MassPRA Board Meeting 5/11/2007

ATTENDING

Bob Schueler, Brian Osborne, Clara Carr, Deborah Delman, Steve LaMaster, Maria Restrepo-Toro, Paul Ottenstein, Margaret Jordan, David Webster, Diane Gould, Brett Poza, Kerri Kuklentz, Will Buckley

NOT ATTENDING

Lyn Legere, Marcia Webster, Mary Gregorio

MARCH MINUTES

With two spelling corrections made the March minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT

USPRA

Bob Schueler has been elected as a chapter representative. At this time the focus is on the conference. Brainstorming is taking place so that as chapters of USPRA grow larger and take on paid staff; there will be a reduction in an increasing number of affiliate members. Bob Schueler reported this is a work in progress.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

The annual meeting was a huge success and now planning has begun for the conference in October.  Ralph and Paul Ottenstein have added the conference application to the website so that people can apply online to present at the conference.

The board identified criteria in order to choose a speaker for the conference. The identified criteria were:

• Speaker who would increase our exposure
• Cultural/Ethnic/Person with a diverse background
• Well-known
• Knowledge with workforce development
• Person who is an engaging speaker
• Person who leaves you wanting more/  a call to action
• Person with practical experience

Potential candidates that were brainstormed are: Yolanda Baltizar, Tom Updike, Mark Raggins, Neil Adams, Mike O’Neil, King Davis, Mike Hogan, Joe Marone, Susan Vogel-Cibela and Katharine Powers. The conference committee met after the meeting to continue brainstorming potential speakers and discuss other arrangements to be made for the upcoming conference.

MEMBERSHIP

The regional conversation that will be hosted by Westborough State Hospital will be rescheduled for the fall.  There are 17 organizational members at this time with Toni Wolfe’s agency, Employment Options Inc.,  joining as organizational members.

CURRICLUM

Susan Abbott and Margaret Jordan met with Renee Fullen and Mike O’Neil to present their proposal to request funding in an effort to offer 6 more psychiatric rehabilitation classes in Massachusetts. Each class would have 20 participants; 10 from DMH and 10 that were providers paying for the class. The requesting funding would cover costs for a part time instructor and stipends for people who would teach.  If MassPRA was to receive funding for this project the board has voted to ask Pat Nemec if she would be available to the part time teaching position.

WEBSITE

With a lot of hard work Brett Poza, Paul Ottenstein and Ralph  have re-vamped the MassPRA website so that it is more user-friendly. Susan Abbott was able to have the DMH website link to the MassPRA website. Brett Poza is looking for content to add to the website. Please send potential website content to her. One suggestion was for articles about rehabilitation, recovery to be posted as a resource. David Webster volunteered to assist Brett Poza in identifying articles to post on the website. Other suggestions were to add links to organizational members websites.

MISSION STATEMENT

Steve LaMaster had taken time to write up a few potential mission statements from the ideas discussed at our planning meeting. Board members shared feedback. Through email the board will continue to share feedback and help shape our mission statement to accurately reflect our actions.

Tasks to Complete for Next Meeting:

• Choose date for Next Annual Meeting