SILC Congress 2006 Notes

ILRU / NCIL / APRIL: National Training & Technical Assistance Project
Expanding the Power of the Independent Living Movement

SILC CONGRESS 2006 NOTES

SILC Congress 06 General Meeting
SILC Input into Changes of Rehab Act
Finding Money for the 5th Core Service

SILC Congress 06 General meeting

Meeting opened at 9:15 by Charlie Bowen

Kathy Hatch from American Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), gave an overview of the CIL to CIL mentoring program. This year 15 sites will be visited throughout the country by the program by Mentors who are willing and able to help centers work on their future plans. This year there will also be monies available for centers and SILC’s that need some intensive support through cooperation with ILRU. APRIL is looking at moving into SILC to SILC peer mentoring program in the current year developed similar to the CIL to CIL program. The program may look at Autonomy, Working with the DSU, Getting Appointments, Needs Assessment, Development of the SPIL.

Election of Regional Representatives/Alternates for SILC Congress 07

Region 1
Rep. Steve Higgins, MA
Alt. Jon Provencher, VT
Alt. Andrea Tinkham, NH

Region 2
Rep. Kathy Wood NJ
Alt. Sharon Shapiro NY

Region 3
Rep. Kathy McKelvy DE
Alt.Darnice Henry Bush DC

Region 4
Rep. Maris Burton SC
Alt. Wendi Herzman FL

Region 5
Rep. Valerie Barnum Yarger MI
Alt. Brenda Curtiss OH

Region 6
Co-Rep. Pauline Margeson TX
Co-Rep. Charlie Bowen OK
Alt. Vince Montano NM

Region 7
Rep. Brad Merrens NE
Alt. Stephanie White MO

Region 8
Rep. Betsy Valnes SD
Alt. Elizabeth Leef CO

Region 9
Rep. Mike Collins CA
Alt. Tony DiRienzi AZ

Region 10
Rep. Cathy Baldwin WA
Alt. Tina Treasure OR

Co-Chairpersons
Charlotte Bowen OK
Brenda Curtiss OH

Co-Vice Chairpersons
Mike Collins CA
Maris Burton SC

Secretary
Steve Higgins MA

Treasurer
Paula Margeson TX

2007 Conference Planning Committee will include the Executive Committee of 6 along with:
Wendi Herzman FL
Ruth Haines NC
Betsy Valnes SD
Jamie Karam LA
Roxann Perez WI
Leonila Vega WI

Mike Collins from California suggested New Orleans LA as the host site for the 2007 Congress. The SILC of Louisiana has offered to be the host for the event. It will be hosted in Downtown New Orleans. The SILC’s from Region 6 have agreed to work together to support this endeavor.

Motion made by Hannah Pitts-Gilmore Washington DC SILC to accept Mr. Collins recommendation as the host site for SILC Congress 2007.

2nd Vince Mantano New Mexico

Motion Passed Unanimously

Ann Meadows West Virginia SILC, Motioned, Coffee Bell of Rhode Island 2nd By Acclamation the proposal was accepted for New Orleans to be the host for 2007.

Leaders lost this year included Skip Wilkins and many others we do not know about.

The Executive committee looked at the surveys handed out at the beginning of the conference. Close to 100% of the surveys came back. The feeling was that SILC Congress should continue to be an annual event. The surveys also reveled that the group would prefer a combination of plenary and workshop sessions. We need to continue to look at what we are doing and to move forward as SILC’s nationwide. We should be always be working towards taking something from Congress to make us all better. The Surveys suggested 3 days would be the length of time and January will still be the month that it will be held. The goal is to balance Congress and come out with educational material for everyone.

New Business;

Evaluation of the current SILC Congress will be passed following this mornings meeting. The purpose of the surveys is to benefit the planning committee of the 07 SILC Congress.

It was asked if there is a financial report for the current year which was not available at the meeting. Wendi Herzman Treasurer has suggested a slight raise in the registration fees may be needed for Congress to offset any increases in conference cost.

Mike Collins, CA, asked if there was a way to make the event so that some people would not need to pay. By having a $200 registration fee it would raise the additional funds to do this. More donations and sponsorships would be great. It was suggested to work with folks such as the RCEPS to help support the Congress by providing cost for speakers.

Roxann Perez, WI recommended that we get a financial report from the planning committee at each congress.

Ann Meadows from WV reminded us of our priorities. The bottom line is we have to have things like alternative format as a necessity not a luxury at SILC Congress. We could eliminate things such as the closing DJ to save monies if need be in the future.

