Public Comment
Jonah Markowitz made an announcement regarding a party for CIL, 2539 Telegraph Ave. on December 9th, 2004 from Noon to 4 PM. A gift exchange is planned.
Hale: Are there any more public comments?
Gina: There's been a change in the office calendar for this month's Executive Director meeting- from 2 PM until 3:30 PM on the 12th at 1744 University.
Jonah moved that the minutes from the November 2004 meeting be approved. Charlie seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
Agenda
Stephanie: There are some changes to the agenda. First, I would like to remove item 14g, about reducing ambiguity by referring to the polulation we serve as "mobility impaired" rather than "severely physically disabled". I will bring it in again when we have discussed it out of session. Next, I have three additions. We need to discuss appointing Peter to the SUS committee as a non-board member, we need to discuss the newsletter, and we need to discuss whether we want to participate in the planning of the Ed Roberts Campus.
Charlie asked if a vote (i.e. motions and seconds, etc.) in regards to changing the agenda was necessary, or not. Hale agreed that it was not necessary to vote on changing the agenda.

Lewis: I want to add the matter of a change of meeting venue as well.

President's Report

Hale: I have nothing to report.

Executive Director's Report

Rose: We mailed out about ten things in the insurance packet. I have extras if anyone needs a copy. We have two additional things to discuss. They were not in your packets because they transpired after the packets were mailed out.

Gina: We hired one female and lost one male (employee) this month. We have a speaker for our next meeting. The topic will be Multiple Sclerosis. For the month of November we had the following:
1. 329 Attendant Calls
2. 30 Transportation Calls
3. 5 Demand Response Calls
4. 5 Wheelchair Repair Calls
Ayanna started transferring us from AT&T to another cell phone provider, where will be able to claim rollover minutes.
There was an incident that is moving onto mediation with a client.

Rose: I have a date for the mediation. It will be December 13th, 2004, at the East Bay Mediation Center, at 1958 San Pablo Avenue. It is a closed meeting except for a select number of members. I have December 16th for the Fundraiser Committee meeting.

A brief discussion about rescheduling this month's Fundraiser Committee meeting. It was decided that all concerned would decide on a time convenient for all later.

Gina: The additional insurance for sexual misconduct is going to cost $1,217.00. There was also a fender bender this past month. No one was hurt but we need to pay a $500.00 deductible.

Hale: I noted few demand calls in November, which raises the question of this particular service's relevance to EDI. Should we continue to offer this service and if not, how should we deal with this as it impacts the budget?

A general discussion regarding the efficacy of the Demand Response Program ensued. Jonah raised the issue of the organization's liability if a service previously offered and advertised is suddenly removed. Stephanie added that the program needs to be publicized and that that factor might have a large impact on the success of the service. Gina suggested giving the program six months to assess its worth to EDIDA. The Executive Directors confirmed that the program is slated to end January 31, 2005.

Dan said that there were several instances this past year when the service would have been very useful had he known about it. However, the point was also made that if our spectrum of services is too broad things begin to fall between the cracks, and performance suffers.

Stephanie: Can we hire more administrative staff?

Hale: We are already facing a deficit.

Stephanie: I think that a lot doesn't get done because the administrative staff is stretched too thin. One or two more staff members would improve the efficacy of the organization.

Hale: When did the information about the Demand Response Program go out?

Gina and
Rose: September (2004) and it is also in the newsletter.

Charlie: If it has been going on since September it should be pretty clear by now.

Hale: That information went out five months ago and all we had were five (5) riders in November? What makes you think we'll get more riders in another six months?

A discussion of the history behind both Measures "B" and "E" ensued.

Charlie: Couldn't we give the program until June (2005) at least?

Rose next suggested sending out a letter to the City informing them of our plan to discontinue the service and in what time frame-if the program continues to be used so sparsely. Charlie said that he'd like to help with that (referring to Rose's comment).

Rose: Fine. I've contacted Angelique (City of Berkeley), and asked that they include EDIDA in their "New Neighbor" packet. It contains a list of City services, taxicabs, schools, etc. I think that it would be a great way to get the word out about EDIDA.

