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Board Meeting Includes New Members, Legislation and Fall Conference
MASWM's Board of Directors faced a packed agenda Aug. 12, including discussion of the Fall Conference scheduled at the Oasis Hotel in Springfield Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
Marla Mason is the new director for Area 7 and Dee Peterson for Area 6. Mason is manager of Callaway County Extended Employment in Fayette and replaces Tim Poepsel, who was elected president at the April meeting. Peterson leads Pulaski County Sheltered Workshop in Richland and replaces Laura Taylor of Phelps County Industrial Solutions in Rolla.
The meeting also touched on the upcoming Fall Conference in Springfield, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
Events Chair Charlie Fischer and member Kimbal Mothershead noted that ideas from a member survey were heavily used to plan training sessions and presentations. Presentations will include Dr. John Bruno, a specialist with training in how to work with autism, a Zoom roundtable with members of the national Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice, and breakout sessions on marketing and advocacy, including letter writing and “elevator speeches.”
Fischer urged workshops to send staff members to the conference, as well as managers. “I know that’s tough,” he said. “But it’s important for staff members to learn about these topics, too.”
Legislative, Advocacy Issues
Several topics were discussed in the areas of legislation and advocacy. MASWM Legislative Chair Kit Brewer said one upcoming issue involves Department of Labor regulation changes expected to be announced in September. Although no details have been released, the expectation is that the rules may not be favorable to Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and workshops.
Brewer said that the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice has followed the issue closely since the DOL’s virtual hearings last fall. The Coalition, to which MASWM belongs, has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for documents relating to DOL efforts in this area.
Both Brewer and Advocacy Chair Heather Pugh shared that it may be critical for workshop and 14(c) supporters to generate thousands of letters of support if the recommendations threaten the future of workshops as a choice for people with disabilities. Pugh said recent initiatives by A-Team Missouri are strongly focused on that challenge. “We’ve managed to get hundreds of letters, but we’re going to need thousands,” she said. Pugh noted that is realistic considering the parents, guardians and other supporters of the 5,000-plus employees in Missouri workshops.
Other topics at the meeting included reports by Geoff Shackleford on highway rest area contracts and recycling. Dan Gier, director of the workshop division for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said a meeting Aug. 19 would focus on upcoming DESE regulation changes, including some that will impact workshops.