NFBF Board Minutes

May 2, 2004

 

The teleconference meeting was called to order by President Dan Hicks at approximately 8:30 p.m.  Those answering the roll call were:  President Dan Hicks, First Vice-President Kathy Davis, Treasurer Tom Hartig, board members Dwight Sayer, Gloria Hicks, Carolyn Lapp and David Evans.  J. D. is expected at any time.  Secretary Carol Feazell would arrive late but would take the minutes from the tape that was running.  (J. D. arrived shortly after the beginning.)

 

There were minutes of two previous meetings to be discussed.  Dwight moved, Kathy seconded and the motion carried unanimously to approve the February minutes.  Carol was given a directive to revise the minutes of March 26 and bring them before the next meeting. 

 

Treasurer’s report:  At the end of March, have basically #200,500.  In the month just closing now, the new report will show that because of a variety of revenue sources including the convention and the fundraising program and membership dues, we are going to be up about $2100 in operation and up about $1200 in the Newsline account.  Gloria moved, David seconded and the motion carried unanimously to accept the treasurer’s report.

 

Agenda draft from Events Committee:  Discussion followed.  Tom felt strongly that the treasurer’s report be moved to a place other than the customary assigned spot early the morning of the business session; this would be taken under advisement.  It was noted that the Who’s Cooking needs some reminder for votes to be cast.  Discussion of what should be going on at the time of the banquet as we are eating.  We hope for a good sound system to avoid some of the problems of the past, people not being able to hear our speakers at the banquet.  We will investigate renting sound equipment.  For workability issues, we will investigate hotel costs for renting sound equipment from the Adams Mark.  Discussed the possibility of karaoke for the after-the-banquet festivities.  Dwight wants a CD-capable player for his Memorial Day observance program before the convention.  Auction items need more description.  Hopefully the sound system will cooperate.  Perhaps need minimum bids on some expensive items.  Gloria moved acceptance of the agenda draft with all of the comments for consideration to be taken into consideration by the subcommittee.  Other comments to be sent to Dan or Kathy.  Carolyn seconded and the motion carried unanimously.  (Carol entered at that point.)

 

Scholarship discussion:  Carol presented the idea from the Jacksonville chapter of having a scholarship in honor of Barry Feazell and Jim Bowen, long-standing active federationists and both in the reorganized Jacksonville chapter at its inception.  Both have since died; both were here at the last Jacksonville convention of 1999, therefore this year is a very appropriate time to begin such a scholarship in spite of the fact that there were already the six state-matched that number having been previously agreed upon by the board.  Tom moved to amend the original resolution establishing six scholarships, to add a seven scholarship at least for this year and that we accept Jacksonville provided that said chapter can get the money to Tom in a timely fashion, like the next 3 to 4 days.  Discussion followed.  There seemed no formal second for the motion, apparently lost in the shuffle of conversation; but when the vote was taken, the motion carried unanimously. 

 

Formation of the Fort Myers Chapter:  Carolyn really wants to be a part of that.  We can’t do too much yet but want to be ready with it to do some mailing.  Gloria has talked with some of the Fort Myers people.  They want to do the 3-county area.  Tom could do an area-code search.  When should we set up the meeting?  There are apparently 30 people who right now want to form a chapter, so we don’t want to wait until too late.  August would thus perhaps be a better month to start.  Gloria will ask her contact what would be a good time for us to implement the formation of this chapter, hopefully the first part of August. 

 

Fundraising:  Dwight sent an E mail out.  Daytona is ahead of any other chapter with 600 tickets sold.  We are within 200 tickets of running out of our original order.  Tom has the beautifully printed brochure to be sent out.  The Orlando Chapter will do the stuffing and sending out of said brochures with the cover letter Dan is preparing. 

