[nfbmi-talk] Fw: January 12 Consumer Involvement Council (CIC) meeting

joe harcz Comcast joeharcz at comcast.net
Fri Jan 6 03:00:54 UTC 2012


----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: Larry Posont MCB Comm. 
Cc: David Robinson NFB MI ; mary wurtzel ; Michael Powell NFB MI 
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:56 PM
Subject: Fw: January 12 Consumer Involvement Council (CIC) meeting



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Turney, Susan (LARA) 
To: 'phyllismagbanua at comcast.net' ; 'waynesworld50 at yahoo.com' ; 'Fred wurtzel' ; 'joe harcz Comcast' ; 'Geer Wilcox' ; 'Marianne Dunn' ; 'Cheryl Wade' ; Martin, Carrie (LARA) 
Cc: Cannon, Patrick (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) 
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 3:53 PM
Subject: January 12 Consumer Involvement Council (CIC) meeting


Attached and pasted below are the meeting materials for the January 12 Consumer Involvement Council meeting, including the agenda, draft meeting minutes from September 8, and the partially updated CIC roster.  The meeting will take place in the Lansing MCB office's large conference room and by teleconference from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  The address is 201 N. Washington Square, and the call-in number is  877-873-8017, passcode 7085546.  Additional details are below.  Mr. Richard Bernstein will join us as a guest. 



The agenda and draft meeting notes will be posted on the MCB website in the Events Calendar by the end of the day today.  (Out of respect for CIC members' privacy, we have not posted the CIC roster on the internet, because this list includes members' complete contact information, with addresses, home and cell phone numbers, and email addresses.)



Best wishes for the holidays, and we'll see you or hear from you on the phone at the January 12 meeting.



Sincerely, 



Susan Turney

Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Commission for the Blind

Michigan Department Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 

desk:  517-241-8631; cell: 517-243-3858; fax:  517-335-5140

MCB toll-free: 1-800-292-4200

201 N. Washington Square, Second Floor, 

P.O. Box 30652; Lansing, MI 48909

www.michigan.gov/mcb







Agenda

Michigan Commission for the Blind

Consumer Involvement Council

Thursday,  January 12, 2011

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

MCB Large Conference Room, Victor Building, 201 N. Washington Square, Lansing

Telephone Conference Call-In Number: 877-873-8017, Passcode 7085546



1.    Meeting call to order by Chair Phyllis Magbanua (9:00 a.m.)

a.     Roll call and determination of quorum

b.    Review and approval of agenda

c.     Review and approval of September 8, 2011, meeting notes



2.    Old/New business

a.     Opening comments by CIC chair

b.    Review and update of CIC roster

c.     MCB Liaison Report, Susan Turney

d.    Guest: Mr. Richard Bernstein



3.    Round Table

a.     Reports from individual CIC members

b.    Questions, concerns, and comments from CIC members



4.    Public Comment/dialogue (11:30 a.m.)



5.    Adjourn 12:00 p.m. 





DRAFT 

Michigan Commission for the Blind

Consumer Involvement Council

MEETING NOTES

September 8, 2011, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

MCB Large Conference Room, Victor Building, 201 N. Washington Square, Lansing

Telephone Conference Call-In Number: 877-873-8017, Passcode 7085546



In Attendance



·     In person: Cheryl Wade, Carrie Martin, Susan Turney, Dr. Marianne Dunn, Pat Cannon, Elsie Duell, Bob Robertson, Leamon Jones

·     On the phone: Georgia Kitchen, Wayne LePiors, Phyllis Magbanua, Mae Kent, Mary Davis, Fred Wurtzel, Sarah Norwood



Meeting Call to Order



Phyllis Magbanua is now CIC Chair, completing the term of Crystal Gorton, who has resigned from the CIC.



Wayne LePiors moved that the agenda be approved and Mae Kent seconded it.  The agenda was approved.  Mae did not receive materials due to technical difficulties.  Susan Turney had left her a voicemail message offering to read the materials to her over the phone.  In the future Susan will send the materials in the format that the library uses.  



Wayne moved for approval of the minutes.  The motion was seconded and the minutes were approved. 



Old/New Business



Crystal has stepped down as CIC Chair and Phyllis is the new chair.  Susan read an email that Crystal had sent when she stepped down from the CIC.  



