Village of Homer Glen Ability Awareness Committee met Oct. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. Call to Order
Chair Neitzke-Troike called the meeting to order at 6:30pm
2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
3. Roll Call
Present: Chair Neitzke-Troike, Vice Chair Adamczyk, Members McKenna, Crones, and O'Connor
Absent: Members La Ha and Sadler
Also present: Staff Liaison Pasquini
4. Approval of Amendments to the Agenda
No amendments
Member McKenna made a motion to approve the agenda. Co-chair Adamczyk seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed.
5. Approval of Minutes from August 1, 2023
Co-chair Adamczyk made a motion to approve. Member Crones seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Co-Chair Adamczyk asked that wording be changed on the bottom of page 3 of the minutes where Chair Neitzke-Troike said "$948 was spent on school supplies, which 'came out of some other budget that Carmen found it out of." Adamczyk said the way it was worded was a little awkward. Neitzke-Troike said she didn't remember what the name of the budget was. She said, "What we will do for the next meeting is find out what budget and put it in the minutes."
All in favor, none opposed
6. Public Comment (3-minute limit; please sign in before the meeting starts)
None
7. Reports and Communications
a. Report from Chair
Chair Neitzke-Troike asked if the Committee wanted to do a special needs day at (Konow's). She said she had not heard anything from Best Buddies. With only a couple of weeks left, she suggested skipping it this year and pointed out that they don't charge for special needs individuals anyway.
She said there is a Veterans Day event at Konow's on Nov. 5 from 12-3 if the committee wants to have a table there.
b. Report from Staff
Liaison Pasquini shared the current Medical Inventory Sheet with highlighted items
such as adult diapers, socks, etc. She asked if it was okay to donate those items. The committee agreed, and Co-Chair Adamczyk suggested the Fish Pantry in Lockport.
Liaison Pasquini reported that Member Sadler has moved to Carol Stream and would no longer be on the committee. Co-Chair Adamczyk received her resignation and will forward it to Pasquini for records. Chair Neitzke-Troike directed Pasquini to post that the committee is seeking another member.
Pasquni asked about a $500 gift certificate that Gina Spino has in the safe. Chair Neitzke-Troike directed Pasquini to have Spino destroy it. She said that was thought to be lost so Chesdan's gave the committee another one to replace it.
c. Report from Members
Member Crones asked if the committee still wanted him to attend HomerFest meetings on behalf of AAC. Chair Neitzke-Troike said yes, she would like Member Crones and Co-Chair Adamczyk to be liaisons with the Fest committee.
Co-Chair Adamczyk said she would contact Rob from All Around Amusements next week to see if he wants to come to a Village Board meeting to be recognized for all he did for Special Needs Day. She asked if the committee was still open to taking Rob out to dinner. The committee agreed, so she said she would try to set a date for a dinner.
Co-Chair Adamczyk also shared a sheet showing the comments and ideas from the goal-setting exercise at the August meeting. She said the parent support group was one of the ideas that garnered much interest.
Chair Neitzke-Troike suggested taking the November meeting to plan the committee's 2024 events and activities.
8. Old Business
a. Pamphlet
Co-Chair Adamczyk shared the new pamphlet/brochure created by Pasquini. A few changes were recommended. Pasquini said she would update and send it to all.
Co-Chair Adamczyk mentioned possibly having a presentation on therapy dogs and the difference between a service dog and a therapeutic dog.
b. Back to School Social follow-up
Member McKenna shared information from the survey at the Back to School Social. Out of the 9 people who filled it out, the average age of the attendees was 13. We had participants ages 3-7. Most had autism. One had a cognitive impairment, one with Downs Syndrome, one with speech issues. Respondents said they were interested in attending local events and activities with their loved ones with special needs. They all liked the casual, regular meet-up, park party idea, special needs carnival, bowling, restaurant meet up, and concerts. We had one write-in, "Mom meet up." They all liked attending informational sessions. The highest was recreational opportunities.
Pasquini asked if she should put it on the website, email it to our special needs list, and share it on social media. She was directed to do so.
Chair Neitzke-Troike brought up the raffle at the Back to School Social. Two committee members won the $100 Chesdan's gift certificate raffle. Do we want committee members to be able to enter raffles at AAC events or not? She asked committee members to think about it. Co-Chair Adamzcyk suggested avoiding raffles and giving all attendees a small prize.
c. Wheelchair Basketball
Pasquini shared some information Member La Ha had sent her regarding Wheelchair Basketball. The information shows a fee involved, but it was unclear which option the committee would be doing.
Chair Neitzke-Troike said we'd have to partner up with the school. She said 205 would be a big one, so we're not splitting up Homer Glen.
There were some questions and discussion on what is involved and where the funds raised would go.
Chair Neitzke-Troike asked Pasquini if the golf outing was still going to happen. She said yes, but she was not sure when. Chair Neitzke-Troike suggested that Basketball and Golf should be our two main fundraisers.
Chair Neitzke-Troike said have been many FOIAs inquiring about our committee, our events, and where the money raised goes.
If we're going to do a golf outing or basketball, we have to figure out how we're going to do the funding mechanism. The Village is not a 501c3, Homer Cares is. We need to make it very clear where the funds go.
d. Pop Tab Challenge
Chair Neitzke-Troike said she has many communities asking her to engage in a Pop Tab Challenge. She said let's discuss in November.
e. Bubble wall update
Member McKenna hadn't heard anything. Pasquini said she would reach out to Sheree at the Library.
f. Budget
Chair Neitzke-Troike said the committee will come up with a number to request for the next village budget.
g. Official logo
Pasquini clarified that the committee's logo will be the Homer Glen tree logo with "Ability Awareness Committee" underneath, and the Future is Accessible logo will be our sub-logo.
9. New Business
a. Basketball idea from Richard Kruczak
Pasquini said she had spoken briefly with Richard Kruczak, who coaches rec basketball and has a son with special needs who plays. He would like to possibly team up with the committee to offer shootouts/scrimmages for people with special needs a few nights a month. She asked if someone from the committee would follow up with him and see if it is something we want to pursue.
Member Crones said he would call Kruczak.
Chair Neitzke-Troike said she and some others from the HomerFest Committee have concerns about the carnival, AAA Amusement-ankle bracelets on carnies, a pit bull behind one of the rides, the incident with one of the rides up north, not having the Ferris wheel as initially promised, etc. There are some concerns there, she said.
After discussion, Chair Neitzke-Troike suggested meeting with the HomerFest Committee to discuss concerns and ask them to help ensure everyone is safe.
Member O'Connor brought up the Township Highway Department's Grant that the AAC is supposed to judge. Chair Neitzke-Troike said no one has ever approached her about it. The other committee members said they had not been contacted about judging either.
Pasquini said she was told by (former village manager) Carmen Maurella to post it on the village website and share it on social media.
Committee members agreed they did not want to be judges.
Chair Neitzke-Troike said she would send an email letting the Township know AAC won't participate because they had never been informed. Pasquini said she would remove it from our website.
Co-chair Adamczyk said it was never discussed in a meeting except for that first year.
After discussion, the committee agreed they did not want to be affiliated with this year's township grant. The committee agreed they would have been happy to help had they known about it.
10. Adjournment
Co-chair Adamczyk motioned to adjourn at 7:30pm, Member O'Connor seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed.
http://www.homerglenil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10102023-2620
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