Cheryl Hampson from Delaware. Suggested the free time after sessions is just as important as the sessions themselves. Much gets accomplished in times of networking.

Vince Montano from NM feels it is important to have the time in the evenings to network and catch up, but we should still have things like the dance on the last night.

Bob Thompson from NC suggested we eliminate things such as the bags and lanyards in the future if the monies are needed to provide for reasonable accommodations during the conference. Many of us already have a collection of bags from past events.

A pre-conference training for new folks was suggested by the Patrick Reinhart, the rep from Alaska. This could be done on the Monday of Congress week which is used as a travel day by many of those attending.

Wendi Herzman, FL, commented that because no one asked for CART or TERPS that they we cancelled at this congress. If they are needed they will be here at future events

Ruth Haines from NC thanked the conference for the assistive listening devices. She suggested that when we get into making evening activities part of the conference some people are limited in that they cannot go that long and many people miss out on those things. She suggested one of the lunches may be a networking lunch.

Darnise Henry-Bush from DC liked that congress is run during the week and not on a weekend.

Charlie Bowen talked about the fact that nine years later in 06 we still have issues with autonomy. She suggested we form a task force to look at this issue. She will chair the task force and asked for people willing to serve on the force to bringing here their contact information. The taskforce will also contact the folks at NCIL on this issue also. Kelly Buckland from ID feels this is also a great idea and should be a priority issue. Until SILCS are direct funded Autonomy is going to be an issue. We need to conclude the business before the rehab act is passed. This should be one of our major strategies to make this happen. If not in this reauthorization it will be another 6 or 7 years before changes will occur. Direct funding of SILC’s similar to the DD Councils needs to be looked at. It may need to be part of the advocacy agenda of the SILC’s. It is not too late to get this written in to the rehab while it is not completed yet.

Ron House from NY noted that we need to look for funding for research projects that have lost their funding.

Vince Montano from NM noted that the SILC’s could get this language into the rehab act this time around and get this movement going forward.

Brad Williams from NY noted that the NY SILC has shifted towards research and reports. As a role for SILC the most practical application he has found is the data. It is what many legislators are listening to. We need to do our homework and have the data and research in advance.

Ruth Haines from NC reported that she was very pleased with the whole experience as a first time attendee.

Carol Lambert from MT noted that state and national legislators are not much different we just need to establish relationships with them. We all have to get in contact with them. Carol is a SILC member and a State Representative in the legislature in MT.

Meeting closed at 10:51

SILC Input into Changes of Rehab Act
Tom Kelley
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
3:15-5:15 PM

Tom Kelley—RSA

Structure of RSA
Restructuring
SMPID = State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID)—we are down 19 staff right now but are filling them quickly—there are 41 staff slots available.
No full scale monitoring this year but will be contacting every state
Moving toward preparations to do full scale monitoring—CILs to do 15% a year—will have to do 51 this year
Will randomly select sites
Want to move from “gotcha” method to working together to rectify problems—more program improvement
5 teams comprised of the 41 RSA staff—5 people per team
Each team has 11 states—broad range of knowledge
Representative for each state
704 Reports—data collection—from section 704 of Act which deals with data collection
New draft for FY06
Three new measures—transportation, health care, Assistive Technology
Continued process to revise—have work group with NCIL, CIL and SILC representation
Want to do same process with SPIL

Question & Answer Period

John Lancaster—NCIL
The monitoring teams go out from RSA—will they be looking at issues like DSU improper treatment of SILCs? Will SILC get enough time with them to get fair picture?
Tom
First round will be state liaison going out alone—will meet with VR, SILC, and a lot of the groups—debate about division of time and effort—1st three states (Ohio, Florida and Puerto Rico) will be trial runs—hoping it will inform us what the division of labor should be and I am advocating for more time with IL than less

Kelly Buckland—Idaho SILC
There were discussions between NCIL and RSA that monitoring teams were to monitor VR—not IL—and the process for IL would be a peer review model—there will be time with IL community to get their input in VR monitoring, right?
Tom
Yes—VR monitoring being revisited
IL has been in place many years but monitoring has been piece meal
IL monitoring done by what Title VII says
Looking at process for IL site reviews

Maris Burton—South Caroline SILC
How do we advocate for direct funding for SILC? Do we need to change the law?
Tom
Nothing works as well as organization, passion, and knowledge—get that befor the decision makers
No authority for SILCs or CILs in law right now

Molly Gosline from Florida SILC
Will there be a new SPIL format coming out soon? Time Frame for trainings?
Tom
Due in 2007—you’ll want to start work on it mid-summer—intend to get it out for public review to get it in place soon and do training following that

Valarie Barnum-Yarger—Michigan SILC
What about monitoring of VR dollars that goes into IL network?

