PPDB Notes of December 10, 2018
 
Present: Kristina Kezmarsky, Jackie Brennan, Juli Baumgarner, Tammy Kitterman, Patti McGowan, Molly Black, Shelley Lill, Gordon Boe Excused: Molly and Shelley 
 
Absent:  Gabe Radzik
 
Meeting called to order by President, Kristina Kezmarsky at 7:40 p.m.
 
August and October minutes will be reviewed via email Tuesday, 12/11/18.
 
Treasurer’s Report Balance as of 11/30/18  $1885.63
 
Outreach Committee Tammy shared an update on the Trampoline Park outreach event, it was a success! We’ll looking forward to doing another event in the spring.
 
Tammy has a friend (Vanessa) that owns a web hosting business (evolve ). Tammy will set up a meeting with Vanessa and the EC board Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
Jackie will look at date for the Overbrook swim in the future.
 
Family Learning Conference The Project is still trying to finalize things. It will be at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA June 21-22, 2019
 
Membership We need to talk about recruiting and membership. We need to tighten up and make sure we are following the bylaws. The EC needs to revisit membership and the bylaws. We missed a year of membership and need to get on track with dates, and set up an annual meeting.
 
Kristina as president can make appointments so the EC and board need review the Annual General Meeting requirements and whether nominations for additional Board members is warranted. This will be an agenda topic for our next board meeting. 
 
New Business Should we start meeting monthly again for 1 hour? As a board we should discuss conversation the direction for the board, set goals for ourselves. 
 
Kristina will reach out to Gabe to see if he wishes to continue as a member of the Board of Directors, due to recent absences.   


NFADB Affiliate modules - Tammy asked to entire board to review the modules. She will send the modules to the board and we will discuss at our next board meeting.
Please review the legal responsibilities modules.
 
Good of the order As a Board, let’s check on one another and the family.
 
Upcoming Shout-Outs
January Gordon
February Shelley
March Juli
April Jackie
May Tammy
June Kristina
July Saneeka
August Patti
September Molly
October Gordon
November Shelley
December Juli
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
 

PPDB Notes of October 8, 2018
 
Present:
Kristina Kezmarsky
Jackie Brennan
Juli Baumgarner
Tammy Kitterman
Patti McGowan
Molly Black
Shelley Lill
 
Excused: 
Saneeka Macon
 
Absent:
Gordon Boe
Gabe Radzik
 
President, Kristina Kezmarsky, called the meeting to order at 7:36 PM
 
August Meeting Notes were unavailable to review, but will be made available at next scheduled meeting to be approved along with the notes of this evening. 
 
Happy Anniversary to us – we have now been in existence for 10 years!  A special thank you to Gordon Boe for spearheading our 501©(3) status and pushing us into being.
 
Congratulations to Patti McGowan as the new President of NFADB.  She reminded all that PPDB was the first Affiliate, and Tammy is our Liaison.  NFADB is up to 11 parent family groups across the nation as Affiliates.
 
Treasurer’s Report –
No deposits and no deductions, since last meeting so our balance remains $1931.49.  There is a $10 check that needs to be deposited and Shelley will forward that to Kristina for deposit.   There needs to be follow-up asap to verify whether we can use the donation button on our web page.  Shelley, Kristina and Tammy will follow-up with Saneeka to verify the use of PayPal account or any credit card since our Membership Drive is on the horizon.
 
Outreach Committee will send out another reminder of the 10 for 10 fundraiser.
WPSBC will be approached by Kristina to choose a date for bowling or swimming day. 
 
Tammy shared the Trampoline Park in Bridgeville, PA, is available for use by children with special needs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6-8 PM, $20.00 plus a free family member or support person.  Tammy will ask about a group discount.  She suggested December 4th.     Tammy will create a Flyer and we will ask WPSD and WPSBC to send home with their students with deaf-blindness.
 
Overbrook will also schedule a date for bowling or swimming.   Jackie will check on a date in January.
 
Membership -  Patti & Tammy - January 1 – December 31.    Solicitation will take place to Lifetime Members to encourage them to donate $10 for 10.   Membership Annual Drive will begin in December.   Promotion this year is a suggested 10% Discount to go along with the 10 for 10 theme. 
 
Motion made by Kristina Kezmarsky to promote the 10% Discount for Lifetime membership and seconded by Tammy Kitterman.  Motion Passed. 
 
Kristina shared an opportunity on the emailed Agenda to attend “The Essentials of Special Needs Planning” and will share it on the listserv as well. 
 
Kristina will check with Gabe to see if he wishes to continue as a member of the Board of Directors, due to recent absences.   
 
A review of the Annual General Meeting requirements and whether nominations for additional Board members is warranted will be placed on next meeting’s Agenda. 
 
