THE FCB AUTUMN BOARD MEETING
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 2007
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 Debbie Grubb called the meeting to order at 2 PM. Membership Secretary, Linda Jacobson called the roll and a quorum was
established. Secretary Sharon Youngs read the minutes of the Autumn Board Meeting of 2006. There were two corrections to those
minutes. Robert Miller made a motion to accept the corrected minutes. The motion was seconded by Lorean Darby-Henry and
carried.
Back to Table of Contents
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Debbie then gave her presidents report. She thanked various people for work preformed on behalf of FCB. She talked about viewing the
various voting machines and explained how optical scan systems work. Debbie suggests that we try to talk to our head of elections in
our areas. She urges us all to visit the polls and to try to use the same paper-trail ballot as the sighted population. She then talked about
the transportation issues. She talked about the upcoming meeting with FCB, NFBF, Independent Living Council, and other entities and,
hopefully, someone from the Governor's office about our Seamless System of Transportation. She said that she is still hopeful that FCB
will be in the selection process to find a new Executive Director of DBS. Debbie then talked about the Governor's Commission of
Disabilities. She told us that the Executive Committee has addressed the problems with this entity and we will present a white paper to
that Commission. She welcomed two new chapters, Guide Dog Users of Florida and Southwestern Council of the Blind (Ft. Myers). She
urged every chapter to have a representative join the presidents' phone meeting every month.
Back to Table of Contents
COMMITTEE REPORTS
We moved on to our committee reports. The first committee to report was the Access Committee.
ACCESS COMMITTEE - Doug Hall
Doug reported that his committee was mostly working on transportation issues. He told us about a bill that mandates that motorists
must stop, not just yield, to blind pedestrians. He talked about our participation with other groups on this issue. He told us about issues
with right of way problems. He mentioned that more accessible pedestrian signals are being installed throughout the state. The
newest accessibility issue is with point of sale machines. These machines are inaccessible because of the use of touch screens.
ARCHIVES COMMITTEE - Sharon Youngs
The copying of the volumes of minutes was the main issue. It was decided that all of this material are to go to Robert and Sila Miller's
home for copying. It is hoped that this can be accomplished before our next meeting.
AWARDS COMMITTEE - John Richards
John said that the committee had, at this point, only received two nominations. He reminded us that the deadline for getting our
nominations is to the committee is January 31st, 2008.
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE - Patti Land
Patti said that the committee had made some line item changes to next year's budget. She read each line item and amounts. That
budget and other financial reports are part of these minutes. The proposed budget was moved for adoption by Sila Miller. This motion
was seconded by Betty Dietz and carried.
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS COMMITTEE - Jim Kracht
Jim reported that the constitution submitted by the Guide Dog Users group had been okayed. Robert Miller made a motion to accept this
special interest group as our newest chapter. The motion was seconded by Shelly Justice and carried. Jim further reported that the
special interest affiliate, FCCLV, had some minor changes that were approved by the committee. Jim reminded everyone that each
chapter is to submit their By-Laws to the committee for review each year.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE - Sila Miller
Sila had much exciting news to share. She said the keynote speaker for the banquet is to be Eric Bridges, ACB's Government
specialist. There is to be an Awards dinner on Friday evening. There is to be a package offered for both the Awards and the banquet for
$50.00. There are also options for those who do not wish to attend both events. The program is mostly in place and the facilitators for
each event have agreed to attend. There is to be offered a barbeque type picnic again this year. The exhibits are expected to be open all
day Friday as well as Saturday. The fees for the vendors will be $100.00 per table and $25.00 for the non-profit groups. For a fee of
$25.00, vendors may choose to have advertising materials placed in the convention packets. Sila requested that each chapter contribute
a small door prize as well.
EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE - Barbara Grill
Barbara reported that some of the eligibility requirements have changed. She said that the deadline for applications is March 31st, 2008.
All of our scholarship applications will be available on line soon. She said that the committee had decided that only sealed, official
transcripts are to be accepted. All applications are to also include an official legal blindness statement. Jim Kracht made a motion that
the GPA requirement be raised to 3.5 for the Gayle Krause Edwards and the Terry Blessing Scholarships. The other scholarships will
still require a 3.0 GPA. The motion was seconded by Robert Miller and carried.
