Dear Friends,
This will be the last newsletter before the annual meeting in Orlando, FL June 23-26 and it is focused on preparation for it. It is also my last letter as president of the division. It has been an honor to serve you in this capacity.
Dear Friends,
This will be the last newsletter before the annual meeting in Orlando, FL June 23-26 and it is focused on preparation for it. It is also my last letter as president of the division. It has been an honor to serve you in this capacity.
As a group we have clarified the value of membership and helped to elevate the discussion about support for spirituality and congregational participation in the service plans for individuals with I/DD. One of the challenges going forward, I think, is how to more effectively harness the many gifts possessed by division members in long distance collaboration. Our President-Elect, Shelly Christensen, has many gifts that can guide us in this area and I am excited about the possibilities!
To make better use of the opportunity to share ideas in the division business meeting, we are adopting a practice referred to “consent agenda.” This process will also help people not able to attend the conference and business meeting participate to some extent via email. The information below describes its function and purpose:
A consent agenda groups the routine, procedural, informational and self-explanatory non-controversial items typically found in an agenda. These items are then presented to the board in a single motion for an up or down vote after allowing anyone to request that a specific item be moved to the full agenda for individual attention. Other items, particularly those requiring strategic thought, decision making or action, are handled as usual.
Information about the consent agenda items are included in the body of this newsletter or provided within a linked document. If you have any questions on any of the items, please email anyone on the steering committee:
- Anne Masters, President (masteranrcan@gmail.com)
- Shelly Christensen, President-Elect (shelly@inclusioninnovations.com)
- Bill Gaventa, Executive Secretary (bill.gaventa@gmail.com
- David Morstad, Certification Chair (david.morstad@mailblc.org)
- Don Healy, Treasurer (DE-Healy@wiu.edu)
- Jeff McNair, Past President (jmcnair@calbaptist.edu)
Division Business Meeting
The Division business meeting will be during lunch on Tuesday June 24th. You may purchase lunch within conference registration. Table location will be provided at the conference.
Division Meeting Agenda:
- Consent Agenda Items
- Finance Report
- 2014 Action Plan
- Certification Report
- COMISS Report
- Division Dinner details (see below)
- Nouwen Award (see below)
- Forum Agenda (see below)
- Survey responses to last year’s Forum summary
- Survey response on current practices
- Discussion Items
- Expanding division participation
- Vice President nominations
- Certification discussion – ideas for development
- New business
Division Dinner
Division dinner will be Wednesday evening, always a tasty, fun and worthwhile event. Reserve your spot and pay for your meal in conference registration. This year it will be at Johnnie’s Hideaway, which features USDA Prime & Choice steaks, dry aged on premises, fresh fish hand-cut daily, simply prepared with emphasis towards old Florida & floriddean cuisine. Wheelchair accessible, and about 1.3 miles from hotel.
- $57 includes 4 course dinner, choice of 1 of 4 entrees, coffee, tea and soda, tax and gratuity. Alcohol is separate.
- Meet in main lobby of hotel for restaurant shuttle at 6:30.
- Shuttle is provided by restaurant.
- Restaurant shuttle is not wheelchair accessible, please let me know if you need help with accessible transportation to restaurant.
Henri Nouwen Award
The Henri Nouwen Award will be presented with gratitude for Nella Uitvlugt and all her good work. It will be accepted by her husband Eric and her children.
Division Forum Agenda
The Division forum agenda will include:
- Welcome
- Nouwen Award presentation
- Community forum featuring national initiatives such as the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability, the Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion, and the Autism Society’s Faith Initiative along with leaders from inclusive ministry organizations based in the mid-Florida area.
- Closing comments by Shelly Christensen, new division President.
If you know people in the area who would be interested in the forum, please share the brochure available on division webpage [insert link for brochure] You do not have to be a member to attend the Forum and registration for it is only $30. Hope to see you there to share ideas!
Vice President nominations – Do you know of a good candidate or are you interested? Please send your interest or nomination to me by June 20 and include a brief introduction of yourself or nominee in light of the work of the division. Nominations will be presented during the business meeting, with formal election to take place via Survey Monkey after the annual meeting. The vice president serves for two years on the division steering committee and supports activities of the president. Then s/he serves two years as president leading the division, ollowed by two years as past president. The past president serves on spiritual support certification committee and coordinates the Henri Nouwen Award.
I hope to see you in Orlando!
God’s Peace and safe travels,
Anne Masters
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Division President
masteranrcan@gmail.com
973-639-6536
You can Download a flyer about the Religion and Spirituality forum to share with friends!
Information on the Forum on June 26, 2014: If you are not coming, we are hoping to
make it possible for you to listen in live. If that gets set up, you will get a separate email with how to do so.
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Network 