MORA Meeting Minutes

December 12, 2007: 10:00 AM

Minutes:

MINUTES MORA December 12, 2007

Attending: Carol Eckert, Kathy Schulz, Mike Rowland, Leslie Walleigh, Leslie Manning, Jonathan Lepoff, Peter Doran, Kim Lim, Ivan Most, Desi-Rae Severson, Ted Bradstreet, and Terry Hathaway

Call to Order. Carol Eckert called the meeting to order at 10:12 a.m. in the Frances Perkins Conference Room A, Central Maine Commerce Center.

Approval of November 14th Minutes. Leslie Manning made a motion to accept the November 14, 2007 minutes as amended. Jonathan Lepoff seconded the motion. Vote, unanimous.

PDAG Update – Leslie Walleigh. Bill Peabody handed out a draft of the annual report. Leslie Walleigh and Al May submitted paragraphs to be included. Leslie Walleigh said it would be helpful if Bill could send out an electronic copy to the PDAG members before next week’s meeting. Leslie W. will check into the Maine Health Data Organization doing a presentation to MORA and PDAG jointly.

Migrant Farmworker Project Update – Peter Doran and Mike Rowland. Peter expressed appreciation for the suggestions that resulted from the Maine Health Access Foundation grant application. Leslie Manning had suggested applying for a grant from Maine Initiatives, which Peter followed up on with the Maine Migrant Health Program, and a decision is due shortly. The grant was for $5,000 to support the completion of the photographic display. Peter circulated a copy of the grant request. Peter is also working with the communications person for Maine Rural Assistance, through Congressman Michaud’s office, although there is no formal request at this point. Peter will also be talking with Leslie Manning regarding scheduling the exhibit to coincide with the Maine Jobs Council/Foreign Born Workers. Earl Dotter has sent Peter the 200 slides. Peter asked Terry to make copies of the 200 slides for him as well as for Leslie Manning. The exhibit will kick off at the State House along with an appropriate ceremony at the end of January or February; Senator Beth Edmonds has gotten the space for three weeks. The exhibit may be here at the Department of Labor, Central Maine Commerce Center, to coincide with the Caezar Chavez. The exhibit will then go to Portland in March (actual dates and space to be determined). Afterwards, it will go to the Harvard School of Public Health April 11th to 24th. The Colby College faculty member and students have agreed to sponsor the exhibit, April 26th. Leslie Manning, Peter, and Mike will get together and map out. MORA members may e-mail suggestions for the Portland location to Mike.

New Hampshire Occupational Needs Assessment – Ivan Most. Ivan announced that the December 14th meeting of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to discuss occupational needs assessment has been canceled. They are planning to meeting in January. If the meeting is held January 10th, Leslie Manning would be able to attend.

Jackson Lab Conference Update – Ivan Most. Ivan said that Jackson Lab has set the dates for the conference, September 2, 3, and 4, 2008. Jackson Lab is handling the logistics. Ivan needs to verify MORA’S support. There will be three panels for the two-day conference. MORA can suggest speakers as well as help advertise. The conference is “invitation only” to 100 to 125 people in a targeted audience as seating is limited. MORA needs to put together a budget. The conference will cost $50,000. Registration fee is $200 per person. Who covers travel costs? Leslie M. stated that Labor would help with printing costs (in-kind services) as well as the MORA Finance Committee.

Ivan asked for suggestions of names for the Conference from MORA members. Ivan has sent an e-mail to the Harvard School of Public Health (Ann Backus and David Christiani) as well as to the University of New England, University of Southern Maine, and Workers’ Compensation Research Institute. Ivan will follow-up. Members are asked to forward names to Ivan and Leslie Manning.

Leslie Manning and Ivan Most and others from MORA will participate on a planning committee as Jackson Lab is doing the “leg” work. Kathy Schulz made a motion that MORA fully support the Jackson Lab Conference, the focus is to be on public policy and protecting workers’ rights. Peter Doran seconded the motion. Vote, unanimous. Peter will meet with Ivan and Leslie Manning on December 18th.

Other & Announcments. It was suggested that the former Cost Drivers group get together regarding Kathy’s work on the “Top 100 Costliest Cases: Workers’ Compen- sation”. Kathy and John (Rioux) are reviewing the final edits and will produce a joint publication. She would like MORA’s name attached to the release. This will be on the SafetyWorks! curriculum. Ivan Most will forward lump sums study he did. Leslie Manning suggested that the Cost Drivers group reconvene before the next MORA meeting. The Cost Drivers group consists of John, Ivan, Jonathan, and Jeff.

Discussion about the OSHA survey and First Reports of Injury took place. Kim reminded folks that the OSHA survey is a sample only

Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The next regularly scheduled MORA meeting for Wednesday, January 9, 2008, is cancelled; therefore, the next regularly scheduled MORA meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, Frances Perkins Conference Room A, Central Maine Commerce Center.

Adjournment. Carol Eckert adjourned the meeting at 11:46 a.m.

/tmh