Membership Meeting Minutes

Date: April 2, 2004
Location: University of Hartford
Chair: Pamela Starr

2003 - 2004 Executive Board
President: Pamela Starr
Vice President: David Ryan-Soderlund
Secretary: Carol Young
Treasurer: Barbara MacKay

Treasury Report

• Barbara MacKay reported that the current balance of the budget is $2952. Eighteen colleges and four independents are represented within the membership at this time.
• Members who have not done so already are encouraged to submit their completed 2003-2004 membership forms along with payment as soon as possible. The form, which includes membership fee information and mailing instructions, is attached.

Business Meeting/News

• Formal Business: In the absence of opposition and/or expressed interest from other members of the association, all of the current executive board members agreed to retain their posts through the 2004-2005 academic year.

  Members present voted to support a formal affiliation with the national AHEAD organization for a one-time fee of $25. Advantages include a modest discount on AHEAD (national) membership, use of the AHEAD logo, one complimentary annual conference registration for one of our members, co-sponsorship opportunities, and establishing a linkage between websites to name a few. Pam Starr agreed to process the necessary paperwork prior to the start of the new academic year.

• Update on the Proposed Interagency Agreement: John Jarvis indicated that he has repeatedly tried to connect with the CSU Chancellor who had reportedly forwarded the document to their attorney general for review. While Dick Carlson remains on staff at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services until June 2004, his colleague, Laurie DiGalbo has accepted the responsibility of taking the lead on this matter. She and John Jarvis have agreed to circle the troops and reenergize the effort to formalize an acceptable interagency agreement between vocational rehabilitation and institutions of higher education.
  Download the proposed interagency agreement
  
• 2004-2005 Meeting Schedule (Tentative): The following is the membership meeting schedule for the upcoming year: October 1, 2004; December 3, 2004 (Snow date: December 10th); February 4, 2005; April 8, 2005. All meetings will be held on Fridays, from 8:45 am to 12:15 pm approximately, and the locations will be determined at a later date.

Presentation ideas:

• October: Impact of the Reauthorization of Higher Education Act and IDEA
• December: Assistive Technology - Amy Norton
• February: Law - ADA and IDEA
• April: Co-sponsored workshop with NASPA

Presentation: Unveiling of the CT AHEAD Website:

Steve Robillard, offered an interactive presentation on the layout and use of the improved CT AHEAD website:
http://www.southernct.edu/organizations/ctahead/.
Members provided constructive feedback, recommending additional changes to promote greater ease of use. Steve recommended that the website be moved from its current location at Southern Connecticut State University to a server that will require a fee and offer a more direct connection. He has reserved the name “www.ctahead.org” and will await a decision by the membership and/or steering committee before any action is taken.

When a new server is established, Steve indicated that he would create an online membership application at the new site, which David Ryan-Soderlund agreed to oversee at that time. There was dialogue between members on how best to identify current versus past CT AHEAD members. There was also some discussion around the possible need for a Membership Chair if the association is to make changes to the way membership is handled; more discussion is needed.

Expansion ideas of the site include a link for members to join the listserv and a narrative history of the Association. John Jarvis agreed to speak with a long-time member for the history summary.

In attendance: Lauri DiGalbo, Lynne Golden, John Jarvis, Barbara MacKay, Laurie Novi, David Ryan-Soderlund, Pamela Starr, Carol Young

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