Minutes - April 02, 2002

1. Introductions were made around the table
2. Report from the Nominations Process committee:  Cathy Anthony reported on a conference call of the committee this morning.  The process being suggested is that each group (families, self-advocates, and service providers) would have their own nomination committee.  Each committee would gather nominations, screen the applicants, select a slate, and present that slate to the next Coalition meeting on April 10th, 2002.  Members of nominating committees cannot stand for the Transition Team positions.  The process committee suggests selecting at least one alternate for each group. (two alternates in addition to the eight family appointees). 
3. Family Nominations Committee: Linda Perry, Maria Glaze, Lorraine Ward & Mildred DeHaan have volunteered to be on the nominations committee.  To nominate family members for the Transition Team, contact Linda Perry at Office:604-575-2588 - Home :604-533-8763 Fax: 604-575-2589 e-mail: lindaperry@microboard.org
4. Self-Advocates Nominations: The self-advocates met at 1pm today and reviewed job descriptions of Self-Advocates appointed to the Transition Team, and received nominations from three people. (Their report is attached here)
5. Service Providers Nominations Committee: Ernie Baatz, Glen Campbell, Shelley Watson and Bill Fildes volunteered to be the nominations committee.  Nominations will be accepted by the website, by phone - Ernie at 604-323-1433 or fax - 604-321-4144 or by e-mail at ernie@spectrumsociety.org.  BCACL Executive Directors have nominated three members to the Transition Team and these names will be added to the names collected from the broader coalition.  Nominees will be reviewed and selected by the nominations committee.  The selected slate will be brought to the Coalition meeting on the 10th.
6. Updates from around the province: Nobody here attended the picnic at the Premier's house.  Self-Advocates talked about the letter he received from MHR about the changes to Disability Benefits.  BCACDR is supportive of the revised children's services delivery plan.  A coalition member displayed a copy of the most recent DDA newsletter that gave a glossary of terms used by government.  MCFD Regions have been consolidated to 5 regions, with Interim CEO's who have maintained their old regional structures and old Regional Executive Directors in their positions.
7. Services for Children with Special Needs Governance Structure: A revised draft of the flowchart reviewed at the last meeting was presented.  The most significant change is the addition of a residential care option for children to the Community Living Governance Authority.  The service would be voluntary.  Special Needs agreements where custody of the child is surrendered will still be under the Child & Family Development Service Governance Authorities.  Concern was expressed that often families with children with special needs must surrender their children to the government due to family stress and lack of services.  A request for resolution of this issue will be made by Doug Woollard to MCFD.  Concern was also raised that the Child and Family Services Transition Team will not have any family members.   This concern will also be raised by the Coalition with the Ministry.
8. MOU on Transition Process:  The negotiations continue with the Ministry to finalize an agreement on the Transition Process.  The Memorandum has now become a "Letter of Commitment" to outline the commitments being given by the Minister around the Transition process.  This process should be completed by Friday.
9. Minister's Meeting in Victoria: March 27th, 2002 - Six Lower Island MLA's attended, the Minister attended, Deputy Minister Haynes and ADM Murray were present along with regional MCFD staff.  A number of short presentations were made by families, then the Minister spoke.  He talked about a "Transformation" process, rather than a "Transition" process.  Then there was a question and answer period.  Questions focused on concerns around the lack of resources, primarily.  The Minister stated that he hoped to name Transition Team members within a week.
10. Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Interest:  A draft was circulated last meeting (click here) for discussion.  Doug Walls moved / Seconded by Arlene Schouten that the Declaration be approved as amended and that all participants at the Coalition table must sign it at the beginning of the next meeting, and new participants will sign it as they join the coalition.  CARRIED.  The Communications Committee will enhance the members database to record the members that have completed their declarations.  Doug Walls will forward the amended Declaration to the website for posting.  Disclosure of Interest with all amendments.
11. Members to sign on behalf of Coalition: Doug Walls moved/Marcie Baldwin seconded: that Laney Bryenton, Doug Woollard, Al Etmanski and Linda Perry - or any two or more of the above - are empowered to sign on behalf of the Coalition. CARRIED
12. Communications Committee update: Cuts and changes website is still receiving updates from around the province.  Please send your updates to communications@communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca for posting.  By sending your cuts and changes info to us, you allow us to bring provincial attention to regional problems and we may be able to have some influence on the issue.  When the Transition Team is appointed, these issues can be forwarded to the Transition Team.   A speaker has been requested for a meeting on April 11th in Vernon.  Melinda Heidsma agreed to attend the Vernon meeting and provide an update and answer questions.  It was suggested that we need to build our capacity for public relations to deal with issues over the next three months.  More volunteers for the Communications committee would assist in dealing with many emerging issues. 
13. Letter from BCACL: In January at the BCACL Federation Meeting, BCACL's members requested that BCACL maintain a separate advocacy position outside of the Coalition.  Since that time, the Coalition has broadened its membership and become far more inclusive and BCACL's concerns have been addressed.
14. Working Committees: There will be working groups set up by the Transition Team.  The coalition will look at setting up working groups and recruiting members at the next meeting.
15. Welcoming New Coalition members: Should we have some pre-meeting orientation process for new members?  It was suggested that the meeting chairs ask at the beginning of the meeting whether there are first-time members in attendance.  Then a brief update on the Coalition could be given and follow-up offered.  Another suggestion that valley members made was an information session for interested people to give them an in-depth overview of the Coalition process, the proposal, Individualized Funding and Community Governance.
16. Next Meetings: Wednesday, April 10th, 9:30am - 1:30pm.  Monday, April 22nd - 4pm to 8pm.  Wednesday, May 8th - 1:00 to 4:30 pm.