Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Margaret Fletcher-Booth, Sheryl Larson, Shamus O'Meara, Dan Reed, Jim Varpness, and Jerrold Wood to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Margaret Fletcher-Booth, of Hudson, Wisconsin is the Operations Manager for the Disability Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). She is appointed to represent DHS on the Council. She will serve a partial term ending January 3, 2005. Fletcher-Booth fills the seat formerly held by Steve Larson.

Sheryl Larson, of Mounds View, is a Research Associate at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She is appointed to represent higher education on the Council. She will serve a term ending January 2, 2006. Larson fills the seat formerly held by Teri Wallace.

Shamus O'Meara, of St. Paul is an attorney and shareholder at the Minneapolis law firm of Johnson & Condon, P.A. He is also the parent of a five-year old with developmental disabilities. O'Meara is appointed as a parent member of the Council. He will serve a term ending January 2, 2006. O'Meara fills the seat formerly held by Andre Hanson.

Dan Reed, of St. Paul, is Marketing Director at Midway Training Services, Inc. (MTS) in St. Paul. MTS is a nonprofit serving persons with developmental disabilities. He is appointed to represent private non-profit organizations on the Council. He will serve a term ending January 2, 2006. Reed fills the seat formerly held by Laurie Berner.

Jim Varpness, of Maplewood, is Executive Director of the Minnesota Board on Aging. He is a current Council member. He is reappointed to represent the Minnesota Board on Aging on the Council. He will serve a term ending January 2, 2006.

Jerrold Wood, of St. Paul, is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). He is appointed to represent DEED on the Council. Wood is a current Council member. He is reappointed to represent DEED on the Council. He will serve a term ending January 2, 2006.

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.