Jack Cassell New Council Member
15 08 2007
After I served about 11 years of being member of Interstate TRS Fund Council representing NASRA - National Association of State Relay Administrators - sadly my term expired. The good news is that the NASRA exec board chose an equally highly qualified deaf person who will be the new representative for NASRA and will partake of the Council meetings (twice a year). His name is Jack Cassell and the picture of Jack is displayed. The Council is like a watchdog for reimbursement rates and costs of relay service.
There are now several deaf and hard of hearing persons on the Council. Warren Barnett who is now the chair of the Council - he represents Hearing and Speech Disability Community, Larry Brick (deaf family) from Pa - he represents TRS Users, Kelby Brick from CA - he represents TRS Providers and Sheila Conlon-Mentkowski from CA - she represents Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities.
Information on Jack.
Jack R Cassell, WI TRS Contract Administrator
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Enterprise Technology
101 E. Wilson, St. 8th floor
Madison, WI 53707-7844
Voice: 1-800-901-8389
TTY: 608-267-6934
FAX: 608-266-2164
E-Mail: jack.cassell@wisconsin.gov
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
RT Admin.
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Only 260 Deaf or HOH applied for Video Relay System (VRS) and it doesnt sound a good statistic in SC. The problem is that majority of SC Deaf cannot afford fast-speed Internet, secondly they live out in rural or out in country and not provide cable or DSL in their area. How can we help those unfortunate Deaf with this problem. Many Deaf or HOH are fighting with Cable or DSL to have line run thru their area, but it costs over $1,000 or more. If a Deaf lives in out in farm and not many houses around area, the Cable or DSL wont install opitical line in that area. What can TRS help with this matter? This VP is a wonderful tool for the Deaf to communicate. Another problem I had contacted the Horry County Library and State Library and the SC School for the Deaf they have weak band width, how can we solve this problem. My suggestion to urge FCC to increase the speed of Internet or DSL. In Japan their speed for Internet is more faster than ours. My union with CWA had urged me to contact Congress to increase the speed of Internet. I have to admit the VP 100 is not a good quality device to begin with. They should have waited to make sure all features are in top condition, I guess they couldnt wait to get the VP 100 off regardless of the quality. There is so many problems with VP 100.
kudos to jack..we know he will do well..
anybody know anything about 100 minutes prepaid cards for internet access??
im getting word here and there on grapevine but no evidence…
such thing exists?
:::shaking my head::: Conflict of interest. No VRS employee (or anything remotely resembling) should be on boards like this! No board member should have relatives also on the board. Kelby Brick represents HOVRS. Kelby’s father is on the board. What’s going on, really? Whatever happened to truly diverse representation. Typical Deaf community!
Just curious!
Do they get paid to be on board (member of Interstate TRS Fund Council representing NASRA)?
There was a rumor that a board member gets $40,000 a year under VRSCA? Is that true! http://www.vrsca.org/
Jack… Congratulations on being appointed to serve on the Interstate TRS Fund Council.. I trust that you will be our valuable watchdog and will do a good job to ensure everyone gets a fair share of the funds.
DeafSpook,
Your comments are not the first one that I’ve seen before. Because Interstate TRS Fund Council focuses on reimbursement rates and cost breakdown so to be a member of Interstate TRS Fund Council, one has to be and must be knowledgable on relay issues and is good with crunching nbrs. The FCC was the one who decided who will represent the Council, and apparently the FCC felt feedback from relay industry was needed.
Larry represents deaf and hard of hearing while Kelby represents TRS providers. How it works: for Larry, several national deaf leaders chose Larry to be representative; for Kelby it was the vote of Relay providers that chose Kelby to be a representative.
Warren is hard of hearing person who does not know sign language, but he sure knows his stuff. Rebecca Ladew is a wheeler and has proved to be invaluable. Larry is forever on the side of consumer so he shines as a representative of consumers. Sheila - she is deaf and a lawyer, so her legal understanding of relay issues plus her long history of involvement with relay will be valuable. Jack is new, but no stranger to relay service (started in early 1990 just same as I did) and he represents regulatory agency. I think the Council is well represented by various parties. In the early years of Interstate TRS Fund Council, only one or two deafies were represented. Now more than two which I honestly think is an improvement. Thanks, DeafSpook, for bringing this issue up. I know ure not alone in thinking that. eyes open and thumbs up, Ed
Peachlady,
(I like that name
Reps for NASRA does not get paid. Or for that matter any of the members of the Interstate TRS Fund Council do not get paid. They are reimbursed for lodging, meal, and traveling expenses -that’s it.
As for VRSCA - I think only regional coordinators (I think there are 3 of them now) do get paid, but how much, I have no foggiest idea.
eyes open & thumbs up, Ed
Matt,
Prepaid Minutes for Internet exists. Just google “prepaid minutes internet” and you will get a long list of companies offering that. I was surprised to see that. eyes open & thumbs up, Ed