[Access] Minutes for Nov. 6th meeting

Sat Nov 24 19:36:08 CST 2007

Folks,

These are excellent minutes (aka Notes).  I was just looking at our 
website and I don't see any minutes there.  I remind you that Martha 
Osgood indicated that she wouldn't put any up until someone 
specifically asked her to.

Cheers,

Ken

>Below, at last, are the "minutes" for our meeting, with thanks to 
>David for his notes on the last bit. Please let me know of any 
>oversights, mistakes, etc.   Cindy
>
>Notes from the Accessibility Group Meeting
>
>Tuesday, November 6, 2007
>
>Present : d. maria, Leslie Gilbert, David Gilmartin, Jeanne-Marie 
>Moore, Mary Otten, Cindy Pitcairn, Ken Ross
>
>Candle-lighting and words by David Gilmartin were followed by brief check-ins.
>
>The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
>
>Liaison with Facilities Council. Ken Ross introduced himself as the 
>liaison member with the Facilities Council (FC) and presented a list 
>of items the FC has completed, is in the process of doing, or plans 
>to do in the future in response to accessibility concerns. Already 
>completed are the new concrete pathway to the lower level, the 
>installation of an ADA-compliant toilet in one of the lower level 
>bathrooms, a storage box for Braille hymnals, and two new restricted 
>parking spaces. In process is the installation of a new 
>ADA-compliant toilet in a one of the bathrooms on the upper level. 
>Ken asked for further explanation of how recessed door hinges work 
>and said the FC would look into installing them.
>
>Some discussion ensued concerning the lighting of the pathway at 
>night and it was agreed that it is the upper part of the path that 
>needs lights. The FC will look into the possibility of a solar light 
>on a post. After discussing ways to make it possible for a 
>wheelchair to gain access to the parking lot for loading onto a van 
>after a service (when no curbside space is available for a van to 
>pull into), it was decided that Leslie Gilbert and Ken Ross would 
>meet separately to find a solution to this problem, if possible.
>
>Committee Proposal. Cindy Pitcairn reported that the latest version 
>of a proposal for an Accessibility Committee would be considered by 
>the UUCE Board at its November 8th meeting and approval seemed 
>likely.
>
>Installation Ceremony. Jeanne-Marie Moore has contacted Rev. Steve 
>Landale to ascertain that he prefers First Christian Church for his 
>installation ceremony, and Mary Otten has contacted Suzanne Whaley, 
>head of the Installation Task Force, concerning input from our 
>committee. As a result, Leslie Gilbert and Cindy Pitcairn joined the 
>task force on October 25th for a tour of First Christian Church. 
>Although the church presents a variety of accessibility challenges, 
>advanced planning and communications can alleviate most of them. A 
>report on the visit by Cindy Pitcairn is appended.  Mary will 
>contact Suzanne about our concerns and suggestions.
>
>Communications. Mary Otten has contacted our webster, Martha Osgood, 
>concerning an access-listserv once we are a committee and have 
>sufficient subscribers (8-10). Cindy Pitcairn reported she had 
>contacted Martha on the establishment of a committee web page, to 
>include accessibility tips and other educational material. Those 
>present supported having a place on the UUCE website for 
>accessibility information. David Gilmartin suggested exploring 
>whether it would make sense for it to be combined with stuff from 
>Welcoming Congregations (Interweave), Membership, or other 
>committees.
>
>Interaction with Other Committees. d. maria said Nisco Junkins, 
>Membership, would like to see people with disabilities as greeters 
>at Sunday services. Jeanne-Marie Moore felt strongly that the Shared 
>Values Task Force of the Building Project Oversight Committee was an 
>important group through which to influence the future of the church, 
>and that she planned to become involved there.
>
>Accessibility Representation at UUA. David Gilmartin and Mary Otten 
>reported that Arthur Tackman and CJ McGregor, representing people 
>with disabilities, were added to the Journey Toward Wholeness 
>Transformation Committee by the UUA Board of Trustees. In response 
>to many expressed concerns, the Board, later next year, according to 
>Tom Loughrey, PSWD Trustee, "will be inviting leadership of this 
>committee to meet with us to discuss specifically how the committee 
>is handling issues of accessibility as part of its new charge."
