DELAWARE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD

Minutes of October 2, 2002 Board Meeting

The Modern Maturity Center

9:30 A.M.

Members: John McMahon (Chair), Pete Booker, Judy Cherry, Alice Coleman, Clifford Crouch, Bruce Fitzgerald, Orlando George, Sec. Sandy Johnson, Joe Letnauchyn, Nello Paoli, Sec. Harold Stafford, Dave Tanner, Duane Wayman, Sec. Valerie Woodruff

Guest: Lewis Atkinson, Jim Burcham, Janet Edwards, Julia Lane , Pat Rowan, Melissa Shahan, Wendy Strauss

Staff: Patty Cannon, Bob Clarkin, Anne Farley, Gwen Jones, Jim McFadden, Corinthia Pierce,

Tom Smith, Lisa Sylvester, Andria Viola

Welcome and Call for Quorum - Chairman, John McMahon called the meeting to order and called for a Quorum. Patty Cannon confirmed that there was a quorum.

Approval of Minutes - Duane Wayman made a motion to accept minutes. Seconded by Judy Cherry. Motion carried

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT : Random Youth Audit - The Office of the Inspector General conducted a random audit for Youth Services. They may or may not provide us with a statement of findings. Recommendation was made around improving documentation/records for individual files. The Board and Youth Council will stipulate in the upcoming RFP what to include in files and will also look at doing our own spot audits.

Educational Forum - Delaware Workforce Investment Board will be holding its' first Educational Forum on October 11. We are asking that all Board members attend.

Public Relations & Community Outreach – Pete Booker has been appointed the new Chair for the Public Relations and Community Outreach Committee. Pete brings a high level of expertise in the area of marketing and public relations. John also thanked Sec. Harold Stafford for his service as the preceding Chairman.

Delaware Technical Community College – Met with Dr. Bailey and Stephanie Brandt to make recommendations to add more classes. They have agreed to do so.

Director Women's Leadership Institute , Dr. Myrna Bair – We have agreed to help her with a mailing in support of her Women's Forum. She canceled the forum but hopefully we have opened some doors for her future efforts.

Christiana Care – Met with Ben Shaw to discuss shortage in healthcare. Going to prevail upon our providers to do a little analyzing and give us a list of those who might succeed in RN training (higher levels of healthcare).

Senator Carper's Staff meeting – Sat in with Brian Bushweller and Tyrone Jones in order to maintain communication and exchange of information.

Budget Review – Increase to WIB budget due to Literacy Grant and increase in Travel. Motion to approve by Sec. Sandy Johnson and seconded by Duane Wayman. Motion carried.

SUMMER COMMITTEE REPORTS –

Proposal Review and Certification Committee – Chairman Duane Wayman reported from the prepared DOL reports of WIA Indicators of Performance, Program year 7/1/01 through 6/30/02 and the Blue Collar Adult Performance data as of 8/31/02 .

Youth Council - Chairman Alice Coleman – Report presented by Duane Wayman.

For the period 7/01 – 6/02, 624 youth have gone through the program. The number of youth completed is 439, and 200 youth have obtained GED or Diplomas.

Tom Smith (DOL) explained that their major focus is getting data into VCNET. There will be Continuous Improvement and Focus sessions to be held for the case workers on November 6 & 7 at Belmont Hall.

Program Year '03 - Sixteen Contracts approved. Funds split 75%WIA and 25% Blue Collar. Alice Coleman reported that this has been the worst job market for teens. Lower income families were least employed. Alice also noted from the presented truancy report that unexpected absences have decreased.

Public Relations and Community Outreach – Chairman Pete Booker – Reported on the most recent work that has been done around Women in Construction (R.O.A.R). A questionnaire /survey has been prepared focusing on funding and human resources to reach those who would be the most in need. The top five areas are Public Assistance, Youth, Disabled, Prison to Work Population and Drug and Alcohol users. We want to do outreach and make them aware that training is available -geographically to the City of Wilmington , Dover , New Castle County and Kent and Sussex counties. We will pursue a mass media outreach effort and word of mouth.

ROAR understands that we will help make the difference in the lives of people one person at a time. We are also developing hiring relationships with large Department Stores such as Home Depot, Toys R Us, and Sears. They are informing us (by fax or email) jobs that are immediately available.

Performance Measures and Customer Satisfaction Committee – Chairman Judy Cherry – The Governor has nominated Judy as Director of the Department of Economic Development (DEDO). Judy recommended a book for reading Titled “Good to Great.” She reported numbers from the Program Year 7/1/01 through 6/30/02 for Fox Valley , Pencader, Dover and Georgetown .

We have been successful in winning a Performance Literacy Grant along with Fran Tracy-Mumford (DOE). We are partnering with Department of Education and University of Delaware 's Ed Ratledge to look at participants to see what variables make a difference in individuals going through training and literacy programs. Motion by Duane Wayman that the report be approved. Seconded by Sec. Sandy Johnson. Motion carried.

Office of Occupational & Labor Market Information – Dr. James McFadden introduced

Julia Lane, Senior research fellow of the U.S. Census Bureau who reported on the LEHD program. - (Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics). This is a state partnership with the Census Bureau. The state provides high quality local labor market information to their customers and the Bureau gives the states 1) quarterly workforce indicators about the state economy at detailed industry and geography, 2) enhanced UI wage records, and 3) information about successor/predecessor firms.

Old Business – None

New Business – None

Meeting Adjourned