting out in her basement with an audio recording studio, she raised money as a musician for non profit agencies and established the opportunity to allow non profit agencies to promote their services and fund raise on television, eventually doing 3 programs a week on a community access channel. They became a non profit company to obtain more air time and at that time, MCB became involved in helping them build their business.  As Comcast wanted to charge them, DSE approached the City of Muskegon to run their community access station in return for some free time.  They now have about 20 hours a day, producing about 20 pre-taped and edited shows underwritten by sponsors, with four interns, and have provided job training for clients of MCB and MRS.   Ms. Visscher said Ms. Bratsburg was excellent in filing her paperwork for her business and follow-through.

          Ms. Gordon concluded her report that they were in the process of hiring a full time counselor and part time teacher through Saginaw Valley Rehabilitation Center (SVRC).  Mr. Cannon said the Grand Rapids office had an abundance of staff who are truly dedicated, and who believe in investing in ability.

          Mr. Cannon introduced Ms. Christine Boone, the new director of the MCB Training Center (MCBTC) in Kalamazoo, who is from Pennsylvania and who has worked in the field of rehabilitation for many years.  Ms. Boone said she was happy to be with the Commission and had an outstanding first week, meeting the staff, who impressed her as being very dedicated, and becoming familiar with the layout of the facility.  She looks forward to building a team with the MCBTC staff.  Mr. Cannon described Ms. Boone's experience as a corporate counsel, rehab agency director, O&M instructor, rehab counselor and teacher, who had worked in both public and private rehabilitation, and said he was pleased that the agency was able to appoint her to this important position.

Recessed for lunch at 11:55 a.m.

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          The meeting was reconvened at 12:55 p.m. 

MCB DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Cannon thanked the audience for their participation in the morning's consumer dialogue session and Mr. John Victory for his fine job in facilitating.  Mr. Cannon referred the Board to the written MCB Report and information previously submitted to the Board and posted on the MCB website, and highlighted some items.

Mr. Cannon announced a new website unique to Michigan, www.Michigan.gov/disability, which lists a wide array of services and programs in state government available for people with disabilities. 

In addition, Mr. Cannon reported on the use of the AutoMark machine in elections, and encouraged use of the AutoMark to vote independently and privately in November.

Mr. Cannon reported his attendance at conferences including the Michigan Works Association and Council of Labor and Economic Growth.  Grants have been awarded to hire navigators to help people with disabilities work their way around the Michigan Works service delivery system.  In MCB activities, the recent mini adjustment program in Lansing attracted 28 consumers; four programs are planned for 2007 in Sterling Heights, Escanaba, Big Rapids and Ann Arbor. 

Mr. Cannon referred the board to the quarterly report on the Director's 2006 objectives and said he was pleased to report that nearly all fourteen objectives are on track, with objectives 6 and 10 being a little behind their timelines.  Mr. Cannon reminded the board that their proposed objectives for 2007 will be due at the next commission meeting in December, and he requested they keep in mind that the Department of Labor and Economic Growth recommends 3-5 annual objectives.

About eighteen staff, which comprised approximately one third of the assembly, attended the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired convention, October 6-8 in Wyoming and Mr. Cannon said he expects there will be a good turnout also for the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan's convention, November 10-12.  Mr. Cannon said at the conclusion of that convention, he will be leaving immediately to attend the adjacent conferences of Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.

Mr. Cannon noted an article on actor Jeff Daniels in which he reported his attendance at the MCB training center to prepare for his role as a blind man, and said Mr. Daniels is prepared to advocate that the movie be captioned and described when it is released in 2007.

Ad Hoc Committee on Training Center Services (AHC-TCS) 

          Ms. Brunhilde Merk-Adam and Mr. David Greenwald, members of the AHC-TCS reported on the progress of the Committee.  Mr. Greenwald referred the board to the written report sent to the board in the information packet and reiterated the charge to the committee to assess the range and quality of services being offered at the Training Center and to make recommendations on steps that can be taken to enhance the services.  Mr. Greenwald said the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and dialogue method being used by the committee and facilitated by Mr. John Victory, was working really well.  With the conscious effort to have a diverse group, which includes staff and consumer representatives, the AI initiative is preventing the committee from breaking into factions, each with its own agenda.  A list of ten opportunities for improvement (OFIs) has been developed which cover the ideas of the group as a whole. 

Ms. Merk-Adam read the ten OFIs, which she said are a work in progress, and the committee is looking forward to the input of the new director of the Training Center.  The OFIs will be explored in future meetings to define them and work on the design stage, which will involve both MCB Training Center and field staff, to ensure a cohesive effort in implementing recommendations.

