Draft minutes January board meeting

DRAFT
Minutes
Iowa Commission for the Blind
January 20, 2011

1) Call to order and determination of quorum. A meeting of the Iowa Commission for the Blind was called to order at 10:03 a.m. with the following members present: Sandi Ryan, chair, Steve Hagemoser, member, and Mike Hoenig, member. Others in attendance: Karen Keninger, Sandy Tigges, Roger Erpelding, John Gonzales, Elsie Monthei, Becky Criswell, Beth Hirst, Bruce Snethen, and Carolyn Hicklin.

2) Approval of Minutes from December 9, 2010. Mr. Hagemoser moved that the December 9 minutes be approved. Mr. Hoenig seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

3) Director's Report.

a) Outreach. Ms. Keninger stated that the outreach projects have been closely tracked, and they have shown interesting results. Last summer reaching out to eye care professionals was started. In December, a flyer was developed for doctors to hand out to their patients that they feel would benefit from the services the department provides. The field staff were given a list of five doctors to visit along with the flyers, and asked them to report back on their impressions to see if this was a plan that would work. Several positive reports have been received already. Ms. Keninger discussed the different blogs that have become a part of the department’s outreach. There are two active blogs, one is the Cane Tracks blog which is contributed to by orientation students discussing their experiences in the center. That blog has had about 4,000 views in the last year, with 29 posts, and 23 pictures. The second blog is a technology blog, intended to cover technology of all types, low to high. In the last month, there have been several new posts, ranging in topic from how to use an exercise bike to how to use Windows 2007. Ms. Keninger said that there is also a presence of the department on YouTube. There have been nearly 10,000 views. Ms. Keninger stated that there are 689 people who are following the department on Twitter, and 758 Facebook fans. Mr. Hoenig asked if the department would consider doing a social networking seminar. Ms. Keninger said that it’s something that needs to be done, but at this point, the technology team is still working on the accessibility. Ms. Ryan suggested that people use the m.facebook.com site because it is a mobile site and it is easier than the regular site. Ms. Keninger said that the staff members are still doing speaking engagements and tours, that the department is adding more outreach.

b) DMU Rotation Project. Ms. Keninger said that over the last year, Sandy Tigges has been working with Des Moines University on a project that has medical students doing a two-week rotation at the department. Ms. Keninger asked Dr. Tigges to talk about this. Dr. Tigges gave a background on how the project was started. She said that a student finished the first rotation in November, and that there are several more signed up. She said that the students are learning what the services are that are offered, how to deal with patients who are blind or losing their vision, and how to refer them to the department. The students spend time in the center under sleep shades, and their shop project is a name plate that will be branded with the IDB logo. Dr. Tigges said that the idea behind that is to have them think about the department when they are physicians. She said that she gives each student a variety of readings to do that are about the philosophy that the department has. Dr. Tigges said that she is excited about it, and the students coming are excited as well. Dr. Tigges had Bruce Snethen read a letter received from the first rotation student.

c) Other. Ms. Keninger said that there is not much news about the goings on at the capitol since the session just began and the Governor was just inaugurated.

4) Deputy Director’s Report.
a) At the December meeting, Mr. Snethen indicated that the information in the packet for that meeting regarding fiscal year 2011, financial position did not account for de-appropriation that he expected to be in the area of 9% percent or $175,000. The de-appropriation was $137,253, which was charged to the department this month. There were indications then that up to $80,000 might be replaced from the cash reserve. This morning, Mr. Snethen received a request from the Department of Management for additional information necessary to process the cash reserve transfer. The actual de-appropriation data will be reflected in the packet for the next commission meeting. The $137,000 de-appropriation would match more than $507,000 in federal funding. He indicated that to the Department of Management and was informed that their recommendation to the transition team would be to restore the full amount. Pursuant to their question yesterday, Mr. Snethen informed the Legislative Services Agency that fully matching the basic support grant for this year and meeting the maintenance of effort requirement this year are both doubtful.
b) The $20,000 appropriation, appropriated by HF2389 last year for the Newsline purpose has been used pursuant to the existing contract with the NFBI.
c) The House was in session last night until about 11:30 pm passing HF45. Among the many provisions, it would further de-appropriate money from the department’s 2011 budget. The way it was written, the amounts are difficult to determine.
d) The department is scheduled for a budget hearing on the 26th, primarily focusing on federal funds. Another hearing is possible after the 2012 budget recommendation from the Governor which is due by the end of this month.
e) Mr. Snethen submitted the maintenance of effort waiver request to the RSA commissioner on December 27 as planned. The request asks for relief from more than $282,000 of a deficiency that is more than $1.4 million, which mostly IVRS accounts for. The waiver requests asks that the entire $282,000 favor the Iowa Department for the Blind and that any penalty leveed pursuant to the MOE violation be assessed entirely against IVRS.
f) Aside from the training grant, which we have in hand, the formula grants that finance the majority of the department’s operations are still mostly subject to continuing resolutions passed by Congress until Congress enacts a budget for the year. The existing continuing resolution ends in March.
g) The balance in the gifts and bequests fund $2,458,336, about $2,500 more than Mr. Snethen reported in the December meeting.
h) There is no short term solution to fixing the roof, apart from using operating funds. Next year’s budget has asked for money to fix the roof.

5) Ms. Ryan said that the commission needed to have their elections for chair and secretary.
a) Mr. Hagemoser moved that Tiffany Bickell be retained as the secretary to the commission board. Mr. Hoenig seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
b) Mr. Hoenig moved that Sandi Ryan be the chair of the commission board. Mr. Hagemoser seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

6) Public Comment. There were no comments.

7) Time and Place of next meeting. The next meeting will be held on April 7, at noon in the director’s conference room at the Iowa Department for the Blind.

8) Ms. Keninger announced that the Dohmen case is done.

9) Adjournment. Mr. Hagemoser moved adjournment. Mr. Hoenig seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sandi Ryan, Chairperson
Commission for the Blind

Tiffany Bickell
Secretary to the Board/Administrative Assistant
Department for the Blind

/tlb