STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
May 19, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
FULL SILC Meeting
ZOOM

Members and Ex-Officios Attending:  Carrie Dudley, Deborah Ritcey, Jeff Dickinson, Ellie Kimball, Shellie Lemelin, Marcia Golembeski, Joan Marcoux, and Gary Whitmarsh.
Staff: Jennifer Beaulieu (SILC Assistant) 	
Guests: Lorrie Ripley (Client Assistance Program, Governor’s Commission on Disability), Michelle McConaghy (SILC Nominee), and Matthew Greenwood.
Communication Access: Rebekah Mallory-Patten (ASL Interpreter), Laurie Shaffer (ASL Interpreter), and Denise Gracia (CART Reporter)
The SILC meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM by Chair Carrie Dudley. Attendance was taken via introductions.
*Quorum was reached.
Marcia noted that under the agenda item of new business she would like to talk about creating a list that contains information about individual accomplishments and individual connections to other councils. 
Approval of Minutes
Carrie asked if everyone had the chance to review the minutes. Deborah noted that she would like to amend the sentence mentioning the creation of a charter and dashboard under the Governance Committee report due to the committee deciding not to create the dashboard and charter.  
* Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey made a motion to approve the March 17th 2021 minutes as amended.
Second: 			Secretary Gary Whitmarsh				
Discussion:			None				
All in Favor: Yes		Abstaining: None
Motion Carried.
Committee Updates
A.	Membership Committee Report
Gary reported out for the membership committee. The committee has been working with the Council on Councils. 

Gary noted that the committee has also been working on streamlining the membership and orientation process. 

B.	Governance
Deborah reported out for the governance committee. She reported that the contract assessment tool is being worked on by Daniel and she expects him to have it completed for the June committee meeting.   

Deborah mentioned that the committee has been working on creating a SPIL assessment tool that will track the progress of completing the goals and objectives of the SPIL. She shared the document with the membership. She mentioned that at the last meeting we talked about creating a universal tool to keep track of all the SPIL activities that can be used by each committee. She went over the SPIL assessment tool. Gary had some questions about where the document will be housed and how it will be updated. Deborah responded that in regards to the governance committee, she will send updates to Jen and she will input the information into the master SPIL assessment tool. The other chairs agreed that sending committee updates to Jen to input into the master SPIL is a good way to handle it for the other committees. Jen will send the updated tool out when she sends out the meeting documents for each meeting. Jen will also take notes for the advocacy meetings and update the master SPIL assessment tool after having Ellie, the Chair of the advocacy committee, review the updates.  

Deborah noted that she would like to seek a motion that we don’t create a compliance and evaluation committee and that we instead give the work over to the governance committee. She doesn’t think the SILC has the capacity for another committee right now. Gary noted that he thinks the EC should work with the governance committee on the work of the compliance and evaluation committee until we can get the membership levels back up. Once our membership levels are back up, the EC can revisit the idea of creating a compliance and evaluation committee. 

*Secretary Gary Whitmarsh made a motion that the Governance Committee would cover the Compliance and Evaluation part of the SPIL for SILC and the Part B grantees regarding delivery of the services as well as performance improvement plans under governance. 
Second: 			Member Marcia Golembeski				
Discussion:			None				
All in Favor: 	Yes		Abstaining: None
Motion Carried.

Deborah mentioned that the governance committee will be working on the consumer survey. The committee wants to create a robust survey that works for everyone. 

Deborah noted that Carrie is working with Daniel and Chuck Saia (The executive director of the GCD) regarding our staff’s evaluation. There will be more to follow up on at a later date. 