Susan reported that the Braille-a-thon held on June 21st was a success.  It was the 3rd Annual Braille-a-thon and also the third one MCB has participated in.  There were various other organizations present at the event.  MCB presented nine summer youth programs, and the program at Camp Daggett received good media attention.  MCB staff members are looking forward to participating in the two upcoming consumer conventions - MCBVI and NFBM.  The MCBVI convention will be October 6-9 at the Causeway Bay Hotel. The NFBM convention will be November 4-6 in Kalamazoo at the Clarion Hotel. Both events are listed on the MCB website.  The website has a new link on the homepage titled "MCB Documents and Reports," which takes you to budget information, Commission Board meeting audio archives, information on committees and information packets for meetings, the MCB policy manual, RSA documents, and the satisfaction survey.



There was a review of the bylaws as the committee discussed adding more people to the CIC meeting.  Specifically mentioned was the addition of a veteran.  Cheryl Wade expressed that she felt it would be a fine idea to add a veteran representative in that it would make the membership more diverse and it would give a voice to blind veterans.  Fred Wurtzel asked if anyone had contacted the Blind Veterans Association.  Georgia Kitchen volunteered to locate a person to represent veterans.  Wayne also volunteered to help find an interested vet.  Cheryl asked if we want to try to get the bylaws changed before we ask someone. Pat Cannon responded by saying  that revision of bylaws are ultimately approved by the Commission for the Blind Board, but in the meantime the CIC could identify an interested person who could attend meetings to further explore their interest in participating on the CIC until the Board approved a seat for that person. 



Phyllis commented that the CIC still has two vacant seats for parents of blind children.  Fred commented that the NFBM was working to fill those vacancies.  Pat introduced Dr. Marianne Dunn, who is a parent of blind twins and who was in attendance to observe the committee and to decide if she would like to participate in the CIC. Pat also pointed out that Cheryl was in attendance and that she fills the spot for a student representative.  



Elsie Duell joined the meeting and gave an overview of the MCB budget.  She stated that 80 percent of the budget has been spent and we have spent about 80 percent of the ARRA [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act] money.  She also stated that she anticipates having all funds spent by the end of the fiscal year.  Fred asked how much of case services money had been spent.  Elsie replied that as of August 31, about 70 percent of case services money had been spent. BEP had spent 91 percent of their money.  Fred asked why case services were so low.  Elsie responded by saying that generally speaking, the last month of the fiscal year the agency begins to authorize funds for tuition, so the percentages are pretty much where they should be and that things were right on track.  Fred stated that last year's budget was severely under-spent.  Elsie pointed out that it had been a challenging year trying to balance the variables of having ARRA funds, spending during hiring freezes and spending freezes, and the fact that she was brand new in the budget manager position.  Fred asked how many interns were funded this year out of the 40 positions we had.  Pat replied that the last number he had heard was 37 interns. Fred said that it was an impressive number.  Pat continued by sharing that either seven or nine of those interns would receive permanent employment.  Cheryl asked Elsie what the ARRA money was designated for.  Elsie responded by saying that when the money became available two years ago, there was a list of projects that MCB wanted to use the money for.  Some of the programs had to do with increasing the agency's vocational rehabilitation placement.  Cheryl asked if some of the money went into case services or outreach programs - did the money go more to people or programs? Pat responded by saying that it went to a variety of programs, the largest being the internship program.  The internship program was important because the clients were on the verge of being job-ready, but had no previous job experience to show prospective employers.  Cheryl asked what happens to money not spent.  Elsie stated that the federal grants MCB receives allow two years to spend the money, so what the agency doesn't spend in the first year carries over to the next year.  This year is the end of the grant period.  Any unused money will carry over into the next year and needs to be spent first.  Elsie added that another major project that ARRA funds were used for was the renovation of the training center.  Michigan Rehabilitation Services used their ARRA money to create a second Michigan Career and Technical Institute in the Detroit area.  The target date for the MCB Training Center to reopen is mid- to late January.  Fred asked how much money is being spent on staff training and strategic planning. Elsie did not have the staff training or strategic planning funding figures in front of her and could not answer the questions.  Fred asked about how MCB was doing as far as money that MCB pays other departments - like attorney fees and computer data processing.  Elsie did not have those figures with her.  Fred asked if it was a federal requirement that MCB spend a certain amount on staff training and strategic planning. Pat stated that MCB usually receives under $20,000 for staff training from an RSA grant,  and MCB always spends all of it and quite a bit more.  Fred said that only a third of it had been spent in the 2010 budget, according to the budget reports.  Bob Robertson stated that part of the reason the training funds were under-spent last year is because we used ARRA funds for staff training purposes.  Pat stated that there is not a federal requirement that MCB spend a certain number of dollars on strategic planning.  One of the things that MCB benefitted from in the past year was using some facilitators who were from our department, so there were no direct charges. Prior to that MCB worked with a facilitator whose costs were less than what the agency spent in previous years.  The budget information will be included on the MCB website.  



