DASH Board Meeting Notes

13 December 2005

First Federal Savings and Loan

Who was there:

Julie Duke, Pat Teal, Lesa Barnes, Karen Pierce, Annod Bickley, Leslie Bunton, Lynn Gressley, Kay Harper, Nancy Obert, Joannie Murayama, Kaheya Cunningham and Curtis Stacey.

Lesa handed out copies of the 2005 Disability Event CD/DVD to all the board members. Board members were encouraged to take extra to share with businesses or groups that would benefit from the CD/DVD.

Karen passed out a list of accomplishments for the DASH Board for the year 2005. Anyone wishing an email of copy of this please email Karen.

Lesa distributed a copy of a the 2005/2006 budget. Lesa noted that because the board is more involved the number of staff hours has decreased. Consequently, the board has some extra money that can be used to advance committee and board work. Some suggestion during the meeting were:

Sponsor and participate in Earth Day Event in April 2006
More notepads and pens, and t-shirts
Publish more professional looking map
Purchase videos for the libraries
Publish a calendar of events for March and for April announcing DASH’s disability awareness activities.
PTTV Membership – possibly in partnership with People First.

There was a desire by the board to put together a committee that would work on DASH becoming involved in the local Earth Day Event in April. The committee members include: Joannie, Nancy, Annod, Julie, & Curtis. Julie & Joannie will co-chair.

Pat made a suggestion that DASH supply a door prize for the upcoming Christmas Chamber of Commerce Meeting. It was suggested that a DASH t-shirt, pads and pencils be given. Lesa will put something together and get it to Pat.

Julie has resigned from the non-motorized committee. The city is seeking another DASH board member to come on this committee. Lynn has stated that he will pursue applying for the committee.

Committee Reports

Art s Enrichment Committee

Annod is composing a letter to the Goodwill asking them to purchase a motorized cart for their customers. She will forward it to Lesa to put on DASH letterhead, and Annod will sign it as a DASH Board Member.
In coordination with the upcoming VSA Arts event Annod asked for the ADA checklist for restaurants, lodging. Etc. Someone from the access committee will work with her on this. She is also hopeful that someone from the access committee will be on hand at the event to assist with the assessment portion of the event.
The Poetic Justice Troupe will be giving two performances in April that will discuss what it is like to live with a disability as a part of DASH’s Disability Awareness Month activities. One performance will be for persons with disabilities and their caregivers and one for the general public.

Public Access

The committee is primarily focusing on how they can access the new city hall annex before the building is complete. Dave Peterson has informed the committee they can look at the building the first week of January. There is some concern about this from the committee as the building will be complete so any recommendations or findings that the committee may have regarding accessibility will be a moot point.
Tyler Johnson has informed the committee he cannot do anything with the accessibility map of Port Townsend until the last week in January due to time constraints he has around the city’s move into the annex. Lynn will contact Tyler and ask him what things still need to be completed on the map.
Lesa announced that she will be working with Rory Calhoun, the ADA Coordinator for the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation for Washington, to finalize a date when he will come to Port Townsend to speak about access issues. The tentative date is April 11, the same day as the DASH board meeting. Lesa would like to arrange for a larger venue and invite the public to attend Rory’s presentation.

Education Committee

The committee has set a goal to do two education presentations a month beginning in January. They are currently seeking groups interested in their presentation. Nancy is currently working with the OPEPO program in the Port Townsend school system to schedule a date.
Lynn would like to include story telling in the presentations relating to difficulties and misunderstandings people with disabilities may encounter among members of their own families. He would like board members who are interested in sharing their own stories about this topic to talk with him or write them down and email them to him.

Long Range Planning

The committee will next meet with Sam Watson-Alván Friday to finish up preliminary work on the Constitution of By-Laws.

Event Planning Committee

The committee has decided to have two venues for the 2006 Event. One will be at Fort Warden, the other in downtown Port Townsend. The committee will meet tomorrow to begin putting scenarios together.
Annod suggested that in March and April, DASH run calendars of activities in the Leader to inform the public of all the local disability awareness events that will be taking place (ADA training, Poetic Justice performances, VSA Arts, Rory Calhoun, DASH Event, library displays, etc.)

Other Business

Lesa is working with Tim Caldwell from the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce to figure how to get local businesses to take advantage of the excellent website tutorial “Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities.” <www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm>
Pat suggested that we inquire about showing some of these courses at a chamber luncheon during April’s Disability Awareness Month.
Lesa will be speaking with Jeff Chew of the Peninsula Daily News on running an article on people living with disabilities in Jefferson County. Kay and Lynn have volunteered to show him around town.
Joannie made an interesting and informative presentation on her recent trip to hurricane ravaged Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Port Townsend’s sister city. She shared pictures and stories. She spent time with the owners of the radio station WQRZ, which is run solely by persons with disabilities. She pointed out that since Bay St. Louis was destroyed they would be able to redesign their community to be accessible. She noted that this may not be an easy achievement and suggested that the Board send them a letter of encouragement and a copy of the DVD of DASH’s 2005 Event.

The Next Board meeting will be held

January 10, 2006

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.