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West Virginia Commission
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Minutes
February 9, 2006
 

South Charleston Public Library
South Charleston, West Virginia

 

Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: Visitor:
     

Doug Godfrey
Pierre Sevigny 
Gary Vandevander
Dr. Charles Abraham
Melinda Siler  
John Knisely                                        
Emily Hopta                                        
Annette Carey                                     
Pat Moss
Barbara King
Pam Roush                                          
J.D. Corbin   

Molly Simonton 
Jennifer Burgess
Dr. Michael Sullivan

Staff:
Deanna Stone, Executive Director
Roy Forman, Deputy Director
Kari Preslar, Secretary

Interpreters:
Dolly Ford
Teresa McGonigle

April Hottle

I. Call to Order and Introductions

Doug Godfrey called the meeting to order at 1:36 p.m.

II. Election of the Chair

John Knisely made the motion that the board elect Doug Godfrey the chair of the board pro-tem due to no reappointments of board members yet.  JD Corbin seconded.  Motion approved.

III. Approval of Minutes

The minutes from the November 10, 2005 meeting were reviewed.  Gary Vandevander made the motion to approve the minutes.  Barbara King seconded.  Motion approved.

IV. Executive Director’s Report

The Executive Director’s written report is attached.

Old Business

V. Meeting with Secretary Walker

Doug Godfrey reported on a meeting that he, Deanna and Emily Hopta had with the Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker.  They met with her for about 30 minutes on the morning of February 9.  It was an informational meeting that they shared the goals of the commission with the Secretary.

VI. Appointments to the Board

Deanna reported that she has been told that the appointments will be filled before this legislative session is over.

VII. Deaf Tech Fair 2006

The Deaf Tech Fair will be on May 20 at the Charleston Civic Center.  Deanna shared that there are currently 14 exhibitors.  The art students from the West Virginia School for the Deaf participated in a logo contest for the Fair.  Board members voted on their favorites.  The top three were announced:

            1. Justin Gregory
            2. Justin Rhodes and Jason Holliday
            3. Zelina Cooley

VIII. Retreat 2006

Following the November commission meeting, Deanna was looking into a retreat for either May or June.  Neither date, however would have resulted in a quorum.  The new date is August 10-11, 2006.  Deanna will work with State Purchasing to choose a site.

New Business

IX. Legislative Update  

A bill to eliminate medical personnel from being required to provide census data is working its way through the system.  Speaker Bob Kiss is one of the 11 sponsors of the bill.

Rule 192-CSR-3, Establishment of Required Qualifications and Ethical Standards for Interpreters and Transliterators, has been drafted.  The rule will be submitted to the legislative during the 2007 session.

The Commission 2006-2007 budget will be approximately the same as this year.

X. Disability Day

Roy Forman reported on the Commission’s participating in Disability Day at the Legislature on January 25, 2006.  This day is sponsored by Fair Shakes Network.  Roy and Kari spoke to approximately 120 people throughout the day.

XI. Spring Workshops

Deanna pointed out the brochures that the board members received on the workshops planned for this spring.

XII. Summer Conferences

Deanna shared information about several conferences that will be happening this summer.  Either she or Roy will be in attendance at each one.  RID Region II conference is at the end of June and the RID Region I conference is in July.  NAD will take place in California on June 29-July 3 with a meeting for State Commissions on June 27.

Other Business

XIII. WVRID

Dolly Ford reported on the progress of the West Virginia chapter of RID.  She said that things are moving along very well.  The membership cards are finished.  She is encouraged with the interest in the organization.

Pierre Sevigny brought up a concern about the lack of deaf house parents at the West Virginia School for the Deaf.

Public Comments

Doug Godfrey commended Melinda Siler on the What Now? newsletter.  He said that parents have responded very positively to the first issue. 

FYI: Tapestry, the West Virginia School for the Deaf group, will perform at 11 a.m. on March 1 at the Capitol. 

Doug Godfrey commended Kari Preslar on the work she does for the Commission on the anniversary of two years in that position. 

A motion was made by Pierre Sevigny to adjourn the meeting and Dr. Abraham seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 2:24 p.m.


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