Bob Robertson joined the meeting to answer questions about Human Resources issues.  Marianne asked Bob to reflect on staff turnover at MCB.  Bob replied that typically turnover has not been a problem, but with the early retirement there have been some unusual circumstances to deal with.  Marianne asked if caseloads tend to get shifted from counselor to counselor.  Bob said he really didn't know, but that when there is a vacant position, other counselors have been asked to step in and handle those caseloads.  MCB has had a variety of issues filling some of the positions.  MCB lost between 15 and 18 people in December.  Marianne stated that her children have had three different counselors in the 18 months that they have been clients.  Pat said that the retirements may have had an impact on that issue.  Several years ago when there was an early retirement offered, the entire Lansing office was wiped out by employees taking the incentive to retire early.  This time around MCB had several pockets of people retiring - mostly at the training center, but also some staff in field offices.  Cheryl asked if there are changes in philosophy in how MCB approaches clients - to help them find their own careers and not so much as to lead them by the hand.  Bob responded by stating that each case is handled individually but agreed that once an employer is contacted by a counselor from MCB it does let that employer know that we're going to be discussing a prospect who has a disability.  It can be a difficult part of being a VR counselor.  Pat commented that MCB has done a lot of training with VR staff and placement specialists on how to approach the issue of blindness with job developers.  One of the trainers, Allen Anderson, speaks to the importance of developing relationships with employers and working with them to solve problems they have.  We also hold employment readiness seminars throughout the year to give MCB clients who are job-ready the opportunity to learn techniques on interviewing and disclosure issues.  MCB encourages the applicants to raise the issue of their disability in a positive and constructive way.  If the issue of blindness isn't discussed by the applicant or the employer, then the worst fears and stereotypes that the employer might have are going to be reinforced.  It can put the employer's mind at ease when the client can raise the topic in a positive way, for example, "You may have noticed I have a guide dog [or a white cane] and I wanted you to know that I am a person who is blind and I have been functioning as a blind person for a long time and I just want to basically describe how I go about doing the daily things that take place in a workplace.  I can travel safely and independently with my white cane.  I use large-print software on my computer.  I use Braille in some circumstances."  This allows the employer to focus on abilities instead of disabilities.  Cheryl stated that she felt it needed to be suggested to counselors that MCB is, in effect, an employment agency rather than a welfare agency and that we need to change our philosophy as such.  We need to be ambassadors to the Chamber of Commerce and the economic development folks and the business round tables.  We need to have our people on those panels to assess the job climate and to rub shoulders with business people, and it should be part of the training.  Fred asked Bob if the job placement specialists were going to be done or if we'd be able to keep them on.  Bob responded that, as things stand right now, they would be done as of September 30 just like all the other ARRA-funded positions.  MCB is hoping to move the East Region's job placement specialist into a permanent position, but he's not sure if the agency will be able to do that.  MCB is going to try to maintain the job specialist position in the Central office as well.  Fred stated that there was a case in Lansing where the counselor left for an extended period of time and did not notify clients before leaving.  Fred asked if there was a policy for notifying clients of such instances.  Pat asked to answer Fred's question and stated that it was a management issue that has been addressed.  Pat said that there is a policy in place stating that counselors are expected to notify clients when they are leaving and provide an alternative contact person for the client.  In this instance, it was not handled the way it was supposed to be handled, but the problem has been addressed internally.  Fred asked if the policy was in writing, to which Pat responded that he wasn't sure.  Fred stated that he didn't feel that the 48-hour call-back policy is working well and asked what was being implemented to try to accomplish that goal.  Pat responded by saying that it was another management issue and that in some offices MCB has started keeping call logs to make sure that practice is being adhered to, and in most cases it is.  Fred stated that the caseloads in the Detroit area are quite high, while the caseloads in northern Michigan are much lower, and he wanted to know what is being done to balance caseload numbers.  Pat responded by saying that this is part of what Bob does, and that he could address that question.  Bob stated that the caseloads in Detroit are going to be bigger than in northern Michigan, and aside from getting people from Detroit to move to Gaylord, he's not sure how MCB can change that.  The other alternative is to have waiting lists or order of selection - which we've never done and don't want to do.  It would be nice if the numbers were more balanced.  When new counselors come in, it takes them a while to get acclimated to the job and therefore they carry smaller caseloads at first.  If MCB could have more counselors in the bigger cities and smaller caseloads that would be great, but that's not the reality.  Fred asked if there was any concern from MCB that there's a difference in level of service from one area to another.  Bob responded by saying that he doesn't agree with the generality of the statement.  He's seen counselors with very large caseloads handle them well, and he's seen counselors with small caseloads struggle with them.  It is not necessarily the size of the caseload, although it is definitely a factor.  