Shout Outs:
October – Saneeka
November – Patti
December – Molly
 
Meeting Adjourned at 8:30ish
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Black, volunteer note taker

PPDB August Board Meeting
 
Tammy, Patti, Juli, Saneeka, Gordon, Shelley, molly,  (Kristina, Jackie) Roll call
 
PPDB Full Board Meeting: August 13, 2018 at 7:40pm
Phone number: 515-604-9524 Access code: 965265
 
Welcome and Call to Order (Kristina)
 
Treasurer’s Report (Shelley)
 
Approve April and June minutes (Patti motion, Juli, second) Board will approve April minute via email
 
Old Business 
 
Outreach - Report from FLC (Molly) Regards to PPDB the basket was a success. The current board member introduced themselves.   26 families attended FLC 
Letter of Support from PPDB to the PA Deaf-Blind Project.
 
The Project is  writing for the new 5 year grant. PA DB projects grant ends at the end of Sept (9/30). To families that attend FLC there was a sample letter in the package (Patti trying to get an electronic copy). We don’t know who the letter should be addressed to nor what will be in the letter yet.  PPDB will fall under agency, (president or secretary of PPDB) and the family should be submitted letter and anyone that has benefited from the project. Molly or Patti will send to a request to the EC board. 
 
Two updates - Lynn Fox is leaving PATTaN and Michele Balynnski too. Jane Freedom is retiring. There will be new positions down the road. 
 
New Business 
 
Medical Marijuana--should we resend letters (Full board) Tammy send the letter she sent out were returned undelivered. So suggested we wait until the dispensers are up and running. (Pitt, Philly, and middle of the state areas have some opening) Shelly will try to get a list of the open dispensaries. Shelley will work with Tammy to get new letters out. 64 letter in total were sent Sept 2017.
 
Fundraising (Gordon) Send out a doodle, with ideas, the board will vote and talk about those things our next meeting.  
 
Good of the order
 
October 2008 (check the date) our 501c3 was created. We can come up with a campaign to play on the year. (August 2008)
Gordon will forward the email he has about the 501c and Patti will work with Molly on a flier and we’ll see what we come up with.    
 
Annual Membership meeting  (Jackie?) EC will review minutes to see when the annual membership meeting should be. 
 
Committee updates - Saneeka will reach out to Jackie about the OBS swim. 
 
Tammy will the DB list-serv. after Kristina sends shout-out for Sept
Families or parent families to families communities F2FC (sept-may) monthly conference call.
 
There are a number of opportunities for family to get involved and have a different way of networking. There will be also be info in Spanish for Spanish speaking family
9/19 modules (pattan) link to pattan.net (training calendar)
 
The State Deaf-Blind Projects are still anxiously awaiting the release of the next 5 year grant.  (It is really late this year)    
 
NFADB has announced their new NFADB Board Members post nominations which will begin October 1, 2018, 
 
They are:
President Elect:  Patti McGowan, PA
VP:  Diana Griffen, PA
Secretary:  Julie McGuire, Nebraska
Treasurer:  Jacqueline Izaguirre, TX
Affiliate Coordinator: Edgenie Bellah, TX
Mary Gyori, VT
Kim Houston, TX
Melanie Knapp, TX
Debra Pickens, NC
Myrna Medina, CA
 
NFADB is always looking for general members to be a part of their Action Plan Committees, the committee information can be found here: https://nfadb.org/ support-nfadb/volunteer/
 
Shout-out assignments
August  Tammy
September Kristina - 501c campaign 
October  Saneeka
November Patti
December Molly
 
Adjourned 8:27 pm

PPDB Full Board Meeting
June 11, 2018 at 7:30pm
 
Phone number: 515-604-9524
Access code: 965265
 
Welcome and call to order by Kristina Kezmarsky, President at 7:39pm
 
Members present Kristina Kezmarsky, President
Saneeka Macon, Secretary
Shelley Lill, Treasurer
Molly Black, Board member
Patti McGowan, Board member
 
Member absent
Gabe Radzik, Board member
Jackie Brennan, Professional member
Juli Baumgarner, Professional member
 
Member excused Gordon Boe, Board member
Tammy Kitterman, Vice-President
 
Board meeting minutes We will approve April and June minutes at the next meeting.
 
Treasurer’s report Shelley Lill, Treasurer
 
New business Medical Marijuana: Discussed resending letters to the dispensaries we formally reached out to.
 
State Grant The state DeafBlind Project’s 5 year grant will be up soon. OSEP money is provided based on the number of DB students registered with the state. PATTAN will apply for the grant again, request are due by July. Letters of support are needed by families and supporting programs. PPDB as an organization should submit a letter. There will be an announcement at FLC to reach out to the Malvern office on behalf of PPDB. NFADB is having a contest for a new logo, it’s open to the affiliates.
NFADB’s general membership meeting is July 10, 2018.
 
