VARP Board Meeting Minutes
July 1, 2010
Location:
Telephone Conference
Attendees :
Scott Sevart,
Eleanor Fukushima, Ashley
Harmon, Pat Eby, Janet
Hillyer, Debbie Moreau, Barbara Byers, Eleanor Fukushima, Lori Cowan,
Gerry Wells (not
available),
Asheley Wells (not available), Barbara Harvey (not available)
Meeting called to order at 4:05 PM on 7/1/10
President’s Report:
Scott stated he was unable to attend IARP
President’s meeting due to lack of notice; however, he was informed
that there is a big push with IARP to increase membership.
Barbara reported that the IARP membership
committee is reaching out to colleges and other areas to recruit and
retain members. Some chapters said they’d consider allowing students
to sit on their board and others would waive the student chapter fees.
IARP also discussed waiving dues for department heads of CORE
approved programs. $53K
has been earmarked to increase membership and retaining membership.
IARP had a budget development membership committee meeting on
7/2/10. Membership brochures are available to disperse.
Scott reported that Janet no longer wishes to
serve on the VARP membership committee.
Asheley Wells has agreed to be appointed to the VARP membership
position. Eleanor will contact Asheley and Janet to assist with the
transition.
Treasurer’s Report:
see attached.
The annual federal tax form was filed 1 time
during 2010. Net income $5,478.96 for the year.
Philanthropic- matching funds $290.00
Eleanor made a motion to accept the budget
report. Debbie seconded the report. All in favor to accept the budget
report as stated was unanimous.
Committee Report:
Planning for Next Year’s Conference:
Ashley H. will talk with Gerry about his level of commitment to
be on the conference committee. A date for the 2011 conference needs
to be determined ASAP to prevent from conflicting with other
conferences. The 2011 conference development will continue to be
discussed at future VARP board meetings and a conference committee
will be developed
Old Business:
Eleanor made a motion to accept the minutes from
the May 20, 2010 board meeting report. Scott seconded the report. All
in favor to accept the budget report as stated was unanimous.
Lori Cowan discussed the idea of a speaker’s
bureau to go to universities, events and meetings as an avenue to
promote VARP. VARP members
to provide topics of presentations that they could speak about and
provide education about the vocational rehabilitation field.
Additional structure and organization would be needed to
develop the potential list of topics and maintain the list.
It is unclear how this would be perceived in the community.
Further discussion to occur regarding this idea with anticipated goal
setting, such as two speaking functions during this next 12 months.
Eleanor will speak to with VRCA regarding the
breakdown of VARP/VRCA conference profits. It was noted without the
exhibitor’s participation at the conference, VARP would have lost
money on the conference.
New Business:
Asheley Wells to be appointed as new Membership
chair.
The President-Elect position is currently open
and needs to be filled.
Barbara noted that per the by-laws, all vacancies on the VARP Board
are to be appointed by the president and approved by the board. A
suitable candidate for president-elect needs to be identified. Janet
Hiller noted previously that she does not wish to be president-elect.
Scott stated he planned to review the IARP, VARP
by-laws and compare VARP bylaws with IARP bylaws. He will provide a
report to everyone.
Additionally, the CRCC just updated the requirements for CRC’s and
Scott plans to review the rules too to determine how much overlap or
differences there is between the organizations’ rules.
Per Barbara, the VARP Bylaws need to be
consistent of IARP’s bylaws.
Pat Eby checked the activity report with the web
publishers. We have had
activities from China,
IARP and individuals within VA accessing the website.
Barbara noted that IARP can link the IARP website
with the VARP website. There is a onetime $700 set- up fee for IARP
being the webmaster, and then no additional charges. Barbara will
provide Pat with the contact person at IARP
Barbara reminded the board to attend the IARP
Forensic conference in Nov. 2010. She asked if the board would put
money toward the silence auction item.
Eleanor made a Motion to contribute $100 toward
the silent auction. Debbie seconded the motion. All in favor was
unanimous.
Future VARP Board Meetings:
Thursday, Aug. 5, 4:00 pm – teleconference
Thursday, Sept. 2, 4:00 pm - teleconference
Oct 8th 11:00 – 1:00 pm in
Richmond,
VA location/restaurant TBD (Lori
suggested coordinating a lunch meeting with a mini CEU program - TBD)
Thursday, Nov. 11, 4:00 pm- teleconference
Thursday, Dec. 2, 4:00 pm- teleconference
Friday, Jan. 14, 11:00 -1:00 pm
in Richmond, VA
location/restaurant TBD
Thursday, Feb. 3, 4:00 pm- teleconference
March – board meeting
TBD (Possibly coordinate in conjunction
with the NRH conference)
Meeting completed at 5:16 pm.