Fred brought up the problems with System 7 and asked that Elsie rejoin the meeting.  Elsie came back to the meeting.  Fred asked Elsie how the problems with System 7 were being handled.  Elsie stated that she's been trying to brainstorm how to give more information out to the system users.  She has met with Libera about the accounting issues that staff have been experiencing.  Libera will be doing some updating to the system so that there aren't any major issues with the accounting aspect when it comes to year end.  Fred also mentioned other problems with System 7, such as with opening, transferring, and closing cases.  Elsie stated that after year end she would look more closely at all the problems MCB has been experiencing with System 7. Fred asked if there was a staff input system to address the issue.  Elsie stated that she'd been working on it, but the previous attempt became too cumbersome.  Elsie also agreed that a System 7 committee would be a good idea and that the whole System 7 itself is a work in progress. Elsie did point out that she felt MCB need more customer support to end users.  



Roundtable  

Fred brought up a concern with college policy. There was one issue with a form that is being used by MCB. He stated that there were two cases in which the client was being penalized for the inability of the financial aid office to complete the form in a timely manner.  He stated that he fails to see how clients can be held responsible for this issue.  He would like to see the college policy revised to shift responsibility or have the form completely thrown out so that the client is not responsible for the timeliness of the submission of the form.  He said he felt it should be MCB's responsibility and not the responsibility of the student to submit the form and to get it returned.  Leamon Jones joined the meeting to discuss the financial form.  Leamon clarified that the form is not in any way a means test.  The form shows the overall cost of college, what is covered, what is not covered, and what would be owed.  It is not a form that would prevent a student from going to school.  Fred restated that he felt that the student shouldn't be held responsible for getting the form completed.  Leamon pointed out that if the student functions in a timely manner, most often it isn't an issue.  If the student waits until the last minute, that's where problems occur.  Cheryl agreed that a proactive approach by the student is necessary in these situations.  



Sarah brought up the issue of problems with public transportation in Detroit.  There are changes being made, routes are being deleted, and riders are not being informed of the changes.  Wayne asked if there was a committee that brings concerns to the bus company.  She informed him that there was a committee, and that they've tried everything they can to make positive changes to the transportation system, but they just keep getting a bunch of empty promises.  Fred stated that the CIC has the capability to address some of these issues.  He suggested inviting DDOT [Detroit Department of Transportation] or SMART [Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation] or even MDOT [Michigan Department of Transportation] to come to a commission meeting and have a dialogue about the issues that people are experiencing with public transportation.  He pointed out that there needs to be a coordination of services and that the problem isn't isolated to Detroit-it's statewide.  Fred made a motion that the CIC recommend to the commission board to have an agenda item that invites transportation officials to a future meeting to discuss public transportation issues.  Wayne seconded the motion and everyone voted and agreed.  The motion passed. Pat mentioned that a gentleman that serves on the CATA [Capital Area Transportation Authority] committee, Ralph Monsma, might be a good person to invite.  Pat agreed with Fred that public transportation is absolutely critical to the employment and independence of blind people.  He said that they have been advocating for years to have a blind person on the state transportation commission.  It is something that everyone needs to lobby for vigorously.  Pat thanked Sarah for raising the issue.  Marianne mentioned that Richard Bernstein was doing a lot of work on trying to coordinate transportation issues in the Detroit area and thought he might be a good resource.  Phyllis asked if Marianne could contact him and see if he could speak with us.  Susan volunteered to help with logistics for the meeting. 





Public Comment



Georgia provided an update on Newsline - that there are job listings now available. They are customizable by zip code and radius from home.  