 

Newsline:  We got our money pending the governor’s approval of the budget.  The legislature came through with #150,000; it will begin  to be available 7/1.  By July we will be $10,000 in arrears.  We have a $10,000 bill outstanding for both the St. Petersburg Times and the Palm Beach post, making $20,000.  We have the 6/1 payment due, so that will be #30,000.  They are willing to wait until 7/15 for us to get our money so we do not need to tap into our reserves.  We could pay with reserves but then would be “wiped out.”  New features are coming online including The New Yorker and others; a new human voice which doesn’t do so well at being speeded up, tends to blur when sped up.  It is $10,000 the first year to bring a paper on; $5000 initially plus the $5000 each year additional in administrative costs.  We can use Newsline funds to demonstrate Newsline.  Newsline could fund the line needed to demonstrate during the convention. 

 

Florida Federation Focus:  Carolyn needs articles.  We want President Dan to contact the Tallahassee chapter for input; Their representation was visibly lacking in attendance at our Tallahassee seminar. 

 

Legislation:  NFBF sent 37 to Tallahassee.  Tom does not have bus bills yet for the two buses used.  The trip took even less time than we had thought it would.  Gloria will E mail to Carolyn the various bills/issues that were dealt with by us at Tallahassee.

 

Scholarship committee:  Kitty and Joe, Dan and Gloria, Sherrill, Kathy and Carol are on the scholarship committee and should have their rankings ready by tomorrow night to make the vote easier.  Dan will set up the call.  A plaque has to be made for each winner.  Each scholarship winner will be assigned a mentor.

 

Membership:  Carolyn plans to meet at the state convention.  Perhaps the chapter-building and the membership should be one in the same.  Technically Newsline cannot be used for such as fundraising and membership drives but could be used as an information source.  Perhaps could do something with a Newsline mail-out list.

 

President’s Committee:  Will meet following the conclusion of the convention.  We have in the past been encouraged to have vice-presidents there also.  State board persons are there too.  Discussed who all would be at that last president meeting.  Tom would like a treasurer’s meeting, perhaps a luncheon meeting.  He can E mail all the treasurers and see how many takers he gets.  Also Sue Townsend needs to be added to the Parents of Blind Children luncheon. 

 

Resolutions:  J. D. has gotten none thus far.  Should send out a reminder list asking once again for resolutions.

 

Events committee:  Is going to meet again.  Audio needs to be settled.  We do not have a lot of exhibitors.  Discussion about exhibitors followed.  David can do some mailing out but needs to get an E mail list as to who has been contacted.  Gloria will help Carol out in procuring local legislators to come before our convention.  The mayoral office will be left to the Jacksonville chapter; preliminaries have begun.  Jacksonville provides refreshments for the president’s suite.  Carol needs the NFBF tax number.  Must find a Rabbi for the opening Sunday session. 

 

Dwight says that the subregional library in Daytona is in trouble.  At this point, it looks as if that program will be dumped.  American Library Association is having their annual conference from across the country.  This CEO will be having her premier event here.  A picket may be formed in support and also this makes good material for one of those resolutions to get to J. D.  Motion was made by Gloria and seconded by Kathy that we as the board of NFBF fully support the maintaining of the subregional library for the blind in Orlando, that it not be allowed to be done away with; the motion carried unanimously. 

 

Dwight went to the BLAST on Orlando in April and was very impressed and saw people from all over the states.  There is still no agenda place for the vendors to meet. 

 

Question:  Should someone not be reelected, should they be given a money allotment to the national convention as well as those newly voted in board members?  Motion was made by Dwight and seconded by Gloria that both in-coming and out-going be allowed the allotment of convention expenses.  The motion carried unanimously. 

 

David announced that on 5/28, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is going to hear the lawsuit on voting access.  This court of appeals is second only to the Supreme Court.  David would like people to be present for this event at the early hour of 8:30 a.m.  Assurance has been given that this matter will be the first thing on the docket that morning.

 

Tom affirmed that all board member reservations have been secured at the Adams Mark Hotel.  We all need to be there by Friday night for the board meeting. 

 

David moved that we have a board meeting two weeks from tonight; this was seconded by Kathy; the motion passed with one descending vote. 

 

David is inquiring about the rental of a van, preferably a 15-passenger van.  There seem to be no rental companies that have one.  He can find 12-passenger but not 15-passenger. 

 

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Carol Feazell, Secretary NFBF