>
>In view of time constraints, the remaining agenda item of discussing 
>committee objectives and tasks for the coming year was postponed 
>until the next meeting, Tuesday, December 4th, at 7:00 pm in the 
>sanctuary.
>
>The meeting adjourned.
>
>Cindy Pitcairn, scribe
><mailto:lucindap at comcast.net>lucindap at comcast.net
>
>
>
>ADDENDUM: Report on Installation Task Force Field Trip, First 
>Christian Church, October 25, 2007
>
>Attending: Suzanne Whaley, Rachel Cummings, Julia Knowles, Bonnie 
>Romane, Leslie Gilbert, Cindy Pitcairn
>
>The Installation service for Rev. Steve Landale as minister of UUCE 
>is scheduled for 4 pm on January 27, 2008 at the First Christian 
>Church, 1166 Oak Street, Eugene. This is an older church and 
>presents several challenges in regard to accessibility.
>
>The major accessibility problem lies in getting into the sanctuary, 
>which is above street level. There is a wide set of stairs facing 
>Oak and leading into the sanctuary for the able-bodied. Electric 
>wheelchairs will need to go up the ramp into the more modern 
>administrative building attached to the sanctuary. The door at the 
>top of the ramp will need to be unlocked. Once inside this building, 
>there is a very long, narrow passageway, with some turns, into the 
>sanctuary. Signs and guides to indicate the way to the sanctuary 
>will help.
>
>The ramp is too steep for easy access by manual wheelchair. Those 
>using manual wheelchairs, as well as those with walkers, canes, 
>crutches, weak knees or hips, or unsteady on their feet, should use 
>the very small elevator located on the north side of the sanctuary 
>building. The door to this entrance will need to be unlocked. This 
>elevator holds no more than three standing people. It will not hold 
>electric wheelchairs. (In my opinion, anyone using the elevator 
>should have another person accompany them for safety's sake and 
>moral support in case of elevator failure.)Near the elevator there 
>is another flight of inside steps.
>
>Maps, signs, advance publicity, and on-site guides would all help 
>people find the appropriate entrance.
>
>The sanctuary has adequate space, segregated into two areas, for the 
>number of wheelchairs used in our congregation. (Whether there is 
>adequate seating for all who might attend the service is another 
>question.)
>
>The sanctuary has a certain old-fashioned charm to it and a 
>distinctly Christian feel, with a cross and stained glass windows. 
>However, it also has a large peace flag and with emblems of our own, 
>perhaps our banner, it will feel more UU.
>
>Men's and women's bathrooms are located in a narrow hall adjacent to 
>the sanctuary. They each have a handicap-accessible stall. The 
>bathrooms are small and probably can accomodate no more than two or 
>three at a time (still, better than the situation at UUCE).
>
>There is a raised platform along one side of the sanctuary where tea 
>and coffee and hand-held food can be served for the reception after 
>the service. People can either mingle in the crowd on the 
>refreshment dais or sit in the pews to enjoy their refreshments, but 
>this would not provide a very sociable set-up for a reception. There 
>is a large social hall in the basement, but the only access to it 
>will be by stairs or the very small elevator. Those in electric 
>wheelchairs will not be able to attend a reception there.
>
>There are advantages to the use of this church for the installation. 
>It is in a central location in downtown Eugene. Parking behind the 
>church and in adjacent lots should be adequate. The minister of the 
>church, Dan Bryant, is an outstanding religious leader in Eugene and 
>association of our church with his on this occasion, however 
>tenuous, strikes a positive note.
>
>However, from an accessibility point of view, with its confusing 
>layout, it will present distinct challenges. Information 
>disseminated in advance, guides, signs, and arrangements for all 
>doors to be unlocked at the time of the service, will obviate many 
>of the problems, but there are likely to be some frustrations for 
>some attending.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Access mailing list
>Access at uueugene.org
>http://www.uueugene.org
>http://www.uueugene.org/mailman/listinfo/access

-- 
****************************************************
Ken Ross
ruthken at pacinfo.com
home phone:  541-686-1549
*******************************************************
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