Meeting Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012
Present: Linda Aumick, Board President – Action Toward Independence
Janet Dymond, Senior Librarian – Eastern Correctional Facility
Allison Johannessen, RSVP Coordinator, Orange County Office for the Aging Margaret McDowell, Hudson Valley Chapter NYS Health Care Providers
Laura LaSusa, OrangeWorks
Mimi Vilord, Rockland County United Way
Dan Hulse, RCLS Development Officer & COSAG Chair
Leslie Riley, RCLS Public Services Consultant & Outreach Coordinator
Absent: Tracy Allen, Adult Services Librarian – Finkelstein Memorial Library
Jordan Jenkus, Self-Advocacy Association of NYS
Joann Hargabus, Director of Services – Action Toward Independence
Teri Thal, NYS Perinatal Association
Susan Stockburger, Independent Living Inc.
Regina Cieslak, Orange/Ulster BOCES Team Lead/Youth Program
Carl S. Berkowitz, RCLS Board of Trustees
Bill Langham – Director, Orangeburg Library – RCLS Directors’ Association System Services Committee
Florence Butler, Rockland County Hard of Hearing Association
Chair Dan Hulse called the meeting to order at 1:40 pm. Margaret McDowell made a motion to accept the minutes of the May 17, 2012 meeting as submitted. Linda Aumick seconded. Motion passed.
Issues & Concerns: Leslie Riley reviewed for the council the target populations served and the varied programs that have been offered over the years using New York State Outreach funds. Leslie provided examples of the geographically isolated target population.
Leslie Riley updated the committee on the current status of NY State Outreach funding to RCLS. She then shared with the council what might be coming in 2013.
Janet Dymond shared that for many inmates being released from prison, these individuals will need special training on computers since they have not had any contact with technology while incarcerated. These former inmates need assistance with job searching and applying for social services benefits.
Laura LaSusa explained that OrangeWorks does have a program that will assist recently released inmates.
Janet Dymond said they need more computers in the prisons. At Eastern Correctional Facility, where she is employed, there are two computers for 1,000 inmates.
RCLS Report: Leslie Riley announced to the committee that she will be retiring from RCLS at the end of November 2012. She shared with the group that Grace Riario of the Valley Cottage Library in Rockland County will be starting at RCLS on Monday, October 29. Grace will be working closely with Leslie during the month of November as she transitions into the Outreach Coordinator position.
Leslie Riley reviewed the Literacy Outreach Survey that was conducted. The results of the survey showed the breakdown of what RCLS libraries had materials in other languages, space for tutoring, staff that spoke a language other than English, etc.
Leslie Riley then shared information regarding the grants that RCLS receives and uses.
Announcements from the Council: Margaret McDowell shared two pieces of literature with the council members. The first was a brochure for the Lifetime Learning Institute (LLI) that meets on the SUNY New Paltz campus and the second, a Resource Guide for Senior Citizens living in the Town of Gardiner.
Mimi Vilord shared that she was willing to continue serving on the council and would assisted with the 55+ Resource Guide. Mimi explained that many of the services listed in the guide were duplicates from resource listings that already exist.
Meeting adjourned at 3:26 pm.
Next meeting date – Thursday, May 16, 2013
Minutes Author: Leslie Riley
Committee: COSAG