GET INVOLVED & STAY INVOLVED IN EDUCATION

GET INVOLVED & STAY INVOLVED in EDUCATION THIS YEAR!!! ~ Sign Up & VOLUNTEER at your favorite or not so favorite school this year! Our Children NEED PARENTS to GET INVOLVED IN EDUCATION! Do Your Part & Volunteer consistently & regularly! 

Fill out this ONLINE FORM so you can become a Broward Schools Parent Volunteer!


Click link below:  http://www.browardschools.com/sbbc_volunteer/VolunteerForm.aspx

AMENDING an ANNUAL IEP without holding an IEP

When the IEP Team Meets ~ click to read great www.NICHCY.ORG resource about IEP meetings.


Great info on AMENDING an Annual IEP 

New Provisions in IDEA 2004: Amending the IEP Without Meeting

(4) Agreement. (i) In making changes to a child’s IEP after the annual IEP Team meeting for a school year, the parent of a child with a disability and the public agency may agree not to convene an IEP Team meeting for the purposes of making those changes, and instead may develop a written document to amend or modify the child’s current IEP.

(ii) If changes are made to the child’s IEP in accordance with paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section, the public agency must ensure that the child’s IEP Team is informed of those changes.

(5) Consolidation of IEP Team meetings. To the extent possible, the public agency must encourage the consolidation of reevaluation meetings for the child and other IEP Team meetings for the child.

(6) Amendments. Changes to the IEP may be made either by the entire IEP Team at an IEP Team meeting, or as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, by amending the IEP rather than by redrafting the entire IEP. Upon request, a parent must be provided with a revised copy of the IEP with the amendments incorporated. [§300.324(a)(4)-(6)]

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/iep/meetings#nomeeting 
*Click above link to read entire article and reference resource.

24 min/ 8 sec IEP Hostile Take-Over ~ Broward ESE Dept. NONSENSE

Should I post my 24min/8sec iPhone recording of the Hostile take over of my daughter's 5/30/12 IEP on FB?


.....or post it here on my blog? 


....just asking................


I'm having a tad bit-o-trouble here in Broward schools.


My daughter Mariah Elizabeth doesn't even know that bad people attend IEP meetings that don't care about her.....they call themselves PROFESSIONALS! 


......I'll say! 
.....this WAS a Professional job that's for sure!

FORCED OUT OF THE IEP PROCESS TODAY!!!

What is with BROWARD ESE DEPARTMENT and pushing their agenda to do what is now being called, "BEST PRACTICES" ~ not a real policy in writing anywhere.....but a 'suggested best practice' ~ if your child's ANNUAL IEP is November 1st or before Nov. 1st, it is suggested...oops I mean it is being FORCED on you that you WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ANNUAL IEP in May before your child matriculates into the next school level, as my daughter Mariah is going on into the 6th grade to Middle School! 


.......but what about the fact in writing that I have been REQUESTING AN INTERiM IEP since like March maybe even late Feb~ yes in many written emails to several of my need and my request to have an interim....all fell on deaf ears or wasn't considered because there was never a RESPONSE to my requesting an interim. With no communication pertaining to when a meeting time would be scheduled ~ NOW TODAY I am all set to have my much awaited interim iep meeting......I have waited long enough! With 5 1/2 school days left of this school year ~ I was all set to have a good meeting with her IEP Team! The time for me to have my meeting today was very accommodating to have it start at 9AM and run till 3PM if we needed. Unheard of by today's standard's, since several of my friends now are only being allowed 30 minutes to an hour to hold their IEP meetings! It was going to be a good day...all was good this morning.


