May 22, 2003

CONFERENCE REPORT

On May 22, 2003 the Community Involvement Council held a Focus Day to discuss future direction.  Sheila Simpson was facilitator for the meeting.  Sheila now works for Trillium and has a background of involvement with the CIC.

We spoke of the history of the CIC and that where employment was once the main focus of the group, it has now branched out with all inclusionary practices now being entertained.  CIC projects and affiliates such as the Stories Project, the Supported Employment Outcomes Project (now the Employment Outcomes Project), Are We Doing What We Say We Are Doing and Simple Safety have done much for our larger community and brought recognition to our Council.  The Council itself continues to provide training to agencies and the community through conferences and our website which also serve to showcase CIC projects.  The website brings together all CIC happenings and distributes these to both members and associate members.

There was discussion of changes over past years, which has provided challenge for the CIC.  These changes include: less focus on employment, reduction in funding for projects, change in agency structure, members moving on to projects or just moving on.  It is felt that some of these changes have reduced some of the “passion” in our field and in our Council.

During the day some future actions became evident.  A list of needs/actions includes:

·       The need for one person per member agency to serve as key contact

·       The realization that the CIC is an umbrella group and to involve and receive feedback from associate projects

·       For agendas to be more clearly focused, reflecting areas of interest, with input from those attending meetings

·       Updated mailing list

·       Meetings need to be valuable to people

·       A survey, to be developed and sent out via website , to obtain feedback on issues

·       To continue with our current, web based Stories project “Listen Hear”

·       Planning a workshop, for the fall, focused on the tenth year anniversary of the Stories Project

·       To promote CIC publications

·       Continue to work with community agencies in order to provide workshops on Self –Employment

·       A review of last years report in order to gauge budgeting for this year

 Members felt this was a profitable day with much input from all.  We continue to support our community and endeavor to keep the involvement in the Community Involvement Council.