APRIL News 2002 Annual Report Edition

2002 – The Year in Review

The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) experienced more growth and expansion last year, than in any other year in its history. New staff, office set up, growth in membership, new programs and projects, larger budgets, greater connections with our members, more visibility – the list goes on. As APRIL launches into this new era, it is fitting to take a look back on this past year, and in particular, take this opportunity to salute the people who have helped us along the way. In this edition of APRIL News, some key players will be featured. We also realize that without you, our loyal members, we would not be in the positive place we are in today. You are the reason we strive to do more and to be more. You have our commitment that we will continue to serve you in the years to come.

People Make the Difference

The familiar saying that “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” might be modified in our case to “It Takes an Expanded Workforce to Make a Successful Organization”. In this age of internet, e-mail, lap tops, fax machines and digital cameras, it’s easy to pull together a dynamic group of individuals to draw on the best each one has to offer. As we move forward into the new year, we are ending some of those relationships and forging new ones. In every case, behind every conceivable technology, it has been the people that have made the difference. We are proud to say thanks to them all!

People in the Spotlight:

Pete and Renee

For years, they managed our money and our membership. Peter Stange and Renee Eilts have been the backbone of APRIL operations in two critical areas. Both are employees of LINK, Inc. in Hays, Kansas, and both have been staunch supporters of APRIL and our efforts to be accurate, accountable and responsive. Pete has been the APRIL Fiscal Services Coordinator for several years, in addition to his full time job as LINKs accountant. He has expertly handled our banking, accounts payables, receivables, payroll, monthly reporting and has coordinated our annual audits. Pete has the confidence of an experienced fiscal person and even as the demands on his time and duties with APRIL grew, he continued to provide outstanding fiscal direction.

For many years, the name “Renee Eilts” has been synonymous with APRIL membership activities. She kept a detailed data base of membership information, billed for annual dues, coordinated all conference registration activities and produced the Annual Membership Directory. And even if you called her five times a day, she always had a tone in her voice that told you she was glad to hear from you. She was quick to provide needed information and answer questions.

In 2003, APRIL will be conducting all fiscal and membership operations from the Kent Ohio office and we will no longer be utilizing the services of Pete and Renee. We will have to conjure up other reasons to keep in touch with them. They will be greatly missed.

gargoyle@selway

Her colleagues know her as Diana Spas, but most of the APRIL membership know her as gargoyle@selway Diana is the Information Specialist at the RTC:Rural at the University of Montana, and in that capacity she has worked tirelessly to be a conduit for the APRIL membership to receive the latest information, updates, and alerts via the E-mail. Diana manages the Group Distribution List for APRIL, and in addition to passing on messages and information from the APRIL office, she also distributes other vital information related to rural housing, health, job announcements etc. Diana helped us develop and maintain a webpage on the University of Montana website for many years and assisted in transferring information to our own website when it was created last fall.

Rural Transportation has been a key concern for both APRIL and the RTC:Rural, and Diana helped set up and now maintains a rural transportation list serve that includes dozens (maybe hundreds) of advocates who are continually updated on timely issues of reauthorization of TEA21, pertinent FTA rulings, community activities etc. She has also set-up Calls to Rural America, national teleconferences on the topic of transportation, as well as other topics related to rural independent living.

We aren’t the only ones who have noted Diana’s outstanding performance. She was recently honored by her colleagues and by the President of the University of Montana as the recipient of the 2003 Staff Award for Distinguished Accomplishment.

Earl Chandler - Making APRIL Look Good

Earl Chandler operates ARCIL Graphics at the Austin Resource Center for Independent Living (ARCIL) in Austin, Texas. Earl has been with ARCIL for almost fifteen years and with ARCIL Graphics since its inception in 1996. Since 1997, Earl, who has an associate’s degree in commercial art, has been adding his artistic talents to enhance the image of APRIL. From designing our distinctive logo, to compelling art work on conference programs covers, to producing colorful newsletters, to designing commemorative T-shirts, Earl has helped APRIL move into the limelight in high style.