--------------Note taker had to leave the room briefly--------------

Cathy Hatch—APRIL
704 data on web to review?
Tom
We are going to start putting everything we issue on there

Kathy Hoell—Nebraska SILC
You collect 704 reports every year—what specifically do you do with that data?
Tom
We aggregate it and pull things off—I want to look at asking questions that make sense and tell us something useful
Want data that is accessible, definable and clear that people can access quickly

Deanna—South Caroline SILC
How do we get job descriptions for your open positions?
Tom
Give me your e-mail and I will send them to you—will give to Brenda to pass on also

Mike Collins—California SILC
I was under the impression that 704 data was given to ILRU to congregate and post on their Website—does that contract still exist?
Tom
They have been extraordinarily helpful—they are still receiving this year as part of their cooperative agreement

Ruth from North Caroline
We had regional offices and they traveled around and did their jobs—now you all are in Washington and are going to travel around and do their jobs—is that cost effective?
Tom
I don’t know but my understanding is that changes were for budget reasons

Unidentified questioner
Is it appropriate to request assistance from NIDRR on analyzing data? That is there job.
Tom
We do talk to them—have created data unit within RSA—in coordination with NIDRR

Sharon Shapiro
Frustrating thing on 704 is goals set and goals met for individual outcomes—undefined—hard to collect because our consumers do not stay in touch—not collecting data that means anything right now
Tom
There are a variety of ways of tracking info—for consumers that don’t leave/move on—Centers do follow-up phone calls—consumer satisfaction survey with core of five questions for CILS and states to use—then you can add questions specific to your state/locale as one follow-up tool

Michelle Wilson—OK SILC
Question about using SRCs in the monitoring process—makes sense to me for SILCs to be just as involved—what is status on that?
Tom
There is an active discussion on that

Mandy from MS
When you monitor VR are you going to include consumers and employers?
Tom
There is a requirement for non-federal reviewer—hadn’t thought about specifying employers

Chris from Iowa
DSU both file their numbers for 704 Report together—difficult for SILCs to track what each is doing—can we separate those? Be careful about data you are getting—tend to be traced by VR model
Tom
If someone sets goal to reach independence—my goal to make sure those in RSA understand CILs are not VR agencies

Freda King—South Caroline
Continual resolution—have you heard of any cuts to IL?
Tom
I believe they passed appropriations bill—there were cuts—all programs level funded—unclear whether 1% across the board cut will affect program—when I go back I will get the word out

Paula Margeson—Texas
When we did standards and indicators we said SILCs wouldn’t monitor CILs? Right?
Tom
I haven’t seen that

Paula
Is that the consensus yes?
Group
Yes!

Brenda Curtiss—Ohio
Last year discussed tack RSA was taking in limiting SILCs to duties listed in Act—is that still what is going on? Can we issue grants, do resource development, do advocacy?
Tom
Law and regulations are written more narrowly for Part B than Part C—idea is for CILs to be providing direct services to consumers—SILCs can do a lot of things—if you do resource development the question is what can you do with the resources—important for CILs to continue to do services—doesn’t mean we want to prohibit SILCs from doing services

Ann Meadows—West Virginia
Is it still RSA’s position that SILCs can’t do advocacy?
Tom
Is an on-going discussion

Finding Money for the 5th Core Service

Patrick Reinhart—Alaska SILC

Not really new money but getting more money for what we do
The Nursing Facility Transition (NFT) Grant is over but the SILC got a permanent position in the state office to focus on NFT
Goal—reduce waiting list—happened 24 hour wait
Used money for transition costs
No Nursing Home industry in state—hospitals have Long Term Care wings—had less than 600 appropriate for nursing facility beds in state and no Intermediate Care Facilities for Mentally Retarded (ICFMR)
Primarily doing diversion activities now
Alaska gets general money for CILs
SILC applied for the Aging Disability Resource Center grant and got it
All 5 CILs get $45,000 from the ADRC grant
Set up a consumer service fund where 10% of center funding set aside for things couldn’t get covered otherwise. This equals good leverage fund to get additional donations/grants/etc.

