September Meeting Minutes
GRADS Meeting September 12, 2024
Middlebrook Community Room 6:30 p.m.
Five people attended the Grant Roberts Area Disability Supports meeting.
ADA Celebration Exit Report
Rachael J. read the Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration exit report. The successful event had 37 in attendance. This report will be used to help in planning future celebrations.
NDEAM/Sisseton
Please join us on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Family Life Center, 404 West Hickory Street, Sisseton, for the National Disabilitiy Employment Awareness Month event. A catered meal will be served at 6:00 p.m. Emily Shuman, Director of the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, will speak at 6:45 p.m. Her presentation, “Let’s Talk Disabilitiy”, is a lighthearted introduction to disabilitiy awareness. She’ll share practical tips on finding resources and fostering a community where friends, family and neighbors with disabilities can thrive. The evening will conclude with the recognition of employers and employees who participated in the Project Skills program.
Sponsors of the event are the SD Board of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Statewide Independent Living Council, the Board of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired, Grant Roberts Area Disability Supports, Grant County Arc, and the Sisseton School District.
Please RSVP to Rachael at striping@venturecomm.net or call 605-698-7445 by October 11 if you plan to attend.
Required Paperwork
President Charlotte Athey will contact George Boos regarding the information update.
Requests for Assistance
- Rachael Johnson presented a request from a family for help in obtaining services in their new community. We discusses options for Rachael to share with them.
- May Amodia, Sisseton Transition Room Facilitator, requested funding for providing accommodations to include the transition “students” in a cultural program at the Performing Arts Center, Sisseton, on October 11. Char Athey made a motion to provide $100. Matthew Athey seconded it. The motion was passed.
- Laura Maag, LifeQuest, requested funds to pay for mileage for the Watertown trip to Bramble Park Zoo. She will submit the bill to Rachael Johnson. MaryLou Bullert made a motion to pay mileage for the trip. Rachael Johnson seconded it. The motion was passed.
Connection Crew at the Commons
Rachael Johnson reported on an activity-based group started in Sisseton for adults with disabilities. CC at the Commons meets on Thursday evenings for varied activities. Michelle Greseth leads the program, modeling it after Friends Link.
Boost for Teachers/Mentors
We plan to do grants again this winter. This will be discussed at the November GRADS meeting.
Financial Report
The checking account balance in First Bank and Trust in Milbank was $4,849.87 as of July 31, 2024.
Next Meeting
The next GRADS meeting will be on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middlebrook Community Room, 902 E. Milbank Avenue, Milbank.