The classroom/meeting room was PERFECT ~ absolutely perfectly set up to be able to work together as a collaborative TEAM! The student desks and chairs were set up in a perfect SEMI-CIRCLE with the projection ready for viewing the electronic Ez-IEP on the white board on the wall. Mariah's IEP TEAM was all sitting around waiting for me to arrive, all nice and relaxed and waiting as I walked in. Just how LONG HAD THEY ALL BEEN SITTING THERE?? Were they sitting there PRE-Discussing anything about my meeting BEFORE I arrived? I wonder as this also seems to be common practice here in Broward, where parents are always the last ones to enter the meeting. I walked in with my 2 advocates, we picked chairs to sit in and I quickly set up my laptop and recorder, pulling out all my paperwork & notes ready to start the meeting. Wait a minute.....I had advocates with me! Why?  ~ I AM THE ADVOCATE! 
Why did I bring 2 advocates with me today? 
...because we all need to take an advocate now and again. Today I didn't want any funny-funny stuff being pulled on me alone, especially with my daughter moving on into middle school. I wanted to make sure Mariah's IEP document stayed SOLID as I felt it was. Mariah's IEP is a darn good one, a well written IEP today, which expires the end of September. This is another reason why I like to set up an interim  IEP at the end of every school year to prepare and plan for the first few months of the upcoming new school year, with all new teachers. To me that is the 'best practice' that I have always done over the years.


This morning what happened to me should never have happened...to me or to anyone! ....and it's a 'best practice' thing? Best Practice for WHO? Certainly not for me and or for my daughter's benefit! 


I am sickened that a Program Specialist or a "compliance specialist" as they are now sometimes called here in Broward County and even the ESE Specialist, how these people are so quick to suggest and basically force you to FILE for a Due Process Hearing ~ if you don't like what is being done at that moment in our IEP meetings, this is the push! This seems to be our districts quick-fix and the answer to doing things THEIR WAY!! Well heck, Broward public schools has some pretty pricey lawyers don't ya think?? .....and this is all done in the BEST INTEREST of my daughter ~ really??! 


FORCING ME to agree that this particular IEP meeting was now going to be Mariah's ANNUAL IEP is how the ESE employee side of Mariah's IEP was going to PUSH ME into moving ahead with this meeting. This was mostly coming from a program specialist that I don't think she even knows what color my daughters eyes are or how long her hair is now! ~ How dare all the ESE EMPLOYEES in attendance of this meeting force and make my daughters teacher-of-the-year and therapists be forced to have to SIT & WATCH and be now be part of AIR GETTING SO THICK like a DARK STORM CLOUD coming over all of us! All done with such a strong sense of, don't know what words to use here to describe the feeling in the air........certainly nothing but W R O N G going on!!! It was all very wrong indeed~!! This was not what I was hoping to accomplish today at my daughter's meeting!


I came prepared to update & make sure things would be in place to run smoothly for her starting in the Fall at her new Middle school. She was accepted in a MAGNET PROGRAM!! The S.T.E.M. Magnet Program!!!! I came prepared to be part of meeting I had been requesting since March - I documented all over the signed PPF that I was NOT agreeing to this meeting being an ANNUAL as had been 'suggested' - guess our district makes up their own "best practices" aka Broward made-up rules (no written policies have ever been provided when I asked) - my school ESE Specialist - Mariah's wonderful Wilson Reading ESE Teacher - and a District ESE "WIND-UP ROBOT" speaking to me like she had a scratch in the CD or like a broken record repeating the same sentences in her monotone voice. She was SENT and sitting there only to strong-arm and BULLY me at my meeting! Sitting there only to force me to agree and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP. Everyone knew in all of my previous emails that I had always been requesting and wanting to hold an interim meeting, since March! What was the BIG DEAL ~ Why now was there this PUSH TO FORCE this meeting to be an ANNUAL IEP? I felt Mariah's IEP was still good to go. She was still working on some pretty solid academic goals that still I felt needed to be carried over into Middle school. 


There was no one in attendance from her Middle school, to provide input or information pertaining to the magnet program curriculum. The S.T.E.M. Director from the Middle school was going to be stepping into the meeting a little later. 


How can one person that doesn't even KNOW MY DAUGHTER put such spin & create such a negative force on how a meeting WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD and GO? I announced that I wanted to STOP the meeting! I stood up and started gathering all my things ~ She stated, "THEY WILL STILL GO AHEAD WITHOUT ME!" She sounded like a broken record with no emotions to what she was creating all by herself like a ROBOT with a skip in the recording! Really??!! How is this in the BEST INTEREST for my daughter's education and for Mariah going into a new Middle School? WHO or where was this person getting her ORDERS FROM?