Marianne stated that she's concerned with the level of dysfunction that currently exists at the commission board meetings.  She stated that she speaks for a lot of parents who are concerned about the future of the agency if we're not able to resolve some of those issues.  She mentioned that those were the reasons behind her attendance at today's meeting and her consideration to join the CIC.  She would like to lend a louder voice to the parent contingent in terms of making sure services are available for our kids into the future.  



Fred mentioned that there is a commission board meeting coming up in September and the CIC needs to bring issues to the board, so the CIC needs a place on the agenda at the commission meeting.  Marianne asked if the CIC had standing representation at the board meeting.  Pat responded that the CIC is usually heard once a year at a commission meeting and that they were represented last March.  Pat pointed out that in lieu of attending a meeting, the CIC would be welcome to send a letter to the board, which would be considered correspondence for the board.  Cheryl volunteered to represent the CIC at the commission meeting. Pat suggested that the CIC be represented twice a year at commission meetings, maybe at the March and September meetings.  Fred asked about a motion made in November regarding the funding of Newsline for five years and wanted to know what the status of that motion was, as well as the transportation issue.  Fred volunteered to write a letter to the commission board regarding the Newsline issue.  Marianne asked how feedback from the CIC was disseminated.  Fred responded by saying that the CIC is supposed to report to the commission board.  Pat said the information is delivered as a report to the board.  Carrie Martin clarified that the motion regarding Newline was made at the September meeting and not the November meeting. 



Wayne moved to end the meeting and Sarah seconded it.   The motion passed, and the meeting ended at noon.  





Michigan Commission for the Blind

Consumer Involvement Council (CIC) Roster 

(Partially updated December 14, 2011)







Phyllis Magbanua - Chairperson

MCBVI (term expires 1/15; serving as Chair until 1/13)

2847 Maple Street

Port Huron, MI  48060

Phone: 810-966-9185

Cell: 810-434-0761

phyllismagbanua at comcast.net 

Preferred format: E-mail



Wayne LePiors

MCBVI (term expires 1/15)

1117 Miller Road

Port Huron, MI  48060

Phone: 810-982-2378

waynesworld50 at yahoo.com

Preferred format: E-mail



MCBVI-vacant position



Mae Kent

MCBVI Alternate (term expires ___)

4099 Pine Grove Avenue

Fort Gratiot, MI  48059

Phone: 810-385-4666

Cell: 616-299-2851

Preferred format: Audio for Braille & Talking Book Library equipment



Sarah Norwood

NFBM (term expires ___)

497 Campbell Street

River Rouge, MI  48218

Phone: 313-914-5270 

Preferred format:  Braille (no e-mail)



Fred Wurtzel

NFBM (term expires 1/14)

1212 N. Foster Avenue

Lansing, MI  48912

Phone: 517-485-0326

Cell: 517-256-5575

f.wurtzel at comcast.net 

Preferred format: E-mail



Joe Harcz

NFBM (term expires 1/15)

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI  48458

Email: joeharcz at comcast.net 

Preferred format: E-mail



Geer Wilcox

NFBM - Alternate (term expires ___)

1985  Wembley Way          

East Lansing, MI  48823

Phone: 517-351-8122

Cell 517-896-5464

geerwilcox at att.net

Preferred format:  E-mail



Clara Powell

Older blind representative (term expires 1/14)

26700 Central Park Blvd. 

Southfield, MI

Phone: 248-352-8900

(no reply to date to phone calls or mail)

Preferred format: large print



MACIL-vacant position



Current MCB client-vacant position



MCBVI-nominated parent representative-vacant position



Dr. Marianne Dunn

NFBM-nominated parent representative (term expires 1/14)

(616) 285-6080

dunkaz at ameritech.net 

Preferred format:  E-mail



Cheryl Wade

Student member (term expires 1/14)

2791 Northwind Drive, Apt. 56

East Lansing, MI, 48823

(517) 574-6898

wadecher at msu.edu

Preferred format: E-mail



Susan Turney

MCB Liasion 

Michigan Commission for the Blind, Central Office

201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

Lansing, MI 48909

517-241-8631                            

turneys at michigan.gov

Preferred format: E-mail



Carrie Martin

MCB CIC Secretary 

Michigan Commission for the Blind, Central Office

201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

Lansing, MI 48909

517-373-9424

martinc2 at michigan.gov

Preferred format: E-mail 














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