THE FCB ANNUAL CONVENTION MEMBERSHIP MEETING


SUNDAY, MAY 14th, 2006
ORLANDO, FL


TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINSESS
TREASURER'S REPORT AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
GUEST SPEAKER AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT


CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINESS

President Paul Edwards called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM. He reviewed the agenda for this meeting. Membership Secretary Linda Jacobson called the roll and a quorum was established.

Secretary Sharon Youngs read the minutes of last year's Convention Meeting. Robert Jones moved for adoption of these minutes. Robert Miller seconded the motion. There were two minor corrections noted. The motion to adopt the corrected minutes then carried.


TREASURER'S REPORT AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Treasurer Patti Land read her report. Robert Jones made a motion to accept this report. The motion was seconded by Robert Miller and carried.

We moved right to the Election of Officers. Doug Hall, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, read the slate of officers as presented by that committee and conducted the election. The results of the election are as follows:

President - Debbie Grubb
1st Vice President - Robert Miller
2nd Vice President - John Richards
Secretary - Sharon Youngs
Treasurer - Patti Land
Membership Secretary - Linda Jacobson


PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Paul then gave his report. He talked about the Information Task Force and our work toward compliance at the state level. He was proud to announce that through our work on the issue of voting rights, everywhere is now compliant and we can all cast our private vote. He urged us all to go to the polls and to vote. Paul also talked about the keeping services separate. He said that we must be a voice for the disadvantaged. At this point in the proceedings, Jim Kracht presented Paul with a $500 check for the Gayle Krause-Edwards Memorial Scholarship fund. Paul stated that he plans to donate $200 to this fund in the name of Amy Carol Webb.

Paul then called upon Dan O'Connor, who is the liaison between FCB and ACB, to give us a report about the upcoming National Convention. Dan said that the dates are July 8th-15th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He praised Barbara Brown for her efforts with the Airport. Through her work the shuttle to the hotel will only cost $8 each way. Dan further said that a major cruise has been scheduled to take place directly after the Convention.

Paul informed the membership about the transportation difficulties between some cities within Florida. He read the letters we sent to Gov. Bush and the Transportation Disadvantaged Group and their apparent misunderstanding of our letters. He vowed that the officers and board would continue to work on this issue.


GUEST SPEAKER AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

At this point, Dr. Otis Stephens, our banquet speaker from Saturday, asked to address the membership. He wanted to talk for a few minutes about the National Library Service and its work. They (NLS) are trying to gather suggestions from users. He asked people to e-mail him for this purpose.

AWARDS COMMITTEE
The recipients of this year's various awards were announced next. The awards presented are as follows:

W. A. Outzs Award to Linda Jacobson
Newly established “Just Bill” Award to Dorothy Ferrell
Dolly Gamble Award to Pat Kracht
R.Henry P. Johnson Award to John Richards

President Paul Edwards presented to Debbie Grubb and to Robert Miller Special President's Awards. Also, 8 Chapter Achievement Awards were presented.

Linda Jacobson read the names of the raffle winners for this year. They are as follows: $1,000 to Sharyn Davidson from Tallahassee, $500 to Dawn Taylor from the Villages, $400 to Anita Capetillo, $300 to Julian Goodman from Boca Raton, $200 to Walter Dietz of West Palm Beach, and $100 to Mike McLendon from Tallahassee. Linda reported that about 8,100 tickets were sold this year. The Pinellas chapter sold the most.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE - Jesus Garcia
Jesus Garcia, Chairman of the Resolutions Committee, reported next. Paul Edwards read the first resolution (conv 06-01) for our consideration. He made the motion that this resolution be approved also. This resolution concerns the new policy for serving clients at the rehabilitation center in Daytona Beach. The motion was seconded by Robert Jones and, after considerable discussion, carried.

The next resolution (conv 06-02) was read by Jesus. It concerns video description and the need for people to access the emergency information that is streamed across the bottom of TV screens. Mary Ellen Ottman made a motion to approve this resolution. This motion was also seconded by Robert Jones and carried.

The next resolution (conv 06-03) for our consideration was the usual thank you to the local chapter one. This was moved for adoption by Jesse Johnson and seconded by Jim Warth and carried. The next one (conv 06-04) was very similar. It was the thank you to the hotel. This resolution was moved for adoption by Jeanne Sanders. Jim Kracht seconded the motion and it carried.

Paul then read the last resolution (conv 06-05). It was our recommendation to ACB that there be a by-law change to reflect that there should be only 1 officer from each state. This resolution was moved for approval by Jim Warth and seconded by Jim Kracht. After some discussion, this motion was defeated.

EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE - Debbie Drylie
Debbie Drylie talked briefly about the mentoring program. She said that she has had some interesting requests for both to be a mentor and to receive mentoring.

ACCESS COMMITTEE - Doug Hall
Doug Hall talked about the Access Committee. He said that the committee had met in the chat room often. He urged us to get involved with pedestrian and transportation issues on the local level.

CONVENTION COMMITTEE - Debbie Grubb
Debbie Grubb reported for the Convention Committee. She said that our Convention is scheduled to take place in Tallahassee at the Ramada Inn. The room rates are $64 to $83 in the tower. The dates for this event are May 17th-20th, 2007. She said that the November Board Meeting is scheduled to be in Orlando at the Safari Sheraton.

EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE - Barbara Grill
Barbara Grill talked about the FCCLV Scholarship. She said that the monetary amount has been increased to $750. The scholarship this year was awarded to Brendon Mattingly.


UNFINISHED BUSINESS

We moved on to Unfinished Business. Under this general topic, we heard from John Richards as Chairman of the Technology Committee. He said that the committee usually meets on the first Monday of each month at 8:00 PM. He invited us to log in and have our technology questions answered.

Barbara Brown asked for the floor to ask about the funds set aside to help with the hurricane relief. These funds were not dispensed. Because some chapters had contributed to this fund, Robert Miller made a motion to return the donated funds back to the contributing chapters. This motion was seconded by Jim Warth and carried.


NEW BUSINESS

We moved on to New Business. The first order of new business came from Robert Miller. He made a motion to donate $100 to the American Cancer Society in memory of Gail Kaiser. The motion was seconded by Jesse Johnson. Sheila Young amended the motion to increase the amount to $500. Since this was a friendly amendment, the amended motion carried.

Next, Jim Johnson made a motion to have FCB pay the expenses to send the Editor of the White Cane Bulletin to the ACB Convention in Jacksonville in July. Jim Warth Seconded the motion and it carried.

Several people received accolades because of all of the assistance they gave to the members throughout the year and at the Convention. Jim Kracht made a motion to send a thank you resolution to the Orlando Paratransit Services. Jim Warth seconded this motion and it carried.


ADJOURNMENT

With no other business to come before the membership, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM.


Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon K. Youngs, Secretary


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