The Granite Slate Fall 2008
Annual Meeting Celebrates a Year of Accomplishments With a Fiesta!
Granite State Independent Living’s Annual Meeting was held on September 18 and the theme was Fiesta; a celebration of another year of achievement for Granite State Independent Living.
“If you haven’t heard, 2008 is the year of change. We hear it in political, automobile even food commercials; we feel it in our economy with greater stress on our pocket books. Indeed everywhere we look, 2008 is the year of change and GSIL is no exception. This past year has been the year of change for GSIL both as an organization and for those we serve,” said Clyde Terry, CEO of Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) in his opening remarks.
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"Over the past year, each core service at GSIL truly changed the course of lives for many of our consumers" |
The meeting was held on the grounds at 21 Chenell Drive. Tents held an exposition of GSIL services. Staff manned tables highlighting programs and shared information and resources with consumers and guests. In the court yard behind the building a Mexican themed feast was served while members voted for the new board of directors. This year Kenneth Traum, Chair, Melvin Severance, Treasurer and John Preve retired. Newly elected board members are Eric Norman, Ron Page and Terry Scott.
Changes were made in the delivery of transportation services, which increased access and options for consumers by being more intergraded into local community networks. The GSIL personal care attendant programs were improved over the past year by creating a referral system where qualified persons ready to work are ready to be interviewed by our consumers. Employment Services ushered GSIL through the process to become an approved Employment Network for the Social Security Administration. This change allows consumers to choose GSIL directly and use their Ticket to Work to secure competitive employment and support.
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Recognized for the strength of the work GSIL does, Terry reminded the audience of the distinction and honor of being chosen 2007 Nonprofit of the Year by Business NH Magazine. He also spoke of how GSIL’s leadership role was recognized nationally when it hosted the largest Presidential Candidates forum on disability issues ever held.
GSIL was also recognized by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development who funded GSIL’s certified Housing Counseling program for the first time.“Much of what we have done and what we do has been and always will be about change. GSIL’s history and the entire disability movement has been about change; change that brought people out of institutions and into society, change that allows persons with wheelchairs to be able to travel from one end of Main Street to the other, change that allowed persons to travel on airplanes, to vote, to hold jobs, to be free from discrimination and be independent, change that only a generation ago was only a dream,” said Terry.