We’ve only met Earl in person once when the board met in Austin, but he is a constant resource throughout the year. APRIL has received many compliments for its look and we owe it all to Earl.

Webmaster Higgins

Steve Higgins is one of APRIL’s newest assets. Based at the Metrowest CIL in Framingham, Massachusetts, Steve has put together and maintains our new website at www.april-rural.org. We haven’t even met him yet, but he has been attentive to our needs as we develop and prepare our place in innerspace. We don’t have to worry about access or style. Steve takes care of all the details, going above and beyond to offer links to our member’s websites, to the national directory of CILs and SILCs and updates the site on a continual basis.

Joan LaBelle - Room Service

Anyone who has attended an APRIL National Conference on Rural Independent Living in the last five years, knows Joan LaBelle and her value to us. Joan first attended an APRIL conference in Albuquerque in 1997 and she immediately expressed her interest in getting involved with the Conference Committee. She served on the APRIL Board of Directors for two years, and continued to volunteer on the conference committee for several years after.

It didn’t take long to realize where Joan was most needed - in the area of hotel access, especially room accommodations for conference attendees. She endured many headaches and frustrations as she confronted a new hotel staff and access issues every year. And at times, it was truly amazing how she was able to accommodate so many people in sometimes sparse situations. It took personal contact and perseverance each year, facing a new set of challenges each time the conference moved around the country. But she genuinely enjoyed working with the attendees and with hotel staff, whom she enlightened and somehow got on our side. Disability access and awareness are two impressions she left behind after a conference. Regrettably, she is leaving us behind as well. Though she was honored at our last conference in Nashua, we want to recognize her contribution before the entire membership. Thank you, Joan for your dedication and commitment to APRIL and the annual conference.

Miki’s Show

Every board of directors should include a Mary Ann “Miki” Gudermuth.. She glitters and bubbles and giggles while she gets things done. And until last year, she was a merry member of the board. But more than board member, Miki is to be honored for adding a hilarious, down-home talent and variety flavor to the APRIL conference with her creation of the APRIL Fools and Follies. Not only does she shine in her own talent of singing and karaoke, she’s helped bring forth a flock of other talent as well. From throaty crooners to stand up comics to group skits, people let their hair down and their talent flow at Miki’s show. The Fools and Follies is one of the reasons the APRIL conference has become one of the most popular in the IL field. We know how to have fun and under Miki’s auspices the tradition will continue.

APRIL in New England

The 2002 National Conference on Rural Independent Living hit the mark again as a successful conference, despite challenges and obstacles from the beginning. In the pioneering spirit of rural America, everyone bore the burdens and inconveniences well and had a great time learning and recreating in the hills of rural New Hampshire. Over 200 people attended the conference whose theme was “New Freedom Initiative: Making it Work in Rural America.” Keynote speakers included Any Imaprato, Troy Justesen and LeMondra Pough, with special guests Dr. Jose Cordero and Alex Valdez. There was an extra night of planned fun with good food and plenty of karaoke (we found some new talent to add to APRIL Fools and Follies).

Some Quotes on Conference

“This was my first April conference. It was very informative on one to one assistance in whatever I needed to know – there was someone to talk with. Thanks!”

“APRIL fits the bill for Rural IL’s and the problems we face. Good location, wonderful and inspirational keynote speakers.”

“Strong independent living focus. Relevant issues. Intimate atmosphere.”

“It seems more like a big family this year. People interacted and visited more than before.”

“Always enjoy the itinerary of APRIL, variety of subjects and various locations.”

Boxed: 2003 Conference: Hyatt Regency Hotel Savannah Georgia, October 11 -13, 2003.

