[Access] Minutes for Nov. 6th meeting

Wed Nov 28 15:31:49 CST 2007

Cindy, a small correction to the minutes:  I believe i said (or meant 
to say) that Nisco was the person who scheduled and trained greeters & 
ushers, and PROBABLY would be delighted to have disabled people as 
greeters.  thnx,,, don't want Nisco thinking I'm speaking for her.  The 
rest of the minutes match my memory and look good to me.  Thanks for 
doing them.  dm

On Nov 24, 2007, at 5:36 PM, Ken Ross wrote:

> 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
>> 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
>
> -- 
>
>
> ****************************************************
>  Ken Ross
>  ruthken at pacinfo.com
>  home phone:  541-686-1549
>  *******************************************************
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> http://www.uueugene.org
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