Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
March 12, 2009 Council Meeting
Leadership Committee Meeting
Members Present: Guests:
Chris Drummond Doreen Stewart
Idelio Valdes Brian Vaughn
Susan Redmon
Ann Smith
Casey Stewart Member Absent:
Phil Stevens Michael Smith
Amber Luke
Jim DeBeaugrine
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Chris Drummond, Chair called meeting to order at 10:15 am.

Minutes:
Mr. Drummond asked members to review the minutes from the last two Leadership Committee meetings. Susan Redmon moved for the minutes for the December Leadership Committee meeting and the January Leadership Committee conference call be approved as written. Idelio Valdes seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Old Business:
Chris Drummond asked everyone to introduce themselves.

Recruiting Council Members for 2010
Chris Drummond directed the member’s attention to the map of Florida to view the Council’s statewide representation. Mr. Drummond pointed out the areas not represented, particularly in the region where Native American Indian tribes are located.

Dennie Hill informed the members that there are currently two applicants. Idelio Valdes asked how someone applies to be a member of the Council. Dr. Hill explained. Phil Stevens brought up Resources members and checking if they fit the criteria. A discussion of geographic, category and racial diversity followed. Susan Redmon directed everyone’s attention to the Council member term list. Five members will be ending their second full term in 2010.

Chris Drummond gave the floor to Ann Smith to review member’s current terms. Ms. Smith gave the names of members who will complete two terms in 2010. They are: Ann Smith, Chris Drummond, Enrique Escallon and Jackie Needleman. She also stated which members can submit their applications for a second full term. These included: Casey Stewart, Judy Owen and Amber Luke. Ann Smith will contact the members who are eligible to see if they would be interested in serving a second term. Those applying for a second term must complete a new gubernatorial application. Three recommendations are sent to the governor for each vacancy.

Brochure and Flyer
Dennie Hill shared the Council recruitment brochure and flyer requested by the members at the December meeting. Susan Redmon loved the photos. She also expressed concern of some words that may not be universally understood and a reading level that may be difficult for some self-advocates to understand. Members discussed and made the recommendations below. They also agreed to make additional suggestions/comments on the materials and give them to Dennie. She will pass them on to Rose Coster who will do a second draft of each.

Among the concerns raised were the following:
• Photo of all Council members would be two small to see individuals on the brochure. Suggest photos of single people (quad of four difference individuals) on brochure and full Council picture on the flyer
• Two column format difficult to read
• Too many different fonts – prefer to serifed fonts since they are easier to read.
• Statement of Council member responsibilities should be more specific.

Jim DeBeaugrine moved to approve the use of the brochure and flyer with the suggested revisions. Casey Stewart seconded the motion. Motion carried.

RPF 100 Proposal Policy
Dennie Hill reminded the members of their decision that all proposals must score 85 or above. Last quarter, none of the four submitted proposals met the criteria, so there was not a selection. Dr. Hill asked the members if a proposals was not rewarded in a quarter, should two proposals (85 or above) be awarded in the next. Susan Redmon expressed her concerns of meeting themselves in a position to having to continually rewriting the policy. Discussion followed. Susan Redmon reminded the committee that the policy was designed to ensure that funds for RFP100 contracts will be available in the third and fourth quarters . Phil Stevens asked if provider s had enough time if selected to properly calculate a budget. Adding to this, Ann Smith suggested there be a deadline to submit a proposal that was six months before the date of an event. Susan Redmon suggested that only one proposal be accepted per quarter unless additional funding is available. Phil Stevens asked that Dennie Hill email the members the policy with new language. Members will meet via conference call to approve.

Phil Stevens moved to amend the policy to allow for the selection of more than one proposal until the policy can be reviewed and amended for the June 09 Council meeting. Susan Redmon seconded. Motioned carried. Dennie will prepare a policy for the April Leadership Committee conference call.

Spending Leadership Dollars
Dennie Hill directed attention to the DD Council survey she prepared in response to last quarter’s Leadership Committee request. Responses were received from sixteen (16) states. Dr. Hill reviewed the results with the members. It was noted that responding states were more likely to identify programs equivalent to Florida’s RFP100 and the Self-Advocate and Family LEAD Funds programs than any other programs. A number of states directed funding to various Leadership Development activities for youth and Council members.

Budget Review
Ann Smith directed the member’s attention to the budget handout. She noted that $4000 not spent by Council members for Leadership Development activities has to be spent by September or can be lost to another budget area. Phil Stevens asked if there is a need within the Leadership Committee budget where the funds could be moved. Dennie Hill responded that the RFP100 or the LEAD funds were the two areas where there often seems to be a need. Mr. Stevens asked if any shift has to be approved by Finance. Dr. Hill will ask CFO and report back to the committee. Dr. Hill reminded members of earlier discussion to increasing RFP funds. Ann Smith asked how many RFP100 requests were received per quarter. Dennie said that anywhere from 9 to 2 have been submitted. Ann Smith asked if most proposals are “off the wall?” Dennie said that most proposals are very appropriate requests in response to the purpose of the RFP 100, although some are not responsive to the purpose. Dennie was asked to produce an analysis of how much RFP100 funding was requested annually during the last 5 years.

Motion: Phil Stevens moved to allow the committee to move funds within their budget. Casey Stewart seconded motion. Motion carried.

Motion: Phil Stevens further moved that the Leadership Committee ask the Finance Committee that should other task force and/or committees have unspent funds, these funds be allocated to the Leadership Committee for the RFP 100s. Casey Stewart seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Report
Michael Smith had planned to report on the STARS 2009 program he went to in West Palm as a Leadership Development activity. The STARS 2009 program was a transition conference for high school students with developmental disabilities. It was an RFP100 funded project. Since he was unable to attend the Council meeting, Idelio Valdes, who was a speaker at the conference, reported on the conference in Michael Smith’s absence.

Core Responsibilities of the Leadership Committee

Members agree to have the first four responsibilities remain as listed. (See attached listing as it was before changes.) Changes were approved for the fifth, sixth and seventh responsibilities as listed:

5. Change to : Serve as a monitor for a minimum of one Leadership Committee project/initiative while serving on the committee.
6. Change to: Serve on one RFP100 Selection Team each year.
7. Change to : Maintain a general understanding of the Leadership Committee projects, initiatives and policies.

Motion: Phil Stevens moved to approve the listed responsibilities with changes as noted. Idelio Valdes seconded the motion. Motion carried.

The committee members scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, April 21st at 5:15 p.m.

Motion: Idelio Valdes moved and Susan Redmond seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.