Michelle - - - - - -Texas

MFP—Rider 28 passed as a law in Texas
Request for Proposals (RFP) sent to state for all 4 grants state was offering for NFT activities plus then subcontracted with others for statewide effort.
Basic services:
o Assessment of individual in Nursing Facility who wants to move to community
o Independent Living (IL) plan made
o Options counseling
o Ongoing follow-up
Department makes determination if people are eligible—once determined they call relocation specialist
Funds to cover adaptations, deposits and other costs managed by the centers
Housing is covered through vouchers to subsidize rentals for two years
Part B funds redirected from CIL to SILC then SILC RFPs for this project
Since September 1, 2001, 9500 people relocated

Valarie Robbins—Texas

Youth Transition program called YES! (Youth Encountering Success)
Part 1—offering core services to young people, ages 12-21 in their rural, spread out territory
o Also work on employment skills
o Teach about college campus and vocational training programs
o Train youth to teach others around about services
Part 2—teaching employers about workforce of people with disabilities
No formal funding—took program to a local bank and got funded for the first year
2nd year had foundation grant from Warehouser Foundation
3rd year from Panhandle Children’s Foundation
The youth program hears lots of no’s—especially from public school but once you show them the program is working and progress of the students—the schools and community gets behind the program
People working on the project not too proud to beg ?

Brenda Steinbuck—SAIL in Arkansas

Began with the NFT Federal Grant—the state contracted with the four CILs and 10 Area Aging Associations (AAA)
AAAs didn’t do much
Cost is about $3000 to transition for up front costs
Waiver has been set up to authorize $5000 but it has not passed yet
• CILs have often seen “case management” as a dirty word but we have been doing it for years and for free—it is time “we got over it” and got paid for what we are doing
• Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) wants IL community at the table
• Quality assurance plans—CIL developing it by doing follow-up and on going support
• Title I money for pre-employment services can be used for transition if client states a desired outcome of employment and if you can get it
• Housing is always a problem but they have a grant for rental assistance for people who are transitions
• Home funds—see if Public Housing Authorities (PHA) will do it but if not, CILs could do it too

Q&A
• What 5 states were identified as best practice?
o Check on CMS Conference Housing 2005 info
• Eligibility question
o Personal Care Attendant (PCA)—self directed—Arkansas made programs four years ago—growing so fast from $7 million to $35 million (?)
o From 200+ people to 2000+ people
o Created an income source for CILs
o Appropriations committees—go to them for certain projects to get funded
• APRC Funding—how did that happen?
o In Arkansas it was timing—sounded like what we do—only state agencies could apply so SILC wrote it and state agency signed and submitted
• Individual Development Accounts
o Can get match to save money
o Use section 8 vouchers as mortgage payment

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
9:00 AM-10:15 Plenary Session
Tom Kelley, RSA
Kelly Buckland, Idaho SILC and NCIL Chair
John Lancaster, NCIL CEO

Kelly
• Need to read the House and Senate versions of the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act
o House bill has a lot of bad stuff in it
o Senate bill is quite a good bill—good things for SILCS
? Deletes Governor veto power language regarding SILC chair—says that SILC elects the chair period
? Duties of SILC—adds new things:
• Conduct resource development activities for SPIL activities and CILS
• Performs such other functions consistent with this section as council determines appropriate
? Other things:
• 5th Core Service—SILC has to address in the SPIL
• Status—House bill has passed. Senate bill out of committee but hasn’t passed yet—should in the next month or so

Tom
• Will be difficult to move a lot of legislation this year
o Will pass essential bills
o Will stay out of anything political
o Don’t expect them to steer away from Reauthorization
• Assuming it passes—I intend to work with community to ensure what we do in regulations matches intent—want to set up work groups to get the job done—want help defining what is meant by terms
• Resource development—looking at that very carefully
o Not convinced we can tell you what to do with resource development

John
• Thank you to Bob Michaels for all his work on the Rehab Act
• Community-based living is about choice—choice doesn’t exist yet—the supports aren’t there
o 5th Core Service—NCIL supports—laying out the principle then let’s fight like heck to get funding—everything we do is under funded if not unfunded
• NCIL Strategic Plan goals
o Strengthen value of NCIL to members—bulk is CILs and SILCs—need to hear from you
o Resource development (2005—44 SILCS were NCIL Members—the goal is to have them all as members)
o Want to provide Technical Assistance and training to help you implement reauthorization
? Strengthen effectiveness of members at the state and local level
o Maintaining training priority for 2006-07 will be transitioning and ending institutional bias and deinstitutionalization
o Fundraising efforts are now directed at supporting you in doing these things
o Gearing everything we do to be a value to you and to support you

Questions & Answers

Mike Collins—CA

Question and statement to Tom Kelley is three parts:
1. Is there a time table for restarting relationships with regions?
2. We have avoided travel restrictions by reminding Governor we are federally funded.
3. What is the RSA position on reauthorization and NCIL positions?