Dan: I'd like to suggest other health care providers as another source of referrals.

A general discussion of the merits of the suggestions just made by Rose and Dan ensued. Gina asked Dan if he would be in charge of updating the flyer. He readily agreed. Dan offered to get out and talk to people at restaurants and other social settings.

Hale: What is our contingency plan if these ideas don't work?

Stephanie: I am encouraged by the ideas we've just heard and I believe that they will increase the monthly numbers.

Rose: (Referring to Hale's question) We are scheduling with this possibility in mind. I am scheduling drivers in numbers during those hours with our current demand in mind. There have been some timesheets turned in late for November, but for the most part we are on point as far as the budget is concerned. I think that further reflection on this subject would best be left for the Executive Committee meeting.

Lewis: Marketing was never the "strong suit" of the organization. It's a lot of work and really needs a fulltime staff person.

Rose: We have a good but a skeleton administration team, but with 600 attendant calls per month and an average of 63/day, financially speaking that's all we can afford at present.

Charlie asked if the van was in running condition since the minor traffic mishap Gina mentioned earlier. Hale, sensing that the discussion was straying from agenda items asked the group to table further comments until after the meeting.

Treasurer's Report

Lewis: I did not have a chance to meet with Rose and Gina this month. They sent me the spreadsheet with the budget laid out on it. I will be meeting with them next month however. So, I have no report tonight.

Stephanie: And you publicized this meeting on the Yahoo! Berkeley Disabled Group.

In an email discussion during the preceding month, someone had suggested it was the Treasurer's responsibility to publicize the meetings. Stephanie asked whether this was really true, Rose responded that generally it is the Secretary's responsibility. Stephanie promised to take care of it in future.

Gina: (To Lewis) Can you issue a notice about the Demand Response Program?

Secretary's Report

Stephanie: Our minutes-taker and I met with Rose and Gina. I have revised the minutes and will help Bette to have a clearer concept of what is relevant as far as subsequent minutes are concerned. I would appreciate it very much if board members would make an effort to get their agenda items to me sooner, and without my having to chase people down individually, so that the packets can go out on time. I will publicize next month's meeting now that I understand it is my responsibility.

Again a generalized discussion regarding where and how public notice of Board meetings should be announced. It was left that Stephanie would make sure notices went out on the Berkeley Disabled Yahoo! Group and in various community calendars. Hale had some reservations about the latter. It was decided that we do not have the resources to send out a separate notice to all clients.

Vice President's Report

Charlie: I have no report tonight.

Executive Committee Report

Executive committee did not meet.

Fundraising Committee Report

Jonah: Winston's the committee chair and a meeting is scheduled for 12/16/04. I may not be able to attend. I would like to suggest another date when I could come.

Charlie: I'll try and come.

Jonah wanted to move to committee assignments because he needed to leave. Stephanie made the motion and Dan seconded. Board voted unanimously to move ahead. Rest of the committee reports were tabled until the next meeting.

Actions:

Executive Committee elections

Jonah: Who are the current members?

Rose: Hale, Gina, Rose, Lewis and Charlie. Gina and Rose are nonvoting members.

Lewis: Am I required to be on that committee?

Rose: Yes, because you are Treasurer.

Jonah: So there are two positions available on the committee?

Rose: No, there is one vacancy. The other is reserved for a community member.

Jonah: I would like to serve on the executive committee.

Stephanie nominated Jonah to the Executive Committee. Dan seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Committee assignments

- Judicial and Personnel Committee:
This committee handles legal or personnel issues between clients and employees.
Continuing members: Jonah, Winston, and Hale.
Additional appointment(s): Dan

- Fundraising Committee
Continuing members: Charlie, Winston, Micheal Delacour, Gina, Jonah, Rose, and Ayanna.
Additional appointment(s): Dan
Stepping down: Stephanie

- SUS Committee
Continuting members: Hale, Jonah, Gina, Winston, Charlie, Ayanna, and Peter.

