ICASE Business Meeting Minutes

February 26, 2009
Crowne Plaza – Union Station
Indianapolis

(These minutes are considered a draft until approved at the next scheduled general membership meeting.)

OFFICERS PRESENT AT BUSINESS MEETING: Lynn Gosser (President), Vendetta Gutshall (President-elect), Denise Bashore (Treasurer), Gary Collings (Secretary)

I. Call to Order: Lynn Gosser called the luncheon business meeting to order, welcomed members, and called attention to the agenda and other handouts on the tables.

II. Approval of Minutes: Lynn Gosser called for approval of the September 19, 2008 minutes. MOTION: After a motion for approval by Baird Hill and a second by Tom Adams, the September 19, 2008 minutes were approved by voice vote as presented.

III. Treasurer’s Report: Denise Bashore distributed the Budget Report for July 1 – December 31, 2008 showing a cash balance of $232,265.09 in the Chase Bank account. The 2008-09 Budget appropriation is $287,400 with $128,420.53 expended by December 31, 2008. The Roundtable cash balance was reported as $34,145.24 and the total cash balance for the ICASE Scholarship was reported as $13,215.98 as of December 31, 2008.

Lynn Gosser called for a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. MOTION: After a motion for approval by Jim Murray and a second by June Robinson, the Budget Report for July 1 through December 31, 2008 was approved by voice vote as presented.

IV. ISEAS Report: Gary Collings reminded members of the new web-based Directory and the on-going need to advise the ISEAS office of any entry changes for immediate website updating.

V. Executive Standing Committee Reports:
A. Legislative and Research – Joan McCormick, chairperson, noted the January reception hosted by ICASE after the swearing in ceremony of the state superintendent as well as a breakfast in the Rotunda for legislators. She acknowledged KWK for taking the lead on the arrangements. Joan reported on the progress of HB 57 regarding the transfer of Educational Interpreter certification provisions from FSSA to DOE.

B. Membership and Fiscal Management – Steve Wornhoff, chairperson, recognized the subcommittee chairpersons and Denise Bashore for her support with membership.

C. Professional Development – Patti Kem, chairperson, thanked the members of both the Planning and Executive Committees. Wednesday night’s reception was sponsored by Pearson. Dr. Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, welcomed the ICASE participants at the beginning of Thursday’s program. Bakers & Daniels (Platinum) sponsored the Thursday morning break. Thursday’s Fun Night was sponsored by Bose McKinney & Evans (Platinum). Patti called for presenters and topics for the Fall Conference 2009 to be held in Indianapolis at a site yet to be confirmed.

VI. Strategic Plan Update:
A. Supporting the Membership – Patti Kem thanked the presenters and Tracey Shriver for hosting the new directors session with 35 participants.

B. Advancing the Organization – Tom Adams, who is in the first year of a two-year term as chairman of the CASE Membership Committee, talked about the CASE website and resources available to members. He announced an upcoming membership drive that will include a 10% discount on CEC dues.

C. Promoting the Organization – See Legislative Committee Report (V. A.)

VII. Review of Nominating Procedures: As Parliamentarian, Gary Collings, established a quorum (25% of the eligible unified members present) and noted that each voting member had a ballot in their envelopes. He reviewed Subsection 2.1 of the ICASE Constitution regarding the duties of the Nominating Committee.

VIII. Nominations Committee Report: Lynn Gosser called on Ann Schnepf to present the nominating report in the absence of Pam Wright, Chairperson. Ann presented the slate of candidates as Cheryl Harshman for President-elect and Denise Bashore for Treasurer. Lynn called for further nominations from the floor three times as required. MOTION: Glenda Hott moved to close the nominations. After a second by Donna Krol, the motion was approved. Lynn Gosser declared the nominations to be closed and instructed unified members to mark their ballots to be collected and counted. Before the end of the business meeting, Lynn Gosser announced that Cheryl Harshman and Denise Bashore were elected as nominated.

IX. Awards/Recognitions: At Thursday’s luncheon meeting, Lynn Gosser called for a moment of silence in recognition of Dr. Jan Rees who passed away on February 11, 2009. Lynn presented Pam Wright with the Past President’s plaque for her service from 2007 to 2008.

Various members were called on to honor colleagues with the following awards: Hank Binder (Distinguished Service), Robin Parker (Meritorious), Paul Ash (Career Achievement). Honorary Membership and Retirement Certificates with contributions to the Scholarship Fund were awarded to: Dr. Jan Rees (in memoriam), Cindy Pittman, Glenda Hott, Mary Murray.

Tom Barth and Lou Dickman distributed vendor prizes from Bloomington Meadows Hospital (Bronze), Firelight Boxes, Westfall & Associates, Gold Solutions, Educational Concepts (Silver), Three Springs (Silver), Met Life, Sopris West (Silver), Scientific Learning Corporation, Pearson Digital (Platinum), Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Center on Mental Health, ICAN Project, Riley Hospital Autism Center, Claimade, Walker Group, Health Care Direct (Bronze), Career Staff Unlimited (Bronze). Other Vendors in attendance included: CSC Learning (Silver), First Team Education (Silver), Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim (Bronze), Educational Associates (Bronze), Mecca-Tech, Inc./Go Solutions (Bronze), Options Treatment Center (Bronze), and White’s Residential & Family Services (Bronze).

X. DOE Report: As Friday’s luncheon speaker, Bob Marra, Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning, addressed the changes at DOE, its new mission, and the principles of the One Plan concept.

XI. NEXT MEETING: October 1 – 2, 2009 at an Indianapolis location yet to be determined.