INDIANA ADVOCATES WRITE TO THE FEDS - AGAIN

JODI AND RAMONA APPEAL TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -
RSA STILL REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT INDIANA 

4 YEARS AFTER THEY ISSUED A DAMNING REPORT OF FINDINGS
TELLING EVERYBODY THAT THEY HAD 30 DAYS TO FIX THE MESS.......
FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE STILL CONCERNED

	For those who don't know, after years of hearing charges of fraud
and corruption from Indiana advocates, RSA hired an independent consultant
to take a look at Indiana's IL program (see
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=2710). 

	Then they came out for 2 days, then a week, to see for themselves,
and ended up Issuing a damning report of findings about the multiple
violations of federal law going on in Indiana by the state Voc Rehab
agency and the so-called independent living council (see a summary at
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=3545, or read the
whole thing at http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=3351.

	Anyway, while they were in Washington, D.C. recently, Jodi James
and Ramona Harvey (check out a boatload of recent postings from them and
related to the recent Indiana SILC meeting), these elected officers of
the Indiana SILC met with representatives from the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) of the U.S. Dept. of Education. They were told that
indeed, RSA is still VERY CONCERNED about the Indiana situation, which
they said was very difficult and complicated. Anyway, they got back to the
insanity you can read about at http://seriouslyil.blogspot.com/,
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=5815;&sort=D or
multiple other sites on the dimenet, or watch at
http://everybodycounts.org/icoil/oct2006icoil.htm. 

	So Jodi and Ramona worked together to send the following APPEAL to
federal officials to help them bring the council into compliance with the
federal laws that RSA told them they were in violation of 4 YEARS AGO! 

THEIR E-MAIL:

From: ramona harvey <ramonaharvey@yahoo.com>
Subject: Indiana SILC
Important information and documentation you need to be aware of

To: Thomas.Kelley@ed.gov
 Felipe.Lulli@ed.gov
 James.Billy@ed.gov

Jodi James jjames@pnc.edu

Dear Tom, Felipe, and James, This e-mail contains important information
and documentation you need to be aware of.  As you well know, the
legitimately elected chair, Jodi James and I have long held concerns about
the way this council is operating and disregarding the Report of Findings
while sending in information, in our names, we have not even had an
opportunity to discuss as a council.  I know that there is a lot of
information here, but I want you to be informed Please take the time to
read. 

I am forwarding an e-mail sent to the council at large as well as the
minutes for the October meeting. (Attached: draft oct. 11 minutes.doc)
These minutes contain the statements that Jodi James and I tried to read
at the meeting. Unfortunately instead of having a rational discussion the
police were called in by the DSU even though I was not threatening any
physical harm and just trying to read a statement.  You don't have to take
my word for it, there is video online at:
http://everybodycounts.org/icoil/oct2006icoil.htm

In September, a gathering of council members got together, with the agenda
of getting rid of Jodi James and myself because we were trying to get them
to do what you asked us to do and told us to do with the report of
findings. Please, I ask again that you again Review the Indiana SILC ASAP. 

This gathering can not be considered an official meeting because it was
cancelled in accordance with all governing laws.  It was held in violation
of open door (the public did not have access to the meeting - neither was
notice sent to the council that a previously cancelled meeting was
officially uncancelled).  It was also held in violation of the ADA because
there was no interpreters available.  (The interpreter that they used was
Nancy Young who has a definate conflict of interest considering she works
for the state) But then as you can see if you look at the evidence we
still have a great deal of trouble with the DSU exerting control over the
council - even though you said this should not happen.  It is important to
note that the chair had the authority through the bylaws (Also attached
see marked up bylaws) and that a regular meeting schedule has never been
set (and nobody has been able or willing to provide documentation that a
regularly set meeting schedule was established. 

But all of this is confusing so, lets break it down:

1) As chair of the Indiana Council on Independenet Living Jodi James, sent
out a notice on August 22, 2006, to cancel the regular monthlyy meeting of
the council (ICOIL).  This meeting was to be held on nWednesday, September
13, 2006.  This was cancellation was posted on the Family and Social
Services Administration website calendar where all public notices of ICOIL
are posted. (Evidence see other.schedule.pdf Attached and e-mails)

2) The Executive Committee of ICOIL then met on September 1, 2006, and
voted to move the monthly meetitng to September 22, 2006, instead of
cancelling it. NOtice was made on September 6 via email to all council
members and it was posted on the Family and Social Services Administration
website. (See Attached formally.cancelled.pdf and attached e-mails)

In the words of Jodi James - Duly elected Chair

On September 18, 2006, I found out that a majority of council members,
including two executive committee members, had a meeting on September 13,
2006.  This meeting was not held in the original room that had been posted
since I cancelled the room along with the meeting.  They also did not have
certified interpreters at the meeting which had been requested.  This
meeting should not have been held and should not be considered valid since
it was posted to the public as first cancelled and then rescheduled. 
There was no notice made to all council members nor to the public that the
meeting was going to be held against the decision of the executive
Committee.  This council is Governor-appointed and is covered under state
statute, IC 12-12-8

Anyway at this September gathering which should not be considered valid,
they made a motion to have Jodi James and I removed of office for breach
of ethics, misconduct and dereliction of duty of office. 

The only problem is all we were trying to do is make sure the council
starts actually following the report of findings issued by the federal
government and our other governing laws.  It would be different if they
would provide evidence of whatever we have done wrong, but they do not. 
They not only do not provide evidence, but they did not even give us the
opportunity to defend ourselves or address any concerns. 

Jodi James and I have just been trying to do the right thing and actually
follow the report of findings and our governing laws, and for doing that
we are getting beat up and I don't really cares who knows it.  But in
particular, I thought it very important that you are informed and aware of
the situation. 

Again, I reiterate, I stand to gain nothing financially, and have based
all of my actions on the laws that are supposed to be governing us. 
Looking forward keeping you informed and working with you in the future,

Ramona Harvey - Duly Elected ICOIL Secretary


SENT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM RAMONA HARVEY, SECRETARY

Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:57:26 -0700 (PDT)
Fellow Council Members,

Attached is the information contained in the packet provided to everyone
at the last council meeting.  Things were a little hectic and I want to
make sure that anyone who may have left their packet in the confusion
still has access to this information.  Please look at the information
carefully and with an open mind.  The packet contained the following: 

The Bylaws: which give both the chair and the executive committee the
authority to cancel a meeting and set meeting schedules.  (No regular
schedule has ever been set) with relevent and important passages
highlighted. 

The E-mails regarding meetings: chair provides notice to the council about
the cancellation and later the moving of the ICOIL Meeting to Sept. 22. 

The official posting of cancellation of meeting - from FSSA
website...printed on August 27, 2006. 

The Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - which outline concerns and
reasons why the majority of the Executive Committee decided to reschedule
the already cancelled meeting to Sept 22

The official posting that the formally cancelled meeting was moved to the
22 - from FSSA website printed Sept. 6th. 

Attendence Information:  This information is important because there were
concerns about anyone who has attended less then half the meetings being
able to know what is going on, and objectively chair a meeting.  It is
also provided to show that there was a reasonable belief that it was
unlikely a quorum would be attained. 

Council members with perfect attendence from May-August Jodi James (one
meeting teleconferenced), Kieth Coros, Ramona Harvey, Melissa Madill, Al
Tolbert, Richard Simers

Council members with poorest attendence (less then 50%) Emas Bennett, Dee
Ann Hart, Tom Cooney, John Denny, Beth Quarles, Rhonda Aimes

Please let me know if you have further questions, or I can be of further
assistance,

Ramona Harvey - ICOIL Secretary