THE FCB AUTUMN BOARD MEETING
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2004
ORLANDO, FL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINESS
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINESS
President Paul Edwards called the meeting to order at 2:03 PM. The usual invocation and flag salute were observed. With 18 chapters
and all officers present, a quorum was established. The pre and post convention meeting minutes were read and approved. Treasurer
Patti Land gave her report including a budget for the next year. Her report and the budget were approved.
Back to Table of Contents
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Paul gave his President's Report next. He thanked his Executive Committee for picking up the slack caused by his involvement with ACB
matters. He told the Board about the ACB Convention and said that people had, at the Convention, expressed their concerns but chose to
take no other action at this time. He then talked about the letters he had sent to the Governor and the Attorney General concerning the
inaccessibility of numerous software programs it impossible to get or to keep jobs. He also talked about the group that was developed to
study disabilities and rehabilitation in the state. Much discussion about these two subjects ensued.
Back to Table of Contents
COMMITTEE REPORTS
We moved on to Committee Reports. Paul had, in the Executive Committee, challenged each committee chair to develop two specific,
attainable goals for his committee during this session. Since the committees reported in alphabetical order, the first committee we heard
from was the Access Committee, chaired by Doug Hall.
ACCESS COMMITTEE - Doug Hall
Doug reported that his committee had identified 3 very different goals. The committee's first goal was to develop and implement a
statewide universal system of qualifications for eligibility for paratransit use. He outlined some actions toward that goal.
Their second goal was to instruct President Paul to file a formal complaint with the Department of Justice concerning the lack of
accessible software programs. The committee's third goal was to insure independent voting in all precincts. Some actions toward
attaining this goal were to contact each county's supervisor of elections and to assist with better training of poll workers.
ARCHIVES COMMITTEE - Liz Bowden
Liz thanked her committee and outlined three goals her committee expected to attain this year. Goal number one is to preserve and
catalog all current photographs. The second goal identified was to organize and catalog all current material into electronic format. The
committee's last identified goal was to transcribe anecdotal material on file.
AWARDS COMMITTEE - Sila Miller
Sila stated that the deadline for submitting nominations for the different state awards was January 31st, 2005. The major goal of the
committee is to develop criteria for a new award. This award is to be called the "Bill Ferrell Humanitarian Award".
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE - Patti Land
Patti outlined the first goal that committee had identified. That goal was to have a new budget for the 2005 fiscal year. She detailed the
proposed budget and moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by Richard Giombetti and carried. This new budget called for
an increase in the money spent to send people to the ACB Convention. It would set aside $1,800 more to send an additional 3 people
this year. Barbara Grill made this proposal into a motion. The motion was seconded by Richard Giombetti and carried. Patti said the
committee's second goal was to remain active in ACB. The possibility of a direct mail campaign was briefly discussed.
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS COMMITTEE - Jim Kracht
Jim said that his committee had been hard at work and had approved some by-laws changes for the Mid-Florida Chapter as well as
approving a name change for the Tallahassee chapter. He talked briefly about an ACB constitutional amendment that limits the number
of officers from each state. He said that the committee had not worked on that this year.
He then outlined to goals of his committee. Their first goal is to redefine the duties of the Convention committee. He said that revisions
and adjustments might need to be made. The committee's second goal is to review and update, as necessary, the entire policy manual.
Jim reminded us that each chapter is to send a current version of its constitution and by-laws to him and another copy to the Archives
committee each year.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE - Debbie Grubb
Debbie's report was brief. She said the 2005 convention would be held in Ft. Lauderdale and the dates are May 12th-15th. Since our
multi-year contracts are completed as of the 2005 convention, she had been in negotiation with several hotels. A contract was signed
with the Orlando Safari. The 2006 convention will be held in Orlando. Also we will hold Autumn Board Meetings at that same hotel for the
next three years.
EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE - Nancy Folsom
Nancy reported the goals that committee had identified. The first goal is to provide more exposure of the availability of scholarships. The
will contact the various education foundations throughout the state. They will also put applications in other related places. The second
goal is to increase attendance at our conventions to possibly gain future leaders. The committee encourages more chapters to sell raffle
tickets and to make available a prize of a stipend to defray expenses for people attending the convention.