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE - Mary Ellen Ottman
Mary Ellen reported that her committee has decided to put articles in the White Cane Bulletin about unusual jobs that are being done by
blind people. The committee feels that the often-quoted figure of 70-percent unemployment for blind people is misleading. This is due
to some people who do not choose to be employed and also those who work only part time.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - Debbie Grubb
(No report given)
INSIGHT (PROJECT INSIGHT) COMMITTEE - Debbie Drylie
Debbie reported that the training session held directly before the convention was successful. She said that there are still some areas of
the state that are not served. The committee has an idea to purchase signature guides and put Project Insight on these. It is hope that
this will generate more interest in Project Insight. She made this into a motion that was seconded by Jesus Garcia. Robert Miller made
a friendly amendment because he thinks he may be able to get a better price for these signature guides. The amended motion carried.
The Executive Committee will make the decision as to how many of them to purchase.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - Linda Jacobson
Linda reminded everyone that each chapter membership and dues are to be to her by November 30th, 2007. She also stated that she
would not seek re-election in May. She has been working on a job description for the Membership Secretary.
PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE - Carl McCoy
Carl reported that his committee feels that not enough advocacy is taking place on the local level. The committee thinks it is imperative
that we have a liaison for each is of government - Education, Independent Living, Transportation and Employment. He touched on the
Governor's Committee On Disabilities. He said that all new electronic equipment must monitored to be sure it is accessible. There may
be two bills we will need to act upon.
PUBLICITY & PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE - Sally Benjamin
Sally reported that the supply of FCB brochures is getting low. But the need is not critical yet. We may want to make a few minor changes
to these brochures. The committee plans to contact each chapter about their information on the FCB website. It was stated that some
chapters have no information and others have very old information still on their portion of the website.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE - Jesus Garcia
Jesus reported that there are three resolutions for our consideration this time.
Resolution "Autumn 2007-1" concerns DBS being included in an entity with all other disability groups. Jesus moved for acceptance of
this resolution. Betty Dietz seconded to motion and it carried.
Resolution "Autumn 2007-2" defines pedestrian safety. Again, Jesus moved for adoption of this resolution and it was seconded by Betty
Dietz and carried.
Resolution "Autumn 2007-3" has to do with voting. Jesus moved for adoption of this resolution also. Once again, Betty Dietz seconded
the motion and it carried.
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE - John Richards
John said that his committee had discussed on the website the qualifications for purchasing computers. John made a motion to
increase the webmaster's salary to $200. Jesus Garcia seconded the motion and it carried. John then talked a bit about what would be
included in the technology workshop at the state convention.
Back to Table of Contents
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
With the completion of reports from committee chairs, we moved to UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Lillian Reilly made a motion concerning
the seating at the state convention. She would like to have every other year the alphabetic seating to be reversed. The reason for this
motion is so that the people in the chapter in the latter part of the alphabet could better hear the speaker. Lorean Darby-Henry seconded
the motion. Much discussion ensued but the motion was defeated.
Sila Miller raised the question as to if the Alachua and Brevard Chapters have been contacted about their lack of attendance at board
meetings. Nothing was decided on this issue.
Barbara Grill asked how to receive a copy of the various resolutions. She was advised that these are published on our website.
David Land wanted to know whatever happened to the Gavel Award. This is an award that was instituted to reward the greatest increase
in chapter membership. Linda Jacobson will contact the holder of the award and it will be reinstated.
Back to Table of Contents
NEW BUSINESS
Under the general topic of NEW BUSINESS, Jim Kracht made a motion that the Executive Committee is to look into more or better quality
equipment for the hearing-impaired members. This motion was seconded by Debbie Drylie and after some discussion about what
equipment we already have and how it interacts with the sound mixer, etc., the motion carried.
Lorean Darby-Henry inquires about FCB officer training sessions. This will be looked into and may be a topic for future board meetings
or a convention workshop.
Back to Table of Contents
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
It was announced that tomorrow's workshop would be a panel discussion about the different transportation aspects.
With no more business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:03 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon K. Youngs, Secretary
Back to the Minutes page
FCB Organizational Documents Page
FCB Home Page