PROGRAMS PROGRESS

RILLMI Expands Peer-to-Peer Mentoring
APRILs project with the University of Montana titled Rural Independent Living Leadership Mentoring Initiative (RILLMI) completed its second year with good news of expansion thanks to the NCIL/ILRU IL Net. The IL Net, the largest training and technical assistance resource for CILs and SILCs, is funding APRIL to expand our rural Peer-to-Peer Mentoring services to add six more sites to the two sites funded through RILLMI. Add to this, two additional sites that are selected for intensive mentoring and we can now provide assistance to ten CILs a year. Individualized mentoring is a major focus of the project, but not the only service. Regional trainings, teleconference workshops, a rural IL leadership list serve and published articles are all a part of the overall program. RILLMI is a small resource (funding wise) with a large outreach to many people in a wide range of places. Rural Institute staffers Cary Griffin and Mike Flaherty are joined by APRIL’s ED Linda Gonzales and now a lot of new peer mentors.

APRIL’s 2003 Peer Mentors
Kathleen Kleinmann, ED Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living Washington, PA
Richard Blakely, ED Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence, Vibernum, MO
Patrick Reinhart ED, Alaska SILC Anchorage, AK
Sandra Meehan, ED, Tri-County CIL Ogden, UT
Ginny Rogers, Coordinator PA Transportation Alliance, CIL of Central PA, Camp Hill, PA
Mike Collins, ED, California SILC, Sacramento, CA
Evelyn Tileston, ED, Life, Inc. Craig, CO
Sherry Watson, ED San Juan Center for Independence Aztec NM
Garry Owens ED, Red Rock CIL St. George, UT
Liz Sherwin, ED Illinois/Iowa CIL, Rock Island, IL
Billy Altom, ED, Delta Resource CIL Pine Bluff, AR
John Nousiane, ED North Country ILC Superior, WI
Kevin Nale, ED New Horizons CIL, Shreveport, LA

Transportation Voucher Project – Up and Rolling
During 2002, the Traveler’s Cheque Program, funded through a grant from Rehabilitation Services Administration to demonstrate the effectiveness of using transportation vouchers to enhance the employability of people with disabilities living in rural areas, was up and running Ten sites were selected (see list below) and the Community Transportation Coordinators (CTC) at each of the sites received training and continuing education

As of September 30, 2002 (end of Project Year One) 174 consumers enrolled in the Traveler's Cheque Program took at total of 4,097 rides. Of those consumers, 54% were male, the average age was 48 and 40% reported multiple disability diagnoses. Sixty-seven percent (67%) were white, 12% were black and 18% were American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian. At the time of enrollment 41% of the consumers were employed either full time (23%) or part time (17%). Twenty-three percent (23%) of the consumers reported that they were unemployed and 6% indicated that they were retired. Annual household income was reported to be below $10,000 by 64% of the consumers and only 11% reported that they had medical insurance from their employer. Fifty-six percent (56%)of the consumers were VR clients and another 31% were VR clients in the past. In 59% of the households no one owned a vehicle.

At the ten sites 31 consumers were able to obtain employment (20 full-time and 11 part-time) as a result of the Traveler's Cheque Program.

The Ten Transportation Voucher Demonstration Site Coordinators are:

Nancy Bentley, Active Re-Entry CIL, Price, Utah
Stancil Tootle BAIN, Inc. Bainbridge, Georgia
Ginny Rogers, Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Joyanna Geisler, Independent Living Center, Homer, Alaska
Ron, Straight, LINK, Inc., Hays, Kansas
Arlene Templar, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Pablo, Montana
Richard Grilli, South East Center for Independent Living, Fall River, Massachusetts
Beth Miller, Southern Illinois Center for Independent Living, Carbondale, Illinois
Carol Flesner, Southwestern Center for Independent Living, Marshall, Minnesota
Larry Alflen, Zuni Entrepreneurial Enterprises, Inc., Zuni, New Mexico

A Competition Co-Sponsored by the RTCIL and APRIL

In 2002, the Research and Training Center on Full Participation in Independent Living (RTCFPIL) and the Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living (APRIL) jointly sponsored a competition for best practices in serving persons from emerging disability populations in rural independent living. People from emerging disability populations are those with disabilities not typically served by most independent living centers, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, fibromyalgia, asthma or diabetes; OR those from non-majority ethnicities or races, including migrant workers, who do not typically seek or use the services of Centers for Independent Living (CILs).

