Wisconsin State HLAA Meeting

Online meeting via Yahoo.com Messenger 

Date: January 14, 2010

Time: 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm 

MEETING MINUTES 

Present: Arndt, B., Chairperson (Western Chapter); Heckendorf, S. (WESP-DHH); Ludka, Caroline, Co-Chair Milw-Racine Chapter; Sarto, M (Madison Chapter); Szabo, J., (Milw-Racine Chapter; Walk4Hearing Chair); Small, C. (ODHH); and Schwarz, E., Secretary (Milw-Racine Chapter; Gov Council)  

Excused: Griffin, M.J., Treasurer (Western Chapter; Gov Council) and Herzog, D., (Chapter)  

Proceedings: After establishing website participation via Yahoo Messenger system and communication rules, the meeting was called to order by Arndt at 8: 05 pm

A warm welcome was extended to the Board of Trustees. 

Business Meeting: 

October 24, 2009 Minutes

• Meeting minutes were electronically sent to all Board of Trustee members and approved online.

Treasurer’s Report

• Arndt provided updated report in Griffin’s absence.
• Current bank balances: $ 377.43 in Checking account and $ 936.96 in the Savings account.
• An HLAA WI charge card is active; will be used to cover monthly website charges.
• Charges approved and paid include: $146.32 to Carol Burns, past Treasurer, for past payment due for website monthly charges and $53.40 to Julie Olson, past President, for payment due for 2009 HLAA Conference T-shirts.

ODHH Office Updates

• Small noted that Jason Altman resigned at end of September 2009 from the office.
• Position remains frozen; no hiring approved at this time.
• Department/Office has only 3 (three) coordinators statewide – Marge (Green Bay), Better (Madison) and Small covers rest of state, with some days working out of the Steven’s Point office.

Gov Council for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

• A Gov. Council updated report was sent with the agenda to Board members prior to this meeting.
• Goals were defined for the 2009-2010 year: working with state legislators and seeking employment opportunities for our state’s unemployed deaf and hard of hearing citizens.
• Three (3) Council positions remain open; two candidates have submitted their applications – Tami Klink (HLAA- Lake County - Wales Chapter) and Herzog, D (Board of Trustee).
• One position is for a Hard of Hearing candidate and two are At-Large positions.  We are now waiting for Governor Doyle’s decision as noted by Schwarz.
• Next Council meeting: March 4, 2010.

Website & Newsletter Reviews

• Carol Burns continues to maintain the WI- HLAA website; have considered revamping the site but will wait for now as noted by Szabo.
• Information from the state chapters, as well as Walk4Hearing and HLAA Convention 2010 are posted there.   Small indicated website address is referenced on the ODHH newsletters.
• Schwarz, on behalf of Julie Olson, noted the Winter Newsletter will be sent out this month.
• Articles on the Walk, the President’s letter, and 2010 Convention updates are ready but additional news articles, personal stories and pictures are needed and requested. Please forward them to Olson.
• The Spring Edition comes out in March-April.  Shorter blitz versions can be sent out to promote timely events for the Walk and Convention
• The latest National WI HLAA member/email address list has been received.  An appeal for any new addresses for our master list would be appreciated by Schwarz and Olson.

Walk4Hearing

• Szabo noted the Permit for the walk has been received electronically and will be completed as soon as possible.  Payment of the fee will be processed with the application after required documents from National – Ronnie Adler to obtain insurance document, are received.  Logos will be added to the flyer as well as other details of the permit requirements.  Permit due 1/19/2010.
• Sponsors and Alliances are still needed as noted by Szabo and Ludka.  Current Cash balance: $4000.00 and In-Kind balance: $795.00.  Brochures, Walk inserts and the Walk car magnets have been sent out to those on current list.
• Other Walk preparations include use of the buildings on the premise, parking fees for area drop-offs, and local businesses in the Milwaukee area have been contacted.  Hospitals have declined for financial reasons.
• The Kick-off celebration is March 27.  Media coverage includes radio station promotions, community newspapers announcements, Press Releases and ODHH.Net . 
• The Walk4Hearing website for Milwaukee’s walk will be available at the end of the month.
• Brochures are available – Ludka will mail them out if requested.  Please use the brochure inserts – Word doc. sent out by Olson that provides the Walk’s date-place and time information.

 Interruptions of the online conversations dropped participants intermittently throughout the meeting.  Research into other servers that could be more user-friendly for the Board’s online needs will be done by Sarto and Arndt.    Due to the meeting going past 10 pm, Arndt called the meeting and indicated the remaining agenda items will be discussed at a later time, to be determined via electronic communication. 

Adjournment called by Small, seconded by Szabo, approved by BOT at 10:15 pm. 

Minutes submitted by Schwarz, E. Secretary