• - Invasive Care Committee
  Members: Charlie, Jonah, Hale, Rose, Gina, and Peter.
• SUS Committee responsibilities (Hale)

Hale and Jonah gave a brief description of what the SUS Committee does. Typically it handles clients who have been relying on the service heavily.

• Efforts to recruit new Board members (Charlie)

Three suggestions were made for how to recruit candidates for the EDI Board. Dan suggested we post notices at the Alta Bates Medical Center. Charlie suggested we recruit through the Disabled Students' Program at Cal. Others suggested it might be best to identify people individually and make targeted pitches.

• Amendments to bylaws (Winston)

It was decided that this should be discussed by the Executive Committee

Limits on ED's spending without Board approval in bylaws (Jonah)

Tabled-Jonah had gone home.

• Board Policy Manual (Peter?)

No progress has been made

• Date and location of next board meeting

A discussion regarding the venue of the Board's next several meetings was voted upon. Stephanie moved that the meetings be held at the Senior Center. Dan seconded the motion. Jonah said that traditionally, the meetings were held on the fourth Thursday of the month and that our next meeting would be January 27, 2005 at 6:30 - 9:30 PM and would be every fourth Thursday until April 28, 2005. The meetings will continue to be held at the Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Street, Classrooms "A" and "B".

• Appointing Peter to SUS committee

Hale officially appointed Peter to the SUS committee and the Invasive Care committee.

• Connecting with Ed Roberts Campus (Stephanie)

Hale: The planning for the campus has been going on for six years.

Dan: There was an article in the paper recently saying that some of the neighbors in the area are against the plan altogether.

A discussion ensued about the proposed campus site, and a general consensus that it would be in the best interest of EDIDA to be a part of the project.

Gina: OK. So, how do we go about being a part of this (Ed Roberts Campus)?

Hale: Are we hoping to ingratiate ourselves to the Ed Roberts Campus at this time?

Stephanie: Yes.

Hale: There are eight partners already. Aren't we running the risk of being seen as a "fifth wheel" or worse yet, as hangers-on?

Dan felt that EDIDA's involvement would show support for what's being planned. Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, a member of the Berkeley Commission on Disability who was sitting in on the meeting, added that the planning process is only half-completed at present, and there is plenty of time to get involved. Dan continued that as a group, EDIDA should consider having a member on their Board of Directors or a staff involvement, or both. Gina agreed that collaborating with others during the planning stages was a great idea. Dan said that he would contact Jan Garrett and Joe Batiste, both of whom he is well acquainted. He said that at the appropriate stage, he planned to also include Charlie.
Hale said that he still felt that EDIDA would be seen as trying to cut in on their (i.e. Ed Roberts' Campus) action. The possibility of EDIDA getting office space on the campus was also mentioned, although at present, plans have not reached the building stage. It was decided that Dan would investigate and report his findings at the next meeting.

Newsletter (Exec. Directors)

A discussion regarding the newsletter took up the remainder of the meeting. The administrative staff raised three main concerns. The first was that publication had been too significantly delayed, so that now the material was out of date. The second was that the content of the newsletter was too political and too controversial. The third concern was that the reminders and bulletins we most wanted clients to see were on the last few pages, where they could easily be missed.

In the course of the discussion, these objections were heatedly challenged and defended. The first objection, that the material was out of date, was substantiated by the fact that we were issuing the "fall" newsletter in December, and by the fact that the front page article was about a candidate for city council over a month after he lost the election. The second objection related specifically to an article about medical marijuana. There was a difference of opinion on the board over whether EDI should take up activist causes that did not directly relate to its mission. The third objection was to the layout of the newsletter. The administrative staff felt bulletins about Board meetings and the new Demand Response Program should have been displayed prominently on the first page. They also expressed misapprehension about having their names most prominently displayed on something they did not necessarily endorse and had not created. Charlie, who was principally responsible for the content and layout of the newsletter, was deeply offended that objections had not been raised sooner.

A motion by Stephanie not to send out the current newsletter was seconded by Dan. The members voted four to two with no one abstaining, in favor of not sending out the current newsletter.

The meeting was adjoined at 9:37 PM.

Bette A. Ingraham,
EDIDA Minutes Recorder