This is not how I saw my daughter's interim IEP meeting going this morning when I woke up after so little sleep preparing for a productive meeting for Mariah's educational supports for next year in Middle school.


This was to be Mariah's LAST IEP Team meeting at Stephen Foster Elementary ~ going to this same school since she was 4 years old! She will be 14 years old in September. Thanks for my "going away meeting" I have anticipated for way too long! ~ I have a gut-feeling that this has to do with the new principal in some way. Considering he enjoyed censoring each and everyone of my emails this entire school year! Yes ~ I said ALL of my emails were censored by my school principal this year. Can't wait to see what MESS this will bring! 


Thanks for the end-of-the-year PaRtY!! Stephen Foster Elementary School has been good to my daughter! Most of Mariah's teachers were awesome and workable and wonderful to work & talk with and really cared that Mariah was successfully educated and gained higher level skills! There have been a few teachers that certainly have alot to be desired in the stand-off attitude towards me over the years. Some teachers just don't have it in them to work collaboratively with involved, concerned parents like me. But for the most part Mariah has always had WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT CARED ABOUT MARIAH LEARNING & worked collaboratively with me.


Stephen Foster Elementary has served my daughter well ~ never dreamed or thought her final IEP meeting would be like this one. A total SLAP IN THE FACE to me as her parent and her advocate for her education! I was FORCED OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S Interim IEP today! They carried on and 'said' they would go ahead and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP without me, if I left! I'm so sorry collaboration didn't take place today and my school didn't want to provide me an opportunity to take a look at the supports and services my girl will be needing on her first day of 6th grade in the Fall! Oh well at least this IEP document wasn't out of compliance because of the 'date' of the annual being held past the annual date.........this time! Her next required annual review will occur on or before: September 22nd, 2012. Mariah still needed time to work on and master some pretty solid IEP goals I had in her document.


I am not a happy camper today! Should I be? Would you be? 


Mariah ~ things will be OK ~ you watch things will be OK once your mom fills out a few papers ~ it's like making a phone call.........to the police! 


I can not sit back and pretend all is well with how I was treated and forced 'to file' as it was suggested I do from the program specialist this morning. I will not be filing a DUE PROCESS.


Those that are unfamiliar with the IEP process or what just happened to me today at my IEP meeting or what the heck I am upset and unhappy about.......it's about my CIVIL RIGHTS! It's about Mariah and what will be best for her as she leaves her elementary school and goes on into Middle School into the S.T.E.M. Magnet Program in the Fall.


*This is not a reflection on how grateful I am to Mariah's many teachers over the years and therapists that have helped Mariah get to where she is academically today. I'm just sorry we all are now part of what seems like the systematic nonsense and ESE Parent bullying that I have seen happen at many many IEP meetings here in Broward!! What WAS that? ~ What was it that happened so quickly this morning???......grrrrhhh!!! 


NOT HAPPY WITH THE "SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICE" IDEA or "the recourse I can take if I'm not agreeing" to 'THE IEP TEAM DECISION!! 


I WANT MY DAUGHTER'S INTERIM IEP TO BE A "START OVER" or a "CANCEL ERASE".....can we do that? 


NOPE~!! 


"THEY HELD THE IEP WITHOUT ME!!!"
....and FORCED me to agree to make it her ANNUAL IEP, which I didn't think was needed at all! She has a well written IEP with solid goals that still need to be worked on. 


........and I'm very much involved with my daughter's education and I'm a Special Ed Advocate for others & for my daughter especially! Have to be!


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                   THANKS!

Bloom Where You Are Planted: Why We Chose Public School by Sarah Reimers

Bloom Where You Are Planted: Why We Chose Public School by Sarah Reimers

This blog post is exactly what we ALL should be open to....and that is to BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED! Please click the highlighted underlined link to a wonderful blog posting above by Sarah Reimers. 


