| Cherie Tessier and Katchen Helwig of Region 1 representing Alaska,
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington: Cherie Tessier reports that Oregon
People First is putting out a newsletter by their members. Idaho needs help
re-building. They are getting help from Washington state Self-Determination
Group of People First of Washington. There were 350 People First members
who attended the 23rd Annual Convention in Bellingham, Washington. Five Take
A Second Look & Educate Others, Self-Determination members and two support
persons earned their way to the TASH conference in Chicago, Illinois. Both
groups listed above have been asked to present all over the U.S.A. Katchen
Helwig reports that in Alaska recently, the People First group had an open
house to get more members. A few people from the Alaska chapter took a trip
to Kenai to do a workshop there to help them start a People First group.
They went to Juneau also to help them start a group there. The People First
chapters in Alaska have activities together and do not talk about People
First at this activity but to have fun and make friends with each other.
A few members are going to the conference in Tulsa. Alaska also had elections
again.
Teresa Moore and Joseph Buchroeder of Region 2 representing Hawaii,
California, Arizona, and Nevada: Abil, an Arizona Independent Living
organization invited three National SABE Representatives from Western states
to join Arizona to be on a panel for a Self-Determination workshop at the
Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities Conference "Diversity, Dignity,
Dreams" in Phoenix, Arizona, October 6-7, 1999. Teresa Moore of Arizona (Region
2) joined Joseph Buchroeder from California (Region 2), Beverly Stevens from
Wyoming (Region 3), and Mark Samis from South Dakota (Region 4). They talked
about how to get “Self” back into Self-Determination. They not
only had staff from agencies attending but Support Coordinators, (case workers)
there also. One of the keynote speakers was Tom Nerney, Freedom:
Self-Determination Across America, National Program Office on Self-Determination.
He works for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He was very interesting!
Beverly Stevens and Noel Rasband of Region 3 representing New Mexico,
Utah, Colorado and Wyoming:Beverly Stevens reports the following: Colorado
- Speaking for ourselves is very involved at present with the following
activities: (1.) The Close the Doors committee is active in a number of ways
including writing letters to the Department of Human Services to try and
keep them on track with the plans to help the last remaining people move
out of Grand Junction Regional Center. The committee had received a $500.00
grant for the Colorado D.D.P.C. and $1000 from U.S. West which they are putting
together to pay for producing a video about getting people out of Grand Junction
Regional Center and into the community with the supports they need. (2.)
Lots of individuals from Speaking for Ourselves are going to participate
in the plans to re-write the Developmental Disabilities Services Rule, the
rules that govern the way people receive services in Colorado. (3.) Other
goals include supporting the People First Chapters. We are very pleased with
the chapter from the San Luis Valley which has only been around for a short
while, but are becoming very independent and very good self-advocates! Wyoming
- People First of WY had their State Conference in July, 1999 and had Nancy
Ward as Keynote Speaker. The theme was “Open the Doors to Your
Future”. Nancy did a workshop on Self-Determination. The People First
of Wyoming board members are just trying to work together, getting along
and figuring out what they want to work on at their state board meetings
which includes working on plans for next year’s conference and updating
their bylaws. There are eight Chapters here in WY, three of them are struggling,
three of them are doing really great and two are doing well. Beverly Stevens
was acting-out the Officers/Advisors (role-play) and Goal Planning with some
of the Chapters, she found out from the People First Chapters members that
they wanted to learn more about fund-raising, writing grants, and how to
get along with each other. New Mexico - Exciting News! (PFA) People First
of Albuquerque has been very busy advocating for representation and against
discrimination (Nothing About Us Without Us!). They recently wrote letters
to the New Mexico State Fair and the Supported Employment Advisory Council.
If anyone is interested in seeing the letters they wrote, please notify Beverly
Stevens and she will be glad to send them. Phylisha Paiz, President for (PFA)
People First of Albuquerque will be attending the 1999 International Special
Olympics Games (North Carolina) as a member of the New Mexico golf team.
Phylisha Paiz did win a medal in the golf competition. Congratulations to
Phylisha! 150 self-advocates attended the Arc/TASH Annual Convention that
was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico April 22-23, four members from PFA, were
speakers. A member of PFA Marilyn Martinez received the 1999 Arc of New Mexico
Bob Thomas Award. She received a plaque and cash during The Arc’s Annual
Awards Banquet in April. Marilyn was recognized for her achievements as a
self-advocate in the community. Congratulations Marilyn! Don Romero, Treasurer
for PFA has been appointed to the Long Term Services Division’s Supported
Employment Council. In September they had a guest speaker from New Mexico
State Fair Commissioners. They talked about what they will be doing to make
the State Fair more accessible. On October 31, they had a guest speaker from
the City Council, who explained how the Albuquerque City Council works. Utah
- No Report
Joe Wrinkle and Mark Samis of Region 4 representing Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota: Joe Wrinkle reports that Region
4 had a meeting in Kearney, Nebraska on October 8 - 10, 1999. Attending the
meeting was Kansas Representative Bill Caldwell, Nebraska Representative
Janet Tibbs, Debbie Church, Dena Launderville, Advisor and State Advisor
Joe Grovier. North Dakota was represented by Randy Scott, Allen Marx, Todd
Lammers and state Advisor Raylene Hapip. Missouri was represented by Joe
Wrinkle and State Advisor Tanya Whitehead. South Dakota was unable to attend
due to no supports. Others attending the meeting were Nancy Ward of Oklahoma
and Anita Carroll, People First of Missouri and Gil Flores, Advisor of People
First of Springfield, Missouri. Our discussions were about concerns of
self-determination, transportation, organization and looking for financial
supports for our Representatives in Region 4. There was also a discussion
on employment other than sheltered workshops. The Mission Statement for Region
4 is to Unite our Efforts in the Self-Advocacy Movement. We decided to create
a three-fold display board to be on display at Regional, National, and
International Conferences. Questions that were asked at the meeting included
how People First members can join SABE, what is SABE doing to help People
First at the national level?, How to become a non-for-profit agency. Also,
can SABE act like a union and help people across the United States when they
get jobs? JoeWrinkle will get SABE applications and send them to each State
Advisor sothey can get more People First members involved with SABE in the
Region 4 area. Our goals are to have Representatives to meet at SABE four
times a year and that Region 4 will help work together with supporting their
Region 4 Representative. As a Region 4 Representative, Joseph Wrinkle will
gather SABE information at the SABE meetings and send it out to People First
in the Region 4 area. Region 4 has good communication between states except
South Dakota. We are working on several ways to get communication going with
them in the near future.
