Hello members:
The executive committee appreciates all of the suggestions for the agenda format for the 130p general meeting on Saturday, March 13. The general meeting is open to the public and an invitation to come to the meeting has been shared with VtAD to welcome the deaf community.
The format will be as follows…
45 minutes for candidates Q+A from members
45 minutes for candidates Q+A from deaf community
45 minutes for other agenda items such as new director for Deaf / Deaf-Blind / Hard of Hearing and Vancro, which is the agency that won the bid to replace VIRS for state-wide referral service.
Since the deaf community hasn’t had the same access to the Q+A process as members do, they will be allowed to ask questions “from the floor” during the second 45 minutes time period by sending the raised-hand icon in the zoom chat window. The executive committee has developed four rules for the Timekeeper that will ensure equal access for all candidates.
The role of Timekeeper is to make sure:
1. Everyone has an opportunity to participate in Q+A with each candidate.
2. Each answer from candidates must be limited to 90 seconds.
3. Each question must be respectful and not personal.
4. During the first 45 minutes, Timekeeper will read each question submitted from members in ASL and ask for the answer from candidates following rule #2 along with controlling the flow of turns. Then, during the second 45 minutes, Timekeeper will select questions from deaf community by calling on them individually following the raised-hand icon in the chat window. Deaf person will ask the question in ASL. If the question does not violate rule #3 then Timekeeper will ask candidates for the answer while following rule #2 and controlling the flow of turns.
The design of this format is based on the fact that many candidates have supported the idea of VtRID partnership with deaf community. Also, grouping questions from members apart from questions from deaf community will allow space for differences in respective cultural viewpoints and focus topics in regard to questions.
The Timekeeper will be assisted by John Pirone, VtAD liaison, with the technical side of the zoom platform and keeping track of time within each Q+A session.
Lastly, on Saturday March 13, Vancro will be hosting a zoom session at noon, prior to the 130p general meeting start time and has respectfully asked that members attend the noontime zoom meeting so all questions from members can be addressed thoroughly.
The executive committee hopes that this gives you a clearer understanding of the process for the general meeting on Saturday March 13. This process will be reviewed again at the beginning of the general meeting.
Thank you,
David
David Krueger, CDI, CLIP-R
VtRID President