September 29, 2004
Dear members of the PaRC and Friends of the disability community:
It is with great anticipation and enthusiasm that I look forward to the challenges during FY 2005. A great deal of changes will take place in the composition of the membership, and to those who will be leaving the Council I wish to express my heart-felt gratitude of having shared our concerns re: disability issues. To the new members who are joining us, I welcome you to an experience you will both enjoy, and appreciate. I look forward to continuing the work started by my predecessors, and also envision a number of innovations to come.
As FY 2005 is almost upon us, we have already scheduled a number of events: We are planning to visit a number of State Legislators and or their aids, to present the views of the PaRC, and to discuss with them position papers and recommendations approved by our Council. We have also scheduled at least 2 Public Forums, one to be held in State College and one to be held in Erie. These forums offer an opportunity to disabled consumers to provide valuable input to this Council. I am sure that we will also be present at the NRA conference in the spring and additional activities which can and will impact upon the lives of disabled persons.
Once again, I look forward to an exciting and challenging time as Chairperson.
Thomas M. Walsh