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Workforce Network of Kansas (WNK) Board members in attendance were Rod Blackburn, David Cleveland, C. B. (Doc) Conder, Gerald Cook, Tim Cotter, Mike Fleming, Robert Giesen, Hoyt Hillman, Vern Jarboe, Martin Kennedy for Pamela Johnson-Betts, Doug Kinsinger, Patricia Kirkman, Criss Mayfield, Lynn Peterson, Candy Ruff, Alicia Salisbury, Candace Shively, James Thompson and Colonel George Webb. James Barone assigned his proxy to Candy Ruff. Shirley Martin-Smith assigned her proxy to Alicia Salisbury. Currently the WNK Board has 33 members; nineteen were in attendance and two had WNKB member proxies.

Guests present for the WNK Board Meeting and/or Training Session were Scott Anglemyer, Local Area III; Bob Baker, LA I LWIB member; David Brennan, Local Area II; Tom Brown, LA I LWIB member; Scotty & Cheri Bunch, LA V LWIB member; Renae Cavaness, LA V LWIB Chair; Dennis Cooper, KDOC; Ron Donner, KDOC; Sister Mary Fasenmyer, LA III LWIB Chair; Blake Flanders, KDOC; Glenn Fondoble, Local Area I; Vince Frye, LA II LWIB member; Gerry Fulwider, LA I LWIB member; Mike Germann, LA IV LWIB member; Steve Gieber, LA I LWIB member; Diane Glass, KS Bd of Regents; Karen Guliford, LA I LWIB member; Larry Guth, LA II LWIB member; Nancy Guthrie, Local Area I; Roman Halbur, LA I CEOB member; Steve Jack, KDOC; Patrick Jonas, Cerebal Palsy Foundation; Brenda Jones, LA III LWIB member; Susan Kavanagh, LA V; George Kearns, LA II LWIB member; Peggy Kelly, LA III LWIB member; Kris Kitchen, Local Area II; Earnie Lehman, LA I LWIB Chair; Dave McEachren, KDOC; Nancy Leonard, LA II; Bobbi Mariani, KS SRS; Karen Meenen, LA V LWIB member; Mary Moon, Workforce Director for Butler County Community College; Don Nelson, LA III LWIB member; David & Cheryl Orr, LA V LWIB member; Kathy Petz, LA I LWIB member; Jon Pettus, LA V; Jeff Read, LA I LWIB Chair; Sharon Spratt, LA II LWIB member; Pat Terick, Cerebal Palsy Foundation; Lori Usher, LA IV LWIB member; Ed Viers, LA V LWIB member; Linda Weaver, KDOC; and Juan Yanez, LA I LWIB member.

The meeting was called to order by WNKB Acting Chair Gerald Cook at 9:00 a.m.

Members offered the Pledge of Allegiance. Gerald Cook introduced new WNK Board Members Rod Blackburn of WB Construction in Wichita (Business Representative); Tim Cotter of Envision in Wichita (Business Rep.); Robert Giesen of B&B Electric Motor Co., in Wichita; Hoyt Hillman of IFPTE Local 2001 in Wichita; Vern Jarboe of Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman, McEntire & Jarboe Law Firm in Topeka; Doug Kinsinger of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce in Topeka; Criss Mayfield of Abbott Workholding Products in Manhattan; James Thompson of Wyandotte Development, Inc. in Kansas City and Colonel George Webb of the Kansas Commission on Veteran’s Affairs in Topeka. Board meeting attendees gave self-introductions.

Minutes of the October 22, 2004 meeting were approved following a Cleveland/Peterson motion.

Acting Chair Cook reported the WNK Board membership is now in compliance after the appointment of new WNK Board members by the governor’s office. Mr. Cook also shared information regarding a survey the City of Salina was conducting to obtain statistics related to future workforce issues.

Linda Weaver and Ron Donner of the Kansas Department of Commerce were introduced by the Chair to report on behalf of the Planning Subcommittee. Mr. Cook told Board members the Plan’s original draft was developed by Ms. Weaver, Mr. Donner and Kansas Department of Commerce staff. He also informed the Board, the Plan can be modified so the Board will, at any time, consider any modification to the Plan deemed necessary.

The Planning Subcommittee held it’s final meeting on May 26, 2005 to complete the draft State Plan for Board consideration. Ms. Weaver informed WNK Board members the Committee reviewed the original draft Plan document in late April after the USDOL disbursed the instructions. With a tight time frame to work with, the Plan was developed, reviewed by Planning Committee members and the draft Plan was published for public comment for 30 days beginning April 14, 2005. Ron Donner reported on responses received from the publication for public comment stating suggestions were received from Heartland Works, Inc. and the SER Corporation. Issues regarding WIA Youth Councils and rapid response were addressed and revisions made.

Acting Chair Cook asked for questions and answered one regarding whether changes were included in the version given to Board Members. The Plan will be posted on the WNK website with changes and revisions as reviewed by Planning Committee members on May 26. Board members not on the Planning Committee would then have access to the final Plan Document. The single largest revision was to the Rapid Response policy. Other changes were technical in nature.

The State Plan was approved by unanimous vote of the WNK Board following a Salisbury/Cleveland motion. The State Plan can be accessed at: http://kdoch.state.ks.us/wianet/index.jsp

Old Business: No old business.

New Business: Acting Chair Cook informed Board Members tentative dates have been set for the 2006 Workforce Summit on January 24 to 26. Arrangements are being formulated to hold the event at the Topeka Capitol Plaza Hotel.

Having no other business, Cook adjourned the Board Meeting at 9:50 a.m. after a Thompson/Cleveland motion.

The WNKB Meeting was followed by the Workforce Investment Board Training Session with presenter Scott Cheney from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.