January 20, 2009
HandiCapable Board Meeting
The meeting was opened with prayer by Mike.
Attendees: Alan Myers, Jeff Morehead, Mike Hines, Lori Holderman
Treasurer's Report: Jeff presented the Profit & Loss Statement dated through January 30, 2009. Current balance is $337.00. Approval was unanimous.
1. We have an opportunity to start an Independent Living Center in Peru. This is an agency that educates disabled people and is an advocate for them. The government is setting aside additional funds for these agencies to be started in Indiana. We need two people to be proficient in answering the preliminary questions. The five preliminary questions to be answered are:
a. Definition of an Independent Living Center
b. Standards for an Independent Living Center
c. Indicators for an Independent Living Center
e. Application process for Independent Living Center
2. Goals:
a. Office: Meeting with Jeff Laycock next week about an office space for rent on Wabash Street. It is big enough for the fitness center, the rubber stamp business and a meeting room.
b. Rubber Stamp company: Mike will get with Jerry King and get the cost for the supplies. We will talk about competitive prices and how to market them. We need to identify what the jobs are (salesman, home parties, someone to make them, office person, etc..) and get people in place before we start marketing them. Mike will do a cost analysis for the next meeting.
c. Business Plan: We need a business plan for Handicapable and their future goals. Alan mentioned that there are generic business plans available for download and maybe we can start with that and move forward. It will get us thinking and focused.
d. Newsletter: Eric Geik and Karen Rice will be putting together a monthly newsletter. The name of it will be the Miami County Advocate. It will be available on the website and mailed out to anyone interested. Jeff will check on the "non-profit" mailing rates. Also, Alan will keep the Chamber updated on our activities each month for their newsletter.
3. March Disability MOnth: Jeff has discs for everyone to look over for any ideas. Some of our ideas are:
a. Go to schools with chairs, canes, walkers, etc. and power point presentation.
b. Hand out posters, stickers and other awareness items.
c. Get local community leaders to go around town in wheelchairs.
d. Proclamation by the Mayor.
e. Questionnaires, quiz or puzzle, possibly in the newspaper/Kids' Corner.
4. Alan will look up Disability Month on the internet for other ideas. We will narrow it down to a couple of ideas for this first year. Everyone will mail their top 2 ideas for Disability Month to Lori at lholderman@cityofperu.org by January 29. Lori will compile the list and present it at the next meeting.
Next Meeting: February 4, Noon, Pizza Hut
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