Gloria Steinbring of Region 5 representing Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois,
Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio reports: There were Common Vision Trainings
in other states by A.C.T. and a Mentor Conference in October by People First
of Minnesota including seven counties. There was a presentation at the Mentor
Conference on SABE given by Gloria Steinbring. They asked her to do another
presentation in April of 2000. Elouise Woods and Edward Sewell of Region
6 representing Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida Elouise Woods reports that Alabama
had their annual Conference on December 3, l999. Alabama’s conference
theme was “Being Included In Our Communities Through Careers, Homes,
and Relationships”. Elouise plans to make contact with representatives
from Florida and Mississippi next quarter to find out what is going on in
those states. Edward Sewell reports that he was invited to Georgia to consult
with self-advocates there. While in Georgia he encouraged two groups of people
consisting of about 20 people to start their own self-advocacy organizations.
He also spoke to about 50 high school students about finding jobs - making
the transition into the community. People First of Tennessee continues to
work on closing down even more institutions.
David Young of Region 7 representing West Virginia, Maryland and
Virginia. In November, People First of Virginia co-sponsored a regional
conference at Wintergreen Resort near Charlottesville, VA. Many members of
People First Chapters around the state were in attendance. A chalet was rented
by the state group to house members who needed a place to stay and couldn't
afford the rate. Presentations were made by different chapters and their
members. People First of Northern Virginia is pursuing a holiday celebration
at Fairfax Hospital that was intended for members to spread holiday cheer
to critically ill children. The holiday party was to give these children
gifts and food along with singing songs and making crafts. This turned into
a "Grinch" like event when the activity coordinator nixed the idea unless
the members were the "high functioning" ones and would not scare the kids
due to their appearance. Members are outraged and are sending a letter of
complaint to her and her supervisor at this huge area hospital. People First
of Fauquier/Prince William chapter is getting ready for the 3rd annual First
Night of Old Town Warrenton (VA) event. This chapter hosts a site with a
live band. It is a great fundraiser for the chapter and will help send members
to Rhode Island!
Mary Varney and Keira Williams of Region 8 representing Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Keira
Williams reports that Region 8 met in New Hampshire on October 6 - 7th and
what they were able to accomplish was that 23 people attended the regional
meeting. They met in New Hampshire. Each state gave reports and shared
information. Mary Varney and Chester Finn gave a report about SABE. The things
that were shared were: The SABE web site, the new Tool Kit. They talked about
SABE’s Direct Action video. They also talked about the bylaws changing
and about the ADD grant. The region wants Chester and Mary to ask the following
of SABE: A. Can our region have a page on the SABE web site? B. We would
like to have the opportunity to have in-put on the bylaws revision. C. We
developed a Wish List and on it we would like to have money for the state
representatives in our region to meet to help pay for costs for the regional
meetings! D. We would also like to have money to attend different conferences!
In the future, when SABE develops the Strategic Plan we would like to share
our thoughts about this first so that the Goals come from the self-advocates
at the grassroots and then SABE can hear what we want for Goals! Rhode Island
would like to know the following: 1. Was there any money from the ADD grant
that could go towards helping people with scholarships? 2. If any state has
an idea of the numbers who will be attending the Annual Conference, Rhode
Island would like you to give them an estimate. Liz Obermayer, who is on
SABE’s Advisory Panel reports that Massachusetts had their third conference.
Chester Finn was their keynote speaker. We are working on changing the
department's name. We had our first Strategy meeting with other organizations.
We are working on self-determination.
Ronnie Meeker of Region 9 representing Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and
Louisiana. reports that he is working on how to get more groups started
around the state of Arkansas. He is also helping make people in institutions
feel like they are a part of Arkansas People First. Ronnie believes that
their voices (people living in institutions) should be heard. He believes
“that we must all work together as one and work together to make a
difference.”
March For Freedom ! SABE is encouraging all states to join in a walk onApril
26, 2000 to all state capitols to support the closing of institutions. Packets
of information from SABE will be out in March about this. |