What are you doing to help your child's neighborhood school? As a mother raising a daughter with Down syndrome and a son with ADHD, I have had to advocate on many levels and for many different things over the years at their little Elementary School ~ Stephen Foster Elementary. I have been a volunteer parent at that same little school for almost 11 years now. I have seen over the years many volunteers come and go and one who has been our star parent volunteer and her son is now in High School. Parents at this school are not volunteering like they used to in years past. I pray parents at Stephen Foster Elementary School will BLOOM WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED and put in some volunteer service hours to help the teachers and staff at this sweet little school with some amazing teachers! 


This is my last year at this wonderful little school off Riverland Road in Fort Lauderdale. In a few short weeks my daughter will be graduating and going onto Middle School and my son will be a Junior in High school next year. I will miss this little elementary school they both were provided a solid foundation to their education. I pray parents will step up to the plate and get involved and do all they can to help support this school, volunteers are needed to help the entire school! Fundraising and getting the community to support this school is very much needed. All students in any school where parents are taking the time to volunteer will benefit from the efforts of those that are willing to put in some volunteer hours. It's about EVERY CHILD at all our Public Schools that need parents to volunteer and help with fundraising!


Are you BLOOMING WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED?


Get involved in your child's education by volunteering when you can!

ESE Advisory PPP to Broward Principals by Ivan Baratz

Power Point Presentation to Principals ~ ESE Advisory 1.2


Great job Ivan Baratz of creating this Power Point Presentation for the Principals to view at the beginning of the school year. Awesome job on the presentation! Thanks!

Parents are NOT GETTING NOTIFIED or INFORMED of SAF / SAC / PTO meetings! ~ If there IS A SAF at all!!

School Advisory Forums aka SAF was put into place for a reason...to be the LINK between PARENTS & the School, District & State things going on.


Today I don't think our PARENTS are being informed of much lately....and all we hear today is all about PARENT INVOLVEMENT!


How the heck can parents get involved in their Child's school and education when Parents are not getting meeting notices with enough time to make PLANS TO ATTEND the meeting or event? 


I know that PRINTING anything and putting into our Children's Backpack is THE NOTICE OF LAST RESORT ~ paper & printing costs prevent paper flyers going home in backpacks anymore! There are lots of other ways to LET PARENTS KNOW in advance of upcoming meetings and dates to put on their calendars, so babysitters can be set-up and plans to attend are on the parents schedule to attend.


I am the SAF CHAIR at my daughters school and it has had its BUMPS-IN-THE-ROAD (literally!!) just setting up our FIRST REAL SAF~School Advisory Forum MEETING!! Informing Parents & the Community of upcoming SAF meetings should be a priority today more than ever! Parent Involvement is the big BUZZ word everyone is talking about today! 


I drove by my daughters school on Friday morning....there was nothing listed on the outdoor school sign about the upcoming SAF / SAC / PTO meeting that was coming up that upcoming Monday evening at 6PM. This could have been done over the weekend, so those driving by the school over the weekend could see the announcement on the school sign and BE AWARE of the upcoming SAF / SAC / PTO PARENT INVOLVEMENT MEETINGS happening at our school on Monday! How is putting the information on the outdoor sign at 11AM the morning of the 6PM evening meeting really giving parents notice and time to make plans to attend good? That is giving 7 HOURS NOTICE...if the parents even see or look at the sign within that small window of time... 7 HOURS...PLaahZeee....really.... 7 hours before the meeting that evening? 


No 1/4 page or 1/2 sheet note came home in my daughters backpack....I did see a note on the Cafeteria door on Friday during the Fall Festival...but what about those that didn't attend the Fall Festival....


While I was at my daughters Tutoring lesson, I received a PARENT-LINK call at 5:25PM ~ A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE SAF / SAC / PTO MEETING!! 


Really....a HALF-HOUR NOTICE parents get an auto-caller INFORMING PARENTS of a meeting in a half hour? WOW!! Thanks for the call!!


Our school has a Facebook page...I saw that close to 7:45PM on Sunday the day before the meetings a post was put on FB...what about the families that don't have internet? How are ALL families being notified of PARENT MEETINGS at your school?


I do believe something DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT HAS TO BE DONE and something different needs to take place...at least at my daughters school....since I have first had knowledge how SITE BASE MANAGEMENT is being handled and how parents are not being notified of upcoming SAF meetings. I know there are many schools that don't even have SAF meetings, because they don't have a SAF CHAIR. SAF is the Parent Voice and the LINK for communication between school and district things going on.


