MassPRA Board Meeting 4/19/06
DRAFT

Attending:

Margaret Jordan (current chair), Deborah Delman (future chair), Brian Osborne (treasurer), Kerri Kuklentz (secretary) Susan Abbott, Diane Gould , Beth Poza, Marsha Webster, Clara Carr, David Webster, Bob Schueler, Mary Gregorio, Paul  Ottenstein

NOT ATTENDING:

Will Buckley, Maria Restropo- Toro, Lyn Legere, Gail Blakely,

March Minutes

March minutes were approved unanimously. It was stated that annual meeting notes would need to be completed by next meeting.

Annual Meeting

Although the attendance was low in comparison to previous years the content of speeches was inspiring. Lyn, bill and pat’s talks were outstanding. Quick note tape Pat speaking at the annual conference.

Attendance for the annual meeting was low. There were a number of events held at the statehouse consecutively (i.e. DMH legislative breakfasts). Discussion began about starting to think of a date for the next annual meeting now to avoid low attendance due to other scheduled meetings. This being the first year the Annual Meeting was held at the statehouse it was agreed that next year the venue would remain at the statehouse.

Few attendees were able to visit their legislators. Diane Gould and Deborah Delman were the two board members who were able to see their legislators.

Board vacancy

Steve LaMaster wrote a letter to express his interest to participate on the board. We voted to elect Steve onto the board. Mary will call him to inform Steve he will be the new board member.

NATIONAL REPORT

Bob emailed Margaret the chapter agreement and oriented the board to changes that occurred from the previous year. He informed the board there were a few states, California, New York and New Jersey who were reluctant to agree to USpra’s terms. Not all their members are members of USpra. CASP is the only organizational member that receives chapter rebates if they receive individual members. Big organizations with a staff serve more so as a trade organization. Maryland joined the Community Behavioral Association because it is a trade association, which happens not to be rehabilitation oriented.  Organizations are evaluating the benefits of the organizations they belong to discriminate which organizations have the most to offer. Our current CEO of USpra is keyed into member benefits as a key for increasing and maintaining membership. National board needs to look at this trend. USPRA is a small fish in a big pond. USpra does not have a lot of members, clout where their public policy has a presence, or its own carved out niche. This would be a discussion to be continued.

NATIONAL BOARD ELECTIONS

Mary ran for a seat on the national board. Dawn Holly, Nora Barrett and Joe Mahoney were elected onto the national board. Phil Floyd recommended that if any national board member were to leave their seat Mary would be brought aboard.

Bob applied to be secretary on national board. He also mentioned the USPRA website had many new features and for everyone to

USPRA CONFERENCE-PHOENIX

National conference is sold out for registration.  Phoenix had a lot of construction going on currently and if people intended to drive it will be very difficult.

There will be specialty dinnernights where folks get together and dine out together at a local restaurant to meet other people at the conference. Sunday night will be for first timers at the conference. Tuesday night will be for clubhouse members.

It was decided 2007 conference will be held in Orlando, and the 2008 conference will be in Chicago.

A CPRP study guide will be available to purchase for $25 at the conference. It is a tool for supporting the teaching process. A few copies will be purchased for the board

TREASURER’S REPORT

Currently we have $14,700.00. Gail was extremely helpful in transferring the account. Margaret and Kerri have signing privileges on the account. The account is now a Sovereign Bank, which is accessible from all over the state.

A special thanks to MBHP for their donation of $1500 to sponsor our breakfast at the local conference.

CURRICULUM

Brian, Marsha and Margaret are going to attend a statewide service directors meeting and present the MassPRA curriculum. There has been a pilot site identified and there will be a 14 week course held in the central area for 10 DMH case managers. There was some discussion of possible trainers: Denis Rice, Sue S.  Board members who would be interested in developing, teaching and training: Lyn, Kerri, Bob, Brian, Mary, Deb, and David.

Susan mentioned when participants finished the training curriculum they could sit for the CPRP, which would allow for immediate accreditation. Deborah was asked if the peer educators training could be connected to this. Deborah informed the board she viewed the peer educators training as the first step on a career track, and the MassPra curriculum as a future step in the career track.

Revisions will need to be made on the curriculum. The board will need to come up with some ideas about how to revise curriculum. Pat Nemec may not be available to assist in edits.

COMMITEES

MEMBERSHIP:

Three organizations joined; FNI, Work Inc. and CASCAP. Our next step is to outreach to area directors for individual membership.

Post it notes were ordered and misprinted. Mary is following up so they are corrected.

CONFERENCE:

Call for papers needs to go out now. It was suggested members would pay a lower conference fee than non-members.

NYAPRIS formally invited us to their conference.

Next meeting June 16