Oregon 211

OR 211 Board of Directors

Wednesday, August 15, 2006

9:00 AM - Noon

Oregon Department of Emergency Management

Attendance:  Jeri Shumate, Jonathan Brock, Stephen Guntli, Len Hockley, Kathleen McHarg, Jimi Smith, Roy Spurgeon, Wendy VanElverdinghe, June Sedarbaum

Welcome and Introductions - we did introductions including names, organization, and involvement with 2-1-1 and / or I & R.

Meeting Minutes Approval

Wendy apologized for not getting them out prior to the meeting, and asked to bump this to the next meeting.

Regional Updates

211info - Outreach to three additional counties in southwestern Washington State - Cowlitz, Skamania and Whatcom.  The phone number that Verizon directed their calls to was problematic.  Jeri reported the problem, and it was fixed in two hours.  X-O also has a problem.  Jeri has been on vacation so was unable to follow-up.  Both Jeri and Jimi said they would follow-up.  Because 211info receives no funding from Multnomah County, and 211info needed to adjust hours of service, it was decided to only cut back hours for Multnomah County lines.  With the reduced hours, rumors started flying.  It is hoped that the County will take notice and become a better player / partner in the future.

Lane 211 - The six month update of all phone numbers in the data base (The Lane) has been completed.  The initiation for updating the full database is now underway.  The group interested in 2-1-1 continues to meet.  Currently the funds raised are going to keeping the database current and available on line.  The Business Plan has been completed.  When it was presented to the local utility they were so impressed that they doubled their financial commitment.

Southern Oregon 211 - Work continues on the database and resource notebook.  Without dedicated staff it is a slow process.  We are pulling together the next meeting to discuss "Where we are" and next steps.  Service Point is up and running.  Several suggestions were made to secure volunteers to do data entry, including the local United Way as well as clients from Voc Rehab.

National Update

Jeri has been invited to serve on the National 2-1-1 "think tank".  There is a continued effort to promote 2-1-1 to congress and seek federal funding.

Board

June has asked to serve on the Board of OR 211.  She has regularly attended our meetings and has knowledge and understanding of 2-1-1 and could provide a link to United Way, which was lost when Lou Enge resigned her position at United Way of Lane County.  Concerns about brining on new board members as we are considering restructuring the Board and also revising the member's duties were raised.

Len Hockley moved and Jonathan Brock seconded to suspend the formal application process to bring June Sedarbaum onto the 2-1-1 Board.  Motion passed with 6 yeas and 1 abstention.

Strategic Discussion - Preparing for the Board Retreat

Jeri lead the discussion, stating the purpose of the retreat is to discuss the future of OR 211 and how to have a statewide network.

At the last meeting we discussed bringing in partners and former interested parties for the retreat, including: Priscilla Gould, President of United Way of Oregon, David Foster with Oregon Housing and Community Services and former co-chair of the 211 steering committee, Lowell Greathouse, formerly with United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, currently a Methodist Pastor and former co-chair of the 211 steering committee, Liesl Wendt former consult for 211, and Ellen Lowe, lobbyist for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette who was instrumental in getting 211 legislation passed last session.

Currently OR 211 has a proposal in to United Way for $3000 to fund work to develop a strategy for the next legislative session.  We will amend that proposal to seek funding for the retreat planning and than the retreat itself.

Steve suggested we look at the Business Plan, specifically pages 25-27 on the Roles and Responsibilities of OR 211, and pages 44-45 on challenges.  The current Business Plan is visionary, but not realistic.  Using the plan as a place to start, and develop steps to achieve the roles and responsibilities while meeting the challenges.

The retreat should include:

1. An overview of 2-1-1 in Oregon and accomplishments to date
2. Why - one really good reason for 2-1-1 in Oregon, a "sound bite" or elevator speech
3. Realistic goals - revisit the roles and responsibilities in the Business Plan (Pages 25-27)  and redefine as 3 year goals with steps to accomplish the goals
4. Staffing and Resource Development - see Pages 44-45 in the Business Plan; we are doing fairly well on the second challenge and need to address the first one - "Obtain sustained, consistent public and private support to build the network of call centers . . ."
5. Create a shared vision on who/what OR 211 should be
6. Develop a timeline for accomplishing this work

Additional suggestions / discussion

• Collaboration Theory - discuss why each partner is at the table, and what each contribute so we can move forward while raising funds to hire staff.

• Options for OR 211's future:

•  Abandon the project
•  Continue to limp along
•  Reorganize and re-energize the organization and work OR 211 is doing

• Identify our allies at the federal state and local levels, especially among elected officials.

• Define our structural needs.

• Define concrete goals with a timeline and measurable outcomes. The current business plan does not do this, at least not realistically.

• Political realities need to be kept in mind. We need funding for the State agency to provide oversight and funding for structural / foundation work for the organization.

• Abandonment came up again:
• Is it an option we can live with?
• If not, can OR 211 do the job?
• If not, is 211info appropriate?
• Are there other options?

Possible retreat facilitator:  Start with Kay Sohl.  Have a two hour discussion with Kay to define the work and the details for the retreat.  If Kay is not available to facilitate the retreat, ask her who she thinks can lead us through this difficult discussion.  Other suggestions include Cindy Becker and Ken Allen.

Jonathan offered to contribute his own funds to make the retreat a success.  He offered $100.  Others chimed in to his challenge.  Jeri will send a letter to the Board to solicit personal contributions, with information on where the checks should be made out to for tax purposes.

Possible retreat dates to float with Kay:  November 6, 7, 8, 16 or 1st. 

Financial Report

Len had a report, but since it was not on the agenda, and there has been no change since last month, it was tabled until next meeting.

Next Meeting:  Tentatively set for Sept. 26, from 9-noon.  Jeri will confirm.

Meeting adjourned.