Disability Awareness Starts Here (DASH)

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

January 8, 2008

Present: Pat Teal, Bonnie Bolster, Julie Duke, Sue Ammeter, Kaheya Cunningham, Lynn Gressley

Minutes of the December meeting were approved.

Public Access

Bonnie Bolster reported on the current status of the Post Office issue. She said that Congressman Norm Dix has not yet responded to her request for involvement in the issue. Since the Post Office is now proposing to sell the building, much discussion has been engendered around town. The point is to find ways to deflect blame from the disabled community for any sale of the building. It appears that the Post Office is using the potential sale as a way to postpone and avoid dealing with the real access issues. Representatives of the Post Office are apparently planning to attend the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment Town Hall meeting on February 7. Hopefully the true nature of the situation will be clarified at that meeting.

The Board discussed the current state of accessible lodging in the County. It would be difficult at this time to take on a comprehensive survey of lodging. However, there is at least one web site which caters exclusively to tourists and currently has no information on accessibility. At least our Accessible Port Townsend Map and Restaurant Brochure should be available there. Lynn said he will look into this issue.

Treasury/Fundraising

Julie reported that the current fund balance is $2457.16. This includes a generous donation of $1,000 from Erica Lewis of Port Townsend.

Disability for a Day Planning

The next planning meeting will be held on January 9. Following that February 13 in the Commissioners’ Chambers will be the next meeting. Meetings every two weeks will probably follow. Again the date for the Event has been set for Wednesday, April 16. Several participants have been recruited and we are waiting for others to respond.

Outside Committee Work

Emergency Preparation for People with Disabilities

The curriculum to be used to inform and train people with disabilities is almost complete. The plan is to present this curriculum in several public sessions some time this year.

Olympic Area Agency on Aging Advisory Committee

Kaheya reported that she has been asked to give a presentation to the four county group. This will probably take place in February.

Pat agreed to contact O3A to determine what support ;services they would be able to provide DASH.

Non-Motorized Transportation Board

Pat reported that the City is working on a map which will incorporate Safe School travel routes and disability friendly routes in order to apply for sidewalk grant money.

Also special thanks to Marion Huxtable who has performed yeoman service in evaluating routes of pedestrian travel for the update to the Non-Motorized Plan.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 pm.

Next meeting, Tuesday, February 12, 2008