STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
March 18, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
FULL SILC Meeting
IN-PERSON AND ZOOM

Voting Members: Acting Chair Ryan Witterschein, Acting Secretary Krystal Chase (Remote), Member Ryan Donnelly (Remote), Member Andrew Harmon, Member Joshua Gehling, and Member Michelle McConaghy.
Staff: Jennifer Beaulieu (NH SILC Assistant)
Guests: Matthew Greenwood (Member of the Public), Herbert Carpenter (Applicant), Danielle Murphy (Applicant), Carrie Dudley (Member of the Public, Remote), Brendan Madden (Member of the Public), Jennifer LaSalle (Member of the Public), Kacie Lawrence (ASL Interpreter), and Rachel Farrell (ASL Interpreter).

*Ryan Witterschein called the meeting to order at 1:03pm. 

*Quorum was reached. 

Approval of Minutes of 1/21 Full SILC Meeting
*Acting Chair Ryan Witterschein recommended the minutes for approval. 
Second: Andrew Harmon
Discussion: None
Roll Call: 
•	Yes: Ryan Witterschein, Andrew Harmon, Joshua Gehling, Rob Kallin, and Michelle McConaghy.
•	No: None
All in Favor: Yes	Abstention: Krystal Chase and Ryan Donnelly
Motion Carried.

DSE Update
This item was tabled due to Lisa Beck not being in attendance. She was at a retreat and wouldn’t be able to attend remotely if she couldn’t find a private area at the retreat’s location. 

Committee Updates
Membership 
Ryan Witterschein reported for the Membership Committee. He noted that they were unable to meet yesterday so they will reschedule and will reach out shortly with a new date and time. He noted the difficulties of having meetings the day before the Full SILC meetings. At the rescheduled meeting, they will be discussing a new meeting time.  

Governance
Michelle McConaghy reported for the Governance Committee. She noted that there haven’t been too many updates. Krystal Chase mentioned that at the last meeting, they reviewed their progress on the SPIL objectives. Andrew Harmon mentioned that Deborah Ritcey went over a lot of the objectives that were assigned to the Executive Committee to see if there was anything that the Governance Committee could take on. Krystal Chase mentioned that the committee also  looked at some of the objectives that were assigned to Ad hoc committees and came up with a plan for some of those objectives.  

Advocacy 
Andrew Harmon reported out for the Advocacy Committee. He mentioned that they have been working on their assigned objectives. He had a discussion with Deborah Ritcey about some strategies on how to get started on the goal 1 objectives because that has been one area that they have been struggling the hardest on. The goal 5 objectives are going to be taken up by an ad hoc committee. He has sent over an email to the suggested members to set up the first meeting. In terms of objective 4.3, they will be reviewing the materials from the past presentation and begin work on the framework for the public training. Hopefully they will have something more concrete if not this month, in the next month or two. 

SPIL Goal Review and Ad Hoc Requests
Ryan Witterschein moved on to talk about the SPIL. He mentioned that he has formed an ad hoc committee to target the Goal 5 objectives. Andrew Harmon has stepped up to lead the committee. He mentioned that he needs each committee to bring up their most critical objectives  at the next Full SILC meeting. It will be on the agenda for the next Full SILC meeting. He asked if we should form other ad hoc committees for any of the other objectives. There were questions about the materials that were sent out to the Goal 5 ad hoc committee. Ryan Witterschein mentioned that it was a guide that grouped the objectives together so you can accomplish two or more objectives with one presentation or one new resource. Herb Carpenter asked if the purpose of this ad hoc committee was to get together and work though all these objectives. Rob Kallin responded yes. The committee could come up with a procedure to address the objectives or come back to the SILC with the recommendation that it needs to be changed. Discussion ensued on whether the SPIL can be changed. Jennifer Beaulieu mentioned that it can be changed but it is a long process. Ryan Witterschein mentioned trying the ad hoc committee first before looking into changing the SPIL. 
Danielle Murphy asked if there was something in place to measure the group’s success in accomplishing an objective. Discussion ensued on data collection methods and qualitative data vs quality data. Discussion also ensued on making sure the next SPIL has more achievable and measurable objectives. 
Matthew Greenwood noted how this SPIL needed to be more detailed because the past SPIL was about rebuilding the SILC back up to what it is now. 
Carrie Dudley noted with the annual PPR, you must show what progress has been made on the SPIL. There is no reason that you can’t put in the PPR that these objectives didn’t work and this is how we approached them. She mentioned the idea of highlighting the objectives that are of concern and putting them in one place. The ad hoc committee could address each one and come back and advise the council. Ryan Witterschein asked members to email Jennifer Beaulieu with the objectives they are concerned about. He and Jennifer Beaulieu will compile that into one document, and the ad hoc committee can use that document. 
Concerns were raised over how adding those additional objectives  was going beyond the original purpose of the ad hoc committee. Ryan Witterschein mentioned that it would be more that the committee would act as a triage of the objectives that were of concern. Then the ad hoc committee would look over the objectives and advise the council on if another ad hoc committee needs to be formed of if the SPIL needs to be changed. 
Danielle Murphy asked if there was a format that people can use to submit that information. Ryan Witterschein noted that we would have to create that. They will get that out for the next Full SILC meeting. Andrew Harmon mentioned that he is going to focus the first meeting on the goal 5 objectives. He is going to need some time to think about this because this is a bit more than what he was expecting. 
Other Business
Ryan asked if Herb Carpenter or Danielle Murphy have heard from the state at all regarding their appointments. Both answered no. Carrie Dudley noted that her ability to become a voting member is coming up in May. She asked if she should submit a new membership application to the membership committee ahead of time. Discussion ensued.  Ryan Witterschein said yes. 

Michelle McConaghy mentioned that Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inc. is having an expo on April 11th for their 25th anniversary. It is going to be located at the Boys and Girls Club in Concord. It’s for everyone on the spectrum of hearing loss. There are going to be presentations, audiologists, some non-profit organizations, demonstrations, and other resources at the expo. It’s going to be from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. 

Andrew Harmon noted that the National Federation of the Blind of NH is going to have their annual state convention in May. He doesn’t know when it will be occurring in May. He will email the information about the convention once the registration is online. 

Motion to Adjourn
*Rob Kallin motioned to adjourn.   
Second: Andrew Harmon
Discussion: None
Roll Call:
•	Yes: Krystal Chase, Ryan Donnelly, Andrew Harmon, Joshua Gehling, Rob Kallin, Michelle McConaghy, and Ryan Witterschein. 
•	No: None
All in Favor: Yes	Abstention: None
Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 1:34pm. 

Minutes recorded by Jennifer Beaulieu.