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE - Debbie Drylie
Debbie first described the committee's vision for the future. That vision is to decrease the rate of unemployment of blind people in
Florida. The goals to achieve this include revamping the mentoring program and making an accessible resource list.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - Paul Edwards
(No report given)
INSIGHT (PROJECT INSIGHT) COMMITTEE - Rosanna Lippen
Rosanna reported that the new brochures are in the process of being printed. A letter will be sent to every ophthalmologist and
optometrist in the state urging them to tell their patients about Project Insight. She said the goals were to increase the number of calls to
Project Insight and to increase the number of hours the phone line will be manned.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - Linda Jacobson
Linda talked about the need to get dues into her before January 31st, 2005. She hopes to be able to contact all "at-large" members and
encourage them to join an existing chapter. This may be one way to build up some of the weaker chapters.
As an incentive to get the dues to her early, Linda told us that the first 3 chapters to get their information in to her would be awarded 4
tickets to the banquet at the convention. She made this suggestion into a motion that was seconded by Dan O'Connor and carried. Linda
then talked about other growth incentives. The committee proposed two separate awards. One will be awarded for the largest actual
increase in new members and the other is for the largest per centage of increase. She made this proposal into a motion. The motion
was seconded by Richard Giombetti and carried.
Linda said that her committee is still discussing the possibility of initiating an FCB lifetime membership.
PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE - Carl McCoy
Carl outlined the committee's goals. The first goal was to make it possible for 2 people to attend the legislative seminar in Washington.
One of the people selected to go was Doug Hall. The other person is to be selected from people applying via e-mail to Carl.
The committee's second goal is to seek legislation that would create a separate commission for the blind in Florida. Carl made a motion
to file a complaint with the Department of Justice about the inaccessibility of software as outlined in other areas of these minutes.
Barbara Grill seconded the motion and it carried. Carl further said that he plans to work diligently with the transportation disadvantaged
office to get better accommodation throughout the state.
PUBLICATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE - Sally Benjamin
The first goal of this committee is to have a new brochure completed and ready for distribution by March 1st, 2006. The committee feels
that the White Cane Bulletin needs help. Bobbie's health has been very precarious and Bill has been looking after her.
One of the board members contacted Bill during the meeting. Bill was relieved that someone else had stepped forward to edit the
publication. He agreed to edit the next edition then the new co-editors, Elizabeth Bowden and Sharon Youngs would edit subsequent
issues.
Dan O'Connor made a motion to award a special achievement plaque to the Probsts at the convention. Sally seconded the motion.
Jesus Garcia made a friendly amendment to the motion that FCB pay Bill and Bobbie's expenses to the convention. The amended
motion carried.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE - Jesus Garcia
Jesus reported this committee's goal as: to bring proposed resolutions to the chair of the committee early. He then stated that there
were 4 resolutions to be dealt with at this meeting.
Resolution "FCB Fall 2004-1" concerned the creation of an agency for people with disabilities and to create a task force to work on this.
Paul Edwards moved for adoption. And after some clarification phrases were inserted, John Richards seconded this motion and it
carried.
Resolution "FCB Fall 2004-2" talked about accessible technology. Again Paul moved for adoption. It was seconded by Robert Miller and
carried.
Resolution "FCB Fall 2004-3" concerned full implementation of HAVA. Jesus moved for adoption of this resolution. It was seconded and
carried.
Resolution "FCB Fall 2004-4" concerned our input into the creation of a commission for the blind. Jesus moved for adoption of this
resolution. It too was seconded and carried.
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE - John Richards
John told about the committee's goals. The committee's first goal is to increase members' knowledge and computer skills. The
members hope to accomplish this by encouraging more people to receive the White Cane Bulletin via E-mail. The committee's second
goal is to ensure that the State uses accessible software.
Back to Table of Contents
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
We moved on to UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Sila Miller talked about the ACB lifetime memberships that had not been presented to the
most recent recipients of the W.A. Outzs Award. Jesus Garcia made a motion to present Robert Miller with an ACB lifetime membership.
This motion was seconded by Jim Warth and carried.
Back to Table of Contents
NEW BUSINESS
We moved right on to NEW BUSINESS. Rosanna Lippen said that FCB is looking for locations for the 2007 and upcoming conventions.
She asked people to let her know if they had any suggestions. Robert Miller made a motion to donate $3,000 to the St. Augustine School
for the Deaf and Blind Alumni Association. The motion was seconded by Betty Dietz and carried.
Back to Table of Contents
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Because there was no further business to come before the Board, we were adjourned at 6:23 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon K. Youngs, Secretary
Back to the Minutes page
Back to the Organizational Documents page
Back to the FCB home page