MAINE WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2002
MMA - AUGUSTA
1:00 P.M

.

Attendance: Sue Charron, Brenda Harrington, Diane Mende, Mary Frances Barteltt, Donna Staples, Mary-Anne Chalila, Cindy Boyd, Antoinette Mancusi, Earl Edgerly, Linda Fossa, Jodi Hanson, Judy Hardy-Goddard, Cheryl Durgan, Steve Wood, Patricia Littlefield, Martha Huff, Dot Meagher, Linda Paul, Pauline Langmaid, Deborah Zoraca, Joan Kiszely.


1. Call to Order/Introductions: Sue Charron called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. and introductions of those present were made.

2. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of December 13, 2001 were distributed and reviewed by the membership. Motion made by Earl Edgerly, seconded by Mary-Anne Chalila, all approved.

3. Treasurer's Report: Cheryl Durgan reviewed the Financial Report for the period ending November 30, 2001. Motion made by Linda Fossa, seconded by Earl Edgerly, all approved the November Financial Report.

4. Committee Reports:

Legislative: Sue Charron advised the committee that LD 1963 is on the 2002 LD list, but the hearing date has not yet been set. This bill would remove an ambiguity in General Assistance law which currently considers a first time GA applicant's lump sum income as proratably countable income in one section of the statute and as not countable in another. This bill would resolve the ambiguity by establishing the first time applicant's lump sum income as pro-ratable countable. Vicky Edgerly noted she would speak with Geoff Herman and make sure that our legislative committee is made aware of the hearing date.

Professional Development: Brenda Harrington reported that the Certification Committee and Professional Development committee agreed they needed to work together. Both committees came up with the following 2002 Training Calendar:

September Membership Meeting & Workshop Generate Revenue
October MMA Convention
November Basic GA Workshop - no meeting Generate Revenue
December Membership Meeting & ½ hr Guest Speaker/Training & Xmas Party
January
February Basic GA Workshop - no meeting Generate Revenue
March Membership Meeting & Guest Speaker/Training
April
May Spring Seminar Generate Revenue
June Membership Meeting & Guest Speaker/Training
July/August Executive Board - New Committee Chairs Organizational
Meeting/Retreat



Sue Charron will speak with Cindy Boyd about collaborating with the Certification committee on a one day training to include DHS policy, DHS Audit, thet MMA Ordinance and the Statutes. If they would do this around the state, it is felt that attendance would be better and they could become certified in one day.

Joan Kiszely reported MMA would be holding a Technology Conference on March 19, 2002 at the Augusta Civic Center. Brenda Harrington asked her committee if the MWDA would be interested in offereing a GA Software Program. They all felt this would be a good program to offer at the Technology Conference. Joan Kiszely will contact Bill Belanger at 1-800-443-4639 and see if he is interested. He developed a program for GA and Ellen Gendreau of Caribou is presently using it and it meets DHS requirements.

Brenda Harrington reported that the Professional Development Committee met on January 3, 2002 to look over five proposals presented to them for consideration to host their Spring Seminar. Out of the five they chose the Black Bear Inn in Orono because of reasonable cost and available space, and because they figured it was time to move the seminar further north. Joan Kiszely, Sue Charron, and Brenda Harrington will do a site visit the end of January and go over the contract with the Black Bear Inn. She reported what her committee had come up with for the two-day program. The Professional Development Committee will meet again soon to finalize their program. The Certification Committee will also meet at this time.

Sue Charron noted she will be hosting a workshop on Immigration on January 23, 2002 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the council chambers at Lewiston City Hall.

Nomination/Membership: Judy Hardy-Goddard reported they met this morning. They are working on the upcoming nominations for the upcoming fiscal year. She noted if anyone was interested in being nominated to please let her know. They reviewed the current membership list and updated emails. They will be contacting those are not current members market the membership. Judy also reported that she would like to go with GWI Internet access for the MWDA. There is a $50.00 start up fee, $25.00 account set up fee, $25-30.00 fee to register our domain name and a $15.00 annual fee. MMA's proposal was an initial $350.00 and additional fees on an hourly basis for any administrative work on their Web. It was noted that a goal would be to cut costs on newsletter printing and mailings by only mailing copies to those members who do not have access to computers.

5. MMA Update: Antoinette Mancusi reported that she is moving forward in the GA Appendix. Towns will be receiving a post-card noting that changes are on the MMA Web-site. Mailing out hard copies is becoming very costly. Cindy Boyd offered to take the changes (appendix) that Antoinette has and do the mailing from DHS. Antoinette noted she is trying to get the towns to learn how to utilize the Internet. She felt the other option of DHS's (Cindy Boyd) offer would be one way to get the mailing out. Antoinette also noted she plans to work on making the statue regarding Burial Issues better. She feels the process needs to be cleaned up and asked how people felt about contacting the advocates, perhaps the Equal Justice folks, and all work together. Mary-Anne Chalila felt this was a good idea as it's better to know their issues.

6. DHS Update: Cindy Boyd distributed information handouts on BFI Regional Offices, and # of TANF and PaS Cases. She had a brief discussion on the handouts. She also discussed their budget, noting that her bureau has been asked to give up $250,00 in GA, but was told this money would be back with them the following budget year. She wanted everyone to know this upfront.

7. By-Laws: Sue Charron distributed a final copy of the proposed by-laws for MWDA. Motion made by Vicky Edgerly, seconded by Diane Mende. All approved the amended By-Laws.

8. Other Business: Sue Charron reported that she had received two pieces of correspondence. She had received a thank you card from Cheryl Durgan for sending her flowers, and the other was an announcement of a workshop she is hosting at Lewiston City Hall on Immigration Workshop being held January 23, 2002 from 10:30 to noon. The guest speaker will be Beth Stickney, Executive Director of The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in Portland, Maine.

9. Adjourn: Motion made by Linda Fossa, seconded by Diane Mende, all approved to adjourn the meeting at 1:45 p.m.