Outreach FLC: Basket theme for FLC is Night at the movies. There are three new families this year and 28 families total.
 
Shout-out assignments
August  Tammy
September Kristina
October  Saneeka
November Patti
December Molly
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:12pm

PPDB Full Board Meeting
April 23, 2018 @ 7:30pm
 
Phone number: 515-604-9524
Access code: 965265
 
Welcome and call to order by Kristina Kezmarsky, President at 7:35pm
Members present:
Kristina Kezmarsky, President
Tammy Kitterman, Vice-President
Saneeka Macon, Secretary
Shelley Lill, Treasurer
Molly Black, Board member
Gordon Boe, Board member
Patti McGowan, Board member
Jackie Brennan, Professional member
Juli Baumgarner, Professional member
 
Member absent
Gabe Radzik, Board member
 

• Approval of the February 26, 2018 board meeting minutes

 

• Full Board Treasurer’s report:  Shelley Lill, Treasurer
   
• New Business
   
  Deafblind International Conference: Jackie, Patti, and Tammy attended the DB conference. There were a large number of international professionals, caregivers, and parents in attendance. Perkins School for the Blind kicked off the conference, there were attendees from DBI, NFABD, Network of the Americas, and the DeafBlind projects from all over. There were attendees from Central America, DeafBlind adults, and consumers in attendance too. Perkins supplied interpreters for the DeafBlind attendees. The international attendees were surprised at our approach to conferences in the US—we provide tips for working with children—their conferences are compromised of readouts on research. There were a total of 20 countries represented at the conference.  Jackie shared that in Texas medicaid provides a wavier for DB adults to obtain an intervener to accompany them to events or appointments etc. As a parent group we should think about reaching out to lawmakers and work to get interveners certified and recognized. To get started, write a paragraph and send to Jackie. Include your wishes e.g. successes and frustrations—family stories can be really powerful. The state should recognize the role of an intervener and their credentials. Provide information to help policy makers understand the difference between an intervener and a para-educator. To help paint a picture of what its like for our kids Gordon suggested we explain what its like to have someone tell them what the weather is like, the news, what day it is, or the color of the walls.  

 

• NFADB affiliate meeting April 3, 2018: Tammy gave us a quick update and followed up on the email she sent earlier this month.
   
• Dan Miller’s Disability Summit: Patti and Molly There were informational sessions about music and parent/child interaction therapy, transitions for early intervention to school, assistive technology, and transition to adulthood. Dan is also looking at presenting to congress about FSP’s.
   
  
• Medical Marijuana No updates
   
  

Outreach Activities:  Saneeka will work with Jackie for an Overbrook swim in September.
 
Annual Meeting:  Jackie reminded the board that its time for our annual meeting, we should discuss in June. 
 
Fundraising:  Explore Lions Club for potential donations  
 
Outreach:  Family Learning Conference (FLC) - Should we donate a basket on behalf of PPDB again this year? Gordon suggested the EC board meet to discuss the theme. Molly made the motion Patti second
 
Could the executive board do a presentation and represent PPDB?
 
Shout-out assignments
May  Shelley
June  Juli
July  Jackie
August  Tammy
September Kristina
October  Saneeka
November Patti
December Molly
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:39pm

PPDB (rescheduled) Full Board Meeting:  February 26, 2018  7:30pm
Phone number: 515-604-9524
Access code: 965265
 
Agenda:

• Welcome and call to order:  Kristina Kezmarsky, President
• Approval of the December 11, 2017 board meeting minutes:  Full Board
• Treasurer’s report:  Shelley Lill, Treasurer

 
New Business:

• Medical Marijuana Groups updates:  Tammy Kitterman – NO UPDATES continuing to get envelopes back from the groups.  Need to wait until they up and running before doing another mailing.  K saw Bob a few weeks ago and was going to reach out to him again. 
• Outreach Activities follow-up:  Full board – had a cc with liason.  Board Recruitment dialog guide
• PPDB supplies for conferences etc (brochures, pens, post-it) Molly?
• Membership drives updates - Tammy and Patti  (Liz Murray – family tk has check and will deposit on Wednesday)
• Raising funds - Update or get information on allowing external sources to donate money to PPDB electronically. Saneeka and Kristina  - PNC BANK KRISTINA
• Hopscotching guide updates - What revisions or update suggestion should be made? Patti and Juli 
• Website updates – Saneeka  LOOKS GOOD

 
DONATE BUTTON ADDED
TK presenting to LIONS club on 3/6 introducing PPDB to them
Add Conference of the America 4/14 – 4/19 (EVENTS)
 
Shout-out assignments
February    Molly
March          Gordon
April          Gabe
May           Shelley
June           Juli
July           Jackie
August                Tammy
September Kristina
October               Saneeka
November   Patti
December   Molly