A panel of judges from the RTC/FPIL and APRIL reviewed the submissions and selected four winners, each of whom was awarded $1000 to fund travel and related expenses to attend the APRIL Annual Conference in Nashua, NH from October 5-7, 2002. Representatives of the winning CILS presented their programs at a panel presentation facilitated by Dot Nary, Training Director of the RTC/FPIL, at the APRIL conference. Glen White, RTC/FPIL Director, and Linda Gonzales, APRIL Director, presented awards to representatives of the winning CILS at the APRIL annual banquet. Program summaries for each of the award winners can be reviewed at the APRIL Website www.april-rural.org . Congratulations to the four winners:

2002 APRIL/RTC:FPIL Best Practices Winners:
John Nousaine, North Country Independent Living, Superior WI (Native Americans)
Mike Blatchford, ASSIST! To Independence, Tuba City, AZ (Native Americans)
Kathleen Tittle, New Horizons Independent Living Center, Prescott Valley, AZ (MCS)
W. Kirt Toombs, Easter Oregon Center for Independent Living, Ontario, OR (HIV/AIDS)

Earl Walden Award – 2002
Mike Blatchford is APRIL’s 2002 Earl Walden Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Advocacy. Mike is an American Indian who has worked as a disability advocate for the past eight years. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of ASSIST! To Independence, a consumer driven non-profit service delivery agency located on the Navajo Reservation, the only Independent Living Center located on Tribal lands in the United States.

Mike was honored at the Annual Awards Banquet at APRIL’s Annual Conference on Rural Independent Living held last October in Nashua, New Hampshire. He received a handsome award and a check for $1000. Mrs. Earl Walden, a guest for the ceremony that honors her late husband, presented a generous donation to APRIL.

APRIL BOARD/ADVISORS and STAFF – 2003

OFFICERS

President

Mike Schafer

League of Human Dignity

Lincoln, NE

Internal Vice President

Mary Holloway
Resource CIL, Inc.
Osage City, KS

External Vice President
Carol Fontaine
Western Wyoming CIL
Lander, WY

Secretary

Jeri Kounce

(ABLE) CIL

Odessa, TX

Treasurer

Robert Gomex

Dakota CIL

Bizmark, ND

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Billy Altom

Delta Resource CIL
Pine Bluff, AR

Mike Blatchford

ASSIST! To Independence

Tuba City, AZ

Tom Osborn

North Central IL Services, Inc.

Black Eagle, MT

Gary Maddox
ACCESS II ILC
Gallatin, MO

Garry Owens

Red Rock CIL

St. George, UT

Ron Rocha

ARCIL

Austin, TX

Amy Rosemergy
Superior Alliance IL
Marquette, MI

Liz Sherwin

Illinois-Iowa ILC

Rock Island, IL

Kathy DeSpain

OPTIONS for Independence

Logan, UT

Susan Miller
Placer IRS

Auburn, CA

Steve McCallum

PAL

Charlotte, NC

APRIL BOARD ADVISORS

Michael Mayer
Summit ILC
Missoula, MT 59803

Brian Atwell

LINK, Inc.

Hays, KS

Tom Seekins

RTC:Rural Univ.of Montana

Missoula, MT

Glen White, Ph. D
RTC:IL Univ. of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

Devva Kasnitz

Devvaco Consulting

Berkeley, CA

Richard Petty

ILRU

Houston, TX

STAFF

Linda Gonzales, Executive Director
Dennis Stombaugh, Transportation Project Manager
Elissa Cole, Administrative Assistant