Special Meeting with Citizens Advisory Committee
July 24, 2007
There were no additions or changes to the agenda.
Ms. Carolyn Vidt made a motion to approve the agenda and minutes of the last call. Mr. Matthew Seeley seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Staff gave an update on activities of the Council. The last Council meeting was May 9, 2007. A motion was made and passed to change the procedure for conference calls by having members dial in instead of the conference company calling members. The names of five prospective members will be sent forward to OVR after the August meeting. A new chair, vice chair and member at large will also be voted in at the next meeting. The next Full Council meeting will be on August 8, 2007 at the Hilton Towers in Harrisburg.
Staff gave a brief explanation of numbered memos and what the CACs should do when they receive a numbered memo from the PaRC office.
Ms. Norma Flinchbaugh, Harrisburg BBVS/CAC reported they are looking for a new chairperson. Attendance has been low at their meetings and they may go back to conference calls. Ms. Mary Moyer retired as the Harrisburg BBVS District Manager and will be replaced by Ms. Wilhelmenia Murray.
Ms. Loretta Strawbridge, Erie BBVS CAC stated their CAC has never used conference calls but may try them. Erie directors have a packet that is given to new consumers that explains the CACs.
Ms. Lynn Spaar stated she has nothing to report and that Ms. Margaret Buckley would be more suited to be on these CAC calls.
Mr. Greg Traynor, vice chair of the Washington CAC reported they are also working on recruiting new members. They are considering using conference calls for meetings.
Ms. Janelle Shaffer-Yoder, Reading District Administrator stated that they have two active CACs. The Schuylkill CAC is having a customer achievement day on Friday July 27th. The Berks County CAC is having their Customer Appreciation Day in October. Ms. Shaffer-Yoder reported the Mr. Stan Swaintek in now the district manager for the Wilkes-Barre BBVS.
Members on the call suggested writing a letter to OVR asking them to identify which areas do not have a CAC or a functioning CAC and get them active again. This committee would also like to ask OVR to send a memo to all the district managers to encourage counselors to inform consumers about the CACs. Ms. Flinchbaugh also suggested asking OVR if district offices could set up conference calls for the CACs and pay for them.
Mr. Adamus made a motion the have the staff compose the letter to OVR. Ms. Vidt seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Ms. Flinchbaugh asked the staff if a blog site could be set up on the PaRC website. Ms. Jill Kovalcik-Weaver stated there is a comment section that CACs could use. A drop down section can be added for CACs to post comments. If comments are posted, they can be discussed on the State Plan/CAC calls
The next State Plan/CAC call is schedule for October 23, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:55 a.m.
Members (P = Present):
Guests Present:
Staff: