STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
January 18, 2023
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
FULL SILC Meeting
IN-PERSON AND ZOOM

Members and Ex-Officios Attending: Second Vice-Chair Randy Pierce, Secretary and Immediate Past Chair Jeff Dickinson (Remote), Member Erin Hall (Remote), Member Michelle McConaughy, Member Sarah Sweeney (Remote), and DSE representative Daniel Frye.
Staff: Jennifer Beaulieu (SILC Assistant) 	
Guests: Matthew Greenwood (Member of the Public, Remote) and Jennifer Cook (Nominee, Remote) 
Communication Access: Laurie Meyer (ASL Interpreter) and Rebekah Mallory-Patten (ASL Interpreter)

The SILC meeting was called to order at 1:15 PM by Second Vice-Chair Randy Pierce due to neither Chair Carrie Dudley nor First Vice-Chair Deborah Ritcey being in attendance. Attendance was taken via roll call. 

*Quorum was reached. 

The Chair will follow the federal health emergency guidelines as it relates to the rising cases of COVID and allow this body to be remote with the ability to meet with quorum while being remote.

Approval of Minutes of 11/16 Full SILC Meetings
* Member Sarah Sweeney made a motion to approve the 11/16 Full SILC meeting minutes
Second: 			Member Michelle McConaughy  
Discussion:			None				
All in Favor: 	Yes		Abstaining: None
Motion Carried.

Committee Updates

A.	Membership Committee Report
Jeff Dickinson reported out for the Membership Committee. He gave an update on the orientation material. Between now and the next Committee meeting, the Committee will work on reviewing and making suggested edits to the documents. He noted that based on what happens at that meeting, the Committee will have finalized materials to present to the SILC for possible approval. Once approved, the documents can be used as a part of an orientation package for current and new members.  

B.	Governance Committee Report 
Erin Hall reported out for the Governance Committee. The Committee has discussed looking at and working on the survey. The Committee also discussed having an outside entity conduct the surveys to improve the response rate. There were questions on if the response rate was affected by the fact that it was the vendors who were conducting the surveys. The Committee also discussed modifying the survey so all people could participate in the survey no matter their disability.  

Randy Pierce noted that the goal is to remove a bias that exists when the existing agency is self-performing and to ensure there’s a consistency in delivery that we hope will yield an improvement in results. The goal right now is to explore what outside entities could possibility be invited to conduct the surveys. 

C.	Advocacy Committee Report
Jennifer Cook reported out for the Advocacy Committee. She noted that the Committee has a question in terms of what our role really is regarding advocacy. She further noted that Carrie has shown us a document that said we were advocating for the Committee. 

Daniel Frye noted that from the DSE’s perspective, the SILC’s Advocacy Committee is responsible for bringing to the core almost anything that is disability related and has a nexus to the independent living movement that they think is relevant and timely to address in NH.  

There were questions regarding what document Carrie Dudley was referring to. Jennifer Beaulieu thinks it came from the SPIL. Daniel Frye mentioned that if the Advocacy Committee limited its role in the SPIL, the SPIL can be amended if the committee desires a larger role.  

Jeff Dickinson noted that he agrees with what Daniel says. He further noted that historically the Committee focused on systems advocacy, policy advocacy, and legislation.  Promoting the SILC wasn’t something that the Committee focused on. Matthew Greenwood agreed with Jeff Dickinson and Daniel Frye regarding advocacy having a broader scope. 

Sarah Sweeney noted she would like to be a part of the Committee. 

SPIL Progress
Agenda item was tabled due to Carrie Dudley and Deborah Ritcey not being in attendance. 

Discussion on Meeting Location and Audio Quality
Randy Peirce went around the room and asked everyone what their thoughts are on the audio quality of this location versus GSIL. 

Jennifer Beaulieu noted that it took a bit of time figuring out the technology. She further noted that we are currently using the microphone and camera on the laptop but using the speaker on the TV.  She does think the audio is better. 

Michelle McConaughy thinks the audio quality is better. 

Jennifer Cook noted that she is having a harder time hearing people in the room from this location. She further noted that she doesn’t have a preference for location at this point, but she really has to strain to hear people in the room and her volume is already up to 100%

Daniel Frye noted that his preference is here. He thinks that the audio quality is better and thinks it would be even better next time we meet. We learned that to maximize the technology that is in the room, the invitation to the meeting needs to come from someone within the DSE because it is a DSE operated system.  

Sarah Sweeney noted that location doesn’t really matter but she thinks the audio quality is better at GSIL. She also asked what prompted the change. Randy Pierce answered that the change was made because people who were remote couldn’t hear the people in the room. 

Jeff Dickinson noted that he thinks that we need to have one more meeting at this location to really be able to have an opinion. Based on today he feels like the audio is better, but the camera is narrow, and you can’t see who is in the room. He also thinks that when people cross talk, it kills the audio quality if you are remote. He thinks that we need to remind ourselves to not cross talk when someone else has the floor

Erin Hall noted that she agrees with Jeff that we need to try using the full technology in this room before deciding. She feels the audio is better but not the video. 

Randy Pierce noted that we will have another meeting at this location and will have some follow-up discussions which he encourages a motion to be made on the permanent location of council meetings. 

RSA 15-A- Statement of Financial Interest
Jennifer Beaulieu noted that the form is required to be completed by voting members. She further noted that it’s a financial statement of interest, it’s due this Friday, and she has sent the information out to everyone. 

Other Business
Jennifer Beaulieu noted that she got a response from Carrie Dudley regarding her attendance at today’s meeting.  

*Secretary and Immediate Past Chair Jeff Dickinson made a motion to adjourn.  
Second: 			Member Sarah Sweeney 
Discussion:			None				
All in Favor: 	Yes		Abstaining: None
Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 1:49pm. 

Minutes Recorded by Jennifer Beaulieu