Certified Professional Guardian Board (CPGB)

May 14, 2007

Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by the Board Chair, Judge Vicki Hogan.  Judge Hogan introduced guests Leesa Camerota from Capital Guardianship Services, Ken and Sylvia Curry from Your Advocates, and Todd Samsul from Partners-in-Care.

MINUTES:
A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the April 9, 2007 minutes.  The motion passed and the minutes were approved without revision.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Leesa Camerota commented that she had not completed the guardian survey. She felt that more time was needed to allow time for more professional guardians to complete the survey. 

Chair’s Report:
Judge Hogan reported that the Board’s 2006 Annual Report to the Supreme Court was complete and had been distributed to all Supreme Court Justices, all Superior Court judicial officers as well as all Board members.  Judge Hogan thanked Shirley Bondon for the preparation and excellent work done on this annual report.

Judges Hogan and Van Deren met with Butch Stussy, Chief Justice Alexander, and Dirk Marler at the SCJA Spring Conference.  They brought the Chief up-to-date on the SCOMIS tracking of CPGs, the professional guardian decertification summaries for 2006 and 2000-2005, the demanding workload for a volunteer Board, and the basis for the Board’s request for a full time CPG Standards of Practice Grievance Investigator.  Judge Hogan indicated that she and Judge Van Deren would like an opportunity to review the position description for the Boards grievance investigator.

The Public Guardianship legislation passed.  The governor signed the legislation but vetoed the Advisory Committee included in the legislation. The Board offered its assistance to being a resource to the Office of Public Guardianship to the Chief Justice but pointed out but noted that the Board is not interested in controlling the office.  The Office of the Public Guardianship and the CPG Board need to remain separate and distinct given their respective directives under GR 23 and the approved legislation.

Commissioner Aronow resigned from the Board effective May 31st.  Commissioner Valente has expressed an interest to serve as well as a willingness to commit to the required work of the Board.  The Chair will submit his name to the Chief Justice.  The time period for accepting requests for letters of interest to serve on the Board from professional guardians has ended. The sub-committee will review the letters received and make a recommendation. It was reported that the terms of five current Board members expire September 2007. The Board will need to seek replacements.

Vice Chair’s Report:

Judge Van Deren would like the Board to consider revising the disciplinary process to bring it more in line with the process used by the Washington State Bar Association.

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

Concluded Executive Session

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 Adams, Molly.  Suzanne Thompson Wininger abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Armstrong, Angie.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Burkdoll, Judith.  Ree Ah Bloedow and Suzanne Thompson Wininger abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Concerned Citizens.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Darrin, Karen.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Gibbs, Cynthia.  Elizabeth Turner and Chris Wickham abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Gordon, Miryam.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Harden, Loraine.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Hoehnen Guardianship Foundation.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Hough, Nancy.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Low, Janice.  Elizabeth Turner abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of McPherson-McDonell, Loralee.  Robin Balsam abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Mihet, Ester.  Ree Ah Bloedow and Suzanne Thompson Wininger abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Molin, Susan.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Peterson, Maria.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Selgren, Deborah.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Schleer, Mary.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Wade, Phillip.  Ree Ah Bloedow and Suzanne Thompson Wininger abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Winters, Cynthia.  Chris Wickham abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the application of Zamudio, Paula.  Ree Ah Bloedow abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Armfield, Dixie.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Ferguson, Robert.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Franklin, Janet.  Suzanne Thompson Wininger abstained.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Kreighbaum, Deanne.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Kubecka, Michael.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Loveland, Giselle.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Parish, Linda.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Potter, Shauna.  Motion approved.

A motion was made and properly seconded to deny approval of the application of Retter, Ross.  Ree Ah Bloedow abstained.  Motion approved.

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

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve inactive status for Gail Haskett. Motion approved.

Arc of Cowlitz County
Myers, Cynthia
Myers, Robert
Schoonover, Melissa
Zielke, Robert

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

A motion was made and properly seconded to decertify the following guardians for failure to comply with CEU regulations.  Motion approved.

Couey, Jason                           Fullmer, Carol                     Kimball, Mark
Misner, Gail                                Nave, Victoria                     Rohwedder, Mandy
Rohwedder, Robyn                  Roth, Gabrielle                   Schoen, Fred
Schubert, Frank                        Szott, Shellie

Presentation:

Judge Hogan presented Commissioner Aronow with a letter from Chief Justice Alexander, as well as a certificate of appreciation for his many years of service.  This was his last meeting as a Board member but may be called upon to serve on Review Panels and other work of the Board, as needed.  Commissioner Aronow agreed to continue on those Review Panels to which he is currently assigned.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Application Committee
The guardian survey was sent to all professional guardians and agencies both electronically and in hard copy.  There was discussion and agreement to extend the time period by which to complete the guardian survey.  The AOC will notify the CPGs of the extension with the understanding that the survey results will not be available for discussion at the retreat.

Education Committee
Revised Continuing Education Regulation 200 was approved as published.  The revision will be posted on the AOC CPG website.

The Education Committee submitted a plan to convene a group of stakeholders to assist in the development of a 90-hour non-credit certificate program. The Board approved the plan. The meeting will be held July 9, 2007 at a location and time to be announced.  The AOC will send out the invitation to participate as soon as possible to ensure attendance from a well-represented group.

Standard of Practice Committee

The SOPC will meet immediately following the Board meeting.

Ethics Advisory Committee

The Ethics Advisory Committee would like the Board to have a lengthy philosophical discussion about the definition of “meaningful visits” and how to handle low asset cases during the June retreat. 

OLD BUSINESS:
The 2000-2005 Guardian Decertification Report is complete and will be disseminated to all Superior Courts judicial officers as well as all recipients on the regular decertification distribution list.

The Status Report of CPGs was reviewed.

NEW BUSINESS: None.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next Board meeting will take place at the retreat, June 22 & 23, 2007.  Dirk Marler and Chris Ruhl will be joining the Board for that meeting.  All Board members are encouraged to attend the retreat June 22 and 23, 2007.

ADJOURN:  Judge Hogan adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Shirley Bondon