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VOR Weekly E-Mail Update
August 3, 2007
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Contents
VOR's AWARENESS INITIATIVE -
COMING UP FOR VOR
1. VOR to exhibit NEXT
WEEK at the National Conference of State Legislature 2007 Annual
Meeting
2. VOR - an Official Sponsor of
the 8th Annual World Congress & Expo on Disabilities
IN THE NEWS
3. In the news: Hope for
Lincoln? Lincoln Developmental Center may be closer to reopening
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1. VOR to
exhibit NEXT WEEK at the National Conference of State
Legislature 2007 Annual Meeting
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VOR is an Exhibitor at the 2007 National Conference of State
Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
NCSL's Strong States Strong Nation 2007 State Legislative Summit is the largest,
most prestigious and balanced meeting state lawmakers and staff
can attend anywhere in the nation, and it is hosted by America’s
premier legislative organization, the National Conference of
State Legislatures.
What is NCSL?
The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan
organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the
states, commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research,
technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to
exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an
effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states
in the American federal system.
What is the
NCSL Annual Meeting?
Each summer, NCSL brings thousands of legislators and staff
together for the largest and most substantive meeting of its
kind in the nation. The Annual Meeting provides more than 150
informative sessions and presents nationally renowned speakers
on the issues that matter. Speakers have included the president
of the United States, congressional leaders, cabinet members and
experts from universities, think tanks and the private sector.
Why target
the states?
Innovative, creative ideas for confronting and solving the
problems that matter to people come from the states. They are
the forum for the ideas of the nation--managed care, electric
utility restructuring, transportation, taxes, welfare reform and
many others. How lawmakers shape policies and buy products and
services will affect the way you do business.
Issues
At the state level, 195,000 pieces of legislation are introduced
biennially. Of these, 45,000 become law. If your organization is
concerned about an issue, NCSL's Annual Meeting and Exhibition
offers you an opportunity to get your message to the right
people.
Who are the
meeting delegates?
Attendees include key legislators, senior legislative staff,
state and federal agency personnel and government relations
managers from corporations, associations and special interest
groups. When you exhibit at the Annual Meeting, you'll be
meeting the decision makers from state legislatures throughout
the country. Twenty percent of the nation's legislators attend
the NCSL Annual Meeting. Overall, this select group represents
the most influential state lawmakers in the nation. Legislative
leaders from virtually every state attend the Annual Meeting.
Legislative leaders are the most powerful lawmakers in the
state; they often control both legislation and purchasing.
Legislative committee chairs and members are well-represented at
the Annual Meeting. During the legislative sessions, these
committee members consider bills in their state that may affect
your organization's products, services or concerns.
VOR WILL BE
THERE!
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2. VOR - an
Official Sponsor of the 8th Annual World Congress & Expo on
Disabilities
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VOR will be exhibiting at this event which will be attended by
more than 5,000 people, including family members of people with
mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
The 8th
annual World Congress & Expo on Disabilities, Nov. 15, 16 & 17,
2007 – Washington, DC –
www.wcdexpo.com.
Includes the Home Accessibility Pavilion… and Disabilities
Career Fair! Come to the WCD Expo to speak with dozens of
leading associations, see hundreds of the newest products and
services, and network with thousands of people with
disabilities, their families and caregivers. And the
professionals who serve them.
Where the disability community comes
together.
VOR WILL BE
THERE!
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3. In the news:
Hope for Lincoln? Lincoln Developmental Center may be closer to
reopening
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2007
By Kurt
Erickson
SPRINGFIELD --
Efforts to reopen part of a state home for developmentally
disabled residents may have gotten a small boost earlier this
week.
The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board gave its approval
to allow the state to operate four, 10-bed homes for
developmentally disabled residents on the grounds of the former
Lincoln Developmental Center.
State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, said he was "encouraged"
by the health board's decision. He supports opening the four
homes because it could allow residents of the facility to be
closer to their families.
Similarly, the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees union, which once represented hundreds of
workers at the facility, said it was welcome news.
"There is clearly a need for housing these individuals in the
Lincoln area," said AFSCME Council 31 spokesman Anders Lindall.
But a spokesman for the agency that oversees the facility
downplayed the latest move as little more than shuffling
paperwork.
"Nothing has changed," said Tom Green, spokesman for the
Illinois Department of Human Services.
Asked what the board's move means for the future of the facility
and the 60 jobs it might create, Green said, "Truthfully,
nothing."
The institution was shuttered five years ago by former Gov.
George Ryan after incidents of abuse and neglect began surfacing
at the facility.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised to reopen the institution when he
was on the campaign trail in 2002, but backed off after
opponents of large institutions such as LDC waged a campaign to
move the state toward providing more small, community-based
settings for people with developmental disabilities.
As a compromise, officials agreed to build the four homes on the
103-acre grounds at a cost to taxpayers of about $4.6 million.
But, they have sat empty and unused, costing the state nearly $1
million per year to keep from deteriorating.
Green said the governor hopes to get funding to operate the four
homes in this year's budget, which remains unfinished.
The estimated $5.9 million operating price tag is buried in the
governor's original budget proposal in a spending request by the
Department of Human Services.
"DHS is working on plans to use the buildings, but no final
decisions yet," said Green.
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Tamie Hopp
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