Families of people with disabilities should attend TRC’s Annual Meeting June 7

The current staffing crisis affecting The Resource Center and other disability service providers across New York State will be the main topic of discussion when The Resource Center holds its annual General Membership Meeting on Monday, June 7.

The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Due to safety COVID-19, the meeting will be held via telephone and videoconference.

The main presentation will involve the current direct support staffing crisis. The Resource Center and other service providers across the state are experiencing a severe number of vacancies for Direct Support Professional positions in homes and day programs.  These vacancies are negatively affecting people with disabilities, whose lifestyle options have been curtailed due to lack of staff, as well as the existing Direct Support staff, who are having to work long hours in order to ensure the health and safety of the people with disabilities they are entrusted to care for.

At the Annual Meeting, families will learn how TRC and other providers are addressing the situation.  Families will also learn how they can advocate – via social media, phone calls, letters, or in-person visits – to demand New York State leaders fix the problem. Click here to read about a recent rally held in Buffalo regarding this issue, as well as comments from Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Executive Director.

All Active Members of The Resource Center who are in good standing also are invited to participate in the meeting, and to vote in the election and on any business items that may arise. To be considered in good standing, one must have made a contribution of $10 or more to The Resource Center or Filling the Gap, Inc., since May 8, 2020.

If interested in attending the meeting, click here to register or contact Selina Phillips at 716-661-1412 to obtain the access information for the meeting. All Active Members in good standing who are unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to vote in the election online. Click here to cast your vote.

The meeting agenda is as follows:

1. Approval of the minutes of the 2020 General Membership Meeting
2. President’s Report – Patricia Perlee
3. Treasurer’s Report – Craig Colburn
4. Executive Director’s Report – Denise Jones
5. Presentation – “Direct Support Professional Staffing Crisis: The Challenge, Operational Response and a Call for Advocacy”
6. Election (see nominating slates below)
7. Recognition of outgoing Directors Craig Colburn and Elizabeth Williams

The Nominating Committee — composed of Wayne Hotelling, Chair; June Jacobson; and Julie McCarthy — has proposed the following candidates for Officers and Directors of the Board of The Resource Center, as well as candidates to serve on the Nominating Committee for the 2022 Election:

Officers (one-year term)
President — Patricia Perlee
Vice President — Richard Erickson
Secretary — Dawn Columbare, DNP
Treasurer — Todd Jacobson, MD

Directors (two-year term)
Marie Carrubba, Esq.
R. Michael Goldman, Esq.
Lisa Goodell
Marlene Sirianno, Esq.

Nominating Committee
Wayne Hotelling
June Jacobson
Jennifer Liuzzo
Julie McCarthy

For more information or to indicate you plan to attend the meeting, phone 716-661-1412.

If you have not yet paid your 2021 TRC Membership dues, click here to make a secure, online payment. Your membership demonstrates your commitment to The Resource Center’s mission. In these challenging times, your support of TRC is extremely important.