NLACRC: About: Board of Trustees

Consumer Advisory Committee
The nine-member committee is responsible for providing the center’s Board of Trustees with recommendations on matters important to consumers. The committee generally meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the regional center’s main office in Van Nuys. The committee chairperson serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

2008-09 CAC members: (left to right) Beth Brodie, Curtis Wang, Keith Bonchek, Monroe Jones, Liz Lyons (in front of Monroe), Robert Taylor, and Pam Aiona. The two men wearing baseball caps were meeting guests. Not pictured: Cathy Gaddy and Randy Horton.

Consumer Advisory Committee
Fiscal Year 2008-09 Goals

-CAC members will find out more about employment options for consumers and post that information on the CAC web page.

-CAC members will be proactive in improving transportation services and will be a visible force at transportation meetings.

-CAC members will learn more about housing options for people with developmental disabilities.

-CAC members will work together to continue to post information about current consumer issues (like employment, transportation, and housing) on the CAC's web page.

Training/Presentation Calendar
Fiscal Year 2008-09

July 2008 - No meeting
August 2008 - No presentation
September 2008 - Budget status, DDS CAC: Leadership Through
Personal Change
October 2008 - Consumer Advocate Activities
November 2008 - Medicare / Medi-Cal CAC Holiday Lunch
December 2008 - No Meeting
January 2009 - Vendor presentation on their programs, starting with Path Point
February 2009 - Self-Advocacy Committee
March 2009 - Housing

November 2008 Meeting Updates
-The Consumer Advisory Committee had their Annual Holiday Luncheon; this year it was called "Sailing to Holiday Island." Some of the guests attending were Regional Center Director George Stevens, Director of Human Resources Michele Marra, and Clients' Rights Advocate Bebo Saab, and other friends and staff members. A good time was had by all.
-The CAC reviewed the changes that the committee made to the "Training/Presentation Schedule"
-The presentation for November was Robert Taylor on "DDS CAC Leadership Through Personal Change Part 2." Robert showed a DVD on their news project.
-The committee also wish two members a happy birthday to Beth Brodie & Curtis Wang.
-The CAC wanted to make a final push to encourage all adult consumers to go and vote in the general election.

A Travel Tip
by Robert M. Taylor
I"m Robert M. Taylor, CAC and DDS CAC Member and Self-Advocate. All of us like to travel by air and if you go to www.southwest.com, next time you make a reservation online, you can put your disability preferences in there, and they will accept it, next time you travel with them. Also you can still print your boarding passes 24 hours in advance, so make it a try next time you fly on Southwest. You'll be glad you did.

How to become a committee member
In order to become a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee, an individual must be a primary consumer (client) of the regional center. No prior committee experience is required. For more information or for an application, please contact Jennifer Kaiser at (818) 756-6118 or by e-mail at jennifrk@nlacrc.org. Thank you!