Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Anne Barnwell, Roberta Blomster, Margaret Fletcher-Booth, Brian Gustafson, Anne L. Henry, Kathryn Jacobson, Nina Moss, Linda Obright, Jeffrey Pearson, Connie Roy, Barbara Schultz, Jeffrey Skwarek, Virginia Strand, Stacey A. Vogele, and Susan Wehrenberg to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Anne Barnwell, of Minneapolis, previously served on this Council from 1988 to 1993. She is appointed to a position for a self-advocate and will serve a term which ends January 2, 2006. Barnwell fills the Council seat formerly held by Mary O'Hara-Anderson.

Roberta Blomster, of Vadnais Heights, is actively involved in Special Olympics, including being honored as 1998 Special Olympics Minnesota Female Athlete of the Year. She is appointed to a position for a self-advocate and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Blomster fills the Council seat formerly held by Ann Zick.

Margaret Fletcher-Booth, Ph.D., of River Falls, Wisconsin is the Operations Manager for the Disability Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). She is appointed to a position for a representative of the Department of Human Services and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Fletcher-Booth was first appointed to the Council in 2004.

Brian Gustafson, of Minneapolis, is the Manager of Direct Investments for Tonkawa in Minneapolis. He is appointed to a position for an immediate relative of an adult with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Gustafson fills the Council seat formerly held by Sharon Heuring.

Anne Henry, of Minneapolis is Staff Attorney at the Minnesota Disability Law Center. She is appointed to a position for a representative of the state advocacy and protection program (the Minnesota Disability Law Center) and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Henry was first appointed to the Council in 1985.

Kathryn Jacobson, of Thief River Falls, is a respite provider for three children. She is appointed to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Jacobson was first appointed to the Council in 2001.

Nina Moss, of Minneapolis, is a self-advocate for persons with developmental disabilities. She is appointed to a position for a self-advocate and will serve a term which ends January 2, 2006. Moss was first appointed to the Council in 2002.

Linda Obright, of Minneapolis, is a self-advocate for persons with developmental disabilities. She is appointed to a position for a self-advocate and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Obright fills the Council seat formerly held by Cynthia Vongvang.

Jeffrey Pearson, of Plymouth, is Region Vice President of First Student, Inc. He is appointed to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Pearson fills the Council seat formerly held by Thomas Schwartz.

Connie Roy, of Cloquet, is a member of the Interagency Early Intervention Committee of the Northern Lights Interagency Council. She is appointed to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Roy fills the seat formerly held by Bonnie Jean Smith.

Barbara Schultz, of St. Paul, is a licensed social worker. She currently works with foster parents and foster children at Family Alternatives in Minneapolis. She is appointed to a position for an immediate relative of an adult with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 2, 2006. Schultz fills the Council seat formerly held by Terry Cikanek.

Jeffrey Skwarek, of Minneapolis, is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking. He is appointed to a position for a self-advocate and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Skwarek first joined the Council in 2002.

Virginia Strand, of Inver Grove Heights, is a Social Service Program Consultant in Family and Children's Services at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She is appointed to a position for an immediate relative of an adult with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Strand was first appointed to the Council in 2002.

Stacey Vogele, of Woodbury, is a Staff Attorney for the Minnesota Justice Foundation in Minneapolis. She is appointed to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Vogele fills the Council seat formerly held by Patricia Tietz.

Susan Wehrenberg, of Center City, is the Program Director for the Chisago Lakes Achievement Center. She is appointed to a position for a representative of private non-profit organizations and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. Wehrenberg fills the Council seat formerly held by Jackie Mlynarczyk.

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (MGCDD) assists persons with developmental disabilities to achieve increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion into the community. The MGCDD is made up of 25 members appointed by the Governor.