WEST VIRGINIA RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

WEST VIRGINIA RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION<= /b>

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Wednesday, October 26, 2005<= /st1:date>

Stonewall Resort

9:00 AM = 211; 10:30 AM<= /p>

Present: Elaine Bowen, Patti Crawford, = Sister Rebecca Fidler, Sarah Jane Gainer, Sharon Giles, Al Michaels, Sandra Pope, = Dave Sotak, Sonnie Strader, Henry Taylor, Alicia Tyler and April Vestal

Absent: R= osie Cannarella, Richard Meckstroth and Phil Schenk

Guests: N= orma Bowyer

Roll Call &am= p; Approval of Minutes: The meeting was called to order at 9:20 am by April Vestal. Roll call was taken by Sonnie Strader. Patti Crawford moved that the minutes for the September 26, 2005 board meeting be approved as pres= ented. The motion was second by Sandra Pope. There was no further discussion.&nb= sp; All in favor, motion carried.

Unfinished Business

Update on Ben= edum Grant (Sharon Giles/Alicia Tyler): Twen= ty-three applicants were awarded stipends to attend the conference. Most of the stipends were awarded = to WVUIT nursing students, one medical student and two residents. There was a misunderstanding with = the Bureau regarding the cost of lodging for the students. There was no discount for student lodging. The Bureau did not o= ffset the cost as provided for other conference attendees. However, with the help of Kathie S= argent the committee was able to work through the misunderstanding. The amount of the stipend for each student (including mileage) was around $573.00. Board members were encourag= ed to make an effort to meet and greet students who had received stipends, to welcome the students and also make them aware that WVRHA helped provide the stipend for them to attend the conference.

New Business

Strategic Pla= nning Meeting (April Vestal): T= he WVRHA strategic planning meeting is scheduled on Monday, November 7, 2005, at Days Inns = in Flatwoods. The meeting will be from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The agenda is still sketchy. Suggestions for a facilitator incl= uded: Becky King, Julie Pratt and Louise Reese.&= nbsp; Hilda Heady will be the guest speaker during the morning. She will speak from the national l= evel on “Growing Our Own”. During the meeting the board will review the vision statement/docume= nt developed by Renada following the last strategic planning meeting.

WVRHA Day at = the WV Rural Health Conference (Sandra Pope):&nbs= p; Sandra reported there are no problems at this time. None of the speakers scheduled for the conference have cancelled. WVRHA helped get speakers for the = entire conference. Speakers include:= Hilda Heady, Forrest Calico, Becky King and Mary Tonkin.

Agenda Items = for October Membership Meeting (April Vestal):= Board members received packets for the WVRHA Membership meeting scheduled from 5:00-6:00 pm<= /st1:time> this evening (Oct. 26), in the Birch Room.= Packets included: the agenda, a list of the board of directors, WVRHA accomplishments, membership list for 2005 and membership application. Also included was a Policy Proposal developed by the policy committee. Henry Taylor will present the policy proposal and lead the discussion. In addition board members were given invitations to the membership meeting to hand out to conference attendees throughout the day.&n= bsp; Invitations are also available at the WVRHA display.

Nominations for open board seats will be taken from the floor. In order to serve on t= he board the nominee must have been a member of the WVRHA for one year. We will confirm eligibility throug= h the applications and membership list.

There are eight board members whose term expires. Three to four of the members repor= ted they will not run again, at this time.&nbs= p; However, all said they want to support the board and hope to remain active in some way.   Non= -board members can serve on the various committees of the WVRHA board.    Nominations will be ta= ken through Thursday, November 17. Those expressing an interest in running for a seat on the board were: Phil Schenk, Henry Taylor, Susan Griffin Chapman and Elaine Bowen.

Financial Rep= ort (Sharon Giles): Sharon reported a = tentative balance of $10,463.30. Expend= itures not yet invoiced include: $383.00 for promotional coasters and $428.00 for blanket throws and speakers for the conference.

Sharon said the board needs to spend money. Norma suggested promoting an event during Rural Health Day at the Legislature. Sandra stated th= at the NRHA will usually allow any unspent funds to be carried forward as long as = the organizations identifies a plan for spending the unspent funds.

Committee Reports

Fundraising (= April Vestal): April reported that the golf tournament had been cancelled due= to low registration. We would ha= ve needed twenty players to come out ahead.&n= bsp; She also reported there were several obstacles regarding the proposed “Silent Auction.” There would have been an additional cost for a room to set up and display the ite= ms, plus a percentage of the money from the auction would have had to go to Stonewall Resort.

Policy (Dave = Sotak):   Dave went over the Policy Proposal = which will be reviewed at the Membership meeting this evening. He explained the process, themes, = and topics outlined in the proposal and asked the boards blessing to move forwa= rd with the proposal.   Dave stated that he feels the board should identify themes and begin holding for= ums soon.

Norma said that policy proposal was excellent and sets= a road map and directions. She = felt that the policy proposal falls within the 5 themes of “Quality through Collaboration” and suggested that the board follow that frame work.

Henry requested a meeting of the policy committee memb= ers who are available on October 27, during the conference.   Several members suggested topics/themes that WVRHA could support.&nb= sp; Including: Uninsured/Working Poor, Compliance Management, Patient Compliance and Pay for Performance.

Sara Gainer moved that the WVRHA board support the dir= ection the Policy committee is moving toward and that the committee develops more specifics. Motion seconded by Alicia Tyler. All in favor, m= otion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 in order for board members to attend the openi= ng session. The remaining Agenda= items will be discussed at the Membership Meeting scheduled from 5:00 PM-6:00 PM this evening in the Birc= h Room.

Respectfully Submitted by Sonnie Strader

11/21/05