DASH Board Meeting Notes

14 February 2006

First Federal Savings and Loan

Who was there
Julie Duke, Pat Teal, Karen Pierce, Annod Bickley, Leslie Bunton, Lynn Gressley, Kay Harper, Nancy Obert, Joannie Murayama, Kaheya Cunningham, Susan Kinne, Lesa Barnes, Tabitha Harrison , Curtis Stacy.

Guests: Dan Barnes and Barbie Rasmussen.

Reports From Outside Committee Work

Governor’s Committee on Disabilities

Kaheya attended a legislative reception and the general business meeting in Tacoma. She reported to the governor DASH’s work on education and the slogans regarding disability awareness that DASH has used as advertisements on public transit. This was very well received.

Centrum Committee

The VSA arts workshop is currently on hold while Centrum works through some budgeting issues in regards to this project. The wheel chair dance workshop will be held in May at Centrum. Fliers were distributed.

Housing Authority

The authority hosted a speaker at last evening’s meeting regarding landlords’ responsibilities and rights. Please see Pat for additional information.

City Transportation Committee

The Non-motorized committee needs to fill an empty slot. City Councilor Catherine Robinson encourages a DASH Board member to apply.

Transit

The community van program might be terminated at the end of this March due to a non-compete clause in federal regulations. Transit is exploring its options. Skookum might be interested in helping this project move forward, but the program’s future remains uncertain. There will be a transit meeting next Tuesday at 1:00 p. m. to discuss this. Leslie and Lynn volunteered to attend this meeting on behalf of DASH.

Committee Reports

Arts Enrichment Committee

Annod’s Letter to the Editor was published in the Port Townsend Leader. The letter praised Key City Players Theater for building an access ramp to the stage.
The Poetic Justice Troupe will do its performance on Disability Issues on March 29th at Quimper Unitarian Church from 1:30-4:30 p. m. This performance will be for persons with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. A second performance that is open to the public will be held April 20 at the USO Building from 7-9 p. m. Centrum volunteers are encouraged to attend this performance.
Annod is putting together a calendar for upcoming disability awareness events in the months of March and April.
Annod informed the board that the Port Townsend Police who will dedicate extra accessible parking spots at events as needed.
Key City Players may donate their fall reading proceeds to DASH. Denise Winters, the Artistic Director for the group would like to attend the ADA training in March. (Lesa will check availability).
Mainstreet is hosting a breakfast featuring P.T. Leader Editor Scott Wilson on “how to write a press release.” Joannie and Annod plan to attend this event.

Earth Day Subcommittee: There is some uncertainty if DASH can participate in the Earth Day. Kaheya has volunteered to speak to the head of the Earth Day event for clarification regarding this.

Public Access

The committee continues to work with city leadership to establish up-to-date ADA grievance policies.
The committee will begin work on a letter to the editor praising the city for its excellent job on making the city hall annex accessible.
Kay and Lynn will evaluate city’s new asphalt ramps on the uptown sidewalks.
Pat reported that the Habitat for Humanity Store is in the process of rearranging its store to make it more accessible.

Education Committee

Nancy and Leslie presented an educational event on disability awareness to the Presbyterian Youth Group in Quilcene. Approx. 12 children ages 8-11 years old participated in a hands-on learning experience about what it is like to live with a disability. Rev. Becky Anderson, who facilitates the youth group, has promised to send some pictures of this event to the Port Townsend Leader. The committee is looking to make a presentation to OPEPO (Port Townsend, Optional 1-6 program) in the near future.

Event Planning Committee

The Event plans are moving forward. The committee meets tomorrow at the County Court House Commissioners Chambers. Mark Welch has promised two students from Port Townsend High School to video the Event. Also Nancy has been working with Chimacum School District to recruit two students to participate in the Event.

Application for 501(c)3 status

Lesa began the discussion by noting that the Board has been working for the past two years with Sam Watson-Alvan to begin the process of moving DASH from a grant project mode to a 501(c)3. The Board has made huge progress in this endeavor setting goals that will take the board into the future!!

Lesa outlined for the board the steps that have begun and/or need to be taken in the next year before DASH becomes a 501(c)3.

DASH will gain non-profit status with the state on March 1, 2006.
501 application will soon be submitted. Lesa will meet with the working group to review the application. Dan offered to seek out an attorney who will review the articles for completeness.
The 501 status should be approved by March 30, 2007, when the grant expires.
The corporation must adopt articles of incorporation and bylaws.
The corporation must elect officers, open a back account, etc.

It was noted that O3A is unable to be the fiscal agent for the corporation. DASH will become a stand-alone organization and will need a treasurer and a bank account. If it solicits funds before the grant expires these funds will need to be placed in the corporate bank account for use by the corporation.

As the corporation is working on organizational development, DASH will continue its program work. This year, with the project funds, the board can prepare to get the corporation up and running and support its program development. The board will continue to be involved in its outreach and hands-on disability awareness activities.

Lesa spoke to the board about Sam’s “constitution of bylaws.” Sam’s document is a combination of bylaws and articles; the two parts need to be separated into distinct documents. The articles will define the corporation to the outside world; the bylaws will layout the rules and procedures that will guide the operation of the corporation. Lesa recommended that the articles be tackled first because they will need to be submitted with the 501 application. The by-laws will need some crafting to address specific job descriptions, issues of liability, etc. It was proposed that the next step would be that the long-range planning committee get together soon to work on adopting the articles of incorporation and review the 501 application. This was agreed on and the committee will set it meeting date soon.

Barbie Rasmussen, DASH’s grant manager at O3A, spoke to the Board about priorities the board should look at as it moves into the 501(c)3 stage.

Risk management-What risk do we have?
Financial Mgmt.-This is complex and may require someone as treasurer who has experience in these areas.
Resource Development-This is not the same as a grant writer. This person looks at funds for grants and helps determine what grants work best for the corporation.
Possible recruitment of a Board Development specialist- Helps the board become what they want to be.
Look for new board members that have specific skills.
Develop a skills matrix-Write down the skills you need and see what skills board members currently have and what skills you need to look for in potential board members.

In further discussion Dan Barnes volunteered to find an attorney to assist the board in this endeavor. Leslie offered to find a financial specialist.

Other Business:

Lesa will be speaking to the Hadlock Rotary next week and the Port Townsend Chamber luncheon March 27.

It was suggested by Annod that Rory Calhoun’s presentation at the April meeting be entitled “There are no barriers to having fun.” This is something Annod heard Rory say and thought it would be a great topic. Lesa will check in with Rory.

The Next Board meeting will be held
March. 14, 2006
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.