The board felt that while it may not lead to more new members joining at the conference, it would offer more of a presence and may help improve our relationship with RFW by showing our commitment and participation.

Motion:  WRA will have a table for two days, Wednesday and Thursday, at the 2010 Rehab & Transition Conference.
Made by:  Dennis Carriere
Seconded by: Troy Cobb
Motion passed

Need to make sure we have coverage during meals and breaks.  People may need to leave a session a couple minutes early and be a couple minutes late to accomplish this.  Troy Cobb offered to man both the WRA table and the UW Platteville table that he is also responsible for as long as they are next to each other. Most people stop during breaks. We could cover those & leave sessions a few minutes early/ arrive a few minutes late so that there is coverage at session changing times.  

Deb Henderson-Guenther suggested that WRA also have a business card inserted into the conference folder being that RFW had their card included.  This would be another way to promote WRA, but the conference would have to purchase folders with space for 2 business cards.  It is also difficult sticking the cards in the holder.  The board thought a one page insert with a business card stapled/paper clipped to it would be best.  The insert gives us more space to talk about WRA and advertise the general member meeting.  The cost of the insert in 2008 was $150.  Deb will talk to Katie to see if we can work on a better price.  Eric said agencies who bought exhibit space also got a free insert in the folder.

Motion:  WRA will pay for a one page insert in the 2010 Rehab & Transition Conference folder (if necessary).
Made by: Deb Henderson-Guenther
Seconded by: Cheryl Schiltz
Motion passed. 

Special recognition, prizes, rewards, etc are always made to new members.  It was acknowledged that current members should also be recognized.

Motion: WRA will advertise that NRA/ WRA will provide one membership renewal to be drawn at the 2010 Rehab & Transition Conference from a pool of current members who stop by the WRA table to update their contact information (board members are eligible). 
Made by: Deb Henderson-Guenther
Seconded by: Cheryl Schiltz
Motion passed.

A new addition to the newsletter will be a Member Spotlight page/corner that highlights current WRA members. This will honor professionals in the field and help us get to know other members. Cheryl Schiltz will write a blurb to be included in the spring/summer newsletter announcing the Spotlight page by June 11th. Deb Henderson-Guenther will send each of the board members a current member to contact and track who is left to be contacted. We will try to fit several spotlights in each newsletter. Cheryl Schiltz will write up a script for the board members to use when calling members. Board members will send spotlight information to Jim Hill and Jenny Neugart when complete. Motion: Hold the spring/summer newsletter to include a blurb about our intention to include a WRA Member Spotlight section. Made by: Deb Henderson-Guenther Seconded by: Troy Cobb Motion passed:

Deb asked RFW about putting ribbons on our name tags to indicate our position on the board.  Their response was we should have had them, but we did not.  WRA will purchase the ribbons on our own and add them ourselves  

Past presidents have expressed an interest in WRA doing more for past presidents and general members at the conference.  WRA could offer sessions that target their interests such as a past, present, future look at rehab that would also include information more specific to WRA such as, our history (i.e. prior to ADA, WRA was a leader in accessibility – members did accessibility studies throughout the country and developed an accessibility manual, which was later adopted by NRA).  The session would help with organizational building and offer potential members a way to learn more about WRA without feeling like they are being “sold” or used for fundraising.  The session should offer opportunities for interaction.  It could start with a panel discussion about rehab issues and then break the audience up into smaller groups for discussion.  It was noted that WI has 3 past NRA presidents (John Lui, Spencer Mosely and Dan McAllies?) who could also be tapped for this session.  We need to be careful about not making it a recruitment session.

Susie Eberhard will write up a session summary and Dennis will present it at the next conference planning meeting on July 24th.     

The board also discussed doing something similar at the DVR bi-regional meetings although these meetings may be cut back.  Deb Henderson-Guenther has already been working on this and they are open to it.  She will continue to develop this.  It was also noted that there are at least 6 DVR staff who are past WRA presidents.

It is very difficult to find a time to have a WRA board meeting/general member meeting during the conference. The conference planning committee is also aware that this is a challenge for many other groups and discussed shortening Thursday by ½ hour. No other solutions were discussed at this time.

Susie Eberhard talked to Katie Powers and Thomas Cook at RFW about changing the conference planning committee structure to include more high school transition people and DHS state staff.  They would also like to establish 5 year terms for new members.  This will help maintain continuity while getting new people on board to keep the conference fresh.  Existing planning members would have a term limit that starts with 2010 Conference Planning.The planning committee consists of 17 members, 4 of whom are WRA representatives.  

Motion: Dennis Carriere, Colleen Gonzalez, Michael Hermsmeier and Deb Henderson-Guenther will continue to represent WRA on the 2010 Rehab & Transition Conference planning committee. 
Made by: Deb Henderson-Guenther
Seconded by: Jenny Neugart
Motion passed:

Motion:  WRA supports the RFW proposal for the conference planning committee members new to the committee beginning in 2010 to have 5 year term limits.
Made by: Jenny Neugart
Seconded by: Deb Henderson-Guenther
Motion passed.

Sara Sundeen is seeking endorsement from WRA to run for NRA president. State chapters, including WRA, have routinely done this in the past. Susie Eberhard will send Sara’s bio to board members for review. A vote will take place via e-mail as to whether or not we will endorse her