July 26, 2000 Work Group Meeting Minutes
Holiday Inn, Augusta, Maine

Present: Tom Bancroft, Jane O’Loughlin French, Cynthia Sudheimer, Dixie Leavitt (staff, Speaking Up for Us), Alice Conway, Deb Parker Wolfenden, Lisa Wallace (for Susan Wygal), Sawin Millett, Michael Forbes, Stuart Bratesman (staff, Muskie), Nat Hussey, Christine Bartlett, Steve Maxwell, Chris Zukas-Lessard, Lou Dorogi, Kathryn Kazenski, John Baillargeon, Eileen Griffin (staff, Muskie), John Shattuck, Helen Bailey, Tracy Piantoni, Tonya Labbe, Chandra Murphy, Donna Lerman (staff, Muskie), Lora Perry, Kay Dutram (staff, Muskie)

Not present: Michael Arenstam, Kat Douin, Jane Gallivan, Ronald Welch, Deborah Williams, Susan Wygal

Chandra Murphy chaired the meeting. Donna Lerman, with Kay Dutram, facilitated the meeting.

1. Moment of Silence
Alice Conway asked Work Group members to observe a moment of silence in memory of Kim Wallace, who had passed away Tuesday night. Mr. Wallace had been a staff member of Alpha One and an advocate for independent living programs in Maine. Alice noted that Mr. Wallace’s death coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the ADA.

2. State Independent Living Council Survey
Margaret Forbes announced that the results of the Independent Living Service’s Consumer Satisfaction Survey had been published and offered to present a summary of those findings at the September meeting. It was agreed that copies of the survey results would be distributed to group members for their review.

3. Minutes
Minutes from the June 28 meeting were approved as revised. (The list of members not in attendance at the June 28 meeting was revised.)

4. Housekeeping
Eileen Griffin addressed housekeeping items. It was agreed that members should take breaks as necessary and there should be a scheduled break at each meeting. Eileen discussed the listserv and how it should be used. It was agreed that the listserv can be used as a vehicle for distributing relevant information, even if not directly related to Work Group activities. Also, it was agreed that people that use the listserv should fill in the subject line so that listserv members can decide whether to open the message. Eileen asked members whether they wanted their names listed on the website. It was agreed that the mailing list would be circulated and each member would decide how they would like to be identified and what information would be disclosed. The Work Group also discussed the Travel Stipend. It was agreed that Tonya Labbe, John Shattuck and Alice Conway would work with Eileen and the University of Maine Systems to develop a payment method that was acceptable to all.

5. Role of the Facilitator
Donna Lerman discussed the role of the facilitator and asked Work Group members whether there was consensus on the continued need for a facilitator. It was agreed that the a facilitator was helpful at this point and that, in the event people felt a facilitator was no longer needed, they would let Eileen know.

6. Ground Rules
The group reviewed the Ground Rules developed at the last meeting. It was suggested that beepers and cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate, since some beepers and cell phones can trigger seizures for some people. It was agreed that, for those who did not have a vibrate setting but needed to have their phones for emergencies, the beepers and cell phones could be turned down. The added ground rule:

• All beepers and cell phones turned down or set to vibrate.

Donna Lerman will arrange to have the Ground Rules laminated.

7. Vision Statement
The group reviewed the proposed Vision Statement. Donna explained that this Vision Statement had been developed jointly by Michael Arenstam, Chandra Murphy, Donna, and Kay Dutram. She also explained that the statement was based on the ideas developed by the Work Group at the last meeting, and modeled after vision statements found in the Declaration of Independence, the Maine Constitution, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The proposed Vision Statement:

"All of us together, in community, happy, fulfilled, and equal in dignity and rights."

Donna suggested that the group not adopt or modify this proposed Vision Statement until the group had progressed further in its work. The Vision Statement will be read at the beginning of every meeting and the group can decide as it goes along whether and how it should be changed. Donna asked group members if they had any reaction to the Vision Statement. The group discussed the appropriateness of the word "happy." Some thought that it should not be included since it is difficult to define. It was suggested that it be changed to the "pursuit of happiness" or "opportunity for happiness." It was noted that the Maine Constitution addresses a person’s right to happiness. Some people thought that the vision statement should be a complete sentence (e.g., using the verb "striving," or "working together"); it was also suggested that a phrase was more likely to grab the reader’s attention. It was suggested that the Vision Statement should include the word "independence."

No changes were made to the Vision Statement at this time.

8. Terms to be Defined
In addition to the terms that were identified at the previous meeting, the group identified more terms to be defined including:

• outcomes;
• progress;
• qualified staff;
• efficacy;
• reasonable accommodation;
• unnecessarily restrictive placement;
• person with a disability;
• advocacy.

The group prioritized the terms to be defined and broke into small groups to develop definitions. The terms and groups broke down as follows:

• Community-based living: Chandra Murphy, Chris Zukas-Lessard, Tom Bancroft, Jane O’Loughlin French, Dixie Leavitt.
• Person with a disability: Cynthia Sudheimer, Tracy Piantoni, and Tonya Labbe.
• Least restrictive: Lora Perry, John Shattuck, Alice Conway, Deb Parker Wolfenden.
• Integration: Helen Bailey, Lisa Wallace, Christine Bartlett.
• Self-determination: Kathryn Kazenski, Margaret Forbes, Lou Dorogi, Steven Maxwell.
• Reasonable accommodation: Stuart Bratesman, Nathaniel Hussey, John Baillargeon.

After each group developed a definition, the term was rotated to the next group for their revisions. Each group had an opportunity to edit each definition. The next meeting will begin by reviewing the definitions that were developed and the edits made by the other groups.

9. Next Meeting
Christine Bartlett agreed to chair the next meeting. The agenda for the next meeting will be:

• Completing the definitions of terms. Eileen and Stuart will try to identify sample definitions for the new terms identified at this meeting.
• Develop a plan of action with timelines for completion.

The next meeting will be held at the Senator, on Western Avenue on August 23, 2000, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Directions will be included in the mailing for the next meeting.