September 2014 Minutes
Madison City Disability Advocacy Board
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Date: September 9, 2014 Time:
6:00 pm
Location: City Hall, Conference Room 130 Presiding: Claudia Rice, Vice-Chairperson Recorder:
Joni Haas
Board Members Present: Claudia Rice, Joni Haas, Cynthia Allison, Gerald
Clark, Kathy Burris, Willard Brooks, Paula Cushman
Board Members Absent: Keith
Bedsole, Jamie Hill
Guests Present: none
Call
to Order: The
Vice-Chairperson, Claudia Rice, called the meeting to order and noted that a
quorum was present. It was noted that
sufficient prior notice of the meeting was given, in accordance with the
Alabama Open Meetings Act.
Announcements: The Madison Public Library has started a
new book club just for adolescents and adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (IDD). The
Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC), starts on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6:30
p.m. Participants will meet at the
Madison Library to read, learn, and make friends in a relaxed setting. A group
of five to eight people with IDD will gather with two or three trained
volunteer facilitators to read aloud and discuss a book for one hour each
week. For more info contact Teresa
Allison at tallison@hmfpl.org.
Making Waves swim time is in need of a new lead. Kathy Burris will consider taking the
responsibility. Colby Flack is the
contact she will coordinate with to discuss possibly changing the schedule that
is currently being used.
Miracle League fall ball is beginning.
Contact huntsvillemiracleleague.org for more information.
Dancing with Friends is the first Friday of each month from 6:30 ? 8:30 at
Trinity United Methodist Church. Dancing
is for older teens and adults with disabilities. Those interested must contact dancingwithfriends@yahoo.com to
confirm attendance.
Ability Plus is having a Tailgate Kick-off on September 15 from 4-8 in Madi?s Café and Bar at Renovated Radison
Madison. There will be door prizes,
happy hour drinks and food specials with grand prize bundle of Radisson Madison
and Hertz rental.
Public Comments: None
Approval
of Minutes: Claudia Rice noted a quorum was present
from the regular August 12, 2014 meeting.
Claudia made the motion that the minutes, previously distributed to the
board, be approved. Paula Cushman
seconded. All board members present approved
the motion; no opposition; one abstention. Motion carried.
Treasurer?s Report: Willard Brooks, the new treasurer, provided a
copy of the Treasurer?s report to all board members present. He reported a balance of $17,237.19 including
$2545.41 earmarked for EPIC. The
expenditures included in the report are: $1000 for USSRC scholarship, $124.07 supplies
for the Humana booth, $167.96 MCDAB awards and $169.09 for Fishing Rodeo
supplies. Claudia Rice is preparing a
letter to the Director of Finance for the requesting the check for EPIC
funds. The MCDAB annual request for
appropriation was submitted to the Madison City Council.
MCDAB Employer Award: We are accepting nominations for the MCDAB
employer award that will be presented in October - Disability Employer Awareness Month. This award is for any employer in Madison
that employs the handicapped or Huntsville if that company employs a handicapped
Madison resident.
Committee Reports:
Accessibility: Willard Brooks attended an Emergency
Preparedness seminar to hear the FEMA director speak on emergency preparedness for
the disabled. The push is to increase
public awareness as well as individual awareness of what is available during
weather emergencies. Accepting a spot on
the committee, Willard will meet quarterly to brainstorm how to disseminate
emergency preparedness information pertaining to the disabled.
MARS Bus: Claudia Rice received an e-mail from Corey
Alford, Madison Parks and Recreation, concerning the grant for the MARS bus. He reported that after reviewing the grant
and post bus purchase requirements, the decision was made to not accept the
grant but the City will purchase the bus instead.
MCDAB autonomy: The City Council is recommending MCDAB become
a more autonomous entity, maintaining their own funds
and possibly seeking 501C status.
Further discussions will ensue at a later date to go over the benefits
and drawbacks. Kathy Burris will
check with other boards, and determine how holding their own funds
works for those boards with and without 501C status.
Madison Street Festival Booth: Sign up sheet was
passed around for shifts for the street festival. The MCDAB brochure was discussed and
decision was made to go with the format we already have to facilitate
reproduction in time. Willard Brooks
motioned that we order 100 brochures and Cynthia Allison seconded. All board members present approved the
motion; no opposition; no abstention. Motion carried.
Discussion
continued on type and quantity of gifts to award for the Plinko
game that we will have in our booth.
Willard Brooks moved to allocate up to $600 for prizes. Claudia Rice seconded. All board members
present approved the motion; no opposition; no abstention. Motion carried. .
Joni Haas will purchase the prizes
Cynthia
will prepare a banner to go at the top of the Plinko
game to identify MCDAB and bring colored cards for the winning slots.
Board Openings: There currently are two board openings.
Claudia Rice will be verifying Jamie Hill?s status and will contact Maria
Kilgore to get a replacement once she confirms Jamie?s intentions. The other board vacancy is Place #3 which is
a parent/caregiver of a person with a disability. Everyone is encouraged to invite Madison
citizens to apply as soon as possible.
Madison Weekly Article: Cynthia will write the September article
on the Inspiration, Faith and Personal Services MCDAB awards that were
presented at the City Council meeting and include pictures. Kathy Burris will write the October
article. Joni Haas will write the November article
about Special Olympics Track and Field Events that are held October 21.
Proposed Donation: Claudia Rice brought forward information on
the needs of Madison County Special Olympics.
She reported that the funding for Special Olympics is not provided by
the State or National organization, they rely solely
on fund raising and donations. Special
Olympics provides recreation for many of our disabled in Madison through many
sports, track and field, bowling, swimming, golf, weight lifting, equestrian,
ice skating, etc. Paula moved that we
donate $1000 from the transportation budget for bus transportation for Madison
County Special Olympics state games.
Kathy Burris seconded. All board members present approved the motion; no
opposition; no abstention. Motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned: Meeting was adjourned at 7:50.
Next meeting is October 14, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.at City
Hall, Conference Room 130.
NOTE: Underlined text indicates an action to be
taken by a board member(s).