          Mr. Cannon reiterated appreciation to Mr. Victory for his facilitation of the committee's work and said the AI process is becoming embraced by other groups.  Mr. Victory said AI is a life long process and that the OFIs being developed are not specific, fix-it items, but strategies that will grow into fruition.  Mr. Greenwald said it has been a very positive experience and Ms. Merk-Adam said it was especially beneficial that time has been allowed for the committee to develop its findings without a specific deadline.

Ms. Allen said she was pleased the group was allowing the input of the new TC director, and hoped staff would be open to her suggestions and leadership style.

MS. ALLEN MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. TAECKENS, TO ACCEPT THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, AS PRESENTED.  THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MCB CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

Mr. Leamon Jones, Director of the Consumer Services Division, highlighted sections from the written MCB report.  Mr. Jones said that over 1,500 lives had been positively affected by MCB services this (fiscal) year.  An average of 34 clients attended the four mini adjustment programs, and Mr. Jones said the improved Employment Readiness Seminars which involved community employers had been very successful.  Following a managers meeting, the Independent Living and Rehabilitation Teacher programs have been merged so that teachers can provide both services to all consumers and improve service delivery.

Mr. Jones said several initiatives are under way which include transition services, collaborating with the Michigan School for the Blind and Low Incidence Outreach to reach more youth through the Youth Low Vision Program.  Work will also be expanded with the Supplier Diversity Program staff to provide possible business opportunities for potential entrepreneurs.   Mr. Jones said joint meetings are also planned with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to explore ways to collaborate in providing better services.

As required under a Board objective, Mr. Jones said a committee has been formed to study future needs of consumers and how the Commission can meet those needs.  A preliminary report by an MCB team has focused on four priorities and it is planned to engage more stakeholder, community partner and consumer input in developing these strategies.

MS. TAECKENS MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MS. ASHCRAFT, TO ACCEPT THE CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT, AS PRESENTED.  THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

Ms. Sherri Heibeck, Administrative Services Manager, reported on the budget for Fiscal Year 2007, and said that while it was approximately $1 million higher than FY 2006, much of that would be expended in increased expenses.  In the event that a current $500,000 request for a technology center at the TC is granted, MCB has made an additional $600,000 capital outlay request for a new conference room at the Training Center, as the old one would be absorbed by the technology Center.

Ms. Heibeck said, at the request of the Department of Information Technology, MCB would be moved from a state server to a private, secure, web-based system in early November, as this would be more cost efficient.  All staff will be able to access their data from any computer with an Internet connection.   The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) data system will also be moved to this system in early 2007.

Regarding BEP business, Ms. Heibeck said four new students are completing on the job training.  At the Elected Operators Committee (EOC) meeting in September, various motions were made concerning the points system.  Ms. Heibeck said she had recommended that the EOC form an ad hoc committee to present a revised Points System policy for review by the board.  A new evaluation form for Promotional Agents has been presented to BEP and while they have not completed their review, they have indicated they would like to implement this evaluation by next April.

As a follow up to a board requested objective, a satisfaction survey for BEP operators has also been presented to BEP, which they have approved.  This may be implemented through the telephony system to encourage participation and response.   

Ms. Heibeck said a meeting was being held at the end of the week with EOC members and Office of Retirement Services to discuss retirement concerns, and in addition to attend the BEP staff meeting to discuss BEP's budget and the management company.  It is hoped the BEP Manager's position will be posted very shortly. 

MS. TAECKENS MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. GRANT, TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT, AS PRESENTED.  THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC COMMENT

          Mr. George Wurtzel, Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB), talked about past, present and future plans for OUB and Camp Tuhsmeheta (Camp T) and collaboration with MCB and other organizations around the state. Mr. Wurtzel described past and future camp activities, including their Wassailing event at the holidays and plans for the new year.  Information on activities can be obtained from the website at www.CampT.org or by phone at 616-754-5410.  An article by a Camp T counselor, Sarah Hart, on her experiences working at the camp the past summer was read aloud.

Two individuals forwarded their comments via email as follows: 

• Mr. Fred Wurtzel said BEP creates good jobs, which should be factored in as part of the benefits of the Business Enterprise Program.
• Mr. Fred Wurtzel issued an invitation to the NFB of Michigan Convention, November 10, 11 and 12 at the Grand Rapids Hilton Airport.

   

   

  ADJOURNMENT

   

  MS. TAECKENS MOVED, SUPPORTED BY MR. GRANT, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

   

            The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 11, 2006 at the Kellogg Center, East Lansing.  The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m.

   

   

                                                 
  Jo Ann Pilarski, Chairperson

   

                                                 
  Date