NFBF Board meeting

                                    March 6, 2005

The minutes of the previous meeting were not yet available and so their
presentation was waved for the present time, moved by J. D., seconded by Tom
and carried unanimously.

Treasurer's report:  Tom did not have a formal report as he was about one
week from doing this month's reports.  For example, Tom was missing the
report from our broker.  Tom wishes to bring to our attention that although
this is 3/6 and the constitution requires that all chapters have their
rosters and money to him by 3/1, only 50% of the chapters have done so thus
far.  Letters will be sent out to the offending chapters.  Tom will stand on
his report sent out about 3-1/2 weeks ago.  Tom will send out the letters.

President's report:  Dan really wants to report on some of the chapters that
he has been dealing with.  Tallahassee seems ready for us to descend upon
them for our Tallahassee event.  We have had no communications with
Pensacola.  Pensacola did have serious hurricane damage over this past year.
Gainesville is another chapter that we would like to visit.

Legislative Committee:  There was a pretty successful meeting.  The first
issue was the Blind Services issue for which Dan sent out the position
paper.  Next was transportation, to shrink that commission as it is loaded
with primarily transportation providers who overwhelm the rest, that one
being written by Dwight with help from a couple of others.  We have another
member working on a paper regarding accessibility of state software, paper
to be coming forth next Monday.  The state needs to know of this
inaccessibility.  A fallback issue is bill 462 regarding pedestrians, people
with canes, dogs, walkers or any kind of mobility aid, pedestrians needing
the laws to be supported.  SB232 and H127 is the Service Animal issue,
Gloria is still waiting on a paper regarding this.  The bill may be too wide
and needs some serious revision or it will not pass in its current form,
i.e., a mentally retarded individual could use an elephant as a service
animal.  So if FLAGDO wants to support a bill, that would be agreeable but
it is not entirely a blind issue.  The Department of Disabilities is our
main thrust for this year.  We must not bring too many issues at one time.
We could hand out some of Jim Omvig's books on independence for the blind.
Tom will bring some Newsline brochures to put into the packets.  We have 47
for the hotel going to Tallahassee.  We are going to go over budget.
Orlando has offered to cover two members, honoring our commitment to go with
four members per chapter.  J. D. moved that we allow up to what would equal
four members per chapter, making a total of up to 64, even though the
chapters may not all bring four members; Tom seconded and the motion
carried unanimously.  The budget was originally for forty people so we will
be going over.  Tom admonished us of our responsibility to watch our
spending.

Newsline:  We are the first state in the nation to bring Spanish online.
California is working on same.  Fliers will be going out regarding Newsline.
Perhaps the Newsline flier can be translated into Spanish to bring more
Spanish-speaking persons on board.

Resolutions:  J. D. wants to first gather his committee.  At this time J. D.
has Kathy, Dwight, Dan, Gloria, Betty McNally and to ask Greg Giles.  J. D.
hopes to help bring marginal people into a feeling of productivity.
Possibly Joe Minichiello would be good to ask.  Possibly Dave Anspach could
be asked and possibly Joanne King.  The committee would thus be large with
ten members including President Dan but J. D. felt that this was still
workable.

Scholarship:  There are six sponsored scholarships:  two Daytona, one each
for Orlando, Miami-Dade, Jacksonville, Tampa.  Tampa may not actually be in
but Gloria will check on that.

Tallahassee Seminar:  Most of the pickup points are worked out for the east
coast.  The west coast is still being worked out.  Position papers have been
sent out.  Tapes will be handed out on the bus.  For those not riding the
bus, they will be presented that evening.  Dan will do the tapes.  We still
have issues with our duplicators, where they will be housed and who can/will
run them.  We also have to decide what list we will choose for the send-out
of the Focus.  The Library may be of help to us in this process.  Tom will
check with Donna about purging/adapting our list.  Prisoners have been used
as readers.  Should we consider this for our Focus?

State Convention:  Letters to exhibitors:  J. D. will be given material for
contacts.  Tom is not impressed with the amount of exhibitors thus far.
Talking book reader, having trouble getting one.  This is still indefinite.
The publisher for The Post can come on Sunday.  We can offer the banquet but
in case we need, perhaps some slot during the day he can be assigned.
Probably some time in the afternoon would work, says Dan.  How is
fundraising coming?  Will Carl need help with the auction?  Dwight said that
if he was needed for such, he would indeed step in.

Reconsideration of Board Reimbursement for National Convention:  The
suggestion was made for reimbursement after the fact for conventions.
However, the $700 seems a certainty for those going, including any members
recently going off the board post election.  (Carol finally arrived.)  We
discussed per-mile reimbursement.  Discussion followed regarding Federal
versus state mileage.  Dwight moved that we use the state rate, rounded up
to the next penny; Kathy seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The Humanitarian Award:  Someone other than a board member/chapter
president, maybe not an award every year.  Then after discussion ensued, a
sort of distinguished service award was voted on, motion made by Tom and
seconded by Kathy and carried unanimously, name currently undisclosed for
purposes of the minutes.  We then revisited the idea of a humanitarian award
not to be given except as determined from time to time.  Dwight moved, tom
seconded that we authorize such an award , motion carried unanimously.

Gloria reiterated, for those who had not been to Tallahassee, the places in
the Capitol complex where eats may be obtained.  Fridays are seeming to be
difficult appointment times.

Tom moved, Dwight seconded and the meeting adjourned at 10:26 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol Feazell, Secretary, NFBF