October 2004

October 9, 2004

Courtyard Las Vegas Convention Center

Las Vegas, NV

COE

Committee Assignments

Darlene - International Access Task Force, Co-chair Resource Development Committee, Technology and Education Committee, Governmental Relations Committee

James - By-laws Committee, Co-chair Strategic Planning Committee, Governmental Relations Committee

Jose - State Initiatives Committee, TRIO Achievers & Alumni Committee, Governmental Relations Committee

The COE Board of Directors met in San Antonio, Texas prior to the COE Conference.   This report will contain highlights of what was discussed, and what is currently being worked on.

Governmental Relations

Congress

FY 2005 Apporpriations

On July 14 th , the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2005 spending bill for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education programs.   TRIO's appropriations were increased by $10 million(1.2%) over 2004, for a total of $842.6 million.   The Senate has passed funding at $852 million figure for TRIO.    Normally funding would be a figure between the two, but Dr. Mitchem warned the Board that the current nature of Congress make such predictions impossible.

Reauthorization

Most predictions are that the current Congress will not act on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act until after January.   If Republicans remain in control of Congress, the current Sub-committee Chairman (Buck McKeon - CA) will most likely continue during that time.   Some supporters of TRIO's prior experience are Congressmen Tom Cole (R-4 th OK) and Donald Payne (D-19 th NJ).

Long Term Strategy

Get 3 for TRIO

Dr. Mitchem informed the Board of the long-term strategy for COE advocating for TRIO.   Some lessons were taken from the NAACP Voter Education Fund.   As another organization fighting for the underrepresented, both organizations can benefit.   As Congress has become a more nebulous entity, more grass roots efforts need to be undertaken to get COE's message out.   One of the best ways to fight for TRIO is to have individuals focus efforts on their Congressional Representative.   The Council therefore has launched the "Get Three for TRIO" voter registration campaign.   By getting support locally for TRIO programs, there is a better chance for better support of programs.

Establishment of the TRIO Caucus

The Congressional TRIO Caucus was approved and established by the House Committee on Administration or May 20 th .   Co-chairs, Congressman Mike Simpson (R-2 nd ID) and Congressman Donald Payne (D-10 th NJ) have now identified 36 Representatives invited to join the TRIO Caucus.

Expansion of TRIO Advocacy Team

Former Congressman Louis Stokes of Ohio who served in Congress from 1969 to 1998, and served much of that time of the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee, has agreed to join the efforts to increase funding for TRIO programs.

Implementation of a More Aggressive Communications Strategy

The COE has fallen short on it's effort to make TRIO a household word.   For 2004-2005 the Council intends to implement a multi-faceted strategy to increase awareness of the accomplishments of TRIO programs and their alumni in the Media.

The Administration

FY 2006 Appropriations Strategy

At least part of the Council's difficulties in moving TRIO appropriations during the Clinton and Bush Administrations have stemmed from a failure on the part of both Administrations to understand the issues of access and retention in higher education as well as these Administrations' devaluing of TRIO in light of their own priorities.   A further issue remains the inability of low-income families and families with students with disabilities to press the need for greater postsecondary opportunity.   For these reasons, the Council is working with Republican supporters of TRIO in the House so that they will convey the needs of TRIO programs to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.   They are also working to point out the importance of this message to policy advisors in the Kerry/Edwards campaign.

Student Support Services Competition

The August 31 st deadline for submitting SSS proposals was extended two weeks for areas that had been declared disaster areas due to hurricanes and typhoons.   Over 1200 proposals had been received by the deadline.   Larry Oxendine announced that he intends to have all proposals submitted in the same fashion in the future.

Upward Bound Cost Per Student Task Force

The COE Task Force on the $5000 cost per student met with Mr. Oxendine to discuss current programs' concerns on the matter.   Almost 2/3rds of requests were approved.   As the main request was for programs to fund a residential component for the summer program, questions were raised about it's importance.   Mr. Oxendine said if the summer residential component was so important, why shouldn't it be required for all Upward Bound Programs?   Mr. Oxendine has decided there will be no change in the policy at this time, but he would be willing to listen to further discussion.