Tom
3. Don’t know but will find answers.
2. I applaud you for ability to avoid state cuts
1. There is a bib reorganization—State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID)—we are down 19 staff right now
• Am hearing that people have not heard from their state liaison—will take that back
• Have communicated that need IL to be respected equal partner
• Am hiring 3 policy people right now if you are interested

Unidentified person with this question

With the 5th Core Service—plans to address—is ADAPT involved (for John Lancaster)

John
• We have a grant and searching for more to work with specific states to support them in doing whatever it takes to change Medicaid structure to allow HCB supports. Tennessee is worst with 90% of money being spent on institutional care—we are identifying worst states that also have strong SILC and CILs
• Going after other funding to work with communities where HUD has negotiated voluntary compliance agreements with local housing authorities that aren’t being followed—will work with CILs and SILCs to support advocacy regarding compliance with voluntary compliance agreements
• Yes, working with ADAPT—Kelly is in close communication with Bob Kafka—ADAPT is planning big action in TN in March—having a panel and NCIL is participating
• Will have testimony—to gather data set

Kelly
• A lot of NCIL members are ADAPT—even board members
• Will be more activities—will continue to work closely

Lynn Goodson-VT
• Out of state travel—VT was the victim of DSU preventing travel to APRIL—Tom saw our situation as a priority—legal opinion he sent clearly defined autonomy and authority of SILC chair over budget though it was a little gray at the end “unless it doesn’t adhere to state law/policies”—threw a bone to state
• Did seek legal opinion—ruled for SILC because policy in state is informal, through memos

Tom
• Want to see state legal opinion and will take it back and work on it more

Susan Prokop—VA
• Glad to hear resource development will be in reauthorization
• Have ruling that we can’t raise money under state law because we are associated with a state agency

Tom
• Have asked for expedited review of situation and will answer soon—by tomorrow
• Do my best to carry the true spirit of what CILs and SILCs tell me
• My task to work that into RSA programmatic structure
• I fully support IL

Kelly
• Congress already says we have authority to do resource development and so making it very clear in the reauthorization
• If you are a state agency or part of state agency you are already in violation of law—RSA needs to enforce
• RSA regulations say you have authority to develop you r budget and state can’t restrict you

Providing Technical Assistance to Centers for Independent Living

Session 1 Shared Ideas

Washington State—
• SILCs need to make the statewide contacts and build the relationships
South Carolina—
• Put in dollar amount in SPIL for Technical assistance;
• coordinated CIL training for all CILS—in SC for their staff and board;
• arrange quarterly CIL network meetings;
• keep CILs informed through 3-mail advocacy list;
• funding to create Part B CILs
Arizona
• quarterly meetings with CIL directors
• ask CIL directors to attend SILC meeting
• provide funds to start a Part B center
• web based “Cyber CIL” to reach out to Indian population
• SILC director goes to CILs to keep in contact
• Every two years have an IL summit
Arkansas
• SILC gives financial resources
• It is important that SILC and CILs communicate
• SILC rotates meetings so members can visit all CILs
• SILC hosts trainings for CILs
• SILCs can assist in fundraising for CILs and vice-verse
North Carolina
• SILCs and CILS need to respect each other
Oklahoma
• SILC worked to get control of Part B money and to coordinate efforts with the Association of CILs to expand the network of centers
Montana
• SILCs need to make the time to meet your legislators to make sure they know you so they will work for you
• SILCs and CILs meet semi-annually
• Use “Factoids” to keep CILs informed
Oregon
• SILC educates agencies/legislators, etc. on how CILs can provide services
• SILC set-up mentor program so that new CILS have a seasoned CIL to contact
• SILC has a sample manual for policy and procedures for CILs
• SILC created “cheat sheet” to help with the 704 report and other reports to help CILs
• SILC passes on about a million dollars a year to the CILs
• SILC and the DSU are setting up a program to help new CILs with administrative duties to impress investors
• SILC helps with management skills for new CILs

District of Columbia
• SILC and CIL work together on projects and with other agencies—working together helped them grow
MA
• SILC shares space with the CIL
• Works together to foster relationships with Senators and Legislators and this has been working well
MO
• SILCs and CILs have had some conflict regarding the base funding level in the SPIL