VARP
Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
MINUTES
VARP
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
May 20, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by the President,
Gerry Wells, at 7:40 p.m. The Board meeting took place at the home of
Board Member, Eleanor Fukushima, in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Board Members Present: Gerry Wells, Adolfo
Arsuaga, Jeannie Lehowicz, Barbara Byers, Janet Hillyer, Pat Eby,
Eleanor Fukushima, Ashley Harmon, Scott Sevart
Board Members Absent:
Trish Rehpelz
Special Guests/Members: Ashleigh Wells, Lynn
Donahue and Lori Cowan
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Mr. Wells reported that IARP had started
developing social networks and Facebook.
When these Internet protocols are ready, he believes they will
be beneficial to the Membership.
He deferred to Ms. Byers for additional updating of the IARP
initiatives. Ms. Byers
reported that she is on the Forensics Board and is also on the
Membership Committee. She
recommended that the Executive Board Members check out the new
website, Rehabpro.org. She
related that as of May 31, 2010, all ListSrv will stop and to use the
former site, one has to sign up.
She also noted that a “Coffee Talk” group has been designated
as a new site for “off topic discussions”.
The purpose of this is to ensure that only professional topics
are allowed on the website.
Ms. Byers also reported that IARP’s financial condition is
healthier than in previous years.
They are keeping expenses down and do not plan a conference
this year. They have
approximately $70,000 in their budget.
She complimented the current management company for helping the
IARP organization improve.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
The Minutes of the February 24, 2010 special
board meeting were not reviewed.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer, Barbara Byers, reported $37,334 in
the checking account and $22,86.79
in savings. She related
that she expects the upcoming conference to make money.
She noted that the Spring Conference income was $7,085, but
expenses have not been taken into account so she could not project a
profit until the expenses are settled.
No motion was made to accept the report as
presented.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, Eleanor
Fukushima
There was no report on Legislative issues or
status affecting the VARP organization.
MEMBERSHIP, Janet Hillyer
Ms. Hillyer had no special report.
However, Ms. Barbara Byers asked to report on the IARP
initiatives and how they might be beneficial to the VARP organization.
She reported that IARP has taken initiatives to increase
membership and she related that she is on the IARP Membership
Committee. She is hoping
to pass IARP Membership Development and Enrollment ideas to the VARP
organization. She told the
VARP Executive Board that VARP now has 67 members, an increase of 13
members over last year’s membership numbers.
Ms. Byers further related that IARP has $25,000
designated for Membership marketing.
Ms. Lori Cowan made a recommendation that VARP
put together a Speakers Bureau to go out to universities and other
locations, to be identified, to inform people in our business about
VARP’s mission. It is
hoped that this information might result in increasing the Membership.
Scott Sevart endorsed this idea, as did most of the Board
Members, and it will be further explored at the next Board meeting,
per recommendation of Ms. Ashley Harmon.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, Ashley
Harmon, Chair
A general discussion was held prior to the Board
Meeting, during which time Ms. Harmon asked the Board if they could
report to the Conference site early, on May 21, 2010, in order to
welcome and help set up Vendors. She also reported that there would be
a substantial breakfast and snacks available at the conference site.
She asked Pat Eby to make a statement to the audience about the
charitable collection. Ms.
Eby agreed and noted she has some handouts for the Membership.
Ms. Harmon also reported that most everything was ready to go
and she anticipated a great conference.
REGIONAL REPORTS
Tidewater. Ms. Trish Rehpelz was
not present for the meeting and no report was delivered on her behalf.
Central Virginia/Richmond. There is
no Central Virginia Representative and no report
was delivered on behalf of this region.
Northern Virginia. Mr. Adolfo Arsuaga
related that the Northern Virginia Region
Chapter had recently
cosponsored a program with NRH and CARPS and was a great benefit to
the attendees. The program
was well attended but no money was made for the VARPS organization as
CARPS paid for the CEU’s.
They only charged $10.00 per person which ultimately went to pay for
CEU’s..
Southwestern Virginia.
Ms. Pat Eby was present and related that she is still doing
monthly breakfast meetings.
She also related that she was proud that the Rehabilitation
Client of the Year was from the Roanoke Area.
His name is Jonathan Weems.
OLD BUSINESS
Scholarships for students to attend conference
was approved (via an email vote), but no one applied
for the scholarships.
NEW BUSINESS
It was brought to the attention of the Executive
Board that Ms. Tricia Rehpelz has resigned as the Tidewater
Representative. A
replacement will be sought to fill the position.
Ms. Fukushima asked Ms. Byers if there were a
Strategic Planning Committee for IARP.
Ms. Byers indicated that there is such a committee, and she is
on that committee. She
also informed the group that this committee is developing a brochure
for benefit of IARP members. Furthermore, Ms. Byers recommended that
Members log on to the website,
www.RehabPro.org,
to review the benefits.
Ms. Byers informed the group that she will locate the IARP
Strategic Plan and email it to Executive Board Members.
Board Meeting Schedule
No date was set for the next Executive Board
Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Wells, the
President at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
C. Jeannie Lehowicz
VARP Secretary