Communications

Dr. Lionel Barrow, former Dean of Howard University's School of Communication, will conduct an audit of COE's present communications activities and will make recommendations on ways to strengthen those efforts.

Council Publications

The Council has published the following materials since May to better communicate with the TRIO Community, policymakers, potential funding organizations and the broader community.

Council Web Site

TRIO Works and on-line registration:   TRIO works will allow TRIO Programs to share programmatic information and alumni success stories with Congress and the broader community, and Council workshops and seminars can now be registered for on-line.

Media relations

To monitor TRIO publicity nationally, the Council has subscribed to the BurrellesLuce national clipping service.   This service provides weekly newspaper clips, website electronic articles, and television and radio news summaries that reference TRIO or the TRIO Programs.

State Initiatives

The State Initiative Section of the Council's web site was launched in June.   Please check the site and update any information you may have for your area.   The RFP for 2005 State Initiatives Campaign Grants was sent out to the TRIO community last month.   The deadline for submitting an RFP is November 1, 2004.   It is the intention of the Committee to award ten $1,000 awards to States that have not received a grant of $400 or more already.   The USA Funds Scholarship Campaign has made awards to all four States within WESTOP.

Other meeting highlights

By-laws Amendment

New By-laws establishing clearer definitions of committees, establishing parameters of the Personnel and Strategic Planning Committees, and establishing an Evaluation and Compensation Committee to oversee the annual change of compensation for the President went through its first reading.   A later motion to waive the second reading of the amendments was not approved.   The regions will have until the December meeting to submit comments on the proposed amendments.   The proposed amendments were sent to all WESTOP BOD members last month.   The proposed amendments will be posted on the WESTOP web-site for all to see.

Treasurer's Report

Detailed breakdowns of the COE annual budget were circulated.   While revenues were only approximately 96% of projections, expenditures were only 90% of projections.   The net effect on the budget left $406,576 to be transferred to the COE reserves.

Executive Session

During the morning Executive Session of the COE, the President's salary increase of 6% and annual bonus of $4,000 was approved.   There was a general consensus that the process this year was the best done by the Board to date.   There have been significant advances for the Council made during the past year above and beyond .   A summary of these accomplishments is available from me if you would like to view them.   Discussion and feedback were allowed about the annual salary increase, and the annual increase was voted upon separate from the annual bonus.   The President's current salary is now $259,130.   This falls into the mid-range of comparable organizations.

Committee Assignments

The COE approved the committee assignments as submitted by Chair-elect Charles Dyson.   The effective date of the appointments is October 1, 2004.   WESTOP appointments are listed at the beginning of this document.

Approval of 2004-2005 Parliamentarian

Eddie Anaya, Executive Director of LEARN, Inc. of Lubbock, Texas, was approved to be the Parliamentarian for the 2004-2005 COE Board of Directors.

Beaumont Foundation of America

A presentation was made to the COE Board by W. Frank Newton of the Beaumont Foundation of America.   This foundation has been established by a class action settlement from Toshiba.   The approximate amount of the unclaimed portion of that settlement is $350 million.   The goal of this organization is to provide technology to underserved communities, schools and individuals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.   The are currently providing computer type labs in many of the Boys & Girls Clubs in the US.   The Foundation would like to work with the Council to identify more areas that can be served by this foundation.

Mr. Newton also reviewed some basic tenants of getting people and organization to give to your cause.   He pointed out that in order for you to get contributions, you must first be willing to give also.   Several other points were raised, and I will gladly share them with anyone who wishes to hear them.

Invitations to Regional Conferences

I have been invited to attend the NASP Fall Conference in Portland, Oregon, SWASAP Conference in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas, and the MAEOPP Conference in Detroit, Michigan.

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