DASH Board Meeting Notes

9 May 2006

First Federal Savings and Loan

Who was there
Pat Teal, Annod Bickley, Leslie Bunton, Lynn Gressley, Nancy Obert, Joannie Murayama, Kaheya Cunningham, Lesa Barnes, Julie Duke
Guests: Charles Kaldahl, Chanoane Hartt

Note: Dan Schmitt, executive director of VSA-Arts Washington, was not able to attend today’s meeting due to illness.

Committee Reports

Event Debriefing

The ferry trip was cold, not much room to maneuver, no place to sit, no elevator, no bathroom on cardeck, accessible parking space in parking lot was blocked with a garbage can.
At the following Monday’s PT Chamber luncheon, Kate Burke, Chamber president, couldn’t say enough good things about her experience and encouraged others to participate.
Leslie thought it was incredible that all the participants stuck with it throughout the day.
Heather at Otter Crossing wants to work with DASH and Port management to improve signage to the accessible entrance to her café, and to improve the bathroom.

Suggestions for future Events

Invite ferry worker(s) to participate in next year’s Event.
Give assistants a dry run ahead of time on where to go and how to do evaluations.
Many stores and restaurants downtown didn’t open until 11:00.
Ask participants to retrace their steps a week or two later to check out what they saw during the Event.

The Event Committee is considering holding exclusive Events for particular groups throughout the year in addition to the annual Event Day in April. For example, a day out at Fort Worden for Park and Centrum Staff, and a day at the high school for students.

Education

The committee will give a presentation next week to Linda Morris’s 1st grade class at Grant Street School. The Education Committee is looking forward to working with the Event Committee to coordinate “assume-a-disability” activities at the schools.

Public Access

Sue McIntyre at the Fair Grounds has requested an evaluation. The committee would like to begin conducting more professional evaluations explicitly using ADA Guidelines in addition to their experience on what works and doesn’t work. The committee will use the ADA evaluation kit available through Monica McDaniel at the NW ADA-IT Center. They look forward to working with retail businesses, government offices, DSHS, the health dept, and at Leslie’s suggestion, even the Forest Service office in Quilcene.
Last month, the county passed its ADA Grievance Policy. The committee isn’t having much luck moving the city forward on this issue. It was suggested that the committee attend a city council meeting and mention during the public comment period that the city is out of compliance with federal regulations. This idea got mixed reviews. Another suggestion was to share the county’s policy with the city as a model for what the city could do.
The Map seems to be languishing on Tyler Johnson’s desk. The committee discussed that its fallback position is to have Tyler send the map to Dan Huntingford at SOS and have Dan finish it.

Arts Enrichment

Annod passed around many articles from recent issues of the Leader.
She shared Thatcher Bailey’s request for assistance in locating an electric scooter for use by a workshop leader in July. Pat will contact Gloria Bram about the availability of Gloria’s scooter.
PTTV continues to air the disability-themed PTShorts presentation. Annod gave a DVD and a video of the presentation to the DASH library.
Annod reported that 38 people attended the April 20 Poetic Justice performance at Fort Worden; $32 in donations were received.
Annod reported that, based on registrations, the VSA Arts & Cultural Facilities Access Training, May 23 and 24, has been well received throughout western Washington, but not in Port Townsend. Only two arts organizations from Port Townsend have registered. Efforts are underway to remedy the apparent misconception that this workshop isn’t relevant and/or applicable to the Port Townsend arts community.

Transition Committee

Per the Board’s direction, the committee approved the articles of incorporation, the bylaws and the conflict of interest policy. These documents and the 501(c)3 application for tax exempt status are ready for signatures. The packet will be sent off to the IRS next week with a $500 check. Lynn will convene a DASH Inc meeting following this board meeting. Also, DASH Inc is slated to hold its first Annual Meeting in June.

Reports From Outside Committee Work

Governors Committee

The next meeting will be June 2 in Tacoma. Kaheya reported that her application to the Governor’s committee on developmental disabilities was returned to her. Because it was past the application deadline, she did not resend it. Kaheya accepted Leslie’s offer to contact the committee staff to explain what happened and to ask if Kaheya’s application could be accepted late, given the circumstances.

Housing Authority

Pat reported that the authority’s annual plan is now being reviewed by HUD. Because of significant and continuing budget cuts, the authority is limited in what it can do to address local issues.

City Transportation Committee

does not meet, so Pat has no report.

Curtis was not at today’s meeting, so there is no Transit report.

City Arts Commission

Annod asked that this committee be added to future agendas under Outside Committee Work. The commission will be evaluating its funding policies based on the regulations that federal money can be used only to fund accessible activities in accessible facilities.

Other Business & Announcements

DASH Board elections will be held next month. Also, Annod, Julie, Lynn, Nancy and Pat are due to renew their board memberships.
Chanoane Hartt participated in Centrum’s Integrated Dance Workshop. It was facilitated by a dance company out of Seattle. There were 22 participants, 10 chairs and 12 standups, ranging in age from 20s to 70s. The wide range of abilities contributed to both the initial chaos and the ultimate success of the workshop. There were about 25 to 30 people in the audience for Sunday’s performance. Housing and accommodating so many people in wheelchairs and with other mobility limitations posed a logistical challenge for the Fort and Centrum staff, but Chanoane reported it all worked out. It worked out so well, as a matter of fact, that Centrum would like this to be a week-long workshop next year. Annod and Chanoane agreed that next year Centrum really should give this workshop a lot more publicity.
Kaheya spent last week with a group building shelters at the north end of Lake Chelan. She aggressively advocated for appropriate access in the new buildings throughout her stay.
Lesa will be away May 15 – 29. Karen will be taking care of business in her absence.

Upcoming meetings

May 22 3:00 – 5:00 Meeting for May 23 & 24 conference team leaders
1st Federal Savings & Loan

May 23 & 24 9:00 – 5:00 Arts and Cultural Facilities Access Training
Fort Worden, Bldg 204

The Next Board meeting will be held
June 13, 2006
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.