Northeast Alberta Community Board

Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Public Board Meeting

1:00 pm to 2:15 pm, November 6, 2005

Jackpine Room, Sawridge Inn

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Synopsis

Background

The following synopsis has been prepared by the administration to provide a brief overview of items reviewed by the Board. Minutes from the meeting will be approved by the Board and distributed following the December 17^th, 2005 meeting.

1. Board Communications & Operations

1.1 Community Capacity Initiative: Update

• The Northeast Board approved the Community Capacity Initiative to continue for the 2004/05 year.
• A letter will be sent to Mayors and Reeves of eleven major municipalities within the Northeast Region to announce the renewed community capacity funding.
• The Board reviewed and discussed what was spent on community capacity in the 2004/05 fiscal year, and a report on what is planned for this year, to date.

1.2 Northeast Regional Conference November 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th: Debrief

• Administration facilitated a Board discussion on the conference, focusing on the key elements, what really stood out, what could be improved, next year’s conference and what can be done to carry the momentum forward.
• Some of the things noted were:

· A lot of self-advocates really felt that it is now their conference.

· Appreciation that everything was in one facility.

· Keynote speaker was at a level that everyone could understand.

· Need to have repeats of key sessions – so more people can attend.

· Need to change the date so MLA’s can have the opportunity to attend.

1.3 Contract Information Session – Audit Entrance Meeting

• A need was identified by the Contracts and Legal Formats working group to familiarize staff from PDD and our service sector who deal with contracts and with the new contract template.
• As a result, a training session will be held on November 25, 2005 in St. Paul, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm for Service Provider and Northeast PDD staff.
• An audit entrance meeting will also be held on November 25, 2005, after the training session. Audit entrance meetings are being held early this year throughout government, to give the Auditor General’s office more time to work on the audits.