Minutes of Suffolk Division NYS Chapter NASW date 3/2/08
Attendance: Faith Vallante, Pauline Velazquez, Sonia Palacio-Grottola, Ruth Negron-Gaines, Judy Azzato
This meeting was arranged via email and telephone calls due to a poor attendance expected for a steering committee meeting of 2/23/08. Faith organized the agenda.
1. Call to order- The meeting was called to order when Faith arrived.
2. Minutes-Judy had emailed the minutes of 1/14/08 to Jackie Melicio NYS Chapter staff, requesting they be distributed over email to all Suffolk membership. Only Judy received a copy of the minutes and
she read the minutes. Faith raised that Rachel West is running for the NLIC position in Suffolk. Pauline moved that the minutes be accepted as corrected, seconded by Faith. Judy will get clarification on what happened to the minutesof 1/14/08.
3.Correspondance- Pauline advised that a second chapter Leadership Training Institute is scheduled for 6/6-6/8/08. Pauline said she received cards from chapter for her to write thank yous to all legislators for their support for certain bills. The legislation is for SW student loan forgiveness. Pauline reported she has sent the "Advocacy" poster-imprinted cards to 17 offices.
Judy reported there are a couple of office space ads for the next newsletter. A flyer was received from Wm. Lindsay, SC Legislature Chair, inviting us to attend the meeting of 3/5/08 for the Commission on Property Tax Reform. Ruth will scan and internet it to Suffolk steering members.
4. Director's Report- Faith has not heard form the divison director Cecile to ask her to run division meetings although she will do today's meeting. In February Pauline, Sonia and Faith called Cecile and left a message. On 2/24/08 Cecile called Judy. Judy noted with Cecile there is concern that no one was asked to run the meetings in her place. Also there is an issue of dinner checks that continue to be missing as confirmed by Larissa at NYS NASW office that were in Cecile's possession, given to her by Pauline and Judy. Cecile said will look for the checks in her files. She will be in Florida until April, and will not be at the chapter annual meeting of 3/27/08.
5. Unfinished Business-Items remaining from the agenda of 1/14 are Lou's suggestion of co-sponsored meeting notices with the Society of Clinical SWer's. Remarks were this has been tried before with little success in their maintaining communication. Additionally following up on Charles Greco's voluntary request to do a workshop on Ethics, it was recommended that Ray, Chapter director, be consulted.
6. LEAD Report- The waether was horrible on 2/22 but the students and speakers were present and remained despite the University closing. Karen Moran, Director of Policy and Jeremy Darman, Policy Research Associate, NYS Chapter did an excellant job.
7. Thank you letters- Pauline will write thank you letters to donors at LEAD meeting.
Committee Reports-
A. Aging- Roberta Monat was not present but Faith had a flyer format for workshop of 6/6. The next committee meeting is on 3/13 where remaining details will be arranged. Further info will be given to Judy for publication.
B. Mental Health- Workshop of Fibromyalgia and Partial Onset Seizures, Implications in the Clinical Practice of Psychotherapy, is scheduled for 5/30, with a capacity of 50. The Sunrise Assisted Living on Deer park Ave., Dix Hills is the site.
C. Award Dinner '08- Faith called the Marriott Islandia for a date, 10/28/08 but is waiting for a reply. The Windwatch requested further info from NASW. Chair of the dinner, place and budget must be determined.
D. Lost Checks- These checks from members have been followed up by Judy with Larissa at NYS office. The xeroxed copies were enumerated and mentioned at the meeting. From 2/24 to 3/3 there was no follow-up call from Cecile. A call was then placed to Cecile and a message left. Discussion ensued that it is time to involve the NYS Chapter Executive Director. Those of us attending the chapter conference will request to meet with Ray about the financial issues of the division. Judy will call Ray to request 20-30 minutes time for these issues.
E. Newletter- Judy reported that the word processor Susan Brozinsky, has bought a new computer. Judy now has incomplete flyer info for upcoming workshops, but needs the details. Pauline volunteered to write about LEAD conferrence meetings.
Hispanic Affairs- Sonia reported that the La Visione conference scheduled for 3/9 has 350 students enrolled. Ruth will speak as the Greeter from NASW in Faith's place who was to speak in Cecile's place. She will also facilitate a workshop with LIACC.
NYS NASW Conference on 3/27/08 in Albany at the Desmond Hotel. Faith stated she is required to work until 3 PM on 3/26, determining the time for a group departure. Judy volunteered to drive, as she now has a larger car with a bigger trunk. Faith, Pauline, Sonia and Judy will travel together. Also attending is Lou Cherry, Michelle Graff, and Bernadette Marson.
Delegate Assembly- Sonia and Lou have already attended the Eastern Regional Coalition meeting. Members are requested to email Sonia with ideas from the list of Public and Professional Policy and Program Priority Goals to be listed in the newsletter and as distributed.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.
Next regularly scheduled meeting is 3/24 at 5:30 PM at Adelphi Hauppauge site on Kennedy Drive, Hauppauge.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Azzato, Secretary