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Membership to gather to ratify new agreements. Normally, The Arc of Minnesota holds business meetings for its membership during the annual state convention. This year, with the need to move forward on efforts to strengthen The Arc organization statewide, The Arc of Minnesota is calling a meeting for Saturday, July 19, 2008 at the Whitefish Lodge and Suites in Crosslake, Minnesota (about 20 miles north of Brainerd). At this meeting, delegates will vote on a new affiliation agreement between The Arc of Minnesota and local chapters of The Arc, a new policy on chapter affiliation fees, and bylaw changes needed to implement these new policies. To attend, go to The Arc of Minnesota website (www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org) and click on the "July 19 Membership Flyer" link.
Public policy advocates will gather to gear up for 2009. Members of The Arc of Minnesota who are interested in public policy are invited to The Arc of Minnesota's Public Policy Planning Day. The event will be August 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. This year's Planning Day will be at the Minnesota Department of Education Conference Center in Roseville. A more detailed flyer about the event will be posted on The Arc of Minnesota web site in the next month.
High school and college grads aren't the only ones deserving recognition right now. Earlier this month, Minnesota parents and families may have been going to and/or planning graduation ceremonies for family members and friends. Here at The Arc of Minnesota, we're beginning our plans to honor Minnesota citizens and organizations that are doing outstanding work to make life better for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families. In order to honor them, we'll need award nominations, of course, and this is where you come in. We'd like your help in submitting nominees in one or more of our awards categories. Look over the awards nominations on our website (www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org), and recognize an outstanding individual or organization. The nomination deadline is Monday, July 1, 2008. Contact Mike Gude at mikeg@arcmn.org for more information.
Get a preview of our state convention keynotes. Diana Braun and Kathy Conour, subjects of the award-winning film, "Body and Soul: Diana and Kathy," will keynote our annual state convention in Mankato. Currently residing in Springfield, Illinois, Diana and Kathy have been roommates living independently in the community for more than 35 years. Their story is a remarkable one, modeling for people with disabilities a grand experiment in independent living and self-advocacy. To see a clip from their film, which will be part of their convention keynote, go to our web site at www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org.
The self-advocacy movement loses an active member. Ordean Rosaasen of Willmar died on May 27 at the age of 52 in St. Louis Park. Ordean started Willmar's People First chapter in 1996. Later, he served as a board member for People First of Minnesota. He was also a board members served on the Governor's Council for Developmental Disabilities from 1999 to 2005, and he was active in Special Olympics. In addition to his involvement in the self-advocacy movement, he was employed at West Central Industries, Jennie-O-Foods, and most recently, Cashwise Foods. The Arc of Minnesota expresses its sympathy to Ordean's family and friends.
Call now and get first claim on a hotel room for our state convention. We've firmed up room blocks at four different hotels for our state convention. Two of the hotels - the Holiday Inn in downtown Mankato (507-345-1234) and the Hilton Garden Inn (507-344-1111) - are attached to the Alltel Center, where the convention itself will be held. Two other hotels - the Best Western (507-625-9333) and the Super 8 (507-387-4041) - are a few miles north of the convention center. Get your choice of sleeping rooms by calling these hotels today. Room rates range from $65 per night to $95 per night, depending on which hotel you call. Tell the hotel you are with The Arc of Minnesota convention to get the convention room rate.
Arc staff, volunteers and members in the media…
Chapter successes and news…
New boss takes the helm at the national office. Peter Berns has begun duties as the new Executive Director of The Arc of the United States. Previously he was Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Chief Executive Officer of the Standards for Excellence Institute. Peter has more than 20 years experience in nonprofit management, governmental relations, advocacy, and academia. As a public policy advocate, he was instrumental in reforming state and federal Medicaid regulations to improve life for persons with disabilities and their families. Welcome, Peter! And a huge thank you to John Foley for serving as Interim Executive Director since the end of 2007!
If someone you know would like to receive this publication, contact Monica Saby at monicas@arcmn.org. If you have any comments about Snap Shots, contact Mike Gude at mikeg@arcmn.org to be put on the e-mail list. Snap Shots is produced by The Arc of Minnesota, 770 Transfer Road, Suite 26, St. Paul, MN, 55114. Web site = www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org ; General e-mail address = mail@arcmn.org
Return to Home page | To see past issues of Snap Shots, please see site map