Deborah also noted that the committee has also talked about completing the resource plan. There was some ambiguity around what the resource plan is. The resource plan is about the finances and where the SILC is housed. It’s how the SILC pays for office supplies among other things. She didn’t have Daniel at the last committee meeting so she will defer this until the next meeting. Marcia raised some concerns over the DSE being VR. Discussion ensured. Deborah mentioned that it should either be discussed later during the meeting or be put on the agenda for the next meeting

Deborah asked for people’s opinion on participation of community members on committees. This would allow people from the community to volunteer their expertise and time to the council without committing to being a member. There were some questions about if there will be a set duration for community members and if community members would have the same privileges as voting members. Marcia asked various questions of Matthew Greenwood, a member from the public, regarding his participation in committee meetings. Discussion ensued. It was recommended that the EC discuss the matter further and then bring the matter back to the council.  She mentioned that members can send their concerns about the matter over to her or Carrie and they can be discussed at the next EC meeting. She mentioned some items that the EC could discuss regarding the matter could be adjusting the bylaws for community participation, having community members obligate to the same standards as voting members, and the pros and cons of community participation. 

C.	Advocacy
	Gary, Ellie, Marcia, and Carrie reported out for the advocacy committee. Gary noted that the 	committee met recently and discussed various matters related to advocacy. Advocacy is a bit 	lacking in the state. The committee would like to see more of an advocacy focus on patient rights, 	rehabilitation, transportation, and employment. The committee would also like to see more 	networking, the continue interaction between the SCC and the SILC, and the nomination of more 	members from other councils. 
	
	Marcia mentioned that one organization to reach out to is called Metrex. It’s an organization 	that offers assistance for people with disabilities in their homes. She thinks we should have a 	member on the council from that organization.  

	Ellie raised the idea about having a Facebook page that would have information on the latest 	activities in the disability community. Jen noted that the NH SILC has a Facebook and Twitter 	page. She asked everyone to let her know if there is anything that they would like to see on the 	social media pages. There were some questions about the brochures. Jen will send out the links to 	the website, links to the social media pages, and digital copies of the brochure via email to the 	members. 

	Carrie mentioned that she spoke to someone from Fellowship Housing Opportunities who is 	interested in coming to a NH SILC meeting. 

Update on the Councils Meeting
Gary reported that the council of councils met. The council is going to gather some additional information and then forward the information to the governor’s office to see how they want to handle the appointment process moving forward. Lisa will be contacting the governor’s office in regards to the appointment process and she will update the council on councils on the office’s answer. We will then update the SILC on the answer of the governor’s office. 

Other Business
Ellie mentioned that she would like to get back to meeting in-person in hopefully in September. Deborah mentioned she looks forward to meeting in-person as well but wants to be mindful of people’s skepticism to get together. She mentioned that GSIL is open so meetings could be held there. 

Elections
*Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey announced there is a nomination for Carrie Dudley to remain as the SILC Chair.
There were no nominations from the floor.
The motion was made. Everybody approved the motion.
Motion Carried.
*Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey announced that second on the ballot there is a nomination for Deborah Ritcey for First Vice-Chair. 
There were no nominations from the floor.
The motion was made. Everybody approved the motion.
Motion Carried.
*Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey announced there is a nomination on the ballot of Christopher Emerson and Joan Marcoux for Second Vice-Chair. 
There were no nominations from the floor.
There were no votes for Christopher Emerson. There were votes for Joan Marcoux.
The motion was made for Joan Marcoux for Second Vice-Chair. Everybody approved the motion.
Motion Carried.
*Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey announced there is no nomination for Secretary. 
There was a nomination from the floor for Ellie Kimball.
The motion was made for Ellie Kimball for Secretary. Everybody approved the motion.
Motion Carried.
Jen will send the Executive Committee meeting dates to Joan and Ellie. 
Deborah asked that the discussion about accomplishments that Marcia brought up earlier be added to the agenda for the next meeting. 
Approval for Adjournment of Meeting
*Second Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Second: 			Member Ellie Kimball		
Discussion:			None				
All in Favor: 	Yes		Abstaining: None
Motion Carried.

The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
Minutes Recorded by Jennifer Beaulieu