Certified Professional Guardian Board (CPGB)

March 12, 2007

Vice-Chair:
Judge Marywave Van Deren

Members  Present:
Robin Balsam
Ree Ah Bloedow
Ruth Craven
Ray Dingfield
Judge M. Karlynn Haberly
Hank Hibbard
John Jardine
Michael Longyear
Lori Petersen
Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau
Winsor Schmidt
Elizabeth Turner
Judge Marywave Van Deren

Visitors:
Lisa Camerota, Capital Guardianship Services
Roxanne Mennes, King County Bar Association (KCBA)

Members  Absent:     
Commissioner Fred Aronow (Excused)
Deborah Murphy (Excused)
Judge Chris Wickham (Excused)
Suzanne Thompson Wininger (Excused)
Sharon York (Excused)

Staff:
Lynne Alfasso
Shirley Bondon
Sylvia Nelson
Chris Ruhl

Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Board Chair, Judge Vicki Hogan.  Judge Hogan introduced guest Roxanne Mennes from the King County Bar Association (KCBA), Leesa Camerota from Capital Guardianship Services, and Chris Ruhl of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).  The Board members introduced themselves.

MINUTES:
A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the February 12, 2007 minutes.  The motion passed and the minutes were approved.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Roxanne Mennes, Director of Continuing Legal Education for the KCBA, briefed the Board on the role of the KCBA, the current contract provider and on the up-coming Mandatory Initial Certification Training.  She encouraged all Board members to attend, at no cost, as a learning experience or to critique the program.  Roxanne indicated that the KCBA has decided to discontinue holding the course entitled “Advanced CPG Issues” often held at the same time and location as the Mandatory Initial Certification Training.  The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) will assume responsibility for that course, in concert with Roxanne Mennes.  The WSBA plans to hold their first Advanced CPG Issues” continuing education course in July 2007, in conjunction with the Elder Law Section.  It is envisioned that the course will be provided as a two-day institute.  The course will have two tracks, one for attorneys and another for certified professional guardians.  The guardian manual will be updated by board members and staff.

Chair’s Report:
Judge Hogan announced that she has appointed Judge Marywave Van Deren to the position of Vice Chair to the Board, effective immediately. 

Late last year, the Board received a written request to develop a three hour education session for Fall Judicial Conference.  Staff prepared an education session proposal for this request.  Judge Hogan announced that the proposal was not submitted for a variety of reasons and that the education committee for judicial conferences should submit their request for an education proposal to the Superior Court Judges Association, Guardianship, Probate and Trust Committee.

Judge Hogan reminded the Board that during the 2006 board retreat, the Board members agreed to mentor new board members.  The mentoring groups for new Board members are:

?   Robin Balsam, mentor; Deborah Murphy, mentee

?   Judge Hogan, mentor; Judge Van Deren, mentee

?   John Jardine, mentor; Ree Ah Bloedow, mentee

?   Suzanne Thompson Wininger, mentor; Elizabeth Turner, mentee

Three handouts were distributed and noted:  2007 Committee Assignments; an updated History of the Board; and an updated Board Roster.

Judge Hogan announced that a new report, 2006 Annual Decertification Summary Notice, was prepared and distributed in late February.  This report summarized all Board decertification action, for any reason, during 2006.

Vice Chair’s Report: None

The Board went into Executive Session to consider applications for certification as professional guardians.

Concluded Executive Session

The following is the list of applicants who were reviewed for certification as professional guardians and the disposition of their applications.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Todd, Cynthia B.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Martin, Jeanette E.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve voluntary decertification for the following certified professional guardians.  Affidavits were submitted.  Motion approved.

Gerlach, Karen
White, Patricia
Woodard, James - Lori Petersen abstained.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve voluntary decertification for Misner, Yolanda, pending receipt of affidavit of resignation.  Motion approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Application Committee
The Board reviewed a memo, prepared by committee member Ree Ah Bloedow, which summarized all activity to date on a proposed guardian survey.  The Board agreed to conduct a survey of CPGs to determine what duties and tasks CPGs perform, from their perspective, and to develop a demographic profile of certified professional guardians and the incapacitated individuals being served. The Board discussed the draft survey and the method of distribution.

After review of the draft survey, it was moved and properly seconded that the Application Committee immediately modify the survey so as to gather information specifically from either individual guardians and/or agencies and report back to the Board in April.  The motion passed.

Judge Hogan appointed Robin Balsam co-chair of the Application Committee.

Education Committee
Dr. Craven scheduled a meeting for March 14 with the Vice Provost for the University of Washington Extension Office to discuss the possible development of a guardian certificate program. Other members of the Education Committee were invited to attend the meeting, as available.

Public Information Committee
Judge Hogan appointed Deborah Murphy chair of the Public Information Committee.  The AOC is still preparing the 2006 Report to the Supreme Court.

Rules Committee
The Board decided to eliminate the Rules Committee and appoint an Ad Hoc Committee, as needed.

Standard of Practice Committee
Judge Hogan appointed Judge Van Deren chair of the Standards of Practice Committee. A meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2007.

Ethics Committee
Judge Hogan appointed Judge Chris Wickham the co-chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee.  He will assist chair John Jardine, as needed.

Ad Hoc Rules Review Committee
The Ad Hoc Committee presented suggested changes to GR 23, the Disciplinary Regulations, and presented a proposed new Administrative Regulation along with a new Standard of Practice 401.18.

The Board began a line-by-line review of the Disciplinary Regulations.  Several revisions were agreed upon.  This review will continue in May and until completed.

OLD BUSINESS:
The Status Report was reviewed.

New BUSINESS:
Judge Hogan prepared a draft confidential report to the Supreme Court concerning the Board’s concerns about decertification notice vis-a-vie the AOC’s computer tracking system, SCOMIS.  The Board reviewed the report. Motions were made, properly seconded and passed t

?   Ratify the confidential report prepared by Judge Hogan;

?   Submit the confidential report with slight revisions to the Chief Justice;

?   Confirm that a statewide SCOMIS search will be performed for all decertified professional guardians effective 1/1/07;

?   Research all Board decertification action from 2000-2005 and determine if further notice is required after a statewide SCOMIS search is conducted.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next Board meeting is by telephone conference on April 9, 2007 @ 8:00 am.  Please let the AOC know if you are not able to participate so that an accurate count of the ports needed in order to conduct the phone meeting are reserved.

ADJOURN:  Judge Hogan adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Shirley Bondon