SITE BASED MANAGEMENT IS THE PROBLEM with many of our schools. Schools are SHUTTING OUT PARENTS ON PURPOSE!! Especially the Special Needs Parents & Families......we have no voice...and certainly the ESE Parent Voice means nothing to those that could actually HELP with better SITE BASED MANAGEMENT ISSUES & CONCERNS from Parents!


I can't keep silent any longer about the SITE BASED MANAGEMENT ISSUES that is a common mode of operation now in place at many of our Broward County Schools!

Our New Superintendent, Robert Runcie is doing LISTENING TOURS throughout the Land-of-Broward....hope he's listening! Hope he cares...really cares about those that have no voice....students with very unique learning challenges and their parents caring for them!

THE ONLY THING THAT IS CONSTANT IS CHANGE! 

Broward schools need to CHANGE how they Partner with Parents ~ how they INFORM PARENTS & make Parents Feel Welcomed back on our Children's Schools!

Parent Volunteers are just that....PARENTS...and that includes PARENTS of Special Needs! Let's stop the nonsense and start INCLUDING our Special Needs Parents as Partners in Education!

SAF - SAC - PTO/PTA  Have you been to one at your school?

POLICY 1.3 ~ EVERY School shall have a School Advisory Forum (SAF) that shall foster and promote communication between its stakeholders, the school, and the Area Advisory Council. The SAF shall bring forth recommendations, concerns and interests to and from the Area Advisory Council.

GET INVOLVED in your Child's School....Parents TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS!

Find out WHO IS YOUR SAF CHAIR ! Get Involved! Please take the little SAF~POLL that is on the right hand side of this blog.

Runcie wants to meet and connect with parents and community members to establish a channel of two-way communication and build support

BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWS RELEASE

DATE:   November 4, 2011        

CONTACT: Nadine Drew, Public Relations & Governmental Affairs, 754-321-2300

Broward Schools Superintendent Plans 'Listening Tour'

        Broward County Public Schools new superintendent of schools, Robert W. Runcie, will be “hitting the road” soon as he conducts a blitz of listening sessions across Broward County. The “listening tour” is part of the kick off his tenure as superintendent of the nation’s sixth largest school district.  

        Runcie wants to meet and connect with parents and community members to establish a channel of two-way communication and build support to improve student achievement and performance.  The perspectives, experiences, opinions and concerns expressed by parents and community members, will be used in developing the next District Strategic Plan.  The listening sessions, to be held at several high schools throughout the District, are open to all parents and community members.

        “In my meetings and conversations with parents, teachers, students, business and community members I’m finding a common theme.  Our school system is Broward County’s biggest asset, and everyone I speak with is tremendously proud of the Broward County Public Schools and the quality of education we provide to our students.  I hope to get our stakeholders’ perspective on that which we do very well and that which we can do better,” said Runcie.

The public is invited to take part in the conversation during one of these sessions. All sessions begin will begin at 6:30 p.m.:

• Monday, November 14 at Fort Lauderdale High School,     1600 NE Fourth Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33305
• Tuesday, November 29 at Blanche Ely High School, 1201 NW Sixth Ave., Pompano Beach 33060               
• Monday, December 5 at Coral Glades High School, 2700 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs 33065        
• Monday, December 12 at Hollywood Hills High School, 5400 Stirling Rd., Hollywood 33021  
• Wednesday, January 4 at Coconut Creek High School, 1400 NW 44th Ave., Coconut Creek 33066  
• Monday, January 9 at Flanagan High School, 12800 Taft St., Pembroke Pines 33028
• Tuesday, January 17 at Cypress Bay High School, 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston 33332
• Thursday, January 19 at Dillard High School, 2501 NW 11th St., Ft. Lauderdale 33311

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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the nation's sixth largest public school system and the largest fully accredited district with over 258,000 students in 234 schools and education centers and 76 charter schools. For more information about BCPS, visit (www.browardschools.com). Follow BCPS on Twitter (@Browardschools). Find us on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/browardschools).