Session 2 Shared Ideas

WA
• Building relationships and keeping in contact with each other important
• SILC assists with making this happen
• Centralized resource is good idea
• Focus should be statewide
SC
• Selling wristbands for fundraising—money will go towards ramps and home modifications
• Increasing and expanding Part B centers
• Technical assistance in money put aside for centers
• Three part C centers in SC
AZ
• Quarterly meeting with all CIL directors
• Discussion to see what each CIL is doing—RSA rep also attended
• Cyber CIL (www.cybercil.org) accessible for all individuals who may not have access to CIL
• IL summit every 2 years with good attendance
AR
• SILC seems to be very political
• CILs work well with each other within state
• SILC needs open communication with each other—getting together at conference is important—
• Body language shows a lot
• CIL and SILC members need to know who their reps are and communicate with them as much as can
• Fund raising important
• Host SILC meetings throughout state and at each CIL
• Need a state IL conference
CA
• Give out $100,000 per year to CILs for technical assistance (multiculturalism and training sometimes rolled together) Look at other state grants for ideas

Vermont
• Executive director of SILC
LA
• Not a 501 (c) 3 but has executive director
Nebraska
• CILs and SILCs do not communicate
• Make consumer voices known
NY
• Document friends and contacts! Make them known to public. Really matters who donors and volunteers, contacts and members are! All CILs participate in making plan for state
WI
• SILC meetings rotated throughout Statewide independent Living Council listen to feedback and fears
• Communication and acknowledgment important
RI
• 2 centers—collaborative meetings important. SPIL is the best ever
OK
• Forming Oklahoma Association of CILs
• Give contact information for CILs to be involved
• Look for opportunities for CILs to “plug into”
MI
• Trade association with paid staff—excellent relationships
• SILC, CILs and Trade Association work together and TA has lobbyist and this helps to get representatives from CILs and SILC on agendas where IL philosophy needed to be advanced

SILC Congress 06 General meeting

Meeting opened at 9:15 by Charlie Bowen

Kathy Hatch from American Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), gave an overview of the CIL to CIL mentoring program. This year 15 sites will be visited throughout the country by the program by Mentors who are willing and able to help centers work on their future plans. This year there will also be monies available for centers and SILC’s that need some intensive support through cooperation with ILRU. APRIL is looking at moving into SILC to SILC peer mentoring program in the current year developed similar to the CIL to CIL program. The program may look at Autonomy, Working with the DSU, Getting Appointments, Needs Assessment, Development of the SPIL.

Election of Regional Representatives/Alternates for SILC Congress 07

Region 1
Rep. Steve Higgins, MA
Alt. Jon Provencher, VT
Alt. Andrea Tinkham, NH

Region 2
Rep. Kathy Wood NJ
Alt. Sharon Shapiro NY

Region 3
Rep. Kathy McKelvy DE
Alt.Darnice Henry Bush DC

Region 4
Rep. Maris Burton SC
Alt. Wendi Herzman FL

Region 5
Rep. Valerie Barnum Yarger MI
Alt. Brenda Curtiss OH

Region 6
Co-Rep. Pauline Margeson TX
Co-Rep. Charlie Bowen OK
Alt. Vince Montano NM

Region 7
Rep. Brad Merrens NE
Alt. Stephanie White MO

Region 8
Rep. Betsy Valnes SD
Alt. Elizabeth Leef CO

Region 9
Rep. Mike Collins CA
Alt. Tony DiRienzi AZ

Region 10
Rep. Cathy Baldwin WA
Alt. Tina Treasure OR

Co-Chairpersons
Charlotte Bowen OK
Brenda Curtiss OH

Co-Vice Chairpersons
Mike Collins CA
Maris Burton SC

Secretary
Steve Higgins MA

Treasurer
Paula Margeson TX

2007 Conference Planning Committee will include the Executive Committee of 6 along with:
Wendi Herzman FL
Ruth Haines NC
Betsy Valnes SD
Jamie Karam LA
Roxann Perez WI
Leonila Vega WI

Mike Collins from California suggested New Orleans LA as the host site for the 2007 Congress. The SILC of Louisiana has offered to be the host for the event. It will be hosted in Downtown New Orleans. The SILC’s from Region 6 have agreed to work together to support this endeavor.

Motion made by Hannah Pitts-Gilmore Washington DC SILC to accept Mr. Collins recommendation as the host site for SILC Congress 2007.

2nd Vince Mantano New Mexico

Motion Passed Unanimously