What is SAF?

What is SAF?
The School Advisory Forum (SAF) is open to all members of the school and community.

1. Plan, develop, and implement parent/community programs and training activities.
2. Address parent/community concerns; work with administration to solve problems and initiate desired changes.
3. Identify and coordinates the use of community resources to improve student achievement and school effectiveness.
4. Participate in increasing/sustaining high levels of community support for the school.
5. Assist SAC in identifying the educational needs and priorities of the school.
6. Participate in the preparation of the budget, and review budget related concerns.
7. Advocated for positive change in the school.
8. Remain current with school, district, state, and national issues.
9. Jointly works with School Board Members, Superintendent, and local Government officials. Facilities, Safety, Legislative, ESE, ESOL, Boundaries, Curriculum, Dress code, and Transportation are all issues addressed by SAF


*This is what I stand for at my daughters school. 


PARENTS GET INVOLVED at your schools ~ YOU are all SAF  MEMBERS!

SAF ~ POLICY 1.3

1.3 POLICY 1.3
SAF ~ SCHOOL ADVISORY FORUM
A SCHOOL ADVISORY FORUM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR EACH SCHOOL IN THE
DISTRICT.
Authority: The School Board of Broward County, Florida
Policy Adopted: 7/29/76; 7/21/77;5/3/79;5/21/91,4/23/96
Policy Amended 10/20/98; 12/12/00, 7/06/04
A. Every school shall have a School Advisory Forum (SAF) that shall foster and promote
communication between its stakeholders, the school, and the Area Advisory Council. The
SAF shall bring forth recommendations, concerns and interests to and from their Area
Advisory Council.
B. MEMBERSHIP
1. The membership of the School Advisory Forum (SAF) shall be representative of the school
community to include parents or guardians of students enrolled In the school, students of the
school, business partners of the school, community members and business people.
Participation from all ethnic, religious, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds is welcomed
and encouraged.
2. A Broward County School Board employee shall not be the chair at the school where
employed. The Chair and Vice-chair shall be a parent or custodial guardian of a student who
will be enrolled and attending the school during their term of service. Officers should be
elected per their school bylaws.
C. DUTIES
1. All duties will be advisory in nature, none of which will conflict with any of the powers and
duties reserved by law, policy, or administrative guidelines to the principal.
2. Actively participate with the School Advisory Council in identifying the educational needs
and priorities of the school.
3. Actively participate with the principal in the preparation of the budget, and reviewing the
budget-related concerns after each FTE count.
4. Indicate awareness of the program and plans for the school by the signature of the
chairperson on the budget when it is submitted for district budget preparation.
5. Assist in the identification and coordination of the use of community resources to improve
student achievement and school effectiveness.
6. Address parent/community concerns; work with the administration to solve problems and t o
initiate desirable change.
7. Assist in increasing/sustaining high levels of community support for the school.
8. Assist in planning, developing and implementing parent/community programs and training
activities.
9. Participate in joint training opportunities with the School Advisory Council.
10. In addition to individual School Advisory Forum meetings, hold semi-annual meetings jointly
with the School Advisory Council.
1.3 1.3
SCHOOL ADVISORY FORUM
11. The School Advisory Forum shall use guidelines developed by the district, develop and adopt
procedural bylaws, conduct meetings in accordance with the Florida Sunshine Laws, and
conduct meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
12. Record, maintain, and post minutes of all meetings at the school in accordance with the
Florida Sunshine Laws.
13. School Advisory Forum (SAF) chairperson or designee shall represent SAF as a voting
member at School Advisory Council meetings.
14. SAF Chair or designee shall represent SAF as voting member of the Area Advisory Council
meetings.
15. School Advisory Forums and its officers are prohibited from using their titles and/or positions
to endorse, or give the impression of endorsing, candidates for public office
D. VOTING RIGHTS:
Meetings are open to all, but voting rights are granted only to members who are parents or
guardians of students who are enrolled in the school or matriculating to the school the following
year, students of the school, employees of the school and business partners of the school. To
vote at any meeting, members must sign in, present proof that